1. On your own paper, answer the following questions:
Why does your policy exist?
Which political party or parties or governmental agencies were involved in the creation of the policy?
When was the policy created?
Explain the steps taken to bring the issue to law
When? Patriot Act 2011
Where? United States
Who? U.S. Government
WHY? Terrorists attacked twin towers on 9/11
WHY? Creation of the Taliban
WHY? U.S. occupying Iraq

2. History and Background
What is it?
A telling of the story of your law from the moment the issue arose to the moment it was passed.
WHY did your issue become a law? You have to tell your reading everything you can that took place to bring your issue to law.
Laws are never needed unless there is a problem or issue already in existence- what was this problem/issue for your law.
For instance…why did Idaho create a law forbidding texting while driving?

3. Sources needed:
Data (statistics, surveys, etc.) showing how your issue has changed through time
Enough information about each individual event to accurately show the growth of the issue
No more than a 10 year difference between timeline events without an explainable reason
Recommended length:
1.5+ pages
Must cite a minimum of two sources in this section of your paper

4. Do Now…
When the bell rings, you need to exchange your completed timeline with the person next to you.
Review the person’s timeline you received. Look for the following information/problems:
Are there any gaps in the timeline exceeding ten years without explaining the gap? If so, draw attention to this gap.
Is there enough information on the timeline for you to understand the progression of the law? If not, draw attention to that.
Does the timeline have a minimum of four events listed (not including law)? If not, draw attention to that.
Does the timeline end with the creation of the law? This needs to be specific. If not, draw attention to that.

5. Writing an Introduction
You will write an introduction paragraph to your paper
This introduction should address the overall history and impact of the ISSUE, and then conclude with a final statement tying in the creation of your law.
This IS NOT revealing facts and events – just an overall look at the issue’s prevalence.
(Example Introductory Paragraph)
From the beginning of time, people have not always agreed on ideas such as religion, freedom, and types of government. Not everyone believes that all people deserve the same type of freedoms. However, sometimes people believe so strongly about certain issues that they want to spread and share the ideas to other societies. Because we cannot and will not ever agree on all issues big and small, conflict will naturally arise. With conflict comes terrorism. Terrorism has not always been such a prevalent threat or belief, but it is now something all countries must deal with. The United States answered these threats with the creation of the Patriot Act.

6. STEP BY STEP
WRITE AN INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH ABOUT YOUR TOPIC/ISSUE/IDEA/LAW
THEN, BEGIN YOUR TIMELINE. MOVE FROM THE EARLIEST DATE TO THE MOST CURRENT OR CLOSEST TO TODAY.
EACH PARAGRAPH NEEDS A TOPIC SENTENCE INTRODUCING THE EVENT YOU ARE DISCUSSING.
EACH PARAGRAPH NEEDS A CONCLUDING SENTENCE
LAST (CONCLUDING) PARAGRAPH SHOULD REVIEW YOUR LAW’S CREATION AND OVERALL IMPACT AT THE TIME.

7. A few reminders… Historical events must be chronological
Historical events MUST transition from one to another seamlessly. One event builds on another.
Time gaps MUST be addressed
Quotes support YOUR words, you don’t support the quotes.
This means you should know everything about that event before writing about it.
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
You must have 2 resources at least (usually more is necessary)