Note: In election years, I have had students write “issues papers,” where they choose to report on two issues that are
of national interest to those campaigning. For each issue, they explain the issue and the two candidates’ views on
this issue in an unbiased and informative manner. (They needed modeling to understand bias vs. non-bias, and it
was still a challenge.) Their last paper, their conclusion, tells how they stand on the issues. The following is a copy
of the McCain-Obama Political Issues assignment, which I received from Kerry Downs, an AP Language &
Composition teacher at Orem High. I adapted it for my needs. I would recommend having a longer timeline than
what I originally allowed in the deadlines below, particular for a general education class (as compared to AP
Language).
McCain-Obama, Political Issues Paper
AP Language and Composition
1. Choose two of the most important or vital issues facing America today. (Or you may also choose
an issue you have a particular interest in, but it’s preferred that it’s an issue you feel is important
to America for the next President.)
2. Research the positions of John McCain and Barack Obama for each of your two issues.
3. Present a one page paper (d.s. or s.s.) for each candidate for each issue. Or present a one-page
single-spaced page that combines both candidates regarding one issue. This paper should sound
informative and report-like, not biased or persuasive.
4. Write a conclusion/personal feedback page (d.s. or s.s.). This page should discuss which
candidate most closely represents your views on each of the issues. In other words, based on
your research, which candidate would you vote for as President of the United States? Give
specific reasons why. You may include quotes, but most of this page should be based on your
own reasons. It should sound academic/formal in tone, but you may include strong voice or a
“General English” style if you prefer.
5. You need a Works Cited page, following MLA standards. Go ahead and have one page for the
entire set (not one Works Cited page per mini paper).
6. You may also include a Works Consulted page (such as if you found some of the required sources
too difficult/awkward to include in your paper).
7. You need to have a minimum of the following sources included on the Works
Cited (and/or Works Consulted) page:
A. 4 newspaper articles (at least 2 coming from physical newspapers)
B. 4 magazine or journal articles (at least 2 coming from physical magazines)
C. 4 additional online sources from valid sources (but may include political commentators’
blogs, editorials, etc.)
D. 1 national debate
E. 2 political cartoons or satires (or you may sub. 1 of these with a non-satirical photo, chart,
or table)
F. 2 from candidates’ own materials (such as political tracts/letters; info. on their websites—
including blogs, MySpace, etc.; books they have written; bills they have proposed, etc.)
G. 2 speeches or interviews
H. 1 personal interview from valid source (such as AP Government or AP US History
teacher, a reporter, an economist, a PR specialist, etc.) Interview may be conducted in
person, online, over the phone, etc. (preferred but not required—worth 1-3 e.c. points)
You may want to have as many as 10-12 per sources—the Orem High School students were
required to have 12 sources per candidate, per issue.
When your final Works Cited/Works Consulted pages are turned in, label each source (in the lefthanded margin) according to the letter they fit, such as A1, A2, G1, B1, G2, etc.
8. While I am not requiring a particular amount of sources per candidate and issue, your info. should
sound balanced and well-researched (i.e., Don’t use 8 sources for Obama and only 2 for McCain
for a particular issue; Don’t have an issue paper that only includes 4 sources in all, etc.) In
addition, you may include some right-leaning or left-leaning sources, as long as they balance each
other out or are admitted to. However, the paper should mostly be based on sources considered to
be centrist, reliable, and unbiased.
9. Issues to consider: Abortion; the Ecomony; Education; the Fairness doctrine; Foreign Policy
(could focus on an area of the world—such as Russia or Pakistan—or just policy in general);
Government Ethical Issues—such as campaign funding, lobbyists’ influence, pork barrel
spending, etc.; Health Care; Homosexual Rights; Immigration; Taxes; the Role of Government;
Social Security; the War on Terror (such as Iraq, Afghanistan, perhaps Iran). You may research
other issues not on this list as well, as long as they are valid/key issues.
10. Other points:
o You may not research two “moral” issues, such as abortion and homosexual rights. One
of your issues may be a “moral” issue.
o You may work with another student who is interested in the same issue—as far as finding
materials and discussing ideas go, but you are responsible for your own paper.
o Proper citation methods (paraphrase vs. quotes; where periods land compared to
quotations, proper MLA references, etc.) are crucial in this assignment. (I will offer help
on these issues.)
o Your papers should be well organized, utilizing thesis and topic statements, but the paper
is closer to a report than an out-right persuasive paper. The papers should not sound
biased. The conclusion paper may include more personal voice.
o The papers should hold to 6-trait standards and Trimble’s recommendations.
11. If you are doing similar research for another class, such as AP Government & Politics, you may
use whatever sources overlap, but the writing needs to be fresh (not just done once and turned
into both of us).
12. Deadlines:
Tues., Oct. 28th: Research—1.5 hours hon. dec. & ½ pg. notes or at least 4 articles highlighted
Thurs., Oct. 30th: Rough draft of one of the issue papers or Works Cited with at least 12 sources
Mon., Nov. 3: Either another rough draft of an issues paper or the Works Cited page (with at least
14 sources)
Wed., Nov. 5th: Draft of all of the writing.
Fri., Nov. 7th: Polished draft of all papers, including the Works Cited. Ready for peer review.
Tues., Nov. 11th: Final due (plus rough draft and journal). Some students will be called on to read
one of their papers to the class.