"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 ONE to TWO PAGE (or more) 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: Below is a list of 2nd Amendment topics. SELECT ONE to discuss in your essay.

  • "Stand your Ground" Laws- use of deadly force for protection
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Red Flag Laws that allow for confiscation of guns without due process.
  • Gun show loopholes.
  • Background checks for all gun purchases.
  • Armed guards or armed teachers in schools to protect students.
  • Zero tolerance for guns in schools.
  • The problem of "printable plastic" guns.
  • Concealed Carry Permits (on college campuses or in public)

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.
  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.
  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.
    • A basic outline 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.
    • Once you have made your three argments for your position, write a concluding argument that summarizes that problem and your proposed solution.
    • You should include citations and source material for any of your arguments based on facts, numbers, testimony, etc. A sources page at the end of your paper would be MOST APPROPRIATE.

SOURCES: Students should be using AT LEAST THREE sources for their arguments for this paper. 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 ONE TO TWO complete pages typed. The work may also be handwritten, but handwritten essays should be two to four pages in length and must be legible. 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.