POL110_COURSE_GUIDE

POL110

Preview: POL110 : U.S. Government

Course Guide

Prerequisites

N/A

Course Description

This course serves as an introduction to American government and politics. It is designed to

familiarize students with the origins and evolution of American national government, its basic

institutions and its fundamental decision making processes with regard to domestic and foreign

policy. It covers the basic terms and facts relating to government, the functions and development of

the U.S. branches of government, including the role of parties and interest groups, and the value

preferences within American society which affect the formation of public policy. It also develops a

basic understanding of how federal, state and local governments interact in the U.S. political system.

Instructional Materials

Required Resources

James Q. Wilson. 2018. American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies,

Brief Version

(13th ed.).

Cengage.

WomensLaw.org 2021. State Gun Laws. https://www.womenslaw.org/laws/md/state-gun-laws/basic-

info-and-definitions/what-difference-between-federal-and-state-gun-laws

Evan Fischer. 2021. Federal Marijuana Laws. https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-

charges/federal-marijuana-laws.html

Gallup. No date. Party Affiliation. https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission. No date. Register and Vote in Your

State. https://www.eac.gov/voters/register-and-vote-in-your-state

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

United States House of Representatives. No date. Find Your

Representative. https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

News Literacy Project. No date. News Lit Quiz: The Easiest Quiz of All Time. https://newslit.org/get-

smart/easiest-quiz-all-time/

News Literacy Project. No date. https://newslit.org/

The American Presidency Project. No date. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/

AllSides. No date. Media Bias Ratings. https://www.allsides.com/media-bias/media-bias-ratings

Lumen Learning. No date. United States Government: Civic Engagement in a Representative

Republic. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/americangovernment/chapter/engagement-in-a-

democracy/

Optional Resources

University of Minnesota Human Rights Library. No date. All Amendments to the United States

Constitution. http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/education/all_amendments_usconst.htm

German Lopez. February 21, 2019. A New Study Finds Voter ID Laws Don't Reduce Voter Fraud—or

Voter Turnout. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/2/21/18230009/voter-id-laws-fraud-

turnout-study-research

ProCon.org. No date. Should Voters Be Required to Show Photo Identification in Order to Vote?

https://2020election.procon.org/view.answers.election.php?questionID=002198

United States Senate. No date. https://www.senate.gov/

Eric Griffith. 2019. How to Take a Screenshot on Any Device. https://www.pcmag.com/news/how-to-

take-a-screenshot-on-any-device

The University of Adelaide. No date. Objective Language [PDF].

https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-

objectivelanguage.pdf

Books

J. D. Barber. 1985. The

Presidential

Character

(3rd ed.). Prentice-Hall.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

A. King. 1990. The

New

American

Political

System.

American Enterprise Institute.

E. Sidlow. 2011. GOVT

(2nd ed.). 4LTR Press/Cengage.

Academic Journals

(Full-text available in the Strayer University LRC databases.)

American

Journal

Political

Science, found in EBSCO Host.

Daedalus

Journal,

found in e-Library.

Policy

Studies

Journal,

found in EBSCO Host and e-Library.

Political

Science

Quarterly, found in EBSCO Host.

National Newspapers

(Full-text available in the Strayer University LRC databases.)

The

Atlanta

Constitution-Journal.

The

Boston

Globe.

The

Chicago

Tribune.

The

Christian

Science

Monitor.

The

New

York

Times.

The

Los

Angeles

Times.

The

Seattle

Post-Intelligencer.

The

Wall

Street

Journal.

The

Washington

Post.

Database: ProQuest Newspapers Database.

Note: Numerous newspapers also make articles available on their web pages.

Note: Additional newspapers are available in the e-Library database.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Course Learning Outcomes

1Summarize key concepts related to the origin, history, scope, and content of

the U.S. Constitution.

2Describe the fundamentals of U.S. Government and how the federal system

of government works.

3Examine the basic values of American socio-political institutions and ideals.

4Explore different perspectives on issues and questions involving the U.S.

government, national political processes, policymaking, and the notion of

democracy.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Weekly Course Schedule

W 1 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapters 1 and 2 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on content from Chapters 1 and 2.

Discuss: Introduce yourself and complete the discussion, Rewrite an Amendment.

