This assignment is designed to actively involve you in the political process through the writing of a letter to a member of the United States Congress. The assignment is worth 75 points and will satisfy 750 to 1,000 words.There are two separate components to this assignment.
1. The Letter
2. Summary Paper
Choosing a Topic
To begin this assignment you must choose a topic. You may choose any issue that relates to the United States government. Choosing a topic that you feel strongly about will make the work more interesting and rewarding. When you begin your research you may become overwhelmed at the amount of potential legislation that exists as well as the complexity of some of that legislation. It may seem more manageable if you begin your search looking legislation related to your personal interests; another alternative would be to search data basis that summarize current legislation by subject area. Ideally you want to focus on an issue that is currently under consideration by the United States government.
Research
The next phase of this issue is a thorough understanding of the issue, including how it affects you and what you understand to be the government’s role. The research will provide you with the basis for a sound letter and the necessary support for a successful summary paper.
The Letter
Once you have chosen your topic you will select a member of the United States Congress, a Representative or Senator, to whom you will write to about your chosen issue. One of the requirements of the Summary Paper is to explain why and how you chose the recipient of your letter. Letters should be clearly organized, well supported and brief (one to two pages at the most.) Letters should be respectful, and show an awareness of the intended audience. A letter to an elected official should also reflect an understanding of that individual’s ability to address your issue.
Summary Paper
The culmination of your efforts will be summarized in a two to three page paper. The paper will address the issue raised in the letter and how you believe it relates to this course and the federal government. The paper must follow the structure outlined below with the individual sections explicitly separated and labeled using the titles provided. Please use 12 point Times New Roman or Ariel font, double-spaced. Your name and course section, date and total word count should appear on the first page. No title page is necessary.
Required Format for Summary Paper:
Section 1. Overview (5 points)
Provide an introduction that briefly states the topic of your letter and to whom you wrote.
Section 2. Recipient (10 points)
Provide information regarding who you to and why you chose that particular member of Congress. This should include relevant biographical or background information on the member of Congress you selected as well as the specific reasons you felt that person was the appropriate one with whom to raise your issue.
Section 3. Issue Summary (20 points)
Explain the substantive issue that you addressed in your letter. This section should summarize and incorporate your research. It should be more about the facts than your opinion. Research must be identified with parenthetical references from a minimum of three sources other than the legislation itself. You may also include a discussion of your personal interest in this issue.
Section 4. Relation to the Course (10 points)
Explain how the issues raised in the letter are related to topics we are addressing in this class. To accomplish this requirement please refer to your text
book and specifically identify and cite by page a relevant concept.
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