Self-study
The following passage was adapted from an article published in 1998.
P1
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Introduce topic ·
Mayan lawsuit seeking protection of Mayan rights
Belize allowed logging on lands occupied by Mayans.
P2
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Basis of lawsuit ·
Common law and international law
Common law ·
Based on custom and precedent from analogous cases
Reliance on other jurisdictions ·
Mayans’ argument relies on other jurisdictions, since courts in Belize haven’t ruled on indigenous rights
This approach is consistent with the custom of courts in Belize.
P3
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International law ·
Indigenous rights are also based on norms of the world community
As an example, the high court of Australia recognized these rights as protected by the ICCPR.
Author’s opinion ·
Belize’s courts should also look to the ICCPR
P4
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Author’s conclusion ·
There should be a presumption in favor of recognizing indigenous rights in Belize
Belize is free to decide differently from other jurisdictions regarding indigenous rights, but they shouldn’t.
Passage Style
Single position
19.
The author would be most ██████ ██ █████ ████ ███ ████████ ██ ███████ ███████████ ██ ███ ██████████ ██ ██████
a
is indicative of ███ █████████ ████████████ ██ ███████ █████████ █████████ █████████
The author never suggests there's a worldwide problem of exploitation of natural resources.
b
could not happen ██ ████ █████ ██████████ █████████████
The author doesn't comment on "most" (over half) other common-law jurisdictions and whether logging concessions would be granted in these countries.
c
might be a █████████ █████ ██ ███ ███████████ ██ ██████████ ██████ ██ ██████
Supported, because
d
is a direct ████████ ██ ███ ████████████ ██ ███ █████████ ███████ ██ ███ ██████ ████████ ██ ███ ████
The author never indicates whether Mayans have logged in Toledo or whether the concessions are a response to such logging.
e
demonstrates that the ████ ████ ██████ █████ █████████ ██████ ███ █████ ██████ ██ ██████
The author never characterizes the Mayans' legal influence as high or low in Belize. We have no idea why the government granted logging concessions or whether this was done over attempts by Mayans to influence the government's decision.