W 2 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapter 3 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

W 2 - T D L

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on content from Chapter 3.

Discuss: Complete the discussion, State Government vs. Federal Government.

W 3 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapters 4 and 5 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on content from Chapters 4 and Chapter 5.

Discuss: Complete the discussion, The Right to Protest.

Exam: Complete the Exam on Chapters 1–5.

W 4 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapter 6 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on content from Chapter 6.

Discuss: Complete the discussion, Effects of Mass Media.

Activity: Complete and submit the activity, Searching for Current Events About American Ideals.

W 5 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapter 7 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on content from Chapter 7.

Discuss: Complete the discussion, Voter Partisanship.

Assignment: Submit the assignment, Letter to Family.

W 6 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapter 8 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

W 6 - T D L

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on the content from Chapter 8.

Discuss: Complete the discussion, Voter Turnout.

W 7 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapter 9 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on the content from Chapter 9.

Discuss: Complete the discussion, Who is Your Congressional Representative?.

Activity: Complete the activity, The Easiest Quiz of All Time.

W 8 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapter 10 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on the content from Chapter 10.

Discuss: Complete the discussion, The Expansion of Presidential Powers.

Assignment: Submit the assignment, Blog Post on a Recent Article.

W 9 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapters 11 and 12 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on the content from Chapters 11 and 12.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

W 9 - T D L

Discuss: Complete the discussion, The Power of Court Decisions.

Activity: Complete the activity, A Policy You Would Change.

W 10 - T D L

Learn: Read Chapters 13 and 14 in American

Government:

Institutions

and

Policies.

Quiz: Complete the reading quiz on content from Chapters 13 and 14.

Discuss: Complete the discussion, Domestic Policy.

Assignment: Submit the assignment, Final Reflection.

W 11 - T D L

Discuss: Complete the discussion, Self-Reflection.

Grading Scale

T P % G

Discussion Participation

385 38.5%

T P % G

Week 1 Quiz - Reading Quiz

10 1%

Week 2 Quiz - Reading Quiz

10 1%

Week 3 Quiz 1 - Reading Quiz

10 1%

Week 3 Quiz 2 - Exam

70 7%

Week 4 Quiz - Reading Quiz

10 1%

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

T P % G

Week 4 Assignment - Activity: Searching for

Current Events About American Ideals

50 5%

Week 5 Quiz - Reading Quiz

10 1%

Week 5 Assignment - Letter to Family

90 9%

Week 6 Quiz - Reading Quiz

10 1%

Week 7 Quiz - Reading Quiz

10 1%

Week 7 Assignment - Activity: The Easiest Quiz of

All Time

55 5.5%

Week 8 Quiz - Reading Quiz

10 1%

Week 8 Assignment - Blog Post on a Recent Article

90 9%

Week 9 Quiz - Reading Quiz

10 1%

Week 9 Assignment - Activity: A Policy You Would

Change

60 6%

Week 10 Quiz - Reading Quiz

10 1%

Week 10 Assignment - Final Reflection

100 10%

Totals 1000 100%

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Final Course Grade

P P G

900 - 1000 90% - 100%

800 - 899 80% - 89%

700 - 799 70% - 79%

600 - 699 60% - 69%

0 - 599 59% and below

Unique Course Features

Grading Scale Notation

Please consult the University Catalog and your academic advisor to determine the final grade needed

in this class to satisfy your specific degree conferral requirements.

Academic Integrity

Please be sure to review the entire Academic Integrity Policy in the Student Handbook before

submitting anything in this course. In order to enforce its Academic Integrity Policy, the University

reserves the right to review any work (draft or otherwise) or exam submitted by a student during his or

her entire academic career at Strayer.

Assignments

W 4 A - A : S C E A A I

Summary

Click the linked activity title to access this activity.

Text

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Introduction

This week’s activity asks you to identify an American ideal and summarize a related current event in

1-2 sentences. It will prepare you for your first assignment, Letter to Family.

Instructions

Step 1: Choose one of the following American ideals:

democracy

liberty

equality

justice

freedom

opportunity

Step 2: Identify an article (no older than 6 months) that covers a current event related to your

American ideal. This article should be from a reputable news source that publishes well-written and

well-researched news.

