"The Second Amendment Position Paper"

BACKGROUND: Students have heard the lecture regarding the Second Amendment and have heard arguments from both sides of the gun debate.

REQUIREMENTS: Students will be creating a TWO TO THREE PAGE PERSUASIVE ESSAY outlining their opinion regarding a gun control issue. (see below.) Students must use proper grammar, complete sentences, persuasive arguments and supporting materials in their writing.

THE ISSUES: Any controversial question regarding the rights of gun ownership or limitations on the Second Amendment would be acceptable for this essay. Below is a list of POSSIBLE topics, feel free to select your own (with teacher approval):

  • "Stand your Ground" Laws- use of deadly force for protection, either in the home or in public.
  • Limitations on clip and magazine sizes.
  • Limitations on types of weaponry that can be possessed by the public.
  • Firearm safety training requirements to purchase a gun.
  • Why does a citizen need military style weaponry?
  • The 2nd Amendment should protect gun owners rights to hunt and skeet shoot only. Any other gun activities are dangerous and should not be protected.
  • Background checks for all gun purchases.
  • Armed guards or armed teachers in schools to protect students.
  • Local sheriffs indicating that they will not enforce gun control legislation if enacted.
  • Should gun violence be treated as a public health issue, such as alcohol abuse or smoking?
  • How to stop mentally ill citizens from committing gun violence without stigmatizing them?
  • Does carrying a gun make you safer in the event of gun violence?
  • The problem of "printable plastic" guns.
  • Red Flag laws that allow for confiscation of guns from "Unsafe" citizens.
  • Concealed Carry Permits (on college campuses or in public)
  • Do citizens really need guns to "Defend against Tyranny" in 2022 in America?

RESOURCES: Students may use ANY resources at their disposal to complete this position paper.

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Select a topic of interest to you from the list above or think of your own topic (get your own topics approved before you start work.)
  2. You will need to conduct basic background research into all angles of your controversy, collecting supporting evidence along the way to make your point. SAVE ALL REFERENCE MATERIAL, you will need to print used content and turn it in with your writing.
  3. You will be arguing ONE SIDE of the controversy, according to your personal beliefs.
  4. You must include all of the following in your position paper:
    • A title page, complete with your position paper's title, name, class and date.
    • Position paper written double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font.
    • An extensive outline of the content of the controversial topic. What is the issue, what are the numbers, etc.?
    • This is a POSITION PAPER, you are taking a side in a controversy and proving your argument. FIRST, make a THESIS STATEMENT, which outlines your solution to the problem and how it will work. SECOND, you MUST put forth AT LEAST THREE different arguments to support your position. These need to be facts, figures, quotes from experts, studies, court cases, etc. You can also use an EMOTIONAL ARGUMENT to make your point, but this can only be used for one of your supports and must be backed with citations. You will need to include these facts and figures in the body of your work in the form of quotes, charts, etc.
    • Once you have made your three argments for your position, write a concluding argument that summarizes that problem and your proposed solution.
    • You must include a sources page at the end of your paper and you MUST print or copy the content of any written works that you have used in your paper and submit them with your writing.

SOURCES: Students are required to use AT LEAST THREE sources for their information for this paper. These can be online or hardcopy resources. You MUST include a SOURCE page at the end of your paper, with all sources properly listed. I would like students to use APA style in their citations. Please use the following handy citation generator found online:

http://www.citefast.com/

SUBMISSION: Your work should be AT LEAST TWO TO THREE complete pages typed. The work may also be handwritten, but handwritten essays should be FOUR TO SIX pages in length. Make sure to include your paper's title, name, class and date on the Title Page. I highly recommend using your notes and a thought web or a quick outline to plan your writing.

GRADING: Here is the RUBRIC FOR THIS PAPER. Please note that papers that do not have the MECHANICS completed properly (Title page, citations page, proper font and size, spelling mistakes) will NOT BE ACCEPTED.