POS 2041: American Politics

POS 2041: American Politics

Writing Assignment

Due Friday, April 12th in eLearning/Canvas

2 pages, double spaced, 1-inch margins.

Description of Assignment

For this assignment, you will complete a letter identifying a particular

problem/issue/controversy in contemporary American politics, stating your position on/solution

for the problem, discussing why someone might disagree with you, and defending your position.

Identify someone to whom you would send the letter in order to fix the problem you discuss and

address the letter to that person. Sending the letter is not required, but I encourage you to do so if

you wish.

In the letter, you must:

• Explain your position and the moral/ethical values behind it. Values include: liberty,

rights, justice, fairness, as examples. These are things you think are right and good.

• Explain why someone might disagree with you and identify the values behind their

position.

Students are discouraged from using outside sources. If you look up facts from sources

outside the textbook and want to mention them in your letter, include the source information

in the letter instead of a citation. Common knowledge about the issue does not require a

citation. “Common knowledge consists of facts and sayings that are well known by a large

number of people or information that is included in multiple sources.” If you are not sure

what constitutes common knowledge, please read this guide to plagiarism:

http://libguides.uwf.edu/content.php?pid=347715&si…0.

Please keep the tone and content of your message respectful and courteous and use proper

grammar. Your message should be at least two pages double-spaced (but could easily be longer)

and must contain the following components in order:

1. Brief introduction before the letter that tells me the topic of the letter, the chapter that it

relates to, the name of the person to whom it is directed, and the reason for choosing this

person. I need to see this, but if you submit the letter to a newspaper or politician remove

this part before doing so.

2. Name and address of the recipient.

3. Brief personal introduction.

4. Brief introduction to the issue.

5. Explanation of your position connected to core ethical beliefs or values.

6. Explanation of objections to your position, the core ethical beliefs or values of people

who disagree with your position.

7. An argument/explanation of why you think you position is correct

8. A thank you to the recipient of the letter.