Phase 1 - Background Information
These sites are important because they will provide basic information about the topic as a whole. Everyone should explore these sites before starting your role.

• HR 3261: Stop Online Piracy Act
• How SOPA would affect you: FAQ
• Simple Facts on SOPA & PIPA

 

Phase 2 - Roles
These roles were chosen because they each define the most important elements of SOPA. Each of you has been assigned a particular role with links and instructions below. Here are the general instructions for all of you. Please see your specific instructions and questions below.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. One or two members from each WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the webpages designated for your role. You can print out pages and underline the parts that you feel are important or cut and paste from the webpage into a word processor.

3. Remember to include the URL of the page you take information from so you can return to it and use it as a citation.

4. Focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task.

Google's Legal Department:

• Defend Our Freedom to Share
• Take Action
• Google Legal Department

 

This is where additional instructions for each group should go plus the questions they will answer.

1. Is Google in favor or against SOPA?

2. What things would Google have to change if SOPA passed?

3. What has Google done to show support for their point of view?

4. Do you think Google will still provide their services for free if SOPA passed? Why or why not?

5. How will SOPA effect the legal department (ex. job cuts, no department, etc.)?

Motion Picture Association of America's Copyright Department:

• Why MPAA is in Favor
• MPAA SOPA Blog
• MPAA Response to Blackout

Use these links to answer the questions.

1. Is MPAA in favor or against SOPA

2. What benefits would MPAA gain if SOPA passed?

3. What has MPAA done to show support for  their point of view?

4. How will SOPA effect the copyright department (ex. job cuts, no department, etc.)?

U.S Representative Lamar S. Smith:

• Top 20 Industries Contributing to Campaign
• Information on SOPA
• Author of U.S. Online Piracy Bill Vows Not to Buckle
• Lamar Smith Says He'll Keep Pushing
• Smith Proposes New Version SOPA

Use these links to answer the following questions.

1. Why is Lamar Smith pushing SOPA?

2. What were the top five industries supporting Lamar Smith?

3. Is Smith planning on changing anything to gain more support for the bill?

Phase 3 - Reaching Consensus
You have all learned about different aspects of SOPA. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the question, 'Are you in favor or against SOPA?' as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the web sites you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's response. Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the topic.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

Your Contact is: