Description
Formatting: Your paper must be typed (double-spaced, using 12-point font and 1-inch margins). Title Your Paper LastNameFirstName_Paper2. (Example: HaydelJennifer_Paper1.) Please use .docx, .doc, .rtf, or .pdf format. Options #1-3 will be 3-4 typed and double-spaced pages. See assignment details for further information about formatting Option #4. Citation and Source Information: You must use parenthetical notation and a works cited list to cite your sources. For example, if you are quoting from or borrowing an idea from section 2.1 of the textbook, you should end the sentence with (Krutz & Waskiewicz Section 2.1). Remember that you need parenthetical citation for all sources used. The sole exceptions are usage of founding documents accessible in many locations (such as the US Constitution) and references to Supreme Court cases. Use the case citation method you’ve seen from me: (example: US v. Lopez (1995)). You must include a full citation of the textbook and all outside sources at the bottom of your written paper. Example of textbook citation: Krutz, Glen and Sylvie Waskiewicz. American Government. 2nd edition. OpenStax, 21 February 2019.https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government-2e. I have included more detailed citation guidance in the “Start Here” Module. Assignment Options: You have four assignment options for your second paper. Each option addresses a different topic and a distinct angle on our course work. 1) Election 2020 Analysis. This option asks you to develop and answer an analytical question based on the results of the 2020 Election. 2) Activism Essay. This option asks you to research the biography and legacy of an influential US-based activist. 3) Civil Rights Reform Analysis. This option allows you to expand on the work you started with the civil rights discussion forum. 4) Letter to an Elected Official. This option asks you to research a specific policy issue and reach out to an appropriate representative to seek change. Note: Actually sending the letter or email is optional, but hopefully you will consider doing so. Grading Criteria for all paper options: Grammar and Organization: 5 points One tip is to try reading your paper aloud, or to have someone else read your paper and have them point out sentences that are unclear. Remember that we also have Writing, Reading, and Learning Centers who can provide virtual tutoring appointments. Citation: 5 points Please be sure to review the guidance for formal citation in the “Start Here” module. The MC Library website also has valuable citation information. MLA or APA citation format is fine; just be consistent within your paper. Explanation of Central Course Concepts: 20 points Be sure to explain key terms that you include in your paper. For example, if you discuss intersectionality, be sure to cite the Crenshaw article I provided in our work on Civil Rights. As another example, if you are arguing for reforms to the primary process, be sure to directly explain and reference the OpenStax discussion of how presidential primaries have changed. Effectiveness of Evidence to support your argument: 10 points Be sure that the evidence you cite and explain is relevant to your thesis (in paper options 1-3) or to the specific questions asked and the main point of your letter on paper option 4. It’s important to tell your reader what the evidence is and why it matters to your argument. Use of Sources: 10 points This includes usage of assigned readings and of outside sources. For all four options, you will need to use a combination of textbook, other assigned materials, and outside research. Option #1: Election 2020 Analysis Question Prompt: Develop a specific research question based on the results of the 2020 Election. For example, you could explore how the Electoral College shaped the presidential outcome, you could explore a specific campaign, such as a senatorial race, you could explore voter turnout with data that wasn’t available when you completed the voter turnout project, you could look at a specific ballot question from a state… there are hundreds of possibilities. Once you have developed your research question, answer it using journalistic sources. You also want to make direct connections to course concepts using the OpenStax textbook. Your analysis paper should be 4-5 pages and follow an academic essay format (intro with thesis, supporting body paragraphs, conclusion). Supporting Sources: ◼ You must include at least three explicit and relevant reference to the OpenStax textbook. I encourage you strongly to use more than one reference to the textbook and, when appropriate, to include other assigned materials. ◼ Conduct additional research on the results of the 2020 election. You will want to use journalistic sources like The Washington Post or The Wall Street Journal. Include least four relevant and varied sources. Option #2: Activism Essay Question Prompt: 1) Select one of the activists from the list below.* *Note: There are so many people who could be on this list. If you would like to research and write about someone not listed, please let me know in writing by 1 December. I’m happy to read about other people; I’ll just need time to prepare before grading. 2) Research and explain the following about your selected activist: Why did she/he/they decide to become politically active? What challenges have they faced within the US political system? (Activism often includes failures – we learn just as much from failures as from successes.) What impact/s have they made with their activism? 