Project: Analyzing a Supreme

Court Case –
Note: This is an individual Project. Each student must complete a different Supreme Court case.
Students will present their Supreme Court case in PowerPoint format to their peers. Presentations will
be conducted using a museum walk format. If a student is absent on presentation day you must make
time to verbally speak with Mr. Sinn to find an adequate time to present your PowerPoint. I will not
come to you to find a time to present. Take initiative! The final part is to write an argumentative essay
pertaining to your analyzed Supreme Court case. 

Case name:     Student:  _____________________

Objectives:
1. Students will be able to research, write and present a Landmark Supreme
Court Case.
2. Students will be able to assemble and clearly communicate a logical presentation
using computer technology. 

Step One: 
1. Students will select a Supreme Court Case from the list of 30 provided, or confirm a different
court case with Mr. Sinn. 
Step Two: 
 After you select your court case, research begins! ☺ 
Information needed **At least four reputable sources are required to be used**
 Case name and year 
 Constitutional Question 
 Summary of the case (In your own words) 
  What court or courts heard this case before the U.S. Supreme Court (name each court and
verdict)
 Petition before the Supreme Court: 
o Arguments for Plaintiff 
o Arguments for defendants 
 What was the Supreme Court’s Majority Decision 
o The date for the Majority Decision
o Which Justices voted for the Majority decision? 
o Who wrote the majority decision? 
o Describe the Majority opinion 
o Was there any concurrent opinions written? By who? 
o How are the concurrent opinions different form the dissenting opinion?  
 What was the Supreme Court vote in the dissent? 
o Which justices wrote the opinion for the dissent? 
o Describe the dissenting opinion 
o Were there any concurrent opinions? Written by who?
o How are the concurrent opinions different from the dissenting opinion? 
 (Who) What group of people was targeted? 
  What was happening in the country at the time politically? 
 Does this case remain relevant in our society today? 
 What is your argument/reasoning if you agree with the court decision? 
Step Three: 
 Begin implementing the information up above and put in a power point format for presentations. 
PPT Slide One: 
1. Case name and year 
2. Constitutional Question before the court 
3. Summary of the case in your own words
PPT Slide Two: 
1. What court or courts heard this case before the U.S. Supreme Court (name each court and verdict)
2. Arguments for Plaintiff 
3. Arguments for Defendants 
PPT Slide Three:
1. What was the Supreme Court’s Majority Decision 
 The date for the Majority Decision
 Which Justices voted for the Majority decision? 
 Who wrote the majority decision? 
 Describe the Majority opinion 
 Was there any concurrent opinions written? By who? 

PPT Slide Four

1. What was the Supreme Court vote in the dissent? 
 Which justices wrote the opinion for the dissent? 
 Describe the dissenting opinion 
 Were there any concurrent opinions? Written by who?

PPT Slide Five: 

1. (Who) What group of people was targeted? 
2. What was happening in the country at the time politically? 
PPT Slide Six: 
1. Does this case remain relevant in our society today? 
2. What is your argument/reasoning if you agree with the court decision? 

