Journalism Lesson Plan

Overview: When a Sacramento teen put the words, “Kill Bush” under a cartoonish collage of the president, she received a visit from the Secret Service. Although true threats to the president are against the law, was hers really a threat? And why did the agents question a 14-year-old girl without parents or any adult present?

Suggested time allotment: One week to research and investigate what laws exist plus time to write an article about this. What do the students are your school think? Be sure to interview experts – like lawyers or the government teacher.

Objectives

Students will:

1. Research what happened in California.
2. Research what laws affect protesters.
3. Ask teachers and other students what they think about this.
4. If there have been students in your school protesting or making negative statements about government officials, ask them if they are worried about their rights. Write a feature about the situation.
5. Write an editorial, if the editorial board agrees, either supporting or objecting to the right to oppose the president – and how far that right should go. Support the stand with facts.

Standards: National Council of Teachers of English and International Reading Association Standards for English Language Arts:

4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written and visual language (e.g.,conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.

7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
8. Students use a variety of technological and informational resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
12. Students use spoken, written and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion and the exchange of information).

Resources and materials:
Web sites with information:
• CBS News Web site ran the story, “Teen Questioned On MySpace Bush Threat; Secret Service Question Calif. Teen About Online Threats to President,” Oct. 14, 2006. The end of the article includes reader comments.
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• The Minneapolis Star Tribune ran a news story about the situation, titled “Girl questioned after threatening Bush on MySpace,” Oct. 13, 2006.
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• Explore what the American Civil Liberties Union says about students’ free speech and expression in general. A special section of that group’s Web site is for students.
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