Instructions
What You'll Learn
This assignment helps you develop important writing and research skills you'll use in high school and beyond:
- Research skills: How to find and evaluate reliable sources
- Citation skills: How to properly credit your sources
- Paraphrasing and quoting: How to use other people's ideas and words ethically
- Essay writing: How to develop a thesis and support it with evidence
- Academic integrity: Understanding plagiarism and how to avoid it
What You'll Do
You will select one of the three cases below and write an essay that explains why the court's decision was significant. Your essay should include:
- Background information about the case
- Details about the history and the people involved
- The court's decision and what it meant
- How the decision impacted society and the law
- A clear thesis: "The outcome of [CASE] was significant because [reason]."
Choose Your Case
Pick one of these three landmark cases:
- Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
- Loving v. Virginia (1967)
Click the "Cases" tab to learn more about each one before you choose!
Formatting Requirements
- Length: 1.5–2 pages, double-spaced
- Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
- Header: Include your name, class period, and date
- Paragraphs: Indent the first line of each paragraph
- Research: Use at least 2 reliable sources and cite them properly
The Three Cases
What Was This Case About?
Homer Plessy, a man of mixed race, was arrested in Louisiana for sitting in a "whites only" train car. He challenged the state law that required racial segregation in public transportation.
The Court's Decision
The Supreme Court ruled 7-1 that segregation was legal as long as the separate facilities were "equal." This became known as the "separate but equal" doctrine.
Key Facts
Why It Matters
Plessy v. Ferguson was one of the most harmful Supreme Court decisions in U.S. history. It created a legal framework for racial discrimination and segregation. However, it also showed how unjust laws needed to be challenged—which is exactly what happened with Brown v. Board of Education 58 years later.
What Was This Case About?
Linda Brown, a third-grader in Kansas, wasn't allowed to attend an all-white school near her home. Instead, she had to take a long bus ride to a segregated school. Her parents, with help from the NAACP, sued the school board.
The Court's Decision
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously (9-0) that "separate but equal" was unconstitutional. The Court said segregation in schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Schools must be desegregated.
Key Facts
Why It Matters
Brown v. Board of Education was a turning point for civil rights. It showed that the Supreme Court could enforce the Constitution to protect equality. Though integration wasn't automatic or easy, this decision gave legal backing to the Civil Rights Movement and opened doors for African-American students across the country.
What Was This Case About?
Richard Loving, a white man, and Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, fell in love and got married in Washington D.C. in 1958. When they returned to Virginia to live with Mildred's family, they were arrested because Virginia had a law banning interracial marriage.
The Court's Decision
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously (9-0) that laws banning interracial marriage were unconstitutional. The Court said the laws violated both the Equal Protection Clause AND the Due Process Clause. People have the right to marry who they love, regardless of race.
Key Facts
Why It Matters
Loving v. Virginia affirmed that individual freedom—the right to marry whom you choose—is protected by the Constitution. The case showed that laws based on racial discrimination have no place in America. The decision continues to protect the rights of all couples today, including same-sex couples.
Grading Rubric
Your essay will be graded on five categories:
| Category | Exceptional: 19-20 | Excellent: 17-18 | Good/Fair: 11-16 | Poor: 0-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis & Organization | Clear thesis stating significance with compelling reason. Well-organized with introduction, body, and conclusion. Logical flow. | Thesis addresses significance. Organized with introduction, body, and conclusion. Most ideas in logical order. | Thesis may be unclear. Organization somewhat unclear. Some ideas may be out of order. | No clear thesis or weak thesis. Difficult to follow. Ideas seem disorganized. |
| Evidence & Support | Multiple specific facts from reliable sources. Evidence strongly supports all points. Quotes are smoothly integrated and cited. | Relevant facts support main points. Evidence mostly well-integrated. Most quotes/paraphrases are cited. | Some facts but may lack specificity. Some evidence may not clearly support points. Some citations missing. | Little use of facts and details. Evidence doesn't support points. Missing citations. |
| Voice & Style | Formal, academic tone throughout. Precise, varied word choices. Sophisticated, varied sentence structures. | Mostly formal tone. Appropriate word choices. Some sentence variety. | Tone somewhat informal at times. Functional but repetitive word choices. Limited sentence variety. | Informal or unclear tone. Simple or repetitive words. Mostly simple sentences. |
| Grammar & Mechanics | Excellent control. Few or no errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation. | Good control. Occasional errors that don't interfere with understanding. | Some control. Several errors that may affect understanding. | Frequent errors that make it difficult to understand. |
| On Time | On Time (20 pts) | 1 Day Late (-5 pts) | 2 Days Late (-10 pts) | 3+ Days Late (-15 pts) |
| TOTAL POINTS: _____ / 100 | ||||
Citations & Plagiarism
This section explains what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, and how to use sources properly. Academic integrity means doing your own honest work.
