On Gun Control
With a Connection to the Six Traits of Writing
Task | Process | Issue Notebook | Project Ideas | Resources | Pro Gun Control |
Licensing Information | Learning Advice | Evaluation | Reflection | Conclusion |
Introduction:
Writing and putting your ideas down on paper expresses who you are, what you think, and what you value most. When you create a product and present your views, it is your permanent print on the future because it can be preserved and passed on.
In this Controversial Issue Web Quest on Gun Control, you must research articles on the topic that support your assigned position. You will also look at several articles that support the opposite point of view. As a conscientious consumer of the news, you know what happens when a student brings a weapon to school, an automatic assault rifle is used in a bank robbery or a crazed gunmen goes on a rampage and kills people because he's depressed. With your vote and your actions, you will decide how guns are handled in our society. Are gun controls too strict or are they too liberal? You decide. Students will also collect and rate seven different articles for the Six Traits of Writing: Ideas and Content (2 items), Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions. After you research articles on Gun Control that support your position. You will then create and present a product that persuasively defends your stance.
Your job, then, is to:
Everyone is required to do this:
or Second Amendment Rights.
Choose one product among these items:
You will be placed together in groups of four. Two group members will be supporting stricter gun control. The other two members will be for less gun control and support a person's Second Amendment rights to bear arms. Pairs will work together daily. Groups of four will have a touch base meeting to discuss and exchange ideas and information on the project also on a daily basis.
Each group member will keep an issue notebook containing articles and notes that support their position. These articles can come from print sources, newspapers, magazines and the Internet. Students must collect and rate seven different articles on a 1 to 5 scale, judging the articles for: Ideas and Content (2 articles), Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions. Student pairs defending one side can rate and save the same articles in their notebooks for their group. Each student will create a clear and informative table of contents for their Issue Notebook.
Six Trait Writing Evaluation Sheet.
1. Before you research your assigned position, on the opening page of your Issue Notebook, state what position you really support on gun control. Say why you support this stance.
2. Next, read and explore the Six Trait Writing Excursion so you know the important basic qualities of each trait. Print a copy of the Six Trait Writing Assessment Evaluation Sheet and the Six Trait Writing Rubric so that you may rate the articles you read for their strengths or weaknesses.
3. Respond to the exploratory questions below writing full sentence answers in your Issue Notebook as you go.
Answer these questions:
At what age can a person legally purchase a gun?
What guarantees does the Second Amendment provide?
How long do gun background checks normally take?
What is law enforcement's position on gun ownership?
Our parents legally and financially liable for what their children do with firearms?
4. Choose one of the project ideas from the lettered list below or suggest and obtain approval for your own original project idea.
A. Create a Power Point presentation of at least 10 slides or more that presents the background of the Gun Control issue, states your position fully and then backs your position with facts or anecdotal information. Begin your presentation with an attention getting device, develop it logically and wrap it up with memorable comment.
B. Write a persuasive speech that you will deliver to the class using 5" x 7" note cards and support it with a visually exciting poster. Present the background of the Gun Control issue, state your position fully, and then back your position with facts or anecdotal information. Begin your speech with an attention getting device, develop it logically and close it with a memorable comment.
C. Create a video or iMovie with narration that convincingly displays your position on the Gun Control issue. State your position fully and then back your position with facts, statistics or anecdotal information. Begin your movie with an attention getting device, develop it logically and end it with a memorable comment. Work safely and make sure no one gets hurt when you film this dramatic issue.
D. Write a script and shoot a video or digital camera iMovie that portrays an actual event that took place and just happens to support your position on Gun Control. Use student actors. Your movie should have a title, a beginning, middle and an end. It should be at least 5 minutes and no longer than 12 minutes. Work safely and make sure no one gets hurt when you film this dramatic issue.
E. Create a Storyboard poster that portrays an actual event that took place and just happens to support your position on Gun Control. In your poster, each 4" x 4" picture contains drawn and colored figures or effective clip art pieces. Each picture should be an important section of the plot. Use a computer to create a title at the top of your poster and put the captions at the bottom of each picture. . Give your characters bubble areas that contain important lines from your story. Make sure your poster contains at least 12 pictures. Use your Storyboard product to present your point of view to the class in a 5 minute presentation.
