Writing Assignment 2 

There are two writing assignments worth 100 points each.  The purpose of the essays is to provide students an opportunity to discuss a key concept or topic in American politics and to show a basic understanding of academic research and reporting skills. Students should offer evidence for their arguments. Thus, submissions that are more comprehensive and detailed will earn a higher point total. Each assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. Submissions MUST include a work cited page (Note: there must be a parenthetical citation at the end of each sentence that contains information from a source). The textbook can be one of the sources included on the works cited page (sources other than the textbook may/should be used as well).You should use New Courier or Times New Roman, 12 point font, double-spacing, and one-inch margins on all four sides of the paper. The assignment is to be formatted according to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style which includes works cited page but does NOT include a title page. Students should research this style in order to properly format the assignment (see the Purdue Online Writing Lab).All writing assignments will be analyzed using SafeAssign. Essays that contain plagiarized material will receive a significant reduction in points or a zero. Students may receive a failing grade in the course for submitting plagiarized material. Do not cut and paste information from an online source or copy information directly from the textbook without using quotations and citing the information.

Select ONE of the following topics to discuss for Writing Assignment 2. The writing assignment should be a minimum of 750 words. You should use information from the textbook and outside sources to complete the assignment in the textbook. You must include a Works Cited page and in-text citations. See the Writing Assignment Instructions for more information.

• Find three polls on the same issue (for example, the death penalty, marijuana legalization, same-sex marriage, or any other policy topic) from three different time periods (such as the 1990s, the 2000s, and the 2010s). The polls MUST be about policy issues (not about a politician, candidate, or election campaign). Compare the polls by type (internet, phone), sample size, and the wording of the questions. Have the attitudes reflected in the polls concerning that issue changed or stayed relatively the same? If the polls show that attitudes have changed, what are some of the reasons for that change? [Hint: Pew Research and Gallup are good sources for public opinion data on policy issues.]
• There are numerous noneconomic interest groups that seek to influence public policy in America today. Choose one noneconomic interest group you are familiar with and briefly describe it. Is it a public-interest group, issue or ideological group, or a government interest group? What are some characteristics of the group that make it that type of group?  Discuss the tactics that interest groups use to interact with members of the government and influence public policy. How does the interest group you selected use these tactics?  How successful are they are at achieving their policy goals?  Do you think it is appropriate for interest groups to have access to government officials and potentially influence them? Why or why not?