What Is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is using someone else's words or ideas without giving them credit. It's a form of academic dishonesty that can have serious consequences—including a failing grade or disciplinary action.
Plagiarism includes:
- Copying text word-for-word from a source without quotation marks
- Paraphrasing (rewriting) someone's ideas without citing the source
- Using ideas that aren't common knowledge without crediting the source
- Copying from another student's work
- Using AI (like ChatGPT) to write your essay instead of writing it yourself
- Mixing your own words with a source's words without proper citation
About Using AI to Write Your Essay
❌ DO NOT use AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, etc.) for this assignment.
This is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty. The goal of this assignment is for YOU to:
- Learn about these important court cases
- Develop your research skills
- Practice your writing skills
- Understand how to use sources correctly
- Form your own opinions and arguments
How to Paraphrase Correctly
Paraphrasing means rewriting someone's ideas in your own words. It's a great way to show you understand the material. However, you STILL need to cite where the idea came from!
Steps for paraphrasing:
- Read the original sentence carefully
- Close the book or look away from the screen
- Write the idea in your own words and sentence structure
- Check that your version is significantly different from the original
- Add a citation to show where the idea came from
Paraphrasing Examples
❌ PLAGIARISM - Too similar to original
Original source: "The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment."
Your writing (WRONG): The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. ("Brown v. Board of Education")
⚠️ This is just copying the source with a citation. This is NOT a paraphrase.
✓ CORRECT - Proper paraphrase with citation
Original source: "The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment." ("Brown v. Board of Education")
Your writing (RIGHT): The 1954 Brown decision determined that keeping schools segregated by race violated the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law ("Brown v. Board of Education").
✓ This uses different words and sentence structure while keeping the same meaning. The source is cited using the article title in parentheses.
❌ PLAGIARISM - No citation
Original source: "Anti-miscegenation laws had existed in the United States since colonial times." ("Loving V. Virginia: Banished for Love").
Your writing (WRONG): Interracial marriage had been illegal throughout American history, starting from the colonial period.
⚠️ Even though you changed the words, there's no citation. This is plagiarism because you're using someone else's idea without credit.
✓ CORRECT - Paraphrase with citation
Original source: "Anti-miscegenation laws had existed in the United States since colonial times."
Your writing (RIGHT): Laws forbidding people of different races from marrying have been part of America since the earliest colonial settlements ("Loving v. Virginia: Banished for Love").
✓ Different sentence structure + includes the source using the article title. This is proper paraphrasing.
How to Quote Correctly
A direct quote means copying someone's exact words. Use quotation marks and ALWAYS cite the source.
When to use quotes:
- When the source uses powerful or unique language
- When it's a famous statement you want to highlight
- When the exact wording is important
- Don't overuse quotes—most of your essay should be paraphrasing and your own words
How to use a quote:
- Copy the exact words from the source
- Put quotation marks (") around the words
- Introduce the quote (According to ______ / As _____ writes)
- Always include a citation
Quoting Examples
❌ PLAGIARISM - No quotation marks or citation
Your writing (WRONG): Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered the unanimous decision of the court, declaring that under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the state.
⚠️ These are Chief Justice Warren's exact words, but they're not in quotation marks and there's no citation.
✓ CORRECT - Proper direct quote
Your writing (RIGHT): According to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Earl Warren's majority opinion stated that "the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the state" ("Loving v. Virginia").
