Paper details:
Law and Social Change
Final Essay
Guidelines
Final Essay: You are to select a research question listed and provide a response. Opinions are expected, but
must be substantiated with argumentation, which in turn must be supported with evidence. When evaluating
what you would regard as the strongest argument for or against the research question you have selected, be
sure to invoke existing arguments made by academic, legal, or political actors. There must be 10 sources at
minimum, including lecture materials, assigned and recommended course readings, and external research.
The assignment is designed to provide opportunity to explore a potential legal solution to a socio-political
phenomenon, and to explore in detail the interplay between legal reform and socio-political crisis.
Reflections must be 10 pages, including footnotes. A title page and a reference list are additionally expected,
and must be formatted in McGill Style. All references must be formatted in McGill Style. The text must be 12-
point, TNR font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins, and no extra spaces between paragraphs. Section
headings are permissible. Introductions must include a central thesis in response to the question prompt
selected, and an outline of the argument to follow.
Essays must be uploaded electronically, to two separate Blackboard drop boxes. The first, a Turn It In
dropbox, will be available in advance of the assignment deadline. Students will have access to their originality
report, and are encouraged to upload prior to the deadline to read their originality report. For the second,
reflections must be uploaded in the standard Blackboard assignment dropbox for evaluation.
RESEARCH QUESTION
Research Question 4: Explain Omar Khadr’s case against the federal government of Canada and subsequent
settlement. Explain and evaluate what is in your estimation the strongest argument against the Khadr ruling
and settlement. In your evaluation, consider in particular the extent to which the Canadian legal system is,
and should be, informed or impacted by shifts in social values as embodied by political movements and
actors.
Sub-questions
1. What was Omar Khadr’s experience at war, in Guantanamo Bay, and in the American court system?
2. On what grounds did Khadr pursue a legal challenge against the government of Canada?
3. What was the ruling of the case, and the reasoning for the settlement?
4. In your estimation, was the Supreme Court of Canada correct in its assessment?
5. What position has the Conservative party taken while in government, and in reaction to the settlement?
6. What is public sentiment regarding the settlement?
7. Did the Supreme Court of Canada or the Government have any responsibility to acknowledge and act on
public opposition to a ruling or settlement in Khadr’s favour?
FINAL ESSAY RUBRIC
Category
Comment
Grade
Comprehension:
-Does the student demonstrate understanding of their research and course themes?
-Does the student demonstrate understanding of assignment aims?
15
Application:
-Does the student connect to a broader conversation relevant to course themes?
-Does the student engage in sophisticated legal analysis?
15
Style & Mechanics:
-Are arguments organized clearly?
-Are there grammatical errors?
-Are sources properly formatted in McGill Style?
Deductions:
-Is the assignment late?
-Does the assignment meet word limits?
-Has the assignment been submitted to Turn It In?
