write a paper presenting the strongest
arguments possible for both sides of a debate regarding Section
215 of the USA PATRIOT Act, examining various points including
the free flow of speech.
Case Assignment
Step 1
Write a 3 to 4-page debate paper that addresses the following
scenario:
You are serving an internship with a candidate running for
Congress. She has asked you to help her prepare for a series of
debates over central topics facing the nation today. In the first
section of the debate paper, you will provide the most powerful
argument possible in favor of one side of the debate, then you will
do the same for the other side. Finally, you will write a critique of the
side of the issue with which you disagree.
For this assignment, you will prepare a debate paper covering an
important contemporary issue in American Federalism. In 2001,
President George W. Bush signed into law the USA PATRIOT Act,
commonly known as the Patriot Act. Title II, Section 215 of the
Patriot Act (referred to as Sec. 215) allows the FBI to demand that
libraries produce the borrowing records of patrons suspected of
engaging or planning to engage in international terrorism or
clandestine intelligence activities. Moreover, the libraries that are
asked to provide this information through a National Security Letter
(NSL) are not allowed to tell the targeted patron, or even
acknowledge that they have received an NSL.
Your candidate’s debates will take place before an audience of the
general public, so be sure to include an explanation of why the USA
PATRIOT Act was passed and how it sought to address
governmental and individual concerns over personal safety in the
United States. Audience members will want to know how and why
the act was originally passed and how it affects them today.
Step 2
Research the topic.
Being able to apply information literacy skills to study politics is
critical. Access the Internet to research and learn about Title II,
Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act, and about the law in general.
Consider your sources carefully when you research, keeping the
following points in mind:
Primary sources, such as government websites, will be more
informative and less subjective than secondary sources.
Check the reference lists or sources of any secondary online
source you find, such as a journal or newspaper article. Has the
author provided solid background for the opinions he or she
expresses?
Do not accept the opinions of any individual secondary source
without question. Consider the site where you found the source.
What is its primary purpose? Who is its intended audience?
