human rights

Introduction

Imagine that you are the leader of a new country. It is your job to ensure that people are provided with all the basic things that they want and need. It is your job to ensure that everyone is protected. How will you decide on laws to create?

In this WebQuest, you will decide what the difference between wants and needs are, and you will learn about Human Rights.

You will be working towards making a presentation on a Human Rights Violation occurring in your country. You will work in groups of four to create and present information. You will need to explain what the problem is and propose some solutions.

Task

For this project, you will need to get into groups of four (4).

As a group, you will choose a Human Rights issue, research it, and plan a presentation to give to the class (3-7 minutes), which will include:

An overview of the issue - (What it is, where it is occurring, who? why? how? )
List & Outline the rights that are being violated (at least 3) according to the UN declaration of human rights
List & Outline 2 organizations that are involved in trying to stop this human rights violation
Outline why you feel this issue is an important one to bring to our attention
Three visual aids that support your presentation

Process

Task 1: Wants, Needs, and Rights
1.     Quick Write: Write for ten minutes without using a dictionary. Do not worry about spelling or grammar. Try to keep writing for the entire ten minutes. Prompt: What is the difference between wants and needs? What are some examples of wants? Needs? What is a right? Is a right a need or a want? What are some examples of rights? At the end of ten minutes, get with a partner and share what you wrote.
2.     With a partner, read “Rights Under the Human Rights Act 1998” out loud . Take turns reading the articles. (Attachment 1)
3.     Compare Bills of Rights/ Codes of law from a variety of time periods and countries. Use the sources listed in Attachment 1.

Task 2: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1.     Learn about the founding of the United Nations. Find information here:  http://www.un.org/ and here:http://www.un.org/Overview/uninbrief/ . Read about how the UN works and what the UN does for justice, human rights, and international law.
2.     Read the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Information about the Declaration is at ttp://www.un.org/events/humanrights/udhr60/declaration.shtml and the document is found here: http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/udhr60/hrphotos/declaration%20_eng.pdf . Sort the articles into these three categories: Integrity of the Person, Social & Economic, or Civil & Political. Paraphrase the articles—write them in your own words so that it is clear.
3.     Quick Write: Write for ten minutes without using a dictionary. Do not worry about spelling or grammar. Try to keep writing for the entire ten minutes. Prompt: What are Human Rights? Who gets to define these rights? What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Can it prevent war? How or why not? At the end of ten minutes, share what you have written with a partner.
4.     Think about how rights are protected. Is it possible for these rights to be violated (for these rules to be broken)? Think of why nations might not recognize the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Task 3: Human Rights Violations
1.     Re-read your paraphrases of the articles from the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2.     View this slideshow about Human Rights: http://www.dsca.osd.mil/diils/images/UniversalHumanRights/sld001.htm
3.     Quick Write: Write for ten minutes without using a dictionary. Do not worry about spelling or grammar. Try to keep writing for the entire ten minutes. Prompt: What area of Human Rights most interests you? Why?
4.     After ten minutes, find others who are interested in the same area. Get into groups of four based on your interests. Talk about the area of human rights that interests you. This is the group you will work with on your presentation.
5.     See Attachment 1 for “Human Rights Violations Websites” and the “CRAAP Test”. Read the CRAAP Test. Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate the Human Rights Violations Websites in one area (examples are limited to Women’s Education Inequalities, Human Trafficking, Child Labor, Prisoner Torture in Guantanamo Bay, or Aboriginal Rights).
6.     Next, in your groups, do some internet research to find a Human Rights Violation in the area you are most interested in. Use the CRAAP Test to evaluate websites you find. This will be the topic of your group presentation.
7.     Some sources to get you started include:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news-and-reports/page.do?id=1011302&n1=5&n2=1296
http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/violations/
http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/
http://www.hrw.org/doc/?t=news
8.     Ideas include, but are not limited to, Women’s Education Inequalities, Human Trafficking, Child Labor, Prisoner Torture in Guantanamo Bay, or Aboriginal Rights. See Attachment 2 for ideas.
9.     Discuss with your group the importance of the topic. Explain how this violation is both justified and criticized. Explain why you think this situation is unjust, and support your decision using the UN Declaration of Human Rights. List the articles from the Declaration that are being violated in the situation.
10.   Find two organizations that are involved in trying to stop this human rights violation.

