Assignment 3: Persuasive Position Paper

Your paper should present a sound and convincing argument, supported by relevant facts and figures, for  one side  in a controversy or issue regarding American political parties that is listed below.  I’d encourage you to argue the side you do not initially agree with. 

The proposals listed below are described only in very brief terms. Each of the positions described has been seriously proposed by creditable individuals or groups, who have discussed their ideas in books, articles, or other published sources. Some of the issues have received considerable attention in the media. Drawing upon what has been discussed, you should fill in the specifics as you see fit. This is particularly true if you are arguing for a change in the laws governing parties or elections.

Information about each topic is available from a variety of sources available in the library. All of these proposals have been discussed in both the popular press (newspapers, news magazines) and the scholarly press (journals, books). Use the library resources and guides, and consult the reference librarians for assistance. Also, consult the course textbooks for potential sources.

Suggested  length is 4-6 pages, but this is just a suggestion; your paper should be long enough to cover the relevant points.  Quality > Quantity.

Assignment 3

Who Should Vote?

Side A:  Proof of citizenship and/or photo identification should be required for anyone to vote in any American election, as this would increase the security and validity of elections. 

OR

Side B:  Proof of citizenship and/or photo identification should  not be required for anyone to vote in any American election, as this would provide an undue burden on segments of the potential electorate. 

General guidelines for all of the assignments are as follows:

• Assignments need to be submitted as a Microsoft Word file 
• Assignments should be double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font with a standard 1 inch margin on all sides (failure to follow these guidelines will result in a loss of points). 
• Assignments need to be supported by the course materials (text and lectures). 
• All references used to complete your assignments should be included in a reference list. 
• The use of direct quotes should be minimal, if at all; the paper should be primarily in your own words. Any quoted or paraphrased information should be cited. 
• Sources such as Wikipedia or about.com (or other similar websites) are NEVER appropriate for academic work. If you have a question about the appropriateness of a source, please check with me.