Penny M. Miller

Political Science 202 (002): Fall 2000
ORIENTATION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE
Thursday, 11:00-11:50a.m. CP287

Office Hours: T,W, R 1:00‑2:45 p.m. and by appointment

Course Description

This course serves as an introduction to the discipline for new and prospective political science majors. Lectures, readings, and discussions will introduce students to the major fields of study in political science, the methodology of social science research, and career options available to political science majors. Each week a different faculty member will give the lecture or facilitate a case study. This format enables the student to learn about the topic being discussed from a specialist in the area, and also serves to introduce students to a variety of political science faculty members. Every student will be offered a private advising session with the DUS to discuss her/his overall academic and career plans.

Required Text and Case Studies

Lawson, Kay. 1999. The Human Polity: A Comparative Introduction to Political Science. Brief Version. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

The Kennedy School of Government, Case Study #915: "The Politician as Outsider: Judy Nadler and the Santa Clara City Council"

The Kennedy School of Government, Case Study #1044: "Arciniega's War in the Upper Huallaga Valley"

A daily reading of a newspaper is suggested; see especially New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post (not USA Today). You should expose yourself to indepth national publications.

See professor’s web site for syllabus and links to other relevant web sites:

http://www.uky.edu/ArtsScience/PoliSci/Miller

Evaluation Criteria

PS 202 is a Pass/Fail course; your grade will be based on the following:

50% ‑‑ Weekly written assignments that are due at the beginning of each class. These will be graded: P+, P, or F.

50% ‑‑ (a) An interview paper described at the end of this syllabus. It is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, Oct.19th. This will be graded: A, B, C, D, or E.

(b) A research paper described at the end of this syllabus. It is due by Thursday, December 7^th at 11:00a.m. in POT 1615. This will be graded: A, B, C, D, or E.

Schedule and Assigned Readings and Required Written Exercises:

R 8/24‑‑ Course Outline and Overview of the Discipline

R 8/31 Discussion of Kentucky Politics

1.What are the critical issues in Kentucky?

2.Who are the state's leaders?

3.What has been the aftermath of BOPTROT?

4.What is KERA?

Suggested Readings:

Jewell, Malcolm E., and Everett W. Cunningham. 1968. Kentucky Politics Lexington: University of Kentucky Press.

Miller, Penny M. 1994. Kentucky Politics and Government: Do We Stand United? Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

Miller, Penny M., and Malcolm E. Jewell. 1990. Political Parties and Primaries in Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

Pearce, John Ed. 1987. Divide and Dissent: Kentucky Politics, 1930‑1963 Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

R 9/07‑‑ The Scope of Political Science and the Language of Politics

Text: Chapter 1, "Politics and the Human Polity,” 2-23

Chapter 2, “The Language of Politics,” 24-39

Required Written Exercise for 9/7: Write clear and concise answers to two of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1. Discuss some approaches to the study of political puzzles. Provide current examples of each approach.

2. What are some current examples of interdependence?

3. Discuss the concept of power and provide some current examples.

4. Discuss the concept of freedom and provide some current examples.

Suggested Readings:

Connolly, William E. 1993. The Terms of Political Discourse. Princeton:Princeton University Press.

Connor, Walker. 1994. Ethnonationalism: The Quest for Understanding. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.

Duchacek, Ivo D. 1986. The Territorial Dimensions of Politics Within, Among, and Across Nations. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press.

Kennedy, Paul. 1993. Preparing for the Twenty-First Century. New York: Random House.

Laswell, Harold. 1950. Politics: Who Gets What, When, and How. New York: Peter Smith.

Tansey, Stephen D. 1995. Politics: The Basics. London:Routledge.

Vincent, Andres. 1987. Theories of the State. New York: Basil Blackwell.

R 9/14‑‑ Government Institutions

Text: Chapter 9, "Making the Laws," 192-215

Chapter 10, "Running the Government: Executives and Bureaucrats,” 216-245

Required Written Exercise for 9/14: Write clear and concise answers to two of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1. What are the consequences of divided government?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a fixed term of office for the head of state?

