Third Writing Assignment, Fall 2016

Pick one:

1. Forecast the outcome of the presidential election. Make predictions about the popular and electoral vote. You need not go into detail about every state, but do explain how you think key battleground states will vote. Go to http://www.270towin.com and put together your map. Print your map and attach it to the paper. (It will not count against the page limit.) In your essay, take account of voting history, current polls, and forecasting models.
2. Write up a case study of Alinsky tactics.  Pick a political group that has followed the advice that Alinsky spelled out in Rules for Radicals.  Has it accomplished its goals?  If so, why?  If not, why not.
3. You may play a part in the simulation, (schedule here) as an interest-group representative or administration official. (Please let me know by COB tomorrow -- Oct 20 -- if you plan to do so.) In your paper, explain what you were trying to accomplish in the simulation.  What policy stand were you advocating, and what did you do to achieve your goal?  Compare your role to that of your real-life counterpart.  What are the top goals of this individual or organization?  What strategies and tactics does this person or group employ?  Explain how the outcome of the presidential election could change these strategies and tactics.

• Assignments should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than four pages long. Use 12-point type and one-inch margins.  I will not read past the fourth page.
• Cite your sources with endnotes, which should be in standard Turabian format.
• Endnote pages do not count against the page limit. 
• Watch your spelling, grammar, diction and punctuation. Errors will count against you.
• Return assignments to the class Sakai dropbox (in Word format, not pdf) by 11:59 PM, November 4. Essays will drop one gradepoint for one day’s lateness and a full grade for two or more days’ lateness. I will grant no extensions except for illness or emergency.