Assignment Task: Once oral arguments are concluded and a verdict has been reached, you are asked to write the opinion for one group of Supreme Court justices: you can choose which side of the argument to support. Review this information about the power to declare war.
Using this information and the scenario discussed above, write an essay declaring whether or not the War Powers Act works within the constitutional authority of Congress. Cite evidence to support your claim, and use examples from the scenario to illustrate your points. Review the Process section below for help researching and writing your essay.
Process
Follow the steps below to complete the essay, and use the links provided to assist with your research and writing.
1. Gather sources. Begin by gathering additional sources to build your argument. Make sure that you examine your sources for accuracy. For each source, consider these questions:
- Who authored the document?
- What is the purpose of the document?
- When was the document written?
- How will this document help your argument?
2. Develop your argument. Now that you have analyzed sources to use as evidence, revisit the essay question. Then develop your argument with these factors in mind:
- Your argument should be well supported by your research.
- Match the evidence in your sources to the points in your argument.
3. Write your essay. As you write your paper, use quotations from and summaries of your sources to support your argument. Be careful to keep these ideas in mind:
- Make sure to cite your sources properly with in-text citations and a works cited page. Consult an online Style Guide if needed.
- When you are finished, reread your essay to check for all of the points above, and then proofread it to be sure your work doesn't contain errors in grammar or spelling.