3. Which system ‑‑ parliamentary or presidential ‑‑ is likely to have a strong legislature? Why?

4. Compare and contrast the role of bureaucracies in democratic and nondemocratic states.

5. In 1999, what are the major shortcomings of the United States having a federal, presidential, two-party system with plurality elections?

Suggested Readings:

Benjamin, Gerald, and Michael Malbin, eds. 1992. Limiting Legislative Terms. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.

Curtis, Michael, ed. 1990. Introduction to Comparative Government. 2d ed. New York: Harper and Row.

Fenno, Richard Fenno. 1978. Home Style: House Members in their Districts. Boston: Little, Brown.

Fesler, James W., and Donald D. Kettl. 1991. The Politics of the Administrative Process. Chatham, N.J.: Chatham House.

Fulbright, William J. 1989. The Price of Empire. New York: Pantheon.

Hart, John. 1987. The Presidential Branch. New York: Pergamon Press.

Jewell, Malcolm E., and Samuel C. Patterson. 1986. The Legislative Process in the United States. 4th ed. New York: Random House.

Laundy, Philip. 1989. Parliaments in the Modern World. Brookfield, Vt.: Gower Publishing Co.

Lijphart, Arend. 1984. Democracies: Patterns of Majoritarian and Consensus Government in Twenty-One Countries. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Mayhew, David R.. 1991. Divided We Govern: Party Control, Lawmaking, and Investigations, 1946‑1990. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Milkis, Sidney M., and Michael Nelson. 1990. The American Presidency: Origins and Development, 1776‑1990. Washington: CQ Press.

Page, Benjamin I. 1983. Who Gets What from Government? Berkeley: University of California Press.

Rosenthal, Alan. 1990. Governors and Legislatures: Contending Powers. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.

Rosenthal, Alan. 1981. Legislative Life. New York: Harper and Row.

Thurber, James A. 1991. Divided Democracy: Cooperation and Conflict between the President and Congress. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.

Westlake, Martin. 1994. A Modern Guide to the European Parliament. London:Pinter.

Wildavsky, Aaron. 1988. The New Politics of the Budgetary Process. Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman.

R 9/21‑‑ Political Organizations

Text: Chapter 7, “Organizing for Politics: Interest Groups,” 133-161

Chapter 8, "Political Parties," 162‑190

Required Written Exercise for 9/21: Write clear and concise answers to two of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1.How well‑ or ill‑regarded are political parties today? Describe popular perceptions of parties in the modern world. Evaluate these feelings. Why do people feel as they do about political parties in our time?

2. Why are multiparty systems more common than two-party systems?

3. How do political interest groups differ from political parties?

4.Discuss some tactics of interest groups. Provide current examples.

Suggested Readings:

Beck, Paul Allen. 1996. Party Politics in America. 8th ed. New York: Longman.

Berry, Jeffrey M. 1984. The Interest Group Society. Boston: Little, Brown.

Budge, Ian, and Hans Keman. 1990. Parties and Democracy: Coalition Formation and Government Functioning in Twenty States. New York: Oxford Univ. Press.

Crespi, Irving. 1989. Public Opinion, Polls, and Democracy. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press.

Dahl, Robert A. 1961. Who Governs? New Haven: Yale University Press.

Duverger, Maurice. 1954. Political Parties: Their Organization and Activity in the Modern State. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Ginsberg, Benjamin, and Martin Shefter. 1990. Politics by Other Means: The Declining Importance of Elections in America. New York: Basic Books.

Hrebenar, Ronald J., and Ruth K. Scott. 1990. Interest Group Politics in America. 2d ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

Jacobson, Gary, and Samuel Kernell. 1983. Strategy and Choice in Congressional Elections. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Mahood, H.R. 1990. Interest Group Politics in America. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

Michels, Robert. 1915. Political Parties. New York: Dover Publications.

Niemi, Richard G., and Herbert F. Weisberg. eds. 1984. Controversies in Voting Behavior. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.

Petracca, Mark P. ed. 1992. The Politics of Interests. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Piven, Frances Fox, and Richard A. Cloward. 1988. Why Americans Don't Vote. New York: Pantheon.

