Amrica government event paper(in san francisco)(11.15-11.25event)

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Fall 2017 American Government Professor Sweeney

Public Event Paper Due Monday, November 13th

Assignment Overview:

The public event paper assignment requires you to go beyond your typical role as a student and step out as an ‘active citizen’ in the public realm. You will attend a ‘public meeting’ of an elected body or a political action/activity and write a 4-5-page response paper about the meeting/activity that you attended. Your paper should be proofread, have a title, be double spaced and written in your own words. Papers must be turned in during class in hard copy format. Late papers will lose half a letter grade for each class meeting late. Papers found to be plagiarized in part or in full will receive a grade of zero.

Instructions:

Attend a ‘public meeting’ of an elected body or a political action/activity. Address the following in your paper:

a. Descriptive evaluation: Describe the meeting/activity that you attended. What did you see and hear? Did you participate? If yes, what did you do or say?

b. Personal reflection: What was your reaction to the meeting/activity? How did the event apply to you?

c. Analytical evaluation: Evaluate whether the meeting/activity that you attended exemplified ‘good governance.’? Why or why not? In other words, did the manner in which the event was conducted exemplify democratic values? Also consider in your evaluation whether or not your event supported or subverted American democracy.

There are many definitions of good governance and debate over what it entails. Overall, this concept relates to how public affairs are conducted. Good governance is characterized by participation, transparency, accountability, rule of law, effectiveness, and equity.

(Note – Your evaluation regarding the question of good governance should be the heart of your paper. Make sure to include a summary of your evaluation in the first paragraph of the paper - your thesis - and develop your evaluation in the body of the paper.)

d. Scan and include a copy of handouts of the meeting/ event if possible (e.g. agenda)

e. Attach the essay rubric to your paper

Appropriate meetings include........city council meetings, county commission meetings, state legislature meetings, public school board meetings, any court hearing, police ride along, any meeting that serves the function of “governance,” any political action in which you are you are participating

Fall 2017 American Government Professor Sweeney

Note: This rubric will be used to assess your paper. Please review thoroughly prior to writing the paper.

Grade

A

B

C

D

ORGANIZATION

Essay is easy to read due to clear

Essay is organized with

A better method of

Essay shows no method

organization. Main argument is

main argument stated early

organization is necessary.

of organization. Very

10 points

clearly stated in first paragraph with

in the paper. Substantiating

Essay may lack

difficult to read.

substantiating points organized in

points are less clearly

introduction, body and

body paragraphs. Essay has a robust

organized. Essay has a

conclusion paragraphs.

conclusion paragraph.

conclusion paragraph.

LOGIC &

Essay is based on a clear, well

Essay is based on a clear

Essay is based on a thesis

Essay does not possess

REASONING

defined thesis. For this assignment,

thesis (evaluation regarding

that is vague or irrelevant.

a discernable thesis. No

your thesis will be your evaluation as

governance) that is well

Essay does not explicitly

explanation or

to whether the event you attended

developed. Ideas are

address the question of

interpretation. Writer's

was good governance (and why or

explained and developed.

governance. Some

viewpoint is unclear.

why not?) Thesis is original and goes

Shows a solid

evidence cited but not

Little or no

20 points

beyond the ideas in class. Essay

understanding of the text,

explained nor connected to

development. Vaguest

shows a strong development of ideas

ideas and the assignment.

the thesis. Relies on

generalizations and

and command of the conceptual and

Some originality of thought;

summarizing. Shallow

misinformation.

interpretive tasks of the assignment.

evidence explained and

analysis. Ideas are obvious

Clear original interpretation of

interpreted.

from the reading.

evidence; independent thinking; fresh

ideas.

CONTENT

The essay includes detailed

Description and explanation

Some information is

Little or no specific

description of the event and well

of thesis is less detailed,

missing. Some errors of

discussion related to the

15 points

developed discussion that supports

specific and developed;

fact, but shows an overall

assignment. Unrelated,

your thesis. Writing is specific and

Title clearly signifies your

understanding of the

unclear title or no title

concrete. Introduction and

interpretation

assignment. Discussion in

conclusion are interesting and

essay is not enough support

balanced. Title is original and

for thesis. Title copied from

conveys interpretation.

sources or assignment

sheet.

STYLE &

Essay exhibits correct spelling.

Essay contains a good

Essay contains a tendency

Major grammatical

MECHANICS

Sophisticated sentences, chooses

command of English with

toward wordiness, unclear

problems; Incomplete

10 points

words aptly, and observes all the

occasional stylistic or

or awkward sentences,

sentences and

conventions of English grammar.

grammar problems.

imprecise use of words and

confusing or unclear

grammatical errors.

writing.

OVERALL

The paper demonstrates well the

The paper helps to

The paper does little to

The paper does not

IMPACT

student’s skills, abilities, and

demonstrate the student’s

demonstrate the student’s

demonstrate the

5 points

knowledge. Above average in

skills, abilities. Meets

skills, abilities, and

student’s skills, abilities,

meeting or exceeds College level

College level expectation of

knowledge. Not really

and knowledge. Not

expectation of quality and effort.

quality and effort.

sufficient college level

sufficient college level

quality.

quality.

TOTAL POINTS

____________/ 60________

Source: Rand Jimerson, WWU and University of California, Irvine, Humanities Core Pro