F. Demonstrate your position on Gun Control by writing a persuasive editorial piece for your city's newspaper. Read the Editor's page section to get an understanding of how an editorial is handled. What techniques does the editor use to convince the paper's readers? Look at persuasive magazine advertisements to see what images and symbols they use to hook and convince the reader to buy their product. Use these techniques in a powerfully visual poster that uses computer graphics and clip art. Creatively use color in your poster to make a statement. What colors attract us? What colors repel or shock us? Present your editorial as a news cast with your poster. Read your editorial as an opinion piece like a television commentator.
5. Conduct your research using the sites provided in the Resources section.
6. When all pair groups have presented their projects, there will be a Pro and Con debate format to argue this important issue on Gun Control. The class will be divided in half. Each side will have an opening and closing argument. The spokespersons will be chosen by the group. The groups will choose at least six people to represent their side in the debate. Other members of the class will be called on as testimonial witnesses to provide information. Each side will practice and prepare separately and try and anticipate the other groups tactics.
The sites you will use to accomplish your task are listed below. These sites may link to additional sites. Stay focused on what you need to collect and discover. You will be looking at articles for essential information as well as rating articles for the Six Important Traits of good writing. Click here to go to the Six Trait Writing Assessment Evaluation Sheet and the Six Trait Writing Rubric. You may print a copy of the second form for every article you intend to use and rate.
Important Note: In your search you will encounter people with strong views on this issue. You need to discern what is reasonable and what is irrational. If you encounter a site that is racist or advocates the hate of others or the overthrow of the United States government, please notify the teacher. The author of this Web Quest does not endorse or support such views.
Americans for Gun Safety- Home Page
Go to this site and enter Gun Control in their Search box. There are news articles about what lawmakers are doing about Gun Control, and how different states are creating their own laws for gun sales within their states.
NORC-1999 National Gun Policy Survey
The National Research Center at the University of Chicago has done a survey that states that "Americans (meaning all Americans)--gun owners and non-gun owners alike-want Congress to enact policies that will protect them and their families from gun-related death and injury," Results of the survey are available at this site.
Citizens of Arizona to Prevent Gun Violence
This site is specific to Arizona. It contains statistics to convince you of their stance.
Safe from Harm: A Nation of Violence
This article profiles violence in the United States as compared with other nations. It contrasts Gun Control in the US with other countries.
Gun Control in the United States: A Comparative Survey of State Firearm Laws
Read "View Report as Text Only" for the best background information. it discusses legal and illegal gun purchases in the United States in the Introduction. Section II; Scope of the Study contrasts State vs. Federal Gun Laws.
Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and ResearchStop Handgun Violence
Click on the Fact Sheet and read all the headings especially The Risks of Gun Ownership.
American Public Health Association
Position letter is listed under Handguns. (APHA) supports the enactment of federal, state and local laws to limit access to handguns, handgun purchases (including those at gun shows), permits to carry concealed weapons, and access to high-powered assault pistols with no legitimate sporting or hunting purpose. APHA explains its position.
Hand Gun Control:Saving Lives by Taking Guns Out of Crime: The Brady Law
This site discusses the drop in gun related deaths since the enactment of the Brady Law. Jim and Sarah Brady are pictured on this page. They are the prominent force behind this group. The Brady Campaign has further helpful information.
This site advocates controlling the gun industry, the selling markets for guns and closing the loop holes in the gun sales market.
GunCite: Gun Control and Second Amendment Issues
This site states that if was put together to guarantee that the rights granted by the Second Amendment of the Constitution will never be over turned. There is a good selection of articles. Read several. It supports guns as an effective deterrent to would-be burglars and robbers.
