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3.8: Module 2 Assessments

  • Page ID
    23458
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    Module 2 Discussion

    Use the above link to access the discussion board for this module.

    This discussion aligns with Learning Outcomes 1, 2, and 4

    Use this forum to address the following prompt:

    Democracy, at its core, is centered on the idea that individuals can, in fact, rule themselves. This concept is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution as we know it today. However, early on the American Constitution was not a sound, democratic document. In particular, the idea of popular sovereignty; that is, the will of the people, was not extended to everyone. For example, as you read this week, the framers, for a time, chose to retain slavery in the new Republic. In addition to slavery, in what other areas was the Constitution of 1788 less than democratic? In what ways has the Constitution, since then, become more democratic? Be sure to provide examples to support your claims. (1)

    Submission

    Our discussions are a valuable opportunity to have thoughtful conversations regarding a specific topic. You are required to provide a comprehensive initial post with 3-4 well-developed paragraphs that include a topic sentence and at least 3-5 supporting sentences with additional details, explanations, and examples. In addition, you are required to respond substantively to the initial posts of at least two other classmates on two different days. All posts should be reflective and well written, meaning free of errors in grammar, sentence structure, and other mechanics.

    Grading

    This discussion is worth 30 points toward your final grade and will be graded using the Discussion Rubric . Please use it as a guide toward successful completion of this discussion.

    Assignment: Assembling Your Team

    This assignment is due in this Module .

    This assignment aligns with Learning Outcomes 1 and 4

    Directions

    Take a moment and review your classmates’ introductions. Be sure to take note of proposed college majors and professional aspirations. Students typically have these two areas in common first and foremost. Additionally, take care to note your peers’ professional and/or personal experience with government. This information is, perhaps, the most important when choosing a team, but also keep in mind that a positive learning experience can also be gained when working with those of whom you have the least in common with. Finally, select your team members, with five to six team members to a group. Doing so will correspond with the with five research options given. To join a team, select Tool & Resources navigation in Blackboard course. Then, select Teams/Groups to enroll yourself. Please note that team assignment operates under a first come, first serve basis. As such, once a team is filled, students must move on to other options. In the event that students have not joined a team by Week 3 of the course, the instructor reserves the right to assign students to a team accordingly, irrespectiveo of the topic. If you have any questions about team designation and/or the project as whole, please contact the instructor early on.

    Finally, you will designate a team member to be responsible for submitting the outline and final project. Be sure that the names of everyone who participated are included on both presentations. More detailed instructions on completing this project are found in the individual module pages. (1)

    Submission

    Each team member needs to submit this assignment. Submit the assignment here as a Word document with the file name AssemblingYourTeam . docx . To submit, choose the Assignment: Assembling Your Team link above and use the file attachment feature to browse for and upload your completed document. Remember to choose Submit to complete the submission.

    Grading

    This assignment is worth 20 points toward your final grade. If you submit this assignment late, two points will be deduced for each day.

    Quiz Two

    Quiz Document Link

    Use the above link to access the quiz for this module.

    This quiz is aligned with Learning Outcomes 2–5.

    This quiz consists of 10 multiple-choice and true/false questions. Each question is worth 2 points for the total of 20 points toward your final grading. This quiz covers reading materials from Module 1. You have 30 minutes and 2 attempts to complete this assessment. (1)

    Look Ahead: Final Team Project

    Use the above link to access the assignment for this module.

    This assignment will be due in Module 6.

    This assignment aligns with Learning Outcomes 1–5

    Directions

    For this project you will work in a collaborative team to identify a political issue. Your team will then research, analyze, develop, and defend a position within that issue. The end product will be a paper that describes the issue and supports your team’s position. Remember, your goal is to select an issue, take a position, and develop a paper to support that position.

    Political issues could include discussions on healthcare, immigration reform, American’s marijuana debate, tax reform, religious freedom act, LGBTQ rights, and, etc. If you are unsure of what constitutes a valid political issue, please check with the instructor for guidance in this area.

    In 2-3 pages, the outline should minimally contain the following sections below and be drafted in APA 6 th edition style and format. See the sample APA outline here

    1. Brief introduction and thesis statement
      1. Introduce the topic to your reader in a brief sentence or two
      2. Include a thesis statement that identifies at least one challenge/problem associated with your chosen topic and also identify a policy you are recommending that will effectively and efficiently address this challenge/issue.
    2. Overview of the issue (research including at least 5 references)Briefly address the origins of the contentions surrounding your selected political issue. For instance, if you have opted to take on the marijuana debate, you might begin with the federal government’s designation of marijuana as Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substance Act. Here, you would describe the rationale for such designation and the political discourse this policy has created.
    3. The team’s positionHere, your team should take a position on your selected topic. Pointing back to the marijuana debate, you may side with the federal government’s stance on criminalizing marijuana or you might side with the states’ rights position (federalism) on the substance, that is, allow states to administer their own policy in this regard.
    4. Rationale for your position (research including at least 5 references)In this regard, you are to justify your stance on your selected topic. For instance, if in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level, you should provide, relevant scholarly data to refute the federal government’s belief that marijuana provides no accepted medical use here in the U.S. Further, take note that you are not beholden to addressing the medical use of marijuana, alone. There are, as know, other honorable mentions as to why marijuana should be decriminalized. Effective research, here, as well as it with any of the other topics you have to choose from, will be key in garnering a solid response in this area.
    5. Summary, conclusions and recommendations
      1. Reiterate your selected political issue, as well as your team’s position on such.
      2. Conclude by including a policy recommendation that will effectively and efficiently address this political issue. For example, one might propose that the federal government remove marijuana from Schedule I status on the Controlled Substance Act, or one might propose, in terms of immigration reform, that immigration policy be reformed to allow illegal immigrants, brought to the U.S. as children., to receive U.S. citizenship.

    Citations that document your research are a critical part of this project. Be sure to identify all the references you use. These should be cited in the text as well as the References list. See the Tools and Resources page for more information and resources about APA format, to include information on a sample outline.

    By now, your teams and topics should be well-established. While completing this assignment, remember that your team project should focus on an issue that addresses a current problem at the national level. Further, remember to decide on the scope of the issue. It should be small enough to research thoroughly, but not so narrow that it becomes a “special interest” issue. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be sorting out any bias in various sources of reporting. Also, prior to submission, never hesitate to ask your professor for help, and/or search out other experts on the topic. (1)

    Submission

    Submit the assignment here as a Word document with the file name Final_Project.docx. To submit, choose the Final Project link above and use the file attachment feature to browse for and upload your completed document. Remember to choose Submit to complete the submission.

    Grading

    This assignment is worth 160 points toward your final grade and will be graded using the Final Team Project Rubric . Please use it as a guide toward successful completion of this assignment.


    3.8: Module 2 Assessments is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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