Your assignment is to compare and contrast the authors of ONE of the debates listed below.
The essay should be a minimum of 1250 words and NO LONGER than 1600 words (5 pages). This is tough for some students who like to write, and write, and write…without really saying a whole lot. The page length requires you to get to the point of your argument. If, however, you are stretching your margins and line spacing to try and fit the minimum page number requirement, then I’ll know you don’t have much to say – and your paper grade will reflect that. Your problem should NOT be how to get to the minimum of 1250 words but rather how to keep it to no longer than the maximum of 1600 words.
LENGTH and FORMAT
Your essay should be:
at least 1250 words and NO LONGER than 1600 words.
double spaced with 1″ margins (including top and bottom)
Times New Roman 12
Don’t fill the heading of your first page with a lot of unnecessary junk. The only three things you need to put (single spaced) are your name, the date, and the title of the paper. (Anything more than that will be deleted when I grade your paper.)
COMPARE AND CONTRAST CHECKLIST:
Have you opened with an introduction that lays out what this review essay seeks to accomplish?
Is there a good hook that catches the interest of the reader of your paper from the very beginning?
Have you fully explained the two author’s positions by comparing and contrasting them?
Have you used specific examples to illustrate their arguments?
Have you analyzed what their specific differences are? (Comparing is easy; make sure you also contrast!)
Have you stated to the reader who you believe offers the most persuasive argument and why?
Do you have a conclusion that sums up the paper?
Have you proofread your paper for grammatical and spelling errors?
THIS IS NOT A POSITION PAPER. While I am interested in your position at the end of the paper, your task is to fairly assess the arguments of each of the authors. Offer your position at the end of the paper as you tell me which author you find more persuasive and why. (You are also free to reject both authors if you provide a good enough reason.)
For the INTRODUCTION, don’t forget that the specific assignment is to compare and contrast these authors. This requires you to bring the names and articles of these authors into your introduction.
DEBATE TOPICS
Choose one topic:
The Constitution
Charles Beard, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States
Robert Brown, Charles Beard and the Constitution: A Critical Analysis
Should “Under God” Stay in the Pledge?
George Allen, Keep “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance
Margaret Crosby, Remove “Under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance
Affirmative Action
Sandra Day O’Connor, Law School Admissions: The Case for Affirmative Action
Clarence Thomas, Law School Admissions: The Case Against Affirmative Action
Campaigns and the Media
Fred Wertheimer, TV Ad Wars: How to Cut Advertising Costs in Political Campaigns Download TV Ad Wars: How to Cut Advertising Costs in Political Campaigns
Stephen Bates and Edwin Diamond, Damned Spots: A Defense of Thirty-Second Campaign Ads
Should the Electoral College Be Scrapped?
John Koza, A State Based Plan for Electing the President by National Popular Vote
Robert Weissberg, Arnold: Terminate This Gimmick
The Bureaucracy
Janine Wedel, Federalist No. 70: Where Does the Public Service Begin and End?
Cato Handbook for Policymakers, Privatization
