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Class: Political Economy of Southern California

Grading Rubric:

1. Mechanics (0-3 points): correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and formatting – double spaced, 1-inch margins, paragraphs that break the assignment up into its main ideas

2. Understanding (0-4 points): readings and lecture slides relevant to the assignment’s topic are used in an appropriate, correct, and clear manner

3. Persuasion (0-3 points): states the argument being made clearly at the beginning of the assignment, and successfully convinces the reader of the argument by the end

Choose 1 of the 3 prompts below:

1. Your local State assemblymember (see here (I live in California so choose CA) to find out who yours is) is considering proposing a reform to Prop 13. He is doing this in response to some constituents’ concerns about the weaknesses of Prop 13 discussed in class.

Write a 400-500 word (about 2 pages) letter explaining a specific reform to Prop 13 that you would like to see him or her propose. Your letter should 1) demonstrate that you know what Prop 13 is, and 2) explain how your reform would solve some well-known problem with Prop 13.

2. A slow growth initiative is coming to your city, threatening to block a major new development of single-family detached homes. You're currently renting an apartment in the city, but you’re thinking about eventually buying a home there.

In a 400-500 word (about 2 pages) letter to a relative, explain why you support or don’t support the initiative. Your letter should 1) suggest a reason why there might be a slow-growth initiative in the first place, and 2) explain how the initiative will affect you personally.

3. California legislators are considering major cuts to the CSU in light of COVID-19 and its impact on state tax revenues. During the class, we have learned the many benefits of increased higher education and educational attainment in Southern California, but we have also learned of increasing outmigration and other forms of economic loss because of the pandemic.

Write a 400-500 word Op-Ed (about 2 pages) advising the public on the need to support the CSU at this time, and how best to do that.