8th Grade Leap Prep - Which Civil Rights Leader Was Most Influential?
This assignment explores the influence of major civil rights leaders through short biographies, a head-to-head evidence tournament, and a written paragraph. Students will read about each leader, compare their impacts, and use evidence to support their conclusions.
Group 1
Source 1.1
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a minister and leader of the Civil Rights Movement who believed in nonviolent protest. He helped organize events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, where he delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech. His leadership helped bring national attention to racial injustice and influenced the passage of major civil rights laws.
Source 1.2
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist whose refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her quiet act of resistance inspired mass protest and showed how individual actions could create widespread change.
Source 1.3
Malcolm X
Malcolm X was a powerful speaker who emphasized Black pride, self-defense, and independence. He challenged African Americans to demand equality and inspired many people who felt frustrated with slow progress. His ideas influenced later civil rights and social justice movements.
Source 1.4
John Lewis
John Lewis was a leader in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and participated in major events such as the Selma marches. He was arrested and beaten for his activism but continued to fight for equality. Later, he served in Congress, where he worked to protect voting rights.
Source 1.5
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer who fought segregation through the courts. He argued the Brown v. Board of Education case, which ended legal segregation in public schools. Marshall later became the first African American Supreme Court justice.
Question 1a
How did Martin Luther King Jr. influence the Civil Rights Movement?
Question 1b
How did Rosa Parks influence the Civil Rights Movement?
Question 1c
How did Malcom X influence the Civil Rights Movement?
Question 1d
How did John Lewis influence the Civil Rights Movement?
Question 1e
How did Thurgood Marshall. influence the Civil Rights Movement?
Group 2
Extended Response: Write an extended response to the prompt.
Make sure to include:
Claim: Write a clear claim that answers the question.
Evidence: Choose evidence from the sources and your social studies knowledge to support your claim.
Reasoning: Explain how your evidence supports your claim and why it matters.
Question 2a
Which civil rights leader was the most influential?
Teach with AI superpowers
Why teachers love Class Companion
Import assignments to get started in no time.
Create your own rubric to customize the AI feedback to your liking.
Overrule the AI feedback if a student disputes.