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Step-by-Step Instructions

Click on the Steps below in order for specific instructions. 

STEP 1: Assign Roles

STEP 2: Create Concept Map

STEP 3: Research & Share

Ask a quick question!

STEP 4: Briefing Paper

STEP 5: Meet with Rep. Hewes

STEP 6: Bus-Stop-Issue Ad

Step 1 (Process)

STEP 1:
Assign Roles

First, each SpIT squad has their own unique name. What is yours?

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Second, each member of SpIT has specialized roles. Collaborate with each other to assign both a research role and a functional lead role to each team member. See below for the different roles and descriptions. All roles must be assigned. Only one member per role. 

​Research Roles

  • Pro-Researcher: Research the reasons to implement the right to be forgotten in the United States.

  • Anti-Researcher: Research the reasons to block any implementation of the right to be forgotten in the United States.

  • Subject-Matter Expert: Research how Google and Bing implement the right to be forgotten.

  • Free Speech Expert: Research how the right to be forgotten may infringe upon free speech and violate the First Amendment of the Constitution.

​Functional Lead Roles

  • Concept-Mapping Lead: Responsible for creating the team’s concept map in coordination with the rest of the team.

  • Briefing-Paper Lead: Responsible for creating the team’s briefing paper for the Representative in coordination with the rest of the team.

  • Bus-Stop-Ad Lead: Responsible for creating the team’s issue ad in coordination with the rest of the team.

  • Revision/Feedback Coordinator: Responsible for taking notes when the team receives any feedback, ensuring the team considers the feedback in subsequent work on the WebQuest, and revising the briefing paper in coordination with the rest of the team.

Share your SpIT squad name and team roles

(enter them in the linked Google doc)

Step 2 (Process)

STEP 2:
Concept Map

It's time to brainstorm! Together your SpIT squad needs to think through the issues related to the right to be forgotten. To do this your team will create a concept map about the right to be forgotten and related issues using a digital tool.

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The Concept Map Lead should coordinate this task. Your SpIT squad should attempt to reach agreement on the concept map, but if you cannot, the concept map should be inclusive and reflect the ideas of all team members. 


Your concept map should address:

  • The specific issue/question: "Should the United States adopt the right to be forgotten available in the EU?"

    • Potential reasons to adopt the right to be forgotten 

    • Potential reasons to oppose the right to be forgotten 

  • What types of information you should look for

    • Where you might find that information

  • What factors are important in deciding the question?

  • Any other issues or questions that the team believes need to be addressed.

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In considering the above questions, think about​

  • The importance of privacy in this decision​

    • ​What should people be able to keep private even though it has already been publicly disclosed?

    • What should the public have a right to know about someone​?

  • Should it matter that the information is accurate?​

  • If the United States were to adopt the right to be forgotten, what should the rules be about what can be "forgotten"? What are the factors to consider?

    • What types of information should be allowed to be "forgotten"? Or not be allowed to be "forgotten"?​

  • Who should decide what information is "forgotten" ?

    • Who would decide what factors to consider?​

    • Who would decide on whether each request should be granted?

    • Should this be the companies? The courts? ​Someone else?

  • How this will impact using search engines and the internet in general?

    • Does it make using the internet better/worse​​​​​?

  • What problems might the right to be forgotten cause?​

  • Is the EU the only place with the right to be forgotten?

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See the rubric on the Operation Lethe: Evaluation page to see how the concept map will be graded.

Use one of these digital tools to make your concept map

Check out this example using MindMup on a different issue.  Click on the image to open a PDF file.

concept map.png

When your concept map is complete, submit it using the form below to Chief of Staff Hamish Ovechkin. He will turn it around quickly with feedback.

Provide a link to your concept map OR

upload a copy as an image or PDF file. You only need to do one.

OR

When your SpIT squad receives feedback on its concept map, the Revision/Feedback Coordinator needs to make sure all members of the team receive it. The Revision/Feedback Coordinator should identify any feedback that particular research roles should pay attention to. 

Step 3 (Process)

STEP 3:
Research & Share

Part A. Research.

