Analyzing Tinker v. Des Moines Majority Opinion

How do the use of factual recounting and references to legal precedent in the Tinker v. Des Moines majority opinion strengthen the Court’s argument?

• They establish a clear timeline while highlighting public reactions.

• They connect real events to broader constitutional principles.

• They emphasize the potential for widespread disruption in schools.

• They focus on individual student actions as isolated incidents.

Answer explanation

The majority opinion uses factual recounting of the students’ peaceful protest alongside references to legal precedents, such as Burnside v. Byars, to demonstrate that the protest did not materially disrupt the school environment. This combination reinforces the argument that the students’ actions were protected under the First Amendment, aligning real-life events with established legal standards. The distractors either misrepresent the purpose of the structures or fail to address their combined impact on the argument.

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ELA.10.R.2.1

How does the majority opinion in Tinker v. Des Moines develop the central idea of protecting student free speech?

• By showing how student protests can disrupt learning environments.

• By explaining that free speech applies only to specific contexts in schools.

• By arguing that fear of controversy cannot justify suppressing expression.

• By emphasizing that schools must maintain strict authority over students.

Answer explanation

The majority opinion develops the central idea of protecting student free speech by asserting that the First Amendment extends to students and that fear of potential disruption or controversy is insufficient grounds to suppress their rights. This is supported through analysis of legal precedents and the acknowledgment that the armband protest was peaceful and non-disruptive. The distractors misinterpret the opinion’s stance or focus on irrelevant points.

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ELA.10.R.2.2

How does the majority opinion in Tinker v. Des Moines develop its purpose of affirming students’ First Amendment rights?

• By highlighting the disruptive nature of student protests in schools.

• By referencing legal precedents to justify the armbands as symbolic speech.

• By focusing on administrative authority to restrict student expression.

• By dismissing the role of schools in fostering open dialogue.

Answer explanation

The majority opinion develops its purpose by citing legal precedents such as Burnside v. Byars and Terminiello v. Chicago, framing the students’ use of black armbands as protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment. This reasoning connects the students’ actions to broader constitutional principles, reinforcing the argument that their expression should not have been suppressed. The distractors either misrepresent the Court's reasoning or contradict its conclusions.

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ELA.10.R.2.3

Why is the claim that the armband protest did not disrupt school operations effective and valid in the majority opinion of Tinker v. Des Moines?

• It is supported by evidence of violence among students.

• It relies on hypothetical examples of potential disruptions.

• It emphasizes the school’s fear of broader controversies.

• It highlights the peaceful nature of the students’ actions.

Answer explanation

The claim is effective and valid because the majority opinion provides evidence that the students’ protest was silent, passive, and non-disruptive, with no substantial interference in school operations. This aligns with the Court’s argument that the armbands represented constitutionally protected symbolic speech. The distractors mischaracterize the evidence or focus on irrelevant aspects of the case.

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ELA.10.R.2.4

How does the phrase "enclaves of totalitarianism" contribute to the mood in the Tinker v. Des Moines majority opinion?

• It creates a mood of fear by warning against excessive school control.

• It fosters a mood of optimism by praising the role of schools in democracy.

• It establishes a mood of neutrality by presenting schools as impartial spaces.

• It conveys a mood of indifference toward student freedoms.

Answer explanation

The phrase "enclaves of totalitarianism" evokes a sense of fear by drawing a stark comparison between schools and oppressive regimes. This dramatic imagery warns of the dangers of suppressing student rights and underscores the importance of preserving freedoms in educational spaces. The other options misrepresent the mood or the intent of the figurative language.

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ELA.10.R.3.1

How does the use of ethical appeals (ethos) strengthen the majority opinion in Tinker v. Des Moines?

• By highlighting the potential for widespread disruption in schools.

• By appealing to emotions with examples of student punishment.

• By invoking legal precedents to support the protection of free speech.

• By emphasizing the need for uniformity in school policies.

Answer explanation

The majority opinion uses ethical appeals by citing legal precedents, such as Burnside v. Byars and Terminiello v. Chicago, to establish credibility and legitimacy in arguing that the students’ actions were constitutionally protected. This reinforces the Court’s position as grounded in established law and principles of justice. The distractors misrepresent the use of ethos or focus on irrelevant aspects of the opinion.

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ELA.10.R.3.4

11. In paragraph 7, the text says "..the school authorities had reason to anticipate that the wearing of the armbands would substantially interfere with the work of the school or impinge upon the rights of other students." Based on the prefix im- meaning in or on, in this sentence impinge means

• To improve or enhance.

• To have an effect on or intrude upon.

• To move away from or avoid.

• To protect or safeguard.

Answer explanation

The prefix im- meaning "in" or "on" suggests that impinge involves pressing or acting on something. In this context, the word means to intrude upon or negatively affect the rights of other students. The other choices misinterpret the meaning of impinge based on its prefix and usage in the sentence.

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ELA.10.V.1.2

How does the word "collision" in the phrase "collision with the rights of other students" (paragraph 3) contribute to the connotation in the majority opinion?

• It conveys the inevitability of differing opinions in a democracy.

• It emphasizes the potential for significant disruption in schools.

• It implies a minor disagreement about the scope of free speech.

• It suggests a sense of violent conflict between students' rights.

Answer explanation

The word "collision" carries a connotation of forceful or sudden impact, which highlights the seriousness of potential conflicts between students' rights. This choice of word underscores the Court's argument that such conflicts did not occur in this case, reinforcing the idea that the students' actions were peaceful and non-disruptive. The distractors either downplay the intensity suggested by "collision" or misinterpret its contextual significance.

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ELA.10.V.1.3