One tip for finding a current event is to choose a reputable news source and visit their website

to see recent articles on relevant topics. Another method is to visit the Strayer University

Online Library and look at the 10 news and politics e-magazines available. You can also go

directly to Strayer University’s Political Science Library page.

Step 3: Write a short statement (1-2 sentences) summarizing the current event and how it relates to

your chosen American ideal. Provide two examples that illustrate the connection.

Step 4: Include an article link in a source list following Strayer Writing Standards (SWS) format.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Refer to the Strayer Writing Standards link in the left-hand menu of your course for details on

what your citation should look like.

SAMPLE

Student Name

American Ideal:

1-2 sentences about the current event and how it relates to your chosen American ideal. Provide 2

examples.

Article citation.

Scoring Guide

The current event chosen aligns with the stated ideal and occurs in the last 6 months. 40 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

A current event

is not chosen.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

A current event

is chosen, but it

is not aligned

with the stated

ideal and does

not occur within

the last 6

months.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

The current

event chosen

occurs within the

last 6 months,

but the event is

not aligned with

the stated ideal.

Competent (80-

89%)

The current

event chosen

aligns with the

stated ideal but

does not occur in

the last 6

months.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

The current

event chosen

aligns with the

stated ideal and

occurs in the last

6 months.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Explains how the current event connects to the chosen American ideal by providing examples to

illustrate the connection. 40 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not identify

a current event

and/or an

American ideal.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Identifies a

current event

and an American

ideal but does

not make a

connection

between them.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Identifies the

connection

between the

current event

and the chosen

American ideal.

Competent (80-

89%)

Explains how the

current event

chosen connects

to the American

ideal.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Explains how the

current event

connects to the

chosen

American ideal

with examples

that illustrate the

connection.

Writing mechanics with properly cited link to current event published within the last 6 months. 20 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

There is no link

to the current

event and has 5

or more

grammatical

errors.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Includes a link to

the current event

that is not

properly cited

using SWS. The

paper contains 4

or fewer

grammatical

errors.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Includes a link to

the current event

and has a

corresponding

in-text citation

and a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style. The

paper contains 3

or fewer

grammatical

errors.

Competent (80-

89%)

Includes a link to

the current event

and has a

corresponding

in-text citation

and a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style. The

paper contains 2

or fewer

grammatical

errors.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Includes a link to

the current event

and has a

corresponding

in-text citation

and a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style. The

paper contains 1

or no

grammatical

errors.

W 5 A - L F

Summary

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Click the linked activity title to access this assignment.

Text

Introduction

You are a recent immigrant who has moved to the United States to attend college. Your family has

never been to the United States, and you are excited to tell them all about it, in particular the

fundamentals of the U.S. government you are learning about in one of your courses.

Instructions

Compose a 3-page letter to your family in which you outline the fundamentals of the U.S.

government. Be sure to do the following:

1. Briefly explain the purpose of the Constitution. Use relevant and factual information in your

explanation.

2. Briefly explain two American ideals (e.g., democracy, liberty, equality, justice, freedom, or

opportunity).

Your explanation should include a definition of each ideal and your understanding of

what those ideals mean to the average U.S. citizen.

3. Using what you submitted in your Week 4 Activity, explain how the current event article you chose

serves as an example of one of the ideals selected.

4. Explain how a constitutional liberty has personally benefited or impacted you as a student or a

citizen in the United States.

Provide two or more specific and relevant examples.

For example: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that

prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex,

race, color, national origin, and religion. Title VII also applies to private and

public colleges and universities, employment agencies, and labor

organizations. So if you chose this one, in your letter you would identify this

constitutional liberty and how it applies to you specifically, and you would

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

provide 2 or more specific and relevant examples.

5. Cite all sources using in-text citations and a source list following the Strayer Writing Standards

format.

Remember that one tip for finding a current event is to choose a reputable news source

and visit their website to see recent articles on relevant topics. Another method is to

visit the Strayer University Online Library and look at the 10 news and politics e-

magazines available. You can also go directly to Strayer University’s Political Science

Library page.

Scoring Guide

Explains the U.S. Constitution and its purpose with relevant and factual information. 20 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not identify

the purpose of

the U.S.

