Writing Assignments
There are two writing assignments worth 100 points each. The purpose of the essays is to provide students an opportunity to discuss a key concept or topic in American politics and to show a basic understanding of academic research and reporting skills. Students should offer evidence for their arguments. Thus, submissions that are more comprehensive and detailed will earn a higher point total. Each assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. Submissions MUST include a work cited page (Note: there must be a parenthetical citation at the end of each sentence that contains information from a source). The textbook can be one of the sources included on the works cited page (sources other than the textbook may/should be used as well).
You should use New Courier or Times New Roman, 12 point font, double-spacing, and one-inch margins on all four sides of the paper. The assignment is to be formatted according to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style which includes works cited page but does NOT include a title page. Students should research this style in order to properly format the assignment (see the Purdue Online Writing Lab).
Writing Assignment 1
Select ONE of the following topics to discuss in Writing Assignment 1. The writing assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. You should use information from the textbook and outside sources to complete the assignment in the textbook. You must include a Works Cited page and in-text citations. See the Writing Assignment Instructions for more information.
Writing Assignment 1 — Topics covered in Lessons 1 and 2
The U.S. Constitution creates a federal system of government whereby powers are distributed between a national government and fifty state governments. There are times when the federal government and state governments clash over state laws that may violate federal law or federal mandates. What methods does the federal government use to get states to comply with federal mandates? What are the ways that states can resist federal mandates? Find an example of a policy conflict (such as marijuana legalization, the Affordable Care Act, voting rights, civil rights, immigration, same-sex marriage, etc.) between a state (or states) and the federal government. What were the arguments made by the federal government and states about the issue? How were their differences resolved (if it is an issue that hasn’t been resolved, what steps have been taken by each side to advance their position)?
Watch a conversation with Jeffrey Rosen (the Director of the National Constitution Center) and read the essay by William Marshall (on the Interactive Constitution website) about the expansion of presidential power. Identify and discuss the five reasons for the expansion of presidential power? The video and essay were published towards the end of the Obama Administration. Discuss each reason with respect to the Trump Administration and the Biden Administration. Have these two presidents continued the expansion of presidential power? [Be sure to provide examples.] Do you think modern presidents are becoming too powerful or do you think the expansion of power has been necessary? Make sure to explain your reasoning.
The Founding Fathers wanted the courts to be protected from politics. In what ways was the judiciary designed to limit the role of politics? Are the courts completely immune from politics in their work? Why or why not? What role does politics play in Supreme Court confirmation proceedings? Should there be term limits for federal judges, including Supreme Court justices? Why or why not?
Writing Assignment 2
Select ONE of the following topics to discuss for Writing Assignment 2. The writing assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. You should use information from the textbook and outside sources to complete the assignment in the textbook. You must include a Works Cited page and in-text citations. See the Writing Assignment Instructions for more information.
Writing Assignment 2 — Topics covered in Lessons 3 and 4
Find three polls on the same issue (for example, the death penalty, marijuana legalization, same-sex marriage, or any other policy topic) from three different time periods (such as the 1990s, the 2000s, and the 2010s). The polls MUST be about policy issues (not about a politician, candidate, or election campaign). Compare the polls by type (internet, phone), sample size, and the wording of the questions. Have the attitudes reflected in the polls concerning that issue changed or stayed relatively the same? If the polls show that attitudes have changed, what are some of the reasons for that change? [Hint: Pew Research and Gallup are good sources for public opinion data on policy issues.]
Read “In past elections U.S. trailed most countries in voter turnout.” How does the United States rank in voter turnout when compared to other developed democracies? According to your textbook, what are some of the causes of low voter turnout in the United States? Do you think it is important to have a high voter turnout? Why or why not? Discuss at least two ways to increase voter turnout. You should discuss proposals that are either being used in some states (or other countries) or have been proposed by voting rights advocates seeking to increase turnout in the United States. How successful have these proposals been at increasing turnout? Would these proposals actually increase turnout around the U.S. or would people resist the proposals you have discussed? Why or why not?
Current event paper (topic chosen by the student and approved by instructor): The purpose of this assignment is for students to provide their perspective on a domestic or foreign policy issue (for example, trade, cost of prescriptions drugs, military intervention, economic sanction, etc.). Students will prepare a summary and analysis of a current policy issue in American government. The issue must be reported in a news story during the term of the course (this news story is one of the sources you will use for the paper). A deeper understanding of the issue can be developed by reading additional articles or information on the topic. You must cite your reference (news story), as well as any other sources from which you use information in the writing assignment. The selected topic must be submitted to the instructor to ensure that it is appropriate for your analysis.