Randall, Vicki, ed. 1988. Political Parties in the Third World. Newbury Park: Sage.

Sabato, Larry J., ed. 1989. Campaigns and Elections. Glenview, Ill.: Scott Foresman/Little Brown.

Schattschneider, Elmer E. 1942. Party Government. New York:Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Walker, Jack L. 1991. Mobilizing Interest Groups in America: Patrons, Professions and Social Movements. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

Ware, Alan. 1996. Political Parties and Party Systems. Oxford:Oxford University Press.

R 9/28 ‑‑ The Kennedy School of Government, Case Study #915: "The Politician as Outsider: Judy Nadler and the Santa Clara City Council"

Required Written Exercise for 9/28: Write clear and concise answers to all of the following questions, approximately one paragraph per question. Be prepared to discuss these questions in class.

1 What was the Collishaw connection? Was it local government ‑‑ "business as usual"?

2 Why was Nadler considered a maverick and an outsider on the Santa Clara City Council? Provide several examples.

3 What role did the media play in revealing the Collishaw "scandal"?

4 What happened at the council meeting on August 26, 1986?

5 How did the city respond to the grand jury report? Do you agree with its response? Whyor why not?

6 What was the long‑term impact of the grand jury report on local government ethics? Who is mayor of Santa Clara today, September 28, 1999?

Suggested Readings:

Barner‑Berry, Carol, and Robert Rosenwein. 1985. Psychological Perspectives on Politics. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice‑Hall.

Budge, Ian, and Dennis J. Farlie. 1983. Explaining and Predicting Elections. London: Allen and Unwin.

Dalton, Russell J. 1988. Citizen Politics in Western Democracies. Chatham, N.J.: Chatham House.

Dowse, Robert E., and John A. Hughes. 1986. Political Sociology. New York: John Wiley.

Hermann, Margaret G., ed. 1986. Political Psychology. San Francisco: Jossey‑ Bass Publishers.

Hertsgaard, Mark. 1988. On Bended Knee: The Press and the Reagan Presidency. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

Peterson, Steven A. 1990. Political Behavior: Patterns in Everyday Life. Newbury Park, Ca.: Sage.

R 10/5‑‑ Political Culture & Political Behavior

Text: Chapter 5, "Politics and Culture," 87‑108

Required Written Exercise for 10/5: Write clear and concise answers to two of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1.What are the differences and what are the similarities in political socialization processes in democracies and dictatorships?

2.Discuss the impact of cultural divisiveness on the nation-state. Provide current examples.

3. Discuss the ideal of a civic culture. Provide current examples.

4. How are ethnic and religious characteristics often bonded? Provide current examples.

Suggested Readings:

Almond, Gabriel, and Sidney Verba. 1963. The Civic Culture. Boston: Little, Brown.

Andrain, Charles F., and David E. Apter. 1995. Political Protest and Social Change: Analyzing Politics. New York: New York University Press.

Coyle, Dennis J., and Richard J. Ellis. 1994. Politics, Policy and Culture. Boulder:Westview Press.

Hermann, Margaret G., ed. 1986. Political Psychology. San Francisco: Jossey‑ Bass Publishers.

Huntington, Samuel. 1993. The Clash of Civilizations: The Debate. New York: Council on Foreign Relations.

Ichilov, Orit., ed. 1990. Political Socialization, Citizenship, Education and Democracy. New York: Teachers College Press.

Ryan, Michael. 1989. Politics and Culture. Basingstoke: MacMillan.

R 10/12 ‑‑ The Judiciary, Law School and a Legal Career

Text: Chapter 11, “Justice under the Law,” 246-268

Required Written Exercise for 10/12: Write clear and concise answers to 2 of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1.Discuss the choosing of credible judges. Provide current examples..

2. Is there an independent judiciary in the United States? Why or why not?

3.Discuss the differences between case law and code law. Provide examples.

