Introduction to American Government & Politics

Polsci 111, sections 1-6, Spring 1998

Discussion Section Assignment

In groups of approximately five students, you will write a report and give an oral/computer presentation of the report on a public policy issue. As you will learn in class, all government policies reflect choices made among conflicting values, and many different people, groups, and institutions influence policy decisions. With this in mind, your paper must include a discussion of at least one topic from each of the three categories listed below.

The issue each group writes about will be decided by the group, but requires approval from the instructor.

Written assignments are due the week of March 30. The in-class oral/computer presentations of the reports will begin April 23 (for Thursday sections), April 27 (for Monday sections), and April 29 (for Wednesday sections). All groups should be prepared to present on these days.

Each student’s discussion section grade will be based on 1) the student’s quality of participation in the report, and 2) its presentation, and 3) brief written evaluations of each of the other presentations. Revisions of the reports, if necessary, are due on the day of the final.

Your assignments will be turned in as a web page, which will then be posted on the World Wide Web. Constructing a web page is very easy and you will be taught how to do this over the course of the semester. Instruction on how to construct web pages will begin during the second week of classes in a computer lab. Thus, it is imperative that you go to discussion class during the second week of classes. A few future discussion sections will also be held in the computer lab to give you the opportunity to ask questions about designing web pages.

Since you are working as a group on these assignments we recommend that you choose your groups based on when you may be available to meet outside of class.

Section 1—go to 1001A North Building (ACS Computer Lab) on 2/9/98 and 2/23/98.

Section 2—go to 420 Thomas Hunter Hall (Writing Lab) on 2/9/98 and 2/23/98.

Section 3—go to 1001A North Building (ACS Computer Lab) on 2/11/98 and 2/25/98.

Section 4—420 Thomas Hunter Hall (Writing Lab) on 2/11/98 and 2/25/98.

Section 5—420 Thomas Hunter Hall (Writing Lab) on 2/10/98 and 2/26/98.

Section 6—1001A North Building (ACS Computer Lab) on 2/10/98 and 2/26/98.