9/11 and the Patriot Act

Essential Questions:

1.  What is the appropriate balance between national security and civil liberties?  
2. Can you clearly articulate 1 side of the argument either for or against the PATRIOT Act?  
3. Does the PATRIOT Act violate the appropriate balance between national security and civil liberties?  

Starter 1:  9/11 montage footage above.  You'll need a pencil and a piece of scratch paper. 

1. Warning: graphic content.  You do not have to watch, and can leave at any time.   
2. After the footage, in silence, speedwrite a list of every emotion you are feeling.  (sadness, fear, vulnerability, horror, anger, empathy, etc)
3.  If you had reason to suspect another event like this happening tomorrow, what would you be willing to do to stop it?

Mini-Lecture: The Patriot Act (Lecture notes on my DP Docs page)

1. Where does it come from? 
2.  What does it do?
3.  What are the implications?

Focus Groups (60-70 min)

1. Assigning Focus Groups – You will be assigned to a focus group that will focus on primary sources either defending or supporting the Patriot Act.  IF YOU ARE ABSENT, JUST PICK A GROUP!
2. Primary Source Analysis.  You will pick one document from the list below, and you will become an expert on this document.  Using annotations and the graphic organizer provided, you will “map out” the arguments presented in your article.   See docs page for documents and graphic organizer.  IF YOU ARE ABSENT, JUST CHOOSE AN ARTICLE!
3. Focus Group Mini-Seminar (DIDN'T GET TO THIS- WILL DO IT ON TUESDAY!)  (10-11 people per group).  The goal of this seminar is to create a large, mutual understanding of one side of the argument.   Each group will form a semi-circle of chairs around a white board and run through the following procedure.  A scribe will take notes on their laptop.

HOMEWORK: Finish the Primary Source Analysis (see docs page for handout and documents).  DUE:  Tuesday, 9/15