4. Discuss the differences between domestic law and international law. Provide examples.

Suggested Readings:

Barker, Lucius J., and Twiley W. Barker, Jr. 1990. Civil Liberties and the Constitution: Cases and Commentaries, 6th ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

Baum, Lawrence. 1990. American Courts: Process and Policy, 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Donnelly, Jack. 1989. Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

Epstein, Lee, and Thomas G. Walker. 1992. Constitutional Law for a Changing America: Rights, Liberties, and Justice Washington: CQ Press.

Ehrmann, Henry. 1976. Comparative Legal Cultures. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice‑Hall.

Gates, John B., and Charles A. Johnson, eds. 1991. The American Courts: A Critical Assessment. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.

Harris, Paul. ed. 1989. Civil Disobedience. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America.

Katz, Alan M. ed. 1986. Legal Traditions and Systems: An International Handbook Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.

Merryman, John Henry. 1985. The Civil Law Tradition, 2nd ed. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

Neubauer, David W. 1991. Judicial Process: Law, Courts, and Politics in the United States. Pacific Grove, Ca.: Brooks/Cole.

R 10/19: Class Discussion of Appointed and Elected Officeholders/ Political Behavior

Text: Chapter 6, “The Individual in Politics,” 110-132

*********Required Written Exercise: Interview Paper Due for 10/19

Suggested Readings:

Barber, James David. 1972. The Presidential Character: Predicting Performance in the White House. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

Burns, James McGregor. 1978. Leadership. New York: Harper & Row.

Cook, Elizabeth Adell, Sue Thomas, and Clyde Wilcox, eds. 1994. The Year of the Woman: Myths and Realities. Boulder: Westview Press.

Darcy, R., Susan Welch, and Janet Clark. 1987. Women, Elections, and Representation. New York: Longman.

Fowler, Linda L., and Robert D. McClure. 1989. Political Ambition: Who Decides to Run for Congress. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Preston, Michael B., Lenneal J. Henderson, Jr., and Paul L. Puryear, eds. 1987. The New Black Politics, 2d ed. New York: Longman.

R 10/26 Advising for Spring/Career Planning/ Internship Opportunities in Government

Required Written Exercise for 10/26: Prepare a personal resume which will be filed with UK’s Career Center. The resume should contain your academic, extracurricular, service, and work experiences. Specialists at the Career Center offer assistance in creating resumes - 257-2746 - www.uky.edu/CareerCenter

R 11/2 ‑‑ Political Theories and Ideologies

Text: Chapter 3, "Political Ideologies," 42‑61

Required Written Exercise for 11/2: Write clear and concise answers to 2 of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1.Compare and contrast conservative and liberal beliefs.

2.Where are the democracies in the world in 1999?

3.What are the similarities and/or differences between socialism and fascism?

Provide examples.

4.Which system ‑‑ capitalism or socialism ‑‑ is better suited to solve the problems of Third World countries? What are the reasons for your answer?

5.Is feminism a new ideology? Why or why not?

Suggested Readings:

Arendt, Hannah. 1973. The Origins of Totalitarianism. New ed. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Baradat, Leon P. 1984. Political Ideologies. 2d ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall. Barber, Benjamin R. 1984. Strong Democracy: Participatory Democracy for a New Age. Berkeley University of California Press.

Bracher, Karl Dietrich. 1984. The Age of Ideologies. London: Weidenfeld andNicholson.

Connolly, William E. 1988. Political Theory and Modernity. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

Crick, Bernard. 1987. Socialism. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Cronin, Thomas E. 1989. Direct Democracy: The Politics of Initiative, Referendum, and Recall. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

Dunbar, Leslie. 1991. Reclaiming Liberalism. New York: W.W. Norton.

Goldman, Marshall L. 1992. What Went Wrong with Perestroika. New York: W.W. Norton.

Hollander, Paul. 1992. Decline and Discontent: Communism and the West Today. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction.

Honerich, Tom. 1991. Conservatism. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press.

Locke, John. 1952. The Second Treatise of Government. New York: Liberal Arts Press.

Schumpeter, Joseph A. 1950. Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy. 3d ed. New York: Harper and Brothers.

Stern, Geoffrey. 1990. The Rise and Decline of International Communism. Brookfield, Vt.: Gower Publishing.

Ulam, Adam B. 1992. The Communists: The Story of Power and Lost Illusions. New York: Scribner's.