Step Four: 
Argumentative Essay: 
Answer the fallowing in your essay: 
 Is the court case you analyzed still relevant in our society today? Why/How? What is your
argument/reasoning for agreeing or disagreeing with the outcome of the court case you analyzed? 
Paragraph One: 
 1. Introduction to the court case you analyzed. 
1. In the first paragraph, it should include important information from the content presented
in your power point. Information that is significant about your court case, which would
catch the reader’s attention. CATCH MY ATTENTION (The bulleted list under Step
Two)
2. Argumentative essays thesis statement. 
b. Body Paragraph 
1. Answer the fallowing: Is the court case you analyzed still relevant in our society today?
Why/How?
1. Sentence number one should be your claim/answer to the question. 
2. Two different pieces of evidence to supports your claim/answer from reputable
sources. 
b. Body Paragraph Two: 
i. Answer the fallowing question: Do you agree with the outcome of the court case you
analyzed? 
1.Sentence number one should be your claim/answer to the question. 
2.Two different pieces of evidence to support your claim/answer from reputable
sources. 
b. Conclusion: 
i. Summarize Body Paragraph #1 and #2.
ii. Final thoughts on your analyzed Supreme Court case. 
iii. Restate your essays thesis statement. 
b. Work cited: 
i. Have at least four reputable sources in the work cited page and put in correct MLA
format. 
Step Five: 
 Email Mr. Sinn your completed Power Point: 
o Mr. Sinn’s email: bryce.sinn@loras.edu 
 Presenting analyzed Supreme Court case power point. 
 Two peer evaluation sheets completed from a classmates presentation
 At the end of the class period have the hard copy of the peer evaluation sheet completed
and turned into Mr. Sinn 
 Before leaving class have the final draft or your argumentative essay completed and
turned into Mr. Sinn 

Grading Rubric 
Student Name: 
Class Period: 
Argumentative Exceeding  Meeting Below 
Essay: 
50 points
Paragraph One: Student selects specific/important Student selects information Students puts minimal effort in
Introduction  content from their Power Point that some information from their implementing information
is relevant to their strong and Power Point. Students includes from their Power Point.
10 Points  thoughtful thesis statement.  a strong thesis statement.  Student does not or has
improper thesis statement. 
 Paragraphs One Student has a strong claim as their Student has a strong claim for Student is missing one or more
and Two  first sentence. Student has at least their first sentence. Student has pieces of evidence to support
20 Points  two-piece of concrete evidence to one piece of solid evidence to their claim. Student is missing
support this claim from a reputable support their claim from a their claim for the first
source.  scholarly source.  sentence. 
Conclusion:  Student concludes their Students concludes their Student is missing additional
10 Points  argumentative essay with strong argumentative essay with some information to conclude their
additional information and restates information and restates their essay or does not restate their
their essays thesis statement.  thesis statement.  thesis statement. 
Work Cited:  Student has a work-cited page with N/A Student does not have their
10 Points  at least four reputable sources. work-cited page in MLA
Sources are put in MLA format.  format. Has fewer than four
scholarly sources. 

PowerPoint: 30 Exceeding  Meeting  Below 

Points 
Slide  One 1. Case name and year N/A Missing either one or more pieces
5 Points  2. Constitutional question towards the court  of information on their slide. 
3. Summary of Case in your words 
4. What group of people were targeted
5. What was happening in the country at the time
politically 

Slide Two 1. Lower court verdicts  N/A Missing either one or more pieces
5 Points  2. Argument for Plaintiff  of information on their slide.
3. Argument for Defendant  

Slide Three 1. Majority Decision  N/A Missing either one or more pieces
5 Points  2. Date, Justices that voted, who wrote the of information on their slide.
Majority, Describe the Majority decision
3. Concurrent opinion 

Slide Four  1. Dissenting opinion, Justices that voted, N/A Missing either one or more pieces
5 Points  describe the dissenting opinion,  of information on their slide.
2. Concurrent opinions 

Slide Five 1. (Who) What group of people was targeted?  N/A Missing either one or more pieces
5 Points  2. What was happening in the country at the time of information on their slide.
politically?  

Slide Six 1. Does this case remain relevant in our society N/A Missing either one or more pieces
5 Points  today?  of information on their slide.
2. What is your argument/reasoning if you agree
with the court decision? 

Peer Evaluation Exceeding  Meeting  Below 

Sheet: 20 Points 
Peer Evaluation Student complete the entire peer evaluation N/A Student does not fill out all information on
Sheet One sheet from the information from the the Peer Evaluation sheet from the
10 Points  presentation.  presentation. 
Peer Evaluation Student complete the entire peer evaluation N/A  Student does not fill out all information on
Sheet Two sheet from the information from the the Peer Evaluation sheet from the
10 Points  presentation.  presentation. 

Total Points: _________/100pts