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Declaration of Independence Web Quest

Let's get started: Visit the websites linked below.  Use the information you find to answer your research questions.  

1. When did the Second Continental Congress meet? What was their purpose for the meeting?

2. Who were the members of the Committee to write “The Declaration of Independence?” Who was the main Author?



3. Look through the following website and write down 3 important ideas that you found out about Thomas Jefferson and The Declaration of Independence. Why are these ideas important? Justify your answer.



a)

b)

C)

(Activities Continued)

4. Read the information at the website below.  It has "translated" the Declaration into easier wording. Use this information to answer the questions: 

A) Why did the founding fathers feel they had the right to Declare Independence? 

B) What do you think are the three “Best” complaints that the founding fathers had to declare Independence from England? List three ideas and justify why you chose these ideas.

C) What do you think are the "Worst" complaints that the founding fathers had to declare Independence from England? List three and justify why you chose these ideas.



5. Watch the following video about the Declaration of Independence. In your opinion, why would the Continental Congress decide to write this document if they really wanted to avoid war with England?

 

6. Now that you have completed your research, put all of this information together to answer the question "Would you have signed?"

You have two options: 

Answer the question traditionally in a well-written paragraph. 

OR

Use a political cartoon to answer.  Create a political cartoon that would either send a message to sign or not to sign the Declaration. 

 

Bonus Summary Activity: Use the format of the Declaration of Independence to declare independence for yourself.  Who do you want freedom from (homework, chores, government, etc)?

(Turn over for Scoring Rubric)

|Criteria |2 -Excellent |1.5 Proficient |1 – Partial |1/2 - minimal | Score |

| |All of the questions and |Most of the questions and |Half of the questions and |Less then half of the | |

|1) Task Completeness |activities were clearly |activities were clearly |activities were clearly |questions and | |

| |completed. |completed. |completed |activities were clearly| |

| | | | |completed | |

| |Effectively used the time |Most of class time was used |Some of class time was used |Little class time was | |

|2) Time Management |available. |effectively. |effectively. |used effectively. | |

|3) Summary/Response to the |The ideas expressed in the |The ideas expressed in the |The ideas expressed in the |The ideas expressed in | |

|Article. |summary demonstrate a high |summary demonstrate a |summary demonstrate a fair |the summary show little| |

| |degree of understanding |satisfactory amount of |amount of understanding |evidence understanding | |

| | |understanding | | | |

|4) Grammar and Conventions. |The student shows |The student shows a |The student responded with |The student showed | |

| |well-written responses with |well-written response with |several grammatical errors. |incomplete responses | |

| |no grammatical errors. |little grammatical errors. | |with many grammatical | |

| | | | |errors. | |

|5) Neatness and quality of |The work was very neat, |The work was neat, accurate, |Neatness, accuracy, and |Neatness, accuracy, and| |

|work. |accurate, and showed a strong|and showed a good effort. |effort needed some |effort needed much | |

| |effort. | |improvement |improvement | |

_________________________ Student Score (Circle what you think you should earned!)

_________________________/ Final Score out of 10 points.

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Scoring Rubric “Independence Investigation”

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