Write a 250- to 500-word argumentative essay on one of the listed topics. Choose a topic that you find interesting or is somehow relevant to you:

Why are there laws limiting the freedom of speech?
Why is it important to balance majority rule with minority rights?
Is the use of civil disobedience warranted in response to laws that some people feel are unjust?
What is the correct balance between protecting the freedom of religion, maintaining the separation of church and state, and protecting people from discrimination?
In the space provided below, explain a little about the topic you’ve chosen and why you chose it. In your answer, note a time in history when this issue has come up or a current event that relates to the issue. A few resources and examples are provided below, but you are also encouraged to find and use your own sources and examples. The resources provided demonstrate only a few of the many ways that the listed topics can be interpreted.

You can use the following resources as you work through this activity:

Freedom of speech and limits on rights
Majority rule and minority rights
Majority rule versus minority rights
Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau
Civil disobedience: the Greensboro sit-in
Balancing freedom of religion with the rights of individuals