R 11/9 ‑‑ Ingredients of International Politicals & The International Situation at Century’s End

Text: Chapter 4,"Political Economy,"62-86

Chapter 13,"International Relations,"292‑319

Chapter 14"Regime Change in the Human Polity," 320-347

Required Written Exercise for 11/9: Write clear and concise answers to 2 of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1.How can governments promote and sustain economic development? Provide examples.

2.Discuss regime change and international institutions. Provide current examples.

3.Is the United States still a superpower?

4.Does international interdependence ‑‑ the fact that countries depend on each other for some of their needs ‑‑ lead to increased international cooperation, or to increased conflict and war? Why do you think so? Give examples to support your argument.

5.Discuss some effects of ethnicity on the political process. Provide current examples.

6.Who will be the big powers fifty years from now? Why?

Suggested Readings

Adelman, Sammy, and Abdul Paliwala. 1993. Law and Crisis in the Third World. London: Hans Zell.

Coloumbis, Theodore A., and James H. Wolfe. 1990. Introduction to International Relations: Power and Justice. 4th ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

Crabb, Cecil V. Jr., and Pat M. Holt, "The Intelligence Community," in Invitation to Struggle: Congress, the President, and Foreign Policy, 4thed. (Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1992), pp. 165‑195.

Diehl, Paul Francis. 1993. International Peacekeeping. Baltimore:John Hopkins University Press.

Ehrlich, Paul, and Ann Ehrlich. 1990. The Population Explosion. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Gallie, W.B. 1991. Understanding War. New York: Routledge.

Harding, Harry. 1987. China's Second Revolution: Reform after Mao. Washington, D.C.: Brookings.

Huntington, Samuel P. "The Clash of Civilizations?", Foreign Affairs, vol. 72, No. 3 (Summer 1993), pp. 22‑49; see also Jeanne J. Kirkpatrick and others, "Responses to Samuel P. Huntington's `The Clash of Civilizations?'", Foreign Affairs, vol. 72, No. 4 (September/October 1993), pp. 2‑26.

Luard, Evan. 1990. The Globalization of Politics: The Changed Focus of Political Action in the Modern World. New York: New York University Press.

Morgenthau, Hans J., and Kenneth W. Thompson. 1985. Politics among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace. 6th ed. New York: Knopf.

Ryan, Stephen. 1990. Ethnic Conflict and International Relations. Brookfield, Vt.: Dartmouth Publishing Co.

Scott, Andrew M. 1982. The Dynamics of Interdependence. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

Skidmore, Thomas, and Peter Smith. 1992. Modern Latin America. 3d ed. New York: Oxford University Press.

Sorman, Guy. 1990. The New Wealth of Nations. Stanford, CA: Hoover Press.

Stokes, Gale. 1993. The Walls Came Tumbling Down: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. Oxford:Oxford University Press.

R 11/16 ‑‑ The Kennedy School of Government, Case Study #1044: "Arciniega's War in the Upper Huallaga Valley"

Required Written Exercise for 11/16: Write clear and concise answers to all of the following questions, approximately one paragraph per question. Be prepared to discuss these questions in class.

1What was the role of the United States in fighting drugs in the Upper Huallaga Valley?

2.In the late 1980s, in what kinds of political and social activities were the Sendero forces engaged?

3.What was the strategy of General Alberto Arciniega and the Peruvian military in dealing with the human rights abuses of Upper Huallaga Valley citizens by the Sendero forces?

4.What role did the American and European demand for cocaine play in the Upper Huallaga Valley controversy (was there any cause and effect)?

5.What restraints did General Arciniega impose on both the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Peruvian police in their attempts to combat the production and trafficking of cocaine in the Upper Huallaga Valley? What was the impact of the restraints?

6.Was the "war against drugs" in the Upper Huallaga Valley a success or failure? Why?

R 11/23 No Class/Thanksgiving Holiday

R 11/30-- Political Methodology

Required Written Exercise for 11/30: Select information on two recent public opinion polls from either the newspaper or the Internet. Write a brief summary of the findings, and attach copies of the articles.

