Is it in danger of being overturned?
One of the goals of this course is to understand how the American legal system has evolved to address complex social issues. The purpose of this research assignment is to give students the opportunity to explore a selected issue and to communicate this information through a written paper. You are required to write a research paper on a topic (more on the topic below) which is typed, using either 1.5 or 2.0 line-spacing (no single spacing), in proper format (APA, Bluebook, MLA, etc.—whatever style you prefer), in 12-point font, and which is 5 full pages (minimum) to 8 pages (maximum) long. This length requirement does not count after pages, such as annotated bibliography or footnotes. If you choose to use a title page, that page also will not count. Your paper should be paginated, with your name clearly identified on at least the first page or a cover page. After taking these first two steps, you should then use the research databases listed below to locate at least 3 scholarly articles and at least 2 primary legal authorities for your topic. You may use other sources as well, but must at least have these. Examples of scholarly materials include articles from Law Reviews and articles from peer- reviewed scholarly journals. Primary legal authorities include statutes and case law. Be sure to give an overview of the topic. Explain the current state of the issue. (Is it in danger of being overturned? Are the courts examining the issue? What are the pros and cons – the primary debate on the issue?) Give the historical context. Explain how the law has evolved and why. Provide the legal basis for the issue you are researching. For instance, if you were presenting on abortion access, you should include the primary legal authorities which control the issue, including the . Constitutional provisions implicated, case law (like Roe v. Wade), and statutory provisions. Footnotes You may place footnotes either at the bottom of the page where the footnote appears in the text, or you may list footnotes on a separate page after the article and prior to the annotated bibliography. If placed on a separate page(s), then the footnotes will not count against the page limit. If they are at the foot of the same page where the note appears, then they do count as part of the page limit. Annotated Bibliography You should also submit an annotated bibliography with your research paper. This bibliography does not count towards the paper page limit. Failure to include a complete annotated bibliography is a loss of 30 points. An annotated bibliography should include the following: 1. List the sources you have used in your paper. These sources must be listed in proper format. 2. Give a brief summary (2-3 sentences) of each source, without plagiarizing the original material