American Government
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QEPAssignmentSpring2019.docDEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
QEP WRITING ASSIGNMENT FACULTY PACKAGE
ASSIGNMENT
POLS 1101 SEMESTER WRITING ASSIGNMENT (10%)
In this assignment, students are tasked to write a position paper in the form of constituent’s letter to their representative in the U. S. House of Representatives.
Requirements
The letter must:
1) Stress the importance of a political topic/issue that is of particular interest/concern to you as a constituent member and more importantly, a citizen-voter.
2) Stress the reason(s) for the urgency of your interest/concern.
3) Be supported by referencing a bill or legislation. This specific bill/ legislative action should be researched and identified, and must pertain to your topic/issue of interest.
4) Be addressed to your Member of Congress’s proper Washington DC address.
The following links can assist in researching your U. S. House representative and bills/legislations.
http://www.house.gov/representatives
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
https://www.congress.gov/members
Guidelines
QEP Submission and Due Dates
Assignment Date: Thursday, March 28
Due Date: Thursday, April 11
(two-weeks window for grading)
(Paper (letter) must be submitted in Courseden (dropbox) Also be informed that Turnitin will be used to check for plagiarism, grammar, spelling, etc.).
Length/Word Count: Two Pages (500-600 words)
Formatting: Formal letter format, typed (Times New Roman- 12 point font, single-spaced, with 1 inch margins).
Late Assignment: 30% deduction on all late papers/letter with 24 hours. Assignments that are over 24 hour late will not be accepted.
Grading Rubric
The Letters will be graded following the “GRAS” rubric as follows:
20% G (Grammar and other writing mechanics including formatting)
20% R (Rhetoric-introduction, development and defense of central argument)
20% A (Analysis-fact and figures, data, public law, court cases, US and State Constitutions, congressional action, precedence etc.)
40% S (Synthesis-articulate knowledge of American government; background, structure, functions, and exchanges).
|
RUBRIC |
Non-Performance |
Significantly Below Standard |
Below Standard |
Meets Standard |
Exceeds Standard |
Exemplary |
|
Point Score |
0(F) |
10(F) |
13(D) |
15(C) |
17 (B) |
20 (A) |
|
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics |
The assignment was not submitted |
There are more than 7 errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or formatting. |
There are more than 5 errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or formatting. |
The student demonstrates a university level understanding of grammar, usage, and mechanics. There are few spelling, grammar, or usage errors. |
There are fewer than 2 errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or formatting. |
There are no errors of spelling, grammar, usage, or formatting. |
|
Rhetoric |
The assignment was not submitted |
The essay lacks a clear statement of the student's position on the issue in question. |
The essay includes a clear statement of the student's position, but that statement is not supported by evidence or reasoned argumentation. |
The essay includes a clear statement of the student's position and includes one fact or item of evidence to support the argument, but does not develop a clear line of reasoning that ties the evidence to the statement. |
The essay includes a clear statement of the student's position and includes one fact or item of evidence to support the argument and the fact is clearly tied to the statement. |
The essay includes a clear statement of the student's position and includes two facts or items of evidence to support the argument and the facts are clearly tied to the statement. |
|
Analysis |
The assignment was not submitted |
The essay does not include reference to the elected official. The essay does not explain the importance of the bill or policy. |
The essay may include reference to the elected official but the essay does not explain the importance of the bill or policy. |
The essay includes reference to the elected official and provides a basic explanation for the importance of the bill or policy. |
The essay includes reference to the elected official and provides a solid explanation for the importance of the bill or policy that refers to the political context for the elected official. |
The essay includes reference to the elected official and provides an exemplary explanation for the importance of the bill or policy that provides a clear linkage to the political context and to the role of the official. |
|
Synthesis (worth 40 points) |
The assignment was not submitted |
The essay does not integrate material to demonstrate a knowledge of government |
The essay includes some material relevant to government, but it is not included in a clear and systematic way. |
The essay includes some material relevant to government, but only at a basic level. |
The essay includes material that demonstrates a clear understanding of the workings of government at the appropriate level for the elected official. |
The essay includes material that demonstrates a clear and precise understanding of the workings of multiple levels of government. |
Sample grade matrix:
|
|
Non-Performance (0) |
Significantly Below Standard (5-10) |
Below Standard (11-14) |
Meets Standard (15-16) |
Exceeds Standard (17-18) |
Exemplary Maximum (19-20) |
Point Subtotal |
|
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (worth 20 points)
|
|
|
|
15 |
|
20 |
15 |
|
Rhetoric (worth 20 points)
|
|
|
14 |
|
|
20 |
15 |
|
Analysis (worth 20 points)
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
20 |
17 |
|
Synthesis (worth 40 point)
|
|
|
|
30 |
|
40 |
30 |
|
Total Points
|
|
|
|
|
|
100 |
76% |
RESOURCES
UWG Writing Center
Smarthinking
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