****REQUIRED RESEARCH PAPER Due by 11a..m. on Thursday, December 7, 2000.

Bring Paper to POT 1615 and Sign In with Undergraduate Secretary****

COURSE RULES and REQUIREMENTS:

1.More than two unexcused absences will result in a failing grade for the course. You must attend the interview paper and case study class sessions.

2. On written assignments, students shall not plagiarize or cheat. See Section 3.0, Part II, of the Student Rights and Responsibilties handbook for definitions (page 37). Students shall use non‑discriminatory language in written assignments as well as classroom discussions. See the Writing Center for guidelines. The last day to drop a course without it appearing on a student's transcript is September 12, 2000. The last day for automatic withdrawals is October 20, 2000.3. All written assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late papers will not be accepted except for legitimate reasons. University policy will be followed. There will be NO incompletes.

4. You must complete the interview and research papers in order to pass the course.

PS 202 INTERVIEW PAPER Fall 2000

This assignment is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, October 19th. The paper must be typewritten, double‑spaced, and at least two pages in length. It will be graded: A, B, C, D, or E. Your assignment is to conduct a face‑to‑face interview with any elected or appointed local, state, or national government officeholder, or a current or former candidate for local, state, or national office in Kentucky. Discover as much information about the individual and his/her job as you can. You can present the paper in interview form. At the end of your paper, cite when and where you conducted the interview.

Suggestions: You could interview a councilperson or a state legislator and ask questions such as:

1. Where did you grow up and obtain your education?

2. Were you raised in a political family?

3. What is your political ideology and party identification?

4. What is your occupational background?

5. When did you first become involved in politics?

6. What long‑term career plans do you have?

7. Is this your first elected office?

8. How many terms have you served?

9. What was the nature of your political campaign(s)?

10. How much opposition have you had in getting elected?

11. How active are you in party politics?

12. What is the nature of your district ‑‑ rich/poor, urban/rural, political?

13. Is your district lopsided or close in partisan terms?

14. What do you believe to be the major interests or constituencies in your district?

15. How do you stay in contact with your constituents (e.g., newsletters, newspaper columns, questionnaires)?

16. How often do you speak in the district?

17. What kind of coverage do you get in the local press (e.g., favorable)?

18. How do you view your role in the policy‑making process?

PS 202 REQUIRED RESEARCH PAPER Due by 11a.m. on December 7, 2000

Bring Paper to POT 1615 and Sign In with Undergraduate Secretary

This paper must be 3 pages minimum, typewritten, double-spaced and must cover a current controversial issue debated in American politics. Research will include 2 reputable political science journal articles and/or books with proper documentation–each must be on opposing sides. Internet sites, newspaper articles, and popular magazines are not allowed; once again, a minimum of 2 political science journal articles or books must be utilized! A late paper means a failing grade!!!

*Structure of the paper:

-Introduction

What is the issue being debated and why is it important? Briefly outline both sides of the issue and what you are going to say about it.

-Body

State BOTH sides of the issue. What does each side say?

YES- why are people in favor of it?

NO-why are people against it?

-Evaluation

Which argument seems to be the stronger of the two? Why?(not just

because “I feel” or “In my opinion” but use the journal article to support

your view)

-Conclusion

What should be done now? Does anything need to be done? Or..

What has the government done in regard to this issue?

Suggested Topics:

Health Care

International Security Problems

Welfare

Foreign Intervention

Military Spending

Judicial Activism on the Supreme Court

U.S. Foreign Aid

Religious Freedom

Education

Economic Issues/Free Trade

Affirmative Action

PAC’s/Interest Groups

Abortion

Immigration

Campaign Finance

Bilingual Official U.S. Languages

Pornography

Social Security

Legislating the Internet

Animal Rights

Legalizing Drugs

Medical Experiments

Increasing Cigarette Taxes

Euthanasia

Gay Rights Term Limits

Child Abuse

Gun Control

Domestic Violence

Democracy in Other Countries

Nuclear Weapons

Global Environmental Issues

Population Crisis

Foreign Attention to Third World Problems

Capital Punishment

Campaign Finance