Introduction

In this WebQuest you are going to be a detective finding similarities and differences among three founding documents: The Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, and The Federalist Papers. What common themes are represented in each of the documents? What fundamental democratic principles are prevalent in each document? 
 
 

Prepare a visual and oral presentation using the information you find during your investigative work. Be creative and use you imagination to find at least five similarities and five differences among the Founding Documents. Remember the following when preparing your culminating project:
 

• All projects should include a visual.
• Visuals must be more than a poster. 
• Each project will be presented in front of the class. 
• A time limit of 3-5 minutes per person is acceptable. 
• There will be no more than three persons in a group. 
• Projects will be graded based on creativity and depth of knowledge. (This means you need to do research using WebQuest.) 
• Your final project must be clear and well presented in an orderly fashion. (This means show your work and your analytical ability.)

First, to begin your investigation you will explore the following sites on the Web. Look for similarities and differences in each document.

Simple description of each Federalist Paper Excellent description of each paper.

The Avalon Project and the Federalist Papers  Full text of each paper.

Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet Interesting information about all Founding Documents

United States Historical Document Archive This sight includes all the founding documents as well.

Liberty and Limits Excellent site from PBS!

The Anti-Federalist Papers  An explanation of each Anti-Federalist Paper

Alexander Hamilton Page:  Interesting information about Hamilton

The American Revolution Homepage

The National Archives And Record Administration--Declaration of Independence

Hypertext Version of Declaration of Independence

History Channel Declaration of Independence Resources

Stylistic Artistry of Declaration of Independence from National Archives and Record Administration

History of Declaration of Independence from National Archives and Record Administration

Avalon Project's Copy of Declaration of Independence

Independence Hall's site for Declaration of Independence and related resources

Library of Congress's "About the Declaration"

Library of Congress's Rough Draft of Declaration of Independence

A User's Guide To The Declaration of Independence

Text of Constitution from Cornell

National Archives and Records Administration text of Constitution and related links

National Archives and Records Administration Transcription of Constitution

Library of Congress "About the Constitution"

Avalon Project's Constitution

All Three Major Founding Documents
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In depth examination of Constitution

Next, bring the information from your research together using a visual. This could be a powerpoint presentation, model, chart, or some other presentable visual. (Check with your teacher for approval.)

Make sure that you have a clear understanding of the common attitudes and concepts in each of  The Founding Documents. 

Finally, make your presentation as creative as possible. 

Evaluation

Projects will be graded on creativity of visual, oral presentation, grasp of knowledge, and overall amount of work produced for this project. (Please note students working in groups need to distribute work equally.) 

	Below Average	Average	Above Average	Exemplary	Score
Creativity	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a below level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting above average performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level or excellent performance.	20 Points
Visual  Project	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a below level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting above average performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level or excellent performance.	20 Points
Oral Presentation	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a below level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting above average performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level or excellent performance.	20 Points
Amount of work shown!	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a below level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting above average performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level or excellent performance.	20 Points
Grasp of Knowledge	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting a below level of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting development and movement toward mastery of performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting above average performance.	Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level or excellent performance.	20 Points

The completion of the project will benefit the student in several ways. Students will use the internet as a research tool, plan and present a project that will involve higher level thinking skills, and use presentation skills in their final project presentation. 

This WebQuest was put together as part of a workshop conducted July 30, 2001 by the RCOE of Appalachian State University and Avery County High School Cooperating Teachers.