AP U.S. Government and Politics
Elemen
Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors
Homework
Fri. Sep. 14: Read and take notes on Wilson, Chapter 4: “American Political Culture”
Mon. Sep. 17: Read and take notes on Wilson, Chapter 7: “Public Opinion”
Tue. Sep. 18: Read and take notes on Wilson, Chapter 11: “Interest Groups”
Wed. Sep. 19: Read and take notes on Wilson, Chapter 12: “The Media”
Thu. Sep. 20: Read, annotate, write a 1–page paper that includes a summary paragraph with
evidence (quotations) and a reflective paragraph on The Power Elite by C. Wright Mills, excerpt
Fri. Sep. 21: Read, annotate, write a 1–page paper that includes a summary paragraph with
evidence (quotations and cited paraphrasing) and a reflective paragraph on Who Governs? and A
Preface to Democratic Theory, by Robert Dahl, excerpts
Mon. Sep. 24: Questions Paper, Study for Unit 2 Exam
Asking the Right Questions: Political Ideology Paper
DIRECTIONS: For one week track a current political issue, deciphering the factual information.
Then produce three questions one may ask at a news conference to assess the position of the
political elite (you choose the person or institution who has power over the issue). After
analyzing the issue, explain your position on the issue, labeling it as a left (liberal) or right
(conservative) wing assessment.
Political Elite ________________________________
Issue______________________________________
1. From your research, determine the following
Who:
What
When
Where
Why
How
2. Develop three relevant questions that would further enlighten one’s constituents or citizens.
The questions should :
- provide more information on the issue
- offer solutions
- force the political elite to take a stand
- more
Rubric:
5
3
1
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Thesis statement is topic statement + 5 sentences.
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Completes 5 W’s (who, what, when, where, why) and 1 H (how)
__
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Questions provide insight into the issue.
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Questions allows political elite to take a stand.
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Grammar, syntax, punctuation is accurate
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Position assessment is fully explained
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Ideological assessment is accurate.
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Proper end noting and work cited procedures (two+ sources) are utilized
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Deadline is met
__
Total (45)
Length: 1-2 typed written pages
3. DUE: Tuesday, Sep. 25, 2012
Possible Public Policy Areas: Affirmative Action, Pro-life/Pro-Choice, Budget surplus/shortfall,
Social Security, Environment, Energy, Capital Punishment, Gun control, Campaign Financing,
Prayer in schools, Terrorism, War, Weapons of Mass Destruction, primaries. . . more
Unit 2 Exam: Tuesday, Sep. 25, 2012