Guns in the Medical Literature -- Benefits
This page challenges a New England Journal of Medicine article by Kellermann AL. and Reay DT. "Protection or Peril? An Analysis of Firearms-Related Deaths in the Home." N Engl J. Med 1986. 314: 1557-60. There are some difficult terms like "non sequitur," an argument that does not logically make sense, "prejudicially truncated data," information that is biased and selective, and "criticized methodology," did not follow the best scientific practices. Click to the next page in this site as well. The vocabulary looks a little scary, but there is a definite view point here worth looking into. You can understand it.
Second Amendment Stuff- Facts and Figures
This is well organized and information packed home page with links and some good quotes from Charlton Heston, Harry Truman and William Pitt. Under Facts and Figures in side bar of this page look at least two of these listings: Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, Guarantees of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in State Constitutions, Federal Judge Rules Second Amendment Protects an Individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms, 2001 NRA Firearms Fact Card, and Firearm Safety in America.
Police Shirts and Merchandise, and Information regarding Shooting, NRA, Classes, and Services. This site is a little difficult to read visually, but it portrays well the thinking of a gun enthusiast and instructor. A Code 7 means a police unit is going off duty.
Deceit is Central to the 'Gun Control' Movement
This site has counter arguments for those who propose gun control. They list ten or so items that they feel are important.
A whole page of quotes from the Founding Fathers. Legal interpretations of the Right to Bear Arms. Links to other sites.
The Self-Defense Cases: How the United States Supreme Court Confronted a Hanging Judge In The Nineteenth Century and Taught Some Lessons for Jurisprudence in the Twenty First
This article is from David B. Kopel who maintains many pro Second Amendment sites. This is one article displaying his legal perspective.
Jeff Chan is the Web Master at rkba.org
This specific article is titled "Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Clinton's Gun Ban Today." It is looking at the assault weapon ban.
The NRA addresses hunters, sportsman, women and children. This link goes to a story called "Armed Citizen." The NRA has other information as well.
Americans for Gun Safety Foundation - AGS
Go to this site and enter Gun Control in their Search box. There are news articles about what lawmakers are doing about Gun Control, and how different states are creating their own laws for gun sales within their states. This site contains a map for the specific gun laws in each state. Enter your state and see what you can learn. Look at your states gun safety record at the bottom of this page. This site appears in the Pro Gun Control section as well.
Gun Control in the United States: A Comparative Survey of State Firearm Laws
Read "View Report as Text Only" for the best background information. it discusses legal and illegal gun purchases in the United States in the Introduction. In Section II: Scope of the Study contrasts State vs. Federal Gun Laws. Finally, take a look at the "Highlights of this Reports Findings" for a quick comparison of how different states handle gun control. This site appears in the Pro Gun Control section as well.
Pair partners as well as group partners should give considerate feedback to one another. With any personal creative product, we are all sensitive. Have you group partners record their feedback in your Issue Notebook. Write down your reaction to it as well. Group members should use the Cooperative Learning Reflection forms to assess whether the pairs and the group are working productively. Pairs may help one another, but every person is responsible for creating a project.
Use the criteria below to evaluate the various parts of your project.
Issue Notebook Evaluation Sheet.
Controversial Issue Project and Presentation Evaluation Sheet.
1. What did you learn from this experience that you never knew before? Explain.
2. Have you changed your point of view because of this experience or has it remained the same. Look at what you wrote at the opening of the Issue Notebook. Write down what your current position on Gun Control is. You should write at least one full page on this last question.
3. Did you discover an efficient method of finding just the right information? What methods worked well as you examined resource sites to find the exact information you needed?
4. Are there ways to more efficiently use your time as a group member?
5. What did you like best about the project you created?
6. Is there anything that you would do differently?
You can tell that there are many voices and positions on this issue of Gun Control. Hopefully, you looked at, at least, two sides thoroughly. There are other points of view. How you make your voice heard, who you elect to public office and whether you choose to take an active stance on this issue will determine how our society handles guns, rifles, and automatic weapons in the future.
Why Use Technology in the
Classroom? 
Mr. Van Buren's position on using the Internet, Multimedia and other technology in the classroom.
More Information for the Controversial IssueWeb Quest on Gun Control:
Rubric for Evaluating a Web Quest Click Back to return from this link please.
Rubrics for Evaluating the Web Quest Projects
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