Introduction

Know your rights! Get involved! Decisions are made by adults every day that affect your life and your future. Today you have been given the opportunity to take an active role in changing your world. Rock the vote!

The National Youth Commission has been established to solicit the viewpoints of today's young people. The commission in conjunction with MTV has formed a partnership to produce a series of television ads directed to young people. The theme of the broadcasts will be "Meeting Today's Needs With Yesterday's Words." The purpose is to let young adults know that America's Bill of Rights affects their lives everyday. You have been selected by the commission to participate in the creation of MTV's first ads in the series.

Please read your mail.

The Task

You have been selected by the National Youth Commission-MTV Alliance to be a member of their television ad production crew. You and your team will:

• analyze the the Bill of Rights.
• identify the current social/political issues that are connected to constitutional interpretation of the Bill of Rights.
• examine the records of political representatives for legislation introduced or supported that relates to constitutional issues.
• select an issue that is related to the interpretation of the Bill of Rights.
• investigate opposing points of view on an issue and formulate a position on the issue.
• produce a television ad that takes a stand on your selected issue and encourages other young people to get involved.

The Process

Study the Bill of Rights:

• Each participant will read the Bill of Rights.
• Each participant will identify the purpose and point of view of the Bill of Rights.
• Assigned groups of three will share individual understandings of the Bill of Rights, focusing on purpose and point of view.
• Each group will use an organizational tool (Inspiration) to brainstorm how the amendment affects people today.(Click here to download Inspiration template to your desktop.)
• The groups will share their brainstorming and current political/social issues will be identified.
• Participants will come to consensus on which amendments are most controversial.
• Each participant will contact one or more elected officials on an issue of their choice.   

Produce a Television Ad:

• Assigned groups of three will select a current issue that is open to more than one viewpoint.
• Research and organize the persuasive arguments that are used on each side of the issue. For each viewpoint look at the needs, values, and interests of the audience that is trying to be persuaded. For each viewpoint find details, reasons, examples, and anecdotes that would be effective in persuading that audience to a particular viewpoint.
• Choose a viewpoint to support and create a television ad that will persuade viewers to agree with your position. Use Inspiration to storyboard the television ad you are going to create. You can use a camcorder or multimedia software to create your ad.  

Resources

• Bill of Rights 
• Write to the President
• Write to the Governor
• Find Your Representatives
• Representatives on the Job
• Rate Your Representative
• Tracking House/Senate Votes

Evaluation

Rubric for Television Ad

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Content	no logical sequence--rambles difficult to follow  no facts to support position no anticipation of counter concerns and arguments	sequence confusing mostly difficult to follow very few facts to support position attempts to counter concerns and arguments	sequence clear states topic specific facts and/or examples given to support position clearly trying to counter concerns and arguments	sequence flows smoothly and is clearly focused topic clearly defined detailed evidence examples, and well reasoned arguments to support position clearly counters concerns and arguments
Teamwork	does not collect any information that relates to the topic does not perform assigned tasks always relies on others to do the work usually argues with teammates usually wants to have things their way	collects very little information--some relates to the topic performs very little duties rarely does the assigned work--often needs reminding sometimes argues often sides with friends instead of considering all viewpoints	collects some basic information--most relates to the topic performs nearly all duties usually does the assigned work--rarely needs reminding rarely argues usually considers all viewpoints	collects a great deal of the information--all relates to the topic performs all duties of assigned team role always does assigned work without having to be reminded never argues with teammates always helps the team to reach a fair decision

 

Conclusion

The Bill of Rights is over two hundred years old. This "old" document is a powerful piece of paper. What those men wrote so many years ago impacts our daily lives. How people live right now is linked to that document. Those rights are your rights. The stand you take today will affect the rest of your life and the lives of your children. Think about the message you have created. Politicians are hired by voters. Let them know who you are and what you want. Your continued involvement can affect the interpretation of the Bill of Rights and your future. Keep watch over your government representatives and voice your opinions. Stay involved! Rock the vote!

Based on a template from The Webquest Page.