Task 1
Balancing Liberty, Order, and Democracy
A balancing act occurs in US government and society between the rights of individuals and the maintenance of
the common good, which can affect the whole country.
Part A
Write a 250- to 500-word argumentative essay on one of the listed topics. Choose a topic that you find
interesting or is somehow relevant to you:
Why are there laws limiting the freedom of speech?
Why is it important to balance majority rule with minority rights?
Is the use of civil disobedience warranted in response to laws that some people feel are unjust?
What is the correct balance between protecting the freedom of religion, maintaining the separation of
church and state, and protecting people from discrimination?
In the space provided below, explain a little about the topic you’ve chosen and why you chose it. In your answer,
note a time in history when this issue has come up or a current event that relates to the issue. A few resources
and examples are provided below, but you are also encouraged to find and use your own sources and
examples. The resources provided demonstrate only a few of the many ways that the listed topics can be
interpreted.
You can use the following resources as you work through this activity:
Freedom of speech and limits on rights
Majority rule and minority rights
Majority rule versus minority rights
Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau
Civil disobedience: the Greensboro sit-in
Balancing freedom of religion with the rights of individuals
Answer:
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Part B
Now that you’ve started to think more about your topic, it’s time to write your essay. Use the Process section to
help you write a well-structured response to the question you’ve picked.
Process
Follow the steps below to complete your essay, and use the links provided to assist with your research and
writing. When you have finished your essay, use the drop box to submit it to your teacher.
1. Gather sources. Begin by gathering additional sources —either online or otherwise—to support the
views you present in your essay. For each source, consider these questions:
Who authored the document?
What is the purpose of the document?
When was the document written?
What significant historical event or movement does the document represent?
2. Read and evaluate sources. Examine each source and think about how you will use it to support a
thesis. Be an active researcher by asking the following questions about each source you reference:
What is the credibility of the source?
Is there any noticeable bias?
How does the author form his or her argument?
What important themes, main ideas, and arguments are presented in the document?
3. Write your essay. Refer to your notes and the provided documents to write a short essay . Be careful to
keep the following ideas in mind:
To avoid plagiarism, make sure to cite your sources properly with in text citations and a works
cited page .
When you finish, reread the essay to check for all of the points above, and then proofread it to be
sure your work doesn’t contain errors in grammar or spelling.
Answer:
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