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Now that the concept map is done, the next step is researching the question and building your individual expertise in your roles of Pro-Researcher, Anti-Researcher, Subject-Matter-Expert, and Free Speech Expert. Then you will share what you learn with each other.

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Each team member should review the materials in the relevant section of the Operation Lethe: Resources page. Make sure to note information you learn that is relevant to the ideas in your concept map, including any feedback on the concept map. You will need it for the team discussion and the briefing paper the team will draft for Rep. Hewes. 

Part B. Share. Meet with your SpIT squad after reviewing the research and decide on a recommendation.

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At this meeting, you have the following goals:

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  1. Share with each other what you learned in your research and answer each others' questions.

  2. Talk through the issues you identified in your concept map, taking into account any feedback on the map (Revision/Feedback Coordinator). Consider what the right to be forgotten is, the reasons to and the reasons not to adopt the right to be forgotten, and implications for privacy and free speech, making sure to discuss the positive and negative. All members of the team should have an opportunity to share their thoughts. ​

  3. After your discussion, use consensus to reach agreement on your team's position/ recommendation for Rep. Hewes on whether the United States should adopt the right to be forgotten. (This is your SpIT's take. 😊)​ Make sure to use consensus to decide on your recommendation:

    • Consensus is a way of reaching agreement within a group. It is not simply taking a vote and going wa majority both, but a consensus agreement is one that everyone on the team can support (or at least live with).​

    • To reach a consensus, it is important that everyone has an opportunity to share their views, all ideas are explored, and then discussing a proposed answer. 

    • For more on consensus. see this brief guide on reaching consensus.

On the question of whether the United States should adopt the right to be forgotten, you basically have three options:

  • Yes, as implemented in the EU

  • Yes, but with changes (You will also have to decide on what changes)

  • Not at all

 

At then end of the meeting, the team will then turn to writing the briefing paper for Rep. Hewes. The first step should be to parcel out the drafting of paragraphs and bullet points among the team members to take advantage of their research expertise. The Briefing-Paper Lead should coordinate this effort, and the Revision/Feedback Coordinator should remind people of the relevant feedback received in relation to the team's concept map. More detail on the briefing paper is in Step 4.

Step 4 (Process)

STEP 4:
Briefing Paper

The team will now collaborate to draft the briefing paper for Rep. Hewes explaining the right to be forgotten and your recommendation. After you deliver the briefing paper to Rep. Hewes and she has a chance to read it, you will meet with her to discuss (Step 5). The Briefing-Paper Lead should coordinate this effort and is responsible for putting the final paper together and submitting it to Rep. Hewes.

 

The briefing paper should meet the following requirements

  1. Memo format

  2. Include references—a list of the materials you rely upon—with citations to them. Use APA style.

  3. 500–1500 words in length.

    • This will be about 2–3 pages, single-spaced.

    • The short length will help you understand the level of detail to include.​

  4. Include 

    • A clear and brief statement of the question and your team's recommended answer.

    • A brief description of what the right to be forgotten is and how it is implemented by Google and Microsoft in the EU.

    • A clear and brief statement of the question and your team's recommended answer.

    • A brief description of what the right to be forgotten is, how it is implemented in the EU, how Google and Microsoft handle requests, and what type of information can be “forgotten.”

    • A fuller statement of your team’s recommendation and why you are making this recommendation.

      • Include at least 3 supporting reason

      • Include at least 3 supporting facts drawn from your research with appropriate citations

      • If you are recommending adoption of the right to be forgotten, but with changes from how it is implemented in the EU, you need to explain the changes you would recommend.

    • Identify at least 2 opposing arguments​

      • Include at least 1 supporting fact drawn from your research with appropriate citations

    • Recommend how Rep. Hewes should deal with the opposing arguments.

      • Think about how she would respond to a question from a reporter.

    • If you like, you can deal with opposing arguments and responses in Q&A format.

      • The question poses the opposing argument in a way asking Rep. Hewes what she thinks about the issue. ​

      • The proposed answer is what you believe Rep. Hewes should say in response to the question.

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​​​​See the rubric on the Operation Lethe: Evaluation page to see how the briefing paper will be graded.

