PENTAGON PAPERS

Introduction

During the late 60's and early 70's, there were the controversial issues of the Watergate Scandal and the Pentagon Papers. While creating and assigning this project we have kept many goals in mind. We want everyone you to develop a new understandIng for the Pentagon Papers and their many effects on, not just the president of the time, but American history in general. We hope to create a viable learning platform for our students, as well as clear, understandable instructions for our students to use. We hope our students participating will find out new information and will be interested by our subject and the assignment. 

Task


For this project, we have many different things we would like you to learn. First and foremost, we would like the you to learn what the PentagonPapers were. We would also like you to learn about the connection the Pentagon papers have to the Vietnam War, and American history in general. We hope you learn how the Pentagon Papers affected not only the president at the time, but the time period in general.

 The ways we hope you will achieve this, is by visitIng a few of the included websites and researching the Pentagon Papers. You will answer a number of questions on the scandal, the presidents the history and connections, and will then be asked to write an opinion article on the Pentagon Papers for a newspaper. 

Process

We would first like you to make sure you have access to a compute and/or the internet. Next, using the included websites, you are to research and review the Pentagon Papers.

http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war

(while using the link above, be sure to choose the 'Pentagon Papers' category to begin your research)

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/450326/Pentagon-Papers

http://millercenter.org/presidentialclassroom/exhibits/first-domino-nix…

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1871.html

 Please answer the following questions. 

  • What events led up to the release of the Pentagon Papers?
  • What kind of information was included in the documents?
  • What was the connection of the papers to Vietnam?
  • What was the governments reaction to the release?
  • How did the president react to the release?
  • Do you agree or disagree with the presidents reaction?

Once you have answered these questions, and believe you understand the Pentagon Papers, their effects, and connections, you are to write a one page opinion article on the Papers. The paper is to include their view on how the president reacted, what you believe could have been done differently, and if what you learned changed your perception of the government. The paper is to be in third person, one full page, double spaced, and with MLA format. 

Evaluation

 Evaluation 

Exceptional

-All points earned

Admirable

-3 points

 

Developing

-6 points

Needs Improvement

-10 points

Use of Internet

(Links Provided)

Successfully uses suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance

Usually able to use suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites without assistance

Occasionally able to use suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these

Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested Internet links and/or to navigate within these sites

Web Quests Tasks Completed

All areas of the project were addressed and handled with a high degree of sophistication. Project is interesting and completed.

The project is only partially completed. The project submitted demonstrates a moderate level of thought. (Between 75% and 100& complete.

The project is only partially completed. The project submitted demonstrates a moderate level of thought. (Between 50% and 75% complete)

The project is incomplete, and/or it is apparent that little effort went into the development of the project /and or project is less than 50% complete

Power Point/Publisher

Project Attractiveness

Makes excellent use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. to enhance the presentation.

Makes good use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. to enhance the presentation

Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. but occasionally these detract from the presentation content.

Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. but these often distract from the presentation

Time Use

Classwork time was used to work on the project. Conversations were not disruptive and focused on the work

Classwork time was used to work on the project the majority of the time. Conversations were not disruptive

Classroom time was used to work on the project the majority of the time, but conversations were often disruptive or did not focus on the work

The student did not use classroom time to work on the project the majority of the time/ and or was highly disruptive

Grammar, Format, and Spelling

The final body of work was free of grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.

The final body of work had 1-2 errors related to grammar, spelling and formatting errors.

The final body of work had 3-5 grammar  spelling, and formatting errors.

The final body of work had major grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.
Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope that you have taken away valuable information from this  project. As you have learned, the Pentagon Papers had many different effects on not just President Nixon, American history, or the American people, but the perspective many people had on the government. To this day, the Pentagon Papers and Watergate scandal are taught and analayzed in hopes that we will remember the consequences of the governments actions' and will prevent such events for occuring again.