GOVERNMENT OPINION ESSAY

VOTING & ELECTIONS

DUE: Thursday December 19^th, 2002

Assignment:

• Below are two questions. Pick one of them and answer it in the form of a persuasive essay.

o       What do you think America should do to increasing the voter turnout rate?

§         Give three specific ideas

o      What should America do about the electoral college?

§         Should we eliminate it (what would we replace it with?)

§         Should we make some changes to the electoral college system (if so, what specific ones?)

§         It is fine the way it is? (Why is it okay?)

Value: Thirty points

Sources:

Ø      Your textbook

Ø      One outside source

o       Must be quoted in the essay

o       Websites do not count

Requirements for the Essay:

• It should be a typical 5 paragraph essay
• Introduction
• Introduce me to the problem
• Write as if I do not know anything about this problem
• Provide facts, quotes, solid information
• Give me your opinion
• Three body paragraphs
• Your solutions, reasons, etc.
• Conclusion
• Restate your opinion
• Briefly, restate your points

• Must be 2 to 3 FULL pages.
• Must be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, with margins no more than 1.25 inches.

• Cite your sources (including if you use the textbook)
• Title of book/magazine
• The date the book/magazine was published
• The page number it is mentioned

For more information

Ø      see the Essay Rubric. at http://jdelarme.freeservers.com

Ø      Email me at delarmehistory@yahoo.com

ELECTION INFORMATION

Project Vote Smart

Data on Past Presidential Elections

An Article about the 2000 Election by William E. Leuchtenburg