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Skill Development: Independent Internet Search

Skill Reading: Search Engines. Explore search engines at: http://www.twics.com/~takakuwa/search/usa/index.html

Discussion Content: Getting Started: Law and the First Stages of Life.

Search and Reading Assignment: 1) Find and read the complete text of ROE v. WADE, 410 U.S. 113 (1973) and PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF S.E. PENNSYLVANIA V. CASEY, 505 U.S. 833 (1992). 2) Then, find information (at least 2 sites) on some other legal issue surrounding the first stages of life (possibilities include, but are not limited to: who may be a parent? [gays & lesbians? Post-menopausal women? Surrogacy issues?] Who has control over life? [women? Men? Both?] May life be sold? [sperm & egg banks, infant adoptions] Do young children have rights? What is the current law on cloning?)

Writing Assignments: Please note that there are two short assignments due this week. 1) Answer the following two questions in a full one or two page statement: A) Based on your reading of ROE v. WADE and PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF S.E. PENNSYLVANIA V. CASEY, does the law suggest when life begins? B) In ROE v. WADE and PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF S.E. PENNSYLVANIA V. CASEY, how does the Court attempt to reconcile the conflict between liberty and order? (Be sure and fully cite your web source(s) for both cases). E-mail responses due by Tuesday, October 1 at 6P.M.

2) Write a two page essay discussing the information you've found on your additional "first stage" issue. (Be sure and fully cite your web sources; which search engine(s) did you use?)

For proper legal citation, see http://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/citation.table.html E-mail responses due by Thursday, October 3 at 6P.M.

WebChat: See assignment on WebChat, Week of September 30. Your WebChat contribution must be submitted by Saturday, October 5 at midnight.

Cross-Campus Research: Continue discussing possible subtopics with your partners. By the end of the week, you should agree upon no fewer than two and no more than four potential project topics. Submit your list of 2-4 to your instructor via e-mail no later than Friday, October 4. All group members should be included on the mailing. (Note: Be sure you agree on the potential topics. You should all be submitting identical lists to your respective instructors.) We will submit to you comments on the appropriateness of your research topics by Wednesday, October 9th. You should immediately contact one another to discuss our comments for the purpose of arriving at a single agreed upon topic. Also, you should begin discussing your supplementary project.

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Last Updated:  10/02/02