✓ Quote is in quotation marks with a signal phrase. The citation uses the case name in quotation marks.
❌ TOO MANY QUOTES - Over-quoting
Your writing (WRONG): "The Supreme Court ruled unanimously (9-0) that separate but equal was unconstitutional." "The Court said segregation in schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment." "Schools must be desegregated." ("Brown v. Board of Education")
⚠️ Too many direct quotes. Where is YOUR voice and understanding? Paraphrase most of it.
✓ CORRECT - Mix of paraphrase and quotes
Your writing (RIGHT): In the 1954 Brown decision, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected the "separate but equal" doctrine and determined that segregation in schools violated the Equal Protection Clause. The justices recognized that racial separation was inherently unequal and harmful, and they ruled that schools must be desegregated ("Brown v. Board of Education").
✓ Mostly your own paraphrasing with one powerful short quote. The citation uses the case name in quotation marks.
How to Embed Quotes with Signal Phrases
A signal phrase introduces a quote and tells the reader who said it. Always use a signal phrase before your quote—never plop a quote in without context!
Common signal phrases:
- According to [source/author]...
- [Author] writes...
- [Author] states that...
- As [source] explains...
- The article claims...
- In the opinion of [author]...
- To illustrate, [source] notes...
- For example, [author] observed...
Formula for embedding a quote:
Signal phrase + quote + (citation).
According to the Supreme Court case, "the freedom to marry resides with the individual" ("Loving v. Virginia").
In-Text Citation Guidelines
In-text citations tell your reader exactly where you found information. They appear in parentheses right after the quote or paraphrase, before the period.
Format: Use the ARTICLE TITLE or CASE NAME in quotation marks. NEVER use the website name.
("Article Title" or "Case Name")
Examples for YOUR sources:
- ("Brown v. Board of Education") — case name from OYEZ website
- ("Plessy v. Ferguson") — case name from OYEZ website
- ("Loving v. Virginia") — case name from OYEZ website
- ("Loving v. Virginia: Banished for Love") — specific article title from Library of Congress
What NOT to do:
- ❌ Do NOT use (OYEZ) or (Library of Congress) or (PBS Beyond Brown) — these are website names
- ❌ Do NOT use (National Archives) — this is an organization name
- ✓ DO use the actual title of the article, case, or page you're citing
Where to put in-text citations:
- At the end of the sentence that uses the source
- Before the period: ...information here ("Title").
- Use a citation EVERY time you paraphrase or quote
Full MLA Citation for Works Cited Page
At the end of your essay, create a "Works Cited" page with complete citations of all sources you used. List them alphabetically by author's last name (or by title if there's no author).
Full Citation Formats:
Website:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Website Name, Publisher, Date Accessed.
No author (use title):
"Title of Article." Website Name, Publisher, Date Accessed.
Examples for your sources:
"Brown v. Board of Education." OYEZ: US Supreme Court Media, oyez.org. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
"Loving v. Virginia: Banished for Love." Library of Congress, blogs.loc.gov. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
Important formatting rules for Works Cited:
- List sources in alphabetical order
- Use a hanging indent (first line at left, other lines indented)
- Double-space the entire page
- Use the same font and size as your essay
Quick Checklist: Am I Plagiarizing?
Before you submit, ask yourself:
If you checked all boxes, you're good to go! ✓
- Academic integrity means doing honest work and giving credit to sources
- Teachers can tell when work is plagiarized or AI-generated
- Your own thinking and writing are valuable—that's what we want to see!
- When in doubt, ask your teacher how to cite something
- Good research skills will help you in high school, college, and beyond
Research Resources
Use these trustworthy websites to research your chosen case. All of these are reliable sources that teachers and librarians recommend!
Plessy v. Ferguson Resources
Brown v. Board of Education Resources
Loving v. Virginia Resources
- Start with OYEZ.org to understand the case structure
- Use PBS Beyond Brown for student-friendly explanations
- Check the National Archives for official documents
- Britannica School is great for getting background information
- Keep track of where you find information so you can cite it properly
- Read at least 2 sources to get different perspectives