(AGEC 1114) Class Paper

AGEC 1114 Paper Assignment (Due by 5 PM on March 1)

(Note: any changes or additions to the paper assignment will be made in this red font)

(A) Paper/speech title

The title of your paper/speech should be: My Political Identity, and should be about your political affiliation, what inspires your beliefs, and why equally smart and kind people might choose the opposite political party. It should be at least five double-spaced pages, using a normal font (something similar to 12 point Times New Roman), and whatever sections and section titles you desire.

Most students who submit poorly written papers do so because they did not read their paper out-loud. It is for this reason I want you to write your paper in the form of a speech, hopefully encouraging you to read it aloud before turning it in.

You are now of voting age, and it is my hope that this class will help you form your ideas about the role of government and business in the economy, and the type of world you wish to live. I want you to find some inspiration in the sources for this paper, so that the next time you vote you do not do so out of mere obligation, but out of a deep understanding of how politics works and contributes to society. American politics are not as polarized as the news makes it appear, and this paper will help you understand the many ways in which Americans agree on political issues.

(B) Paper sources

The only sources you are required to use are the collection of articles and the video at this page. I do not expect you to use all the material at this page. Rather, I would like you to pick the sources you find most interesting and relevant to your political identity.

(C) How to write the paper

Imagine you are invited to give a speech about American politics, and you plan to explain why you are a Democrat or Republican, but why some people of equal intelligence and altruism choose the other party. The speech should be about American politics, and your personal identity within it.

Remember always to stick to economic topics only. Use only the topics in the Big Business and Big Government section. I don't want to hear anything about things like abortion or religion.

First, everyone should read the article and view the video at section A. This gives you an idea of the different political ideologies people hold, making it easier for you to choose whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or a moderate. It also tells a surprising story of America's Pilgrims, and what they had in common with modern-day Chinese communists. You are part of America, and to understand your own identity you must understand the political history of America.

Second, you should choose two topics from section B and two topics from section C, and integrate these topics into your paper. These topics should illustrate why you choose your political party, but why an equally smart and kind person could choose the other party. You need to explain what inspires you to be a Republican, but why Democrats have good reasons also (or vice-versa). These topics should be worked smoothly into your speech.

You should not try to cover all the topics and material provided to you. Just make sure the paper shows you studied and understand all of section A, two topics in section B, and two topics in Section AC.

The first few labs will be devoted to writing the paper, making writing the paper and understanding the topics much easier. We will even give outlines for speeches Republicans, Democrats, and moderates can give.

(D) Paper Format

Your paper should be written as if it is given as a speech. Imagine you are being honored by a community group and they ask you to talk about your perspective on American politics. Most students who turn in poorly written papers would quickly observe their paper's failings if they had only tried reading it aloud. By writing it as a speech, I am encouraging you to read it aloud to help you earn a higher grade.

Because it is a speech, you do not need to reference the articles, and there are no figures, tables, video, or audio. This is a speech you would give with no slides, pictures, or videos, so the writing must excel on its own. Although you do not have to cite references it should be obvious that everything you say should be historically correct, or at least consistent with the paper references provided to you.

Though it is a speech, it should still be written well, and able to stand alone as a paper. Spell everything correctly. Use proper grammar. Don't start half of your sentences with "I."

It should be double-spaced and between five and six pages.

(E) Paper Organization

Below is a suggested format, though you are welcome to use an alternative format if it achieves the same objectives.

You may organize your paper into four sections with the following section titles: (1) This I Believe, (2) Why I Believe, (3) The Other Side, (4) The American Consensus.

The first section should tell me your political identity on the Republican-Democrat spectrum, but especially relating to Figure 1 in section A.2. Tell me the extent to which you think positively or negatively of big business and the federal government, or refer to any other rows of Figure 1 you wish to address.

The second section is a justification for why you have your political beliefs. These should all pertain to economic topics and should only use material from the sources provided to you. In the third section you should show that you understand why other people choose different identities. You should not portray the other side as mistaken, but different people who have been exposed to different facts, stories, and sources. An Oklahoma State University student pulls for the Cowboys and a University of Oklahoma student roots for the Sooners. The students support different teams due to their life history and not because one is smarter than the others. That is how you should depict people with different political opinions. The final section should describe American politics in general, and the many ways in which Americans agree. For this American Consensus I highly suggest you study Figure 1 in section A.2.

(F) Grading

In grading the paper I will largely be asking the following questions.

• Did the student follow instructions, including the format instructions?
• Is it evident the student studied A.1 and A.2?
• Did the student clearly articulate their political identity, referencing the statistics in Figure 1 in A.2?
• Can I identify two topics from section B and two topics from section C, and does the student not only understand those topics well, but also incorporates the topics smoothly into their paper?
• Did the student articulate a clear, logical, intelligent, and fact-based justification for their political identity?
• Is it clear the student understands why other people choose a different political ideology?
• Does the student seem to understand and appreciate the many ways in which Americans agree on economics and politics?
• Is the paper written well, using correct grammar, a nice flow, and a pleasant synthesis and transition of ideas?
• Does the paper sound like an intelligent speech when read aloud?
• Is it evident the paper was edited numerous times?
• Did the student follow the correct submission guidelines?

(G) Submission guidelines

The class paper is due by 5 PM on March 1 (Friday). Two submissions should be made. Your paper will not be officially "submitted" until both have been received. Papers will receive a ten percentage point reduction for each day they are late.

• Submit a hard copy of the paper to the box labeled "AGEC 1114 Papers" in AGH 419.
• Submit an electronic copy of the paper to the Dropbox folder on D2L labeled "AGEC 1114 Papers."