America’s Founding Documents Picture:

Declaration of Independence

Articles of Confederation

US Constitution

Bill of Rights

Louisiana Purchase

Emancipation Proclamation

13 th Amendment: Abolition of Slavery

Check for Alaska

Th omas Edison’s Patent Application for the Light Bulb

Zimmermann Telegram

19 th Amendment: Women’s Right to Vote

Social Security Act

FDR’s “Day of Infamy” Speech Joint Address to Congress Leading to a Declaration of War against Japan

Brown v. Board of Education

Letter from Jackie Robinson to President Eisenhower

Voting Rights Act 1965

Apollo 11 Flight Plan

Elvis Presley’s Letter to President Nixon

Claim-Proof

Step One: Claim Statement I believe that the _____________ is America’s most important founding document.

Step Two: Evidence Supporting As a group create three statements of support for your claim statement.

Step Three: Evidence Refuting Begin by picking two other documents that are also important to US History. Next write one fact about each that proves it is important as a founding document.

Step Four: Conclusion Begin with the claim (topic) sentence. Then defend the document you choose with your “supporting evidence” Next, comment on some of the other opinions or “refuting evidence” that exists. Lastly, conclude your paragraph. Hint: Be sure to use transitions!!!!

Conclusion Example I believe the Edison’s light bulb patent is one of America’s important founding documents. This patent represents a great invention that is still used today and makes the everyday life of people easier. Also, this document represents America’s economic freedom to better oneself through hard work and innovative thinking. Furthermore, the patent symbolizes the creative spirit of Americans to find new ways to solve problems and push for new understanding and information. However, some might claim the Declaration of Independence or the US Constitution as the most important US founding documents as they represent our claim to freedom from England and establish the laws and traditions of our government. Yet, Edison’s patent represents the living out of the American ideals presented in these other founding documents giving it value for an individual citizen. Overall, America’s history has been grounded on several important documents and Edison’s light bulb patent serves as one of the most valuable.

Step Four: Conclusion Begin with the claim (topic) sentence. Then defend the document you choose with your “supporting evidence” Next, comment on some of the other opinions or “refuting evidence” that exists. Lastly, conclude your paragraph. Hint: Be sure to use transitions!!!!

Argumentative Short Essay Scoring Guide 0 Points1 Point2 Points Thesis Statement No thesis/claim statement. Thesis/claim statement is incomplete or inaccurate. Thesis/Claim is clear and concise answering the prompt. Ideas/ Organization The student did not stay focused on the topic and lacks logical order. Attempts controlling idea and some evidence of an introduction, evidence, and conclusion. Few transitions are used. Strong controlling idea. Writing flows with engaging introduction, well-developed evidence, strong closure. Uses strong transitions. Conventions Contains repeated distracting errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling. Contains some errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling, that may be distracting to the reader. Contains few errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling 0 Points1-2 Point3-4 Points Supporting Evidence Claim is either unsupported or evidence is irrelevant. Claim is supported with evidence and refuting evidence is stated, but analysis is minimal or evidence is lacking depth. Claim is supported with evidence and refuting evidence is clearly addressed. Details and examples are correctly analyzed and thoughtfully stated.