The primary goal of your last assignment is to
critically analyze the primary features of the American national government.
The results of your analysis will indicate what you have learned over the last
five weeks. In order to accomplish this task, it is important to critically
evaluate the key facets of our American democracy.
You have been preparing for this final assignment
each week by constructing a detailed outline of the Final Paper’s main points
through the weekly Learning Activities. In addition, you have read the course
text and course readings, reviewed videos, and researched additional material
for each week’s assignments and for this paper. This week, you will put all of
those outlines, readings, reviews, and research together into a one summative
paper.
As we wrap up our course, reflect back on what you
have learned about the key structures, systems, roles, and processes that
embody our national government. Focus on the strengths and weaknesses,
advantages and disadvantages, and positive and negative impacts of these
aspects of our democracy. Use what you have learned so far to evaluate our
national government and recommend ways to enhance what works and repair what is
not working well. It is important to understand that this paper is not simply a
cut and paste of your four Learning Activities. While the research you have
completed can serve as a strong base it is important that you implement any
comments from the instructor, as well as further expand on the material.
Appropriate transitions and headings are needed to ensure a cohesive paper.
Construct a six-page paper based on the detailed
outlines that you created over the last four weeks. It is important to utilizeAPA headingsmajor sections
of your paper in order to ensure that the paper is easy to follow. A modelPOL201 Final Paper Guideis provided for
you to download and utilize when completing your Final Paper.
Scaffold your paper around the following outline:
·
Title page
·
Introduction(half page)
o
Describe the paper’s overall thesis.
o
Provide an overview of main points.
·
The Constitution (1 to 1.5 pages) (Week One)
o
Describe one strength and one weakness of the U.S. Constitution.
o
Recommend one option to maintain the strength and
one to correct the weakness.
·
Federalism (1 to 1.5 pages) (Week Two)
o
Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of a
national policy that must be implemented by one agency of the federal bureaucracy.
o
Recommend one option to maintain the advantage and
one to improve the disadvantage.
·
Branches of Government (1 to 1.5 pages) (Week
Three)
o
Describe one strength and one weakness of one
branch of our government: Executive, Legislative, or Judiciary.
o
Recommend one option to maintain the strength and
one to correct the weakness.
·
Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections
(1-1.5 pages) (Week 4)
o
Describe one positive impact and one negative
impact of one of the following: political parties, interest groups, or federal
elections.
o
Recommend one option to accentuate the positive
impact and one to lessen the negative impact.
·
Conclusion
o
Review your main points.
o
Review your overall thesis.
·
References page
The America’s Democracy: Your Report Card paper
·
Must be at least six double-spaced pages in length
(not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style
as outlined in theAshford Writing Center.
·
Must include a separate title page with the
following:
o
Title of paper