Task 4: Plan your Presentation
For the Human Rights Violation you have researched, plan to present the following information in an oral presentation. Your group presentation should be approximately five minutes long. You may use PowerPoint, posters, or other aids. The following should be included (see Attachment 1):
1.     Introduction: Background, history, and overview of the issue, (What it is, where it is occurring, who? why? how?)
2.     Problem: List & Outline the rights that are being violated (at least 3) according to the UN declaration of human rights
3.     Solution: List & Outline 2 organizations that are involved in trying to stop this human rights violation. Give solutions for what we, personally, can do
4.     Conclusion: Outline why you feel this issue is an important one to bring to our attention (What is the importance of issue to world?)
5.     Include any visual aids such as charts, graphs, statistics, pictures, stories or clips to give the class a good overview of the issue. You must have a minimum of three visual aids in your presentation.

Task 5: Practice and give your presentation

Be sure to rehearse what you will say. Use attachment 1 to plan your presentation. Practice with your group. Remember to look at your audience; do not simply read from a paper.
Good luck!

Evaluation

Rubric for Assessment of the Narrative Essay
(maximum of 20 points for each essay)

	3	2	1	0
INTRODUCTION Background/History Thesis Statement CONCLUSION	Well-developed introduction engages the reader and creates interest. Contains detailed background information. Thesis clearly states a significant and compelling position. Conclusion effectively wraps up and goes beyond restating the thesis.	Introduction creates interest. Thesis clearly states the position. Conclusion effectively summarizes topics.	Introduction adequately explains the background, but may lack detail. Thesis states the position. Conclusion is recognizable and ties up almost all loose ends.	Background details are a random collection of information, unclear, or not related to the topic. Thesis is vague or unclear. Conclusion does not summarize main points.
MAIN POINTS Body Paragraphs	Well developed main points directly related to the thesis. Supporting examples are concrete and detailed. The narrative is developed with a consistent and effective point-of-view, showing the story in detail.	Three or more main points are related to the thesis, but one may lack details. The narrative shows events from the author's point of view using some details.	Three or more main points are present. The narrative shows the events, but may lack details.	Less than three main points, and/or poor development of ideas. The narrative is undeveloped, and tells rather than shows, the story.
ORGANIZATION Structure Transitions	Logical progression of ideas with a clear structure that enhances the thesis. Transitions are mature and graceful.	Logical progression of ideas. Transitions are present equally throughout essay.	Organization is clear. Transitions are present.	No discernable organization. Transitions are not present.
STYLE Sentence flow, variety Diction	Writing is smooth, skillful, coherent. Sentences are strong and expressive with varied structure. Diction is consistent and words well chosen.	Writing is clear and sentences have varied structure. Diction is consistent.	Writing is clear, but sentences may lack variety. Diction is appropriate.	Writing is confusing, hard to follow. Contains fragments and/or run-on sentences. Inappropriate diction.
MECHANICS Spelling, punctuation, capitalization	Punctuation, spelling, capitalization are correct. No errors.	Punctuation, spelling, capitalization are generally correct, with few errors. (1-2)	A few errors in punctuation, spelling, capitalization. (3-4)	Distracting errors in punctuation, spelling, capitalization.

Introduction/Conclusion _______
                   Main Points _______
                Organization _______
                             Style _______
                    Mechanics _______

Total Points ______ = grade of ______

Grade Equivalent (15 points maximum):
A = 13 - 15 points
B = 10 - 12 points
C = 7 - 9 points
D = 4 - 6 points
F = 0 - 3

Conclusion

In this WebQuest, you thought about the role that human rights have in society. This WebQuest outlined global ideas of what humans deserve at a most basic level.

You have examined how violating human rights impacts the global society in a negative way.

The goal of the presentation: You will be able to synthesize and extend content from multiple sources in a complex culminating task or project that reflects real academic outcomes.

Think about this: Human rights and the organization of Government is an important concept to keep in mind when looking at a society composed of multiple ethnicities, races, traditions, beliefs, and other differences. When people with differing values live together, what happens? How does a society maintain its’ standards in human rights?