Course Glossary

The Supreme Court

Your Seat on The Supreme Court

There have been many landmark Supreme Court cases throughout American history. These cases have played significant roles in deciding public policy. Imagine that you were a Supreme Court Justice presiding over one of these landmark cases. Consider how you would have voted on the issue and why. For this application, begin by selecting and researching a U.S. Supreme Court decision. Assume the role of a Supreme Court Justice, and based on how you would vote, write your concurring or dissenting opinion. Consider the long term impact of the Court's decision, whether you are in the majority or not. Be sure to reference the U.S. Constitution, including the Amendments, in order to justify your position.

Your formal written opinion should be well-organized, creative, and interesting. Instead of simply presenting the information or facts, your opinion should try to persuade others to agree with your position. This writing must be a minimum of four paragraphs, including an introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. It is helpful to outline your writing; this ensures that you will not miss any necessary components.

Before you begin, access the Supreme Court Opinion Checklist to make sure you include all of the items required for full credit. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, please visit the Developmental Module for information on citing any resources that you use.

Once you have completed your formal written opinion and Works Cited document, please submit your work to the dropbox.