3) In addition to answering the above questions, your essay must do the following: o Use a formal academic essay format, including an introduction with thesis statement, supporting body paragraphs, and a conclusion. o Include at least three explicit and relevant references to the OpenStax textbook. You will likely find the most relevant connections in chapter 4 (civil liberties); chapter 5 (civil rights); and chapter 10 (interest groups), but you are not at all limited to those chapters. o Include at least four relevant outside sources about your selected activist and the context of their activism. Name General Time Frame of Major Public Attention Ultra-basic information Fred Hampton 1960s Chairman of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party Emma González 2018 Senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, FL – Gun control advocate Patrisse Khan-Cullors 2010s Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Frank Stephens 2010s Actor; Rights of individuals with Down Syndrome Adrian Reyna 2010s United We Dream (DREAMer advocacy) Mary Beth Tinker 1960s 1st Amendment rights; became known through Tinker v. Des Moines Simon Tam 2010s 1st Amendment rights; became known through Matal v. Tam Claudette Colvin 1955 Desegregation – refused to give up her seat on a Birmingham bus in 1955 Abigail Fisher 2008 Became known in a series of anti-affirmative action cases — Fisher v. Texas Faith Spotted Eagle 2000s Environmental and Indigenous Rights Activist Gregory Watson 1992 27th Amendment George Takei 1950s; 2000s Actor; social media icon; human rights activist Reverend William Barber 2000s Moral Mondays Movement Linda Sarsour 2010s Arab American Association of New York; Women’s March Eric Liu 1990s Former Clinton speechwriter; CEO of Citizen University Oscar López Rivera 1960s Puerto Rican independence Larry Kramer 1980s ACT UP Erica Garner 2010s Police brutality (please note that this is Erica) Patriot Guard Riders 2000s Protection of military funerals Kristen Rouse 2000s Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Dana Beyer 2000s Executive director of Gender Rights Maryland Option #3: Civil Rights Reform Analysis Question Prompt: Continue with the post that you started in our discussion forum for the week of October 19th. Conduct additional outside research, find additional connections to course concepts, and write up an analysis of the civil rights reform that you selected. (If you are particularly inspired by someone else’s post, you may use their post as a jumping off point; just be sure to state explicitly that you are conducting further research on their idea and cite their discussion post in your work.) Your analysis must do the following: o Use a formal academic essay format, including an introduction with thesis statement, supporting body paragraphs, and a conclusion. o Explain the difference between individual-level reform, institutional-level reform, and structural- reform, and connect that distinction to the reform idea/s you present and analyze. o Include at least three explicit and relevant references to the OpenStax textbook. You will likely find the most relevant connections in chapter 4 (civil liberties); chapter 5 (civil rights); and chapter 10 (interest groups), but you are not at all limited to those chapters. o Include at least four relevant outside sources about your selected activist and the context of their activism. Option #4: Writing to an Elected Official Assignment Prompt: This assignment has two parts – a background research report and a letter. Be sure to submit both (which can be done in one file or in two separate files if you prefer). 1) Prepare and submit a report of your background research. You will need to use parenthetical citation and a works cited list to reference your sources.* Your background research report must address the following: a. Identify your specific topic (i.e. issue of concern) and explain in a few brief sentences why you selected this topic. Then identify the representative to whom you will direct this letter. In order to do this, you need to decide which level of government (local, state, federal) is most directly related to your topic and then identify your representative. Include an explanatory paragraph about why you selected this representative. There are many different sources for finding your elected officials, including: https://maryland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=177afa87a67746a4ac5496b2d0 897fb7 Several students in the class live outside of Maryland. If you need assistance finding your elected officials in DC or in your state, please feel free to message me and I’ll help. b. Research that representative’s position on the issue you are writing about. This response should be 2 paragraphs. While you may use the representative’s website, find at least one supporting source that is not the created by the representative and their staff so that you don’t rely solely on their own preferred messaging. (If you were researching an important purchase, you wouldn’t rely solely on company advertising. You’d look for reviews that are not written by the company itself. Finding sources that do not come directly from the elected official is the same idea.) c. Identify an interest group that has a similar focus and research the talking points that the interest group uses. This response should be 2 paragraphs. d. Develop a specific “ask” of your representative. Explain how your research shaped your request. For example, do you want them to vote a particular way on an upcoming bill? Do you want them to meet with you to talk about the issue further? Are you hoping that they will develop legislation to respond to this issue? This response should be 2 paragraphs. **Make sure that you cite your sources formally in the background research report. 2) The letter or email for your representative. (Note that you are not required to email or send the letter, but I do encourage you to do so.) You do not need to incorporate formal citation in your letter. Informal citation is appropriate for the letter.*** ***You should review the American Psychological Association’s guide to writing your representatives. It provides helpful formatting and content tips to make an effective letter or email: https://www.apa.org/advocacy/guide/letter-email (This link is available in the assignment instructions should you have difficulty accessing it here.)