Constitution.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Identifies but

does not explain

the purpose of

the U.S.

Constitution.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Explains the U.S.

Constitution and

its purpose but

does not provide

any relevant or

factual

information.

Competent (80-

89%)

Explains the U.S.

Constitution and

its purpose with

factual

information.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Explains the U.S.

Constitution and

its purpose with

relevant and

factual

information.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Explains 2 American ideals with definitions and explanations that connect what these ideals mean to

the average U.S. citizen. 20 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not identify

any American

ideals.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Identifies an

American ideal

but does not

provide a

definition and/or

an explanation

that connects

what the ideal

means to the

average U.S.

citizen.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Explains 1

American ideal

with a definition

but does not

explain or

connect what the

ideal means to

the average U.S.

citizen.

Competent (80-

89%)

Explains 2

American ideals

with definitions

and explanations

but does not

connect what

these ideals

mean to the

average U.S.

citizen.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Explains 2

American ideals

with definitions

and explanations

that connect

what these ideals

mean to the

average U.S.

citizen.

Explains how the current event demonstrates 1 of the 2 American ideals described in the letter with

supporting details and examples. 20 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not explain

how the current

event is an

example of an

American ideal.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

States that the

current event

demonstrates 1

of the 2

American ideals

described in the

letter, but does

not provide an

explanation or

supporting

details and

examples.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Explains how the

current event

demonstrates 1

of the 2

American ideals

described in the

letter, but is

missing both

supporting

details and

examples.

Competent (80-

89%)

Explains how the

current event

demonstrates 1

of the 2

American ideals

described in the

letter, but is

missing either

supporting

details or

examples.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Explains how the

current event

demonstrates 1

of the 2

American ideals

described in the

letter with

supporting

details and

examples.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Explains the personal benefits and/or personal impacts of a constitutional liberty from the perspective

of a student or U.S. citizen. Uses 2 or more specific and relevant examples. 20 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not identify

a constitutional

liberty or does

not state how the

liberty provided

personal benefit

or impact.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Identifies a

constitutional

liberty that has

provided

personal benefit

or impact as

student or citizen

in the United

States. Does not

provide an

explanation with

examples.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Explains how a

constitutional

liberty has had

personal benefit

or impact as a

student or citizen

in the United

States. Does not

provide any

specific and/or

relevant

examples.

Competent (80-

89%)

Explains how a

constitutional

liberty has had

personal benefit

or impact as a

student or citizen

in the United

States. Provides

1 specific and

relevant

example.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Explains the

personal benefits

and/or impacts of

a constitutional

liberty from the

perspective of a

student or U.S.

citizen. Uses 2 or

more specific

and relevant

examples.

Research requirements. 10 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not contain

a source.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Does not refer to

a credible

source.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Contains 1

credible source

and has

corresponding

in-text citations

and a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style with

5-6 errors.

Competent (80-

89%)

Contains 1

credible source

and has

corresponding

in-text citations

and a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style with

3-4 errors.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Contains a

minimum of 1

credible source

and has

corresponding

in-text citations

and a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style with

0-2 errors.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Clarity and writing mechanics. 10 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Lacks clarity and

organization

and/or contains

more than 8

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

There are areas

and paragraphs

where the letter

is unclear or

disorganized

such that it

impacts

readability,

and/or the writing

contains 7-8

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

There are areas

and paragraphs

where the letter

is unclear or

disorganized

such that it

impacts

readability,

and/or the writing

contains 5-6

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Competent (80-

89%)

Is well-

organized.

Writing contains

3-4 errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Is clear and well-

organized.

Writing contains

fewer than 2

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

W 7 A - A : T E Q A T

Summary

Click the linked activity title to access this activity.

Text

Introduction

This week, you will begin looking at news sources with a critical eye by completing The Easiest Quiz

of All Time, created by the News Literacy Project.

Instructions

Step 1: Take the Quiz: The Easiest Quiz of All Time.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

There is no time limit.

Step 2: Once you complete the quiz, take a screenshot of your results and submit the screenshot to

your instructor.

This is only to verify you have completed the quiz. Your results are confidential and will not

affect your grade in any way.

Note: If you are unsure of how to take a screenshot, review How to Take a Screenshot

on Any Device.

Note: After completing the quiz, spend some time on the News Literacy Project website and see

what else you may be able to learn. This is a great resource for sifting through the overwhelming

amount of information available and learning how to discern what is news is what is not.

Scoring Guide

Quiz completed. 100 %

Unacceptable

Did not submit a screenshot of a completed

quiz score from The Easiest Quiz of All Time.

Exemplary

Submitted a screenshot of a completed quiz

score from The Easiest Quiz of All Time.

W 8 A - B P R A

Summary

Click the linked activity title to access this assignment.

Text

Introduction

Imagine you are a political writer with your own blog. You write about current events and what they

mean for the U.S. government and its citizens. You have been asked to write a blog post of 2-3

typed pages about an event from the last 3 months involving U.S. political issues or policies.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Instructions

Step 1: Choose one of the following political issues or policies:

the U.S. President

congress

administrative departments

political activists

judicial rulings

a campaign

an election

Step 2: Choose 1 reputable news source that has reported on your chosen event.

Here are some sources to choose from:

liberal leaning news: The

New

York

Times,

The

Washington

Post,

The

Atlantic, Vox,

HuffPost, Politico, CNN, Time

Magazine

conservative leaning news: National

Review,

The

Washington

Times,

The

Wall

Street

Journal, The Federalist, Fox Online News, Washington

Examiner

centrist news: NPR Online News (National Public Radio), Reuters, BBC, CNBC News, USA

Today,

Christian

Science

Monitor, Pew Research Center

To see ratings of news sources, visit AllSides's Media Bias Ratings.

Step 3: Summarize your chosen current event in 1-2 paragraphs. Include what the event is, when it

took place, and the political issues or policies to which it connects.

Step 4: In addition to your brief summary, answer each of the following questions:

1. What specific branch of the U.S. government is involved in this current event? (1-2 paragraphs)

2. Who or which groups are affected by this event? (1-2 paragraphs)

3. What biases or leanings exist in the media source you chose? Give examples. Were these

counterbalanced in any way? (1-2 paragraphs)

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

4. What are your opinions on the issue? Use relevant facts and supporting evidence from your

source(s) to support your opinion. (1-2 paragraphs)

Step 5: Cite your selected news article and any other sources using the Strayer Writing Standards

format.

Note: You should be conscious of your own bias and make every effort to avoid biased, opinionated,

emotional, or judgmental language in this summary. That means avoiding words such as “always,”

“obviously,” “clearly,” etc. This PDF contains helpful tips for avoiding judgment statements: Objective

Language [PDF].

Scoring Guide

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Provides an accurate and objective summary of a current event occurring within the last 3 months.

Includes what the event is, when it took place, and the political issues or policies to which it connects.

20 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not provide

a summary or

provides an

inaccurate

summary.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Provides a summ

ary of the current

event that is

missing

information or

uses language

that is

consistently

biased,

opinionated,

emotional, and

judgmental.

Current event

does not occur

within the last 3

months.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Provides a

summary of the

current event

(within the last 3

months) that

includes what the

current event is,

when it took

place, and the

political issues or

policies to which

connects. There

are omissions or

language that is

biased or

judgmental.

Competent (80-

89%)

Provides

objective summar

y of the current

event (within the

last 3 months)

that includes

what the current

event is, when it

took place, and

the political

issues or policies

to which it

connects. There

are 1-2

inaccuracies or

biases.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Provides accurat

and objective su

mmary of the

current event

(within the last 3

months), includin

g what the

current event is,

when it took

place, and the

political issues or

policies to

which it

connects.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Accurately explains the parts of the U.S. government involved in the event and all groups affected. 20

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not explain

the parts of the

U.S. government

involved in the

event

and any groups

affected.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Incorrectly

explains the parts

of the U.S.

government

involved in the

event

and/or groups

affected.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Explains some

parts of the U.S.

government

involved in the

event or some of

the groups

affected.

Competent (80-

89%)

Explains the

parts of the U.S.

government

involved in the

event and some

of the groups

affected.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Accurately

explains the

parts of the U.S.

government

involved in the

event and all

groups affected.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Objectively describes biases or leanings in the specific article or media source and whether these were

counterbalanced. Includes specific examples to support response. 20 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not

describe

biases/leanings

or description

is consistently su

bjective.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Describes biases

or leanings in the

article or media

source but

not address whet

her these were

counterbalanced.

Some language

used is

subjective.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Objectively

describes biases

or leanings

in general that

are related to the

article or media

source but does

not sufficiently ad

dress whether

these were

counterbalanced.

Competent (80-

89%)

Objectively

describes biases

or leanings

in the article or

media source

and whether

these were

counterbalanced.

Includes specific

examples (e.g.,

background

information on

news source,

specific

words/language)

to support

response.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Objectively descri

bes biases or

leanings

in the specific

article or media

source and

whether these

were

counterbalanced.

Includes specific

examples (e.g.,

background

information on

news source,

specific

words/language)

to support

response.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Describes personal opinion on the event or issue using relevant facts and supporting evidence from

selected article and additional sources. 15 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not provide

an opinion on the

issue or identifies

an opinion with

no explanation.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Describes person

al opinion on the

issue with no

supporting

evidence or

facts.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Describes

personal opinion

on the event or

issue. Some

evidence or facts

used are not

relevant or do

not support

position.

Competent (80-

89%)

Describes

personal opinion

on the event or

issue using relev

ant supporting evi

dence from

selected article.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Describes

personal opinion

on the event or

issue using relev

ant facts and

supporting

evidence from

selected article

and additional

sources.

Length and research requirements. 15 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not contain

a source.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Does not refer to

a credible

source.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Is only 1 page

and/or contains

1-2 credible

sources with

corresponding

in-text citations.

Has a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style.

Competent (80-

89%)

Is less than 2

pages and

contains 1-2

credible sources

with

corresponding

in-text citations.

Has a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Is a minimum of

2 pages and

contains 1-2

credible sources

with

corresponding

in-text citations.

Has a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Clarity and writing mechanics. 10 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Lacks clarity and

organization

and/or contains

more than 8

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Has some areas

that are unclear

or disorganized

such that it

impacts

readability and/or

the writing

contains 7-8

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Has some areas

that are unclear

or disorganized

such that it

impacts

readability and/or

the writing

contains 5-6

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Competent (80-

89%)

Is well-

organized.

Writing contains

3-4 errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Is clear and well-

organized.

Writing contains

fewer than 2

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

W 9 A - A : A P Y W C

Summary

Click the linked activity title to access this activity.

Text

Introduction

If you could change any U.S. domestic policy today, what would it be? For this activity, choose a

policy you would like to change, submit a one-paragraph explanation of the policy you would like to

change, and identify three references to support this policy change. This is the same policy you will

use to write your Final Reflection assignment (due next week).

Instructions

Step 1: Choose a domestic public policy:

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Energy

The environment

Health care

Social welfare

Civil rights

Death penalty

Gun control

Taxation

Assisted suicide

Affirmative action

Minimum wage

Drug legalization

Immigration

Hate crimes

Capital punishment

Note: Approval for your policy is required and will be provided in the grading rubric. If your policy

and/or references are not approved you will need to read the instructor feedback and provide an

updated policy and/or references to be approved before submitting your final assignment.

Step 2: Identify three references to support the policy change.

Use reputable sources that support your views, illustrate the severity or urgency of the need for

change, discuss current events that make you think about the seriousness of the issue, etc.

Remember to review the news sources provided earlier in the course and ensure any

references selected outside of that list are reliable.

One tip for finding a reputable sources is to visit the Strayer University Online Library. You can

also go directly to Strayer University’s Political Science Library page.

Step 3: Submit a Word document with your policy choice and one paragraph explaining why that is

a policy you’d like to change and citations for your three references.

Scoring Guide

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Policy you would change and supporting references. 100 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

A policy is not

submitted in a

Word document

and/or no

references are

included.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Word document

submitted with

chosen policy,

but the policy is

vague or unclear.

Fewer than three

references

included in the

Word document.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Word document

submitted with

chosen policy.

Three references

included in the

Word document

that support your

policy change.

Competent (80-

89%)

Word document

submitted with

chosen policy

along with

explanation as to

why that is

a policy you

would like to

change. Three

references

included in the

Word document

that support your

policy change.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Word document

submitted with

chosen policy

along with one

short paragraph

explaining why

that is a policy

you would like to

change. Three

references

included in the

word document

that support your

policy change

that clearly show

how to access

the reference.

W 10 A - F R

Summary

Click the linked activity title to access this assignment.

Text

Introduction

This assignment builds off the Policy You Would Change activity you completed in Week 9.

Instructions

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

In a 2-3 page paper include the following three parts:

Part 1:What is one domestic policy that you would change? Why?

Be sure to use your approved policy and sources identified in the Policy You Would Change

activity you completed in Week 9.

Part 2: From the list of branches below, choose two and explain the procedures for changing or

making a new policy for each of the two you chose.

the legislative process

presidential executive action

administrative agency’s regulations

legal system of the courts

Part 3: In what way can the public influence this proposed policy change?

Use evidence to support your argument including statistics and/or relevant facts from your

sources.

Note: This assignment requires the use of Strayer University Online Library to be sure your

references meet academic standards. All sources should be cited using the Strayer Writing

Standards (SWS) format.

One tip for finding reputable sources is to visit the Strayer University Online Library. You can

also go directly to Strayer University’s Political Science Library page.

Scoring Guide

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Justifies why a policy should change with substantive rationale and uses at least 3 credible sources.

25 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not provide

reasons or a

credible source

to support why a

policy should

change.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

States that a

policy should

change but does

not provide

reasons.

Provides 1

credible source.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Explains why a

policy should

change with

supporting

reasons and 1

credible source.

Competent (80-

89%)

Justifies why a

policy should

change with

substantive

rationale and 2

credible sources.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Justifies why a

policy should

change with

substantive

rationale and at

least 3 credible

sources.

Explains the procedures used by 2 branches of government to change or make a new policy. 25 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not explain

or identify a

procedure for a

branch of

government.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Identifies the

procedure used

by 1 branch of

government but

does not link it to

a change of

policy or a new

policy.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Explains the

procedure used

by 1 branch of

government to

either change a

policy or make a

new policy, but

not both.

Competent (80-

89%)

Explains the

procedures used

by 2 branches of

government to

either change a

policy or make a

new policy, but

not both.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Explains the

procedures used

by 2 branches of

government to

change or make

a new policy.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Describes 2 ways the public could influence the proposed policy change. Includes evidence such as

statistics, arguments that support the change, and factual details. 25 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not identify

a way that the

public could

influence the

proposed policy

change.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Identifies 1 way

that the public

could influence

the proposed

policy change.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Describes 1 way

that the public

could influence

the proposed

policy change.

Provides

evidence that

includes either

statistics,

arguments that

support the

change, or

factual details.

Competent (80-

89%)

Describes 1

specific way the

public could

influence the

proposed policy

change. Includes

2 out of 3 of the

following forms

of evidence:

statistics,

arguments that

support the

change, and/or

factual details.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Describes 2

specific ways the

public could

influence the

proposed policy

change. Includes

evidence such as

statistics,

arguments that

support the

change, and

factual details.

Research requirements. 15 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Does not contain

a source.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

Does not refer to

a credible

source.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

Contains only 1-

2 credible

sources that

have

corresponding

in-text citations

and a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style with

5-6 errors.

Competent (80-

89%)

Contains only 1-

2 credible

sources that

have

corresponding

in-text citations

and a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style with

3-4 errors.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Contains a

minimum of 3

credible sources

that have

corresponding

in-text citations

and a source list

formatted

according to

SWS style with

0-2 errors.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

Clarity and writing mechanics. 10 %

Unacceptable

(Below 60%)

Lacks clarity and

organization

and/or contains

more than 8

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Needs

Improvement (60-

69%)

There are areas

and paragraphs

where the paper

is unclear or

disorganized

such that it

impacts

readability,

and/or the writing

contains 7-8

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Satisfactory (70-

79%)

There are areas

and paragraphs

where the paper

is unclear or

disorganized

such that it

impacts

readability,

and/or the writing

contains 5-6

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Competent (80-

89%)

Is well-

organized.

Writing contains

3-4 errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

Exemplary (90-

100%)

Is clear and well-

organized.

Writing contains

fewer than 2

errors in

grammar,

mechanics, or

spelling.

information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed in whole or in part, without the expressed written

permission of Strayer University.

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