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During the semester, I shall post course material and students will comment on it. Students are also free to comment on any aspect of American politics, either current or historical. There are only two major limitations: no coarse language, and no derogatory comments about people at the Claremont Colleges. This blog is on the open Internet, so post nothing that you would not want a potential employer to see. Syllabus: http://gov20h.blogspot.com/2023/08/draft-introduction-to-american-politics.html

Monday, September 12, 2011

First Essay Assignment, Fall 2011

Pick one of the following:

1. Find a recent (since June 2011) article pointing to a problem that Publius anticipated. (You may search newspapers at news.google.com.) Explain how The Federalist sheds light on the story. In this instance, is the political system working as the Founders hoped?

2. From the assigned sections, identify a significant claim by Tocqueville that was either incorrect from the start or no longer applies to the United States.

3. Here are some current proposed amendments to the United States Constitution. Pick one, weigh the arguments for and against, and explain your position.

Whichever essay you choose, do research to document your claims. Do not write from the top of your head.

  • Essays should be typed, stapled, double-spaced, and no more than three pages long. I will not read past the third page.
  • Put your name on a cover sheet. Do not identify yourself on the text pages.
  • Cite your sources with endnotes, which should be in a standard style (e.g., Turabian or Chicago Manual of Style). Endnote pages do not count against the page limit.
  • Watch your spelling, grammar, diction, and punctuation. Errors will count against you.
  • Return essays by the start of class, Wednesday, September 21. Late essays will drop a letter grade. I will grant no extensions except for illness or emergency.

2 comments:

Stephanie Haft said...

Should our paper be titled?

Aseem Chipalkatti said...

Just as an FYI to the class - all the relevant books for this in the library are on the first floor, which is possibly the quietest part of the library, in the racks which you spin to get to the books. It's quite fun.