Instructions
Papers must be at least five pages, typed double-spaced in 12 pt Times New Roman with one inch margins on all sides and a Works Cited at the end. Papers must utilize at least three sources and be cited using the MLA format. There are two types of paper that will be acceptable to turn in: Biography – Biographies must be on a significant figure in U.S. political history from within the past 50 years and cover all major aspects of his or her political career. Books will be the most likely sources for biographies. Students who choose to write a biography should come away with a better understanding of not only a specific individual, but also the political culture prevalent during their subject’s career. It is extremely important that students use at least three sources as not all authors will share the same perspective on the figure studied. One of the student’s goals in writing a biography should be to recognize these differences offered by the authors and then interpret these varying views in the paper. Current Event Report – Current Event reports should give an objective presentation of a current event in U.S. politics. This is not an opinion piece, however the report’s conclusion should offer some interpretation of the facts. Sources may include newspapers, news magazine articles, and academic journals. Though the minimum is still three sources, adequate current event reports will probably exceed this minimum. Current event reports should give students a chance to learn more about a topic they have an interest in. In nearly every facet of life a political connection can be found. Some students may choose to write on a subject in which the political ramifications have yet to be thoroughly examined while others will want to tackle some of the biggest stories in U.S. politics today. Either is fine as long as the report focuses on the political relevance of the subject and that it is of a genuine interest to the student.