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You may work in the word processor that you prefer. The Briefing-Paper Lead should then submit the paper using the form below, either uploading a Word or PDF file or providing a link to a Google Doc, making sure that it can be accessed.​

Submit your Briefing Paper for Rep. Hewes

Upload your briefing paper (in Word or PDF) OR provide a link to a Google Doc (make sure it can be accessed). You only need to do one.

OR

Step 5 (Process)

STEP 5:
Meet with Rep. Hewes

Now that you have submitted your Briefing Paper, your SpIT squad will need to meet with Rep. Hewes and Chief of Staff Ovechkin to explain your recommendation and answer any questions, receive feedback on your recommendation, and share your preliminary ideas for your bus-stop-issue ad (Step 6). Based on feedback, your team will also need to revise your briefing paper.

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Part A. Meeting with Rep. Hewes

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Before the meeting, the team needs to talk through ideas for the bus-stop-issue ad. The Bus-Stop-Ad Lead should coordinate this discussion. The team should also talk about what you want to emphasize at the meeting in support of your recommendation—for example, what is your strongest argument.

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At the meeting (about 10 minutes), you should be prepared to explain, and answer questions about:

  • The right to be forgotten and how it is implemented in the EU

  • Your recommendation and supporting reasons and facts

  • Opposing arguments and any support for them

  • Which arguments are the strongest

  • How Rep. Hewes should respond to opposing arguments

  • Share your preliminary ideas about the the Bus-Stop Issue Ad. 

Whoever has the relevant expertise should lead the response to a particular question, but others should also be prepared to share their thoughts.

 

The Revision/Feedback Coordinator should take notes for the team and share them with the team after the meeting.​​​​

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Part B. Revising Briefing Paper & Prepping for Bus-Stop-Issue Ad.
 

After the meeting with Rep. Hewes, the team should come together to address 2 items:

  1. Agree on the substance of any changes to the briefing paper based on feedback at the meeting. The Revision/Feedback Coordinator should coordinate this and is responsible for submitting the revised briefing paper. It is due with the bus-stop-issue ad and will be used for the final grade on the briefing paper. 

  2. Come to agreement on the idea for the bus-stop-issue ad. The Bus-Stop-Ad Lead should coordinate this.

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See the section of the rubric related to the briefing paper on the Operation Lethe: Evaluation page to see how the meeting and revised briefing paper will be graded.

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Step 6 (Process)

STEP 6:
Bus-Stop-Issue Ad

Op. Lethe Example Save your Mother & Your Wallett.png

Example of a bus stop ad on charging cords.

It's now time to put your recommendation into action. Led by the Bust-Stop-Ad Lead, your SpIT squad must now design an advertisement to support your recommendation to Rep. Hewes that can be run at bus stops in her congressional district, where it seems everyone rides the bus. Your ad should be designed to persuade viewers to agree with your recommendation. A kludgy example on the charging cord issue is on the left—"Save your Mother & Your Wallett [sic]."

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Your bus-stop-issue ad should meet the following requirements:

  • No more than 50 words of text.

  • Issue and your position on it should be clear from viewing the ad

  • Include 2 or more graphic elements

  • Include relevant supporting information that strongly supports your position

  • Grabs the attention of someone walking by

  • No video, but simple animation (e.g., flipping between a few illustrations) is okay, but not required. (Many bus stops now have digital screens to show ads, making this possible.)​​

​​Use one of these digital tools to make your bus-stop-issue ad.​​

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​​​See the rubric on the Operation Lethe: Evaluation

page to see how the bus-stop-issue ad will be graded.

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Once you have completed your add, please submit it below. Please go to the Conclusion for one last thing. 

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Submit your Bus-Stop-Issue Ad

and Revised Briefing Paper

Upload image file of ad (e.g., png, .jpg, or PDF) and Word of PDF file of revised briefing paper

OR

provide a link to the ad and a link to the Google Doc of the revised briefing paper (make sure they can be accessed).


You only need to do one or the other

for the ad and the revised briefing paper.

OR

Go to the Conclusion for one last thing.

© 2024 Matthew C. Hammond

© 2024 by Matthew Hammond. All rights reserved.

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