DefinitionEssay:EqualProtectionUndertheLaw
Readthefollowingquotations:
“NoStateshallmakeorenforceanylawwhichshallabridgetheprivilegesorimmunitiesofcitizensofthe
UnitedStates;norshallanyStatedepriveanypersonoflife,liberty,orproperty,withoutdueprocessof
law;nordenytoanypersonwithinitsjurisdictiontheequalprotectionofthelaws.”
TheFourteenthAmendmenttotheUnitedStatesConstitution,(Ratifiedin1868)
“Wherejusticeisdenied,wherepovertyisenforced,whereignoranceprevails,andwhereanyoneclass
ismadetofeelthatsocietyisanorganizedconspiracytooppress,rob,anddegradethem,neither
personsnorpropertywillbesafe.”
FrederickDouglass(AmericanSlaveandAbolitionist,1818-1895)
"Equalitybeforethelawinatruedemocracyisamatterofright.Itcannotbeamatterofcharityorof
favororofgraceorofdiscretion."
WileyRutledge(Lawyer,Judge,andUSSupremeCourtJustice,1894-1949)
“Lawsareonlyobservedwiththeconsentoftheindividualsconcerned,andamoralchangestilldepends
ontheindividualandnotonthepassageofanylaw.”
EleanorRoosevelt(AmericanSpokeswomanandFirstLady,1884-1962)
WriteanessayinwhichyoudefinethephraseEqualProtectionUndertheLaw.
BasicRequirements:
• Introductionparagraphwiththesisstatement(HINT:Thisthesisstatementwillproposeyourdefinition
ofthephraseEqualProtectionUndertheLaw.)
• 2-3bodyparagraphsthatcorrelatewithyourthesisstatementandsupportyourdefinition
• Aconcludingparagraphthatremindsmeofyourkeypointsandeffectivelyarguesyourdefinition
Asyouwriteyouressay,youmust:
• FocusondefiningtheconceptofEqualProtectionUndertheLaw.
• Effectivelyorganizeyourideasusingtheprovidedgraphicorganizer.(Afive-paragraphessayisnot
necessary;however,youdoneedadefiniteintroduction,bodyandconclusion.)
• Includeideasfromanyofthefollowingsources:
§ Thedictionaryandorpersonaldefinition
§ Synonymsandantonyms(compare/contrast)
§ Ananecdote
§ Anyideasstimulatedbytheabovequotations
§ Otherhistoricalevidence
§ Evidencefromrelevantliteraryworks
• Includeampleandappropriatedetails.
• Edityouressayforstandardgrammarandlanguageusage.
• PROOFREAD,PROOFREAD,andPROOFREAD!