POLS 115

Criteria for the paper:

1: Must address one of the paper topics.

2: Must use at least one reference from the list provided.

3: Must be well organized with a clearly stated thesis and written as a narrative. See below for further information.

4: Must avoid mechanical writing errors.

5: Paper must be two pages in length and double spaced. It must have page numbers. The title page does not have page number and your first page of text is page 1.

6: Paper must be in Times Roman 12 point font.

7: Paper must have a title page. (This page should have only the title, student’s name, and number of the course.) DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR ANY OTHER INDENTFYING INFORMATION ON THE FIRST PAGE OF YOUR PAPER.

8: Paper must use the correct required reference style. (MLA or APA style preferred.) See below for further information.

Be sure to watch the video posted under “Tegrity Classes” on Blackboard with advice on writing papers.

Important guidelines for paper

(Failure to follow will result in a failing grade.)

1: Paper must have a clearly stated thesis. That is, what is your paper about? What question are you trying to answer? What is your position on that question? (You must take a position on the question.) What evidence supports that position?* You must argue for or against the question. You cannot answer the question by making up another question you would prefer to answer.

*By evidence we mean data and facts from reputable sources, statements by authorities in the area you are discussing and direct quotes from political leaders and other experts.

2: Paper must be written in a narrative form. That is, no bullet points, lists or numbered sections.

3: For this paper you must use at least ONE reference from an article or published piece from the online or print version of at least ONE of the following publications:

The Economist The New York Times The Wall Street Journal

The New Republic The Washington Post Commentary

The Nation Foreign Affairs The Atlantic

The National Review Foreign Policy

Harpers The Washington Monthly

Note: references must be from an edition published AFTER January 1, 2019

Note: Just because you can’t find it online doesn’t mean you can’t get it!

Note: You may use other sources in addition to using one from the above list.

Failure to follow this requirement will result in the automatic loss of 10-20 points from your final grade.

4: Paper must use a proper citation style. The REQUIRED styles are either MLA or APA. You can find guidelines and reference and bibliography makers for this style on the web.

SEE PAPER TOPICS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PAGE.

POLS 115 Online Page 2

PAPER TOPICS (Pick ONE of the following topics for your paper)

Remember you MUST argue for or against the statement.

You cannot take both sides.

1. Congress will pass an immigration reform bill this year.

2. Large technology companies like Google should be broken up under federal anti-trust law.

3. Former Texas Congressman Robert “Beto” O’Rourke will win the Democratic nomination for President in 2020.

4. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey will win the the Democratic nomination for President in 2020.

5. The United States should use military force to remove the current Venezualean government.

6. The full, unedited Mueller Report on the 2016 election should be released to the public.

7. The Supreme Court will rule that partisan gerrymandering does not violate the Consitution.

8. The United States will land on the moon again in the next 10 years.

American Government Pols 115 Grading Rubric

Paper has clearly stated thesis and is written in narrative form: 10-20 pts.

Paper uses proper citation style (MLA): 10-20 pts.

Paper uses at least one reference from list provided to support position: 10-20 pts.

Paper avoids grammatical/mechanical errors: 10-20 pts.

Two pages in length and Times Roman 12 point font: 10-20 pts.

Paper has proper citation style and has separate references page: 10-20 pts.

Paper has title page and page numbers: 10 pts.

Failure to address an assigned paper topic will result in a zero

For further information on grading see: “Common Problems With Student Papers,” which I have posted on the Blackboard page for this class under “Documents.” If you make the mistakes listed there you can expect your paper to be graded downward accordingly.