Draw on assigned readings, lectures, any outside sources that you want to use, and your own ideas and knowledge. Relate what you say specifically to what weve covered in the course. If you use facts that dont come from your own personal experience, you should formally cite an outside source. Whenever you use material from someone else on any assignment, including the use of handouts and textbook, you must formally cite it. Use MLA or APA format, and always use a form that explicitly connects a particular item in your paper with a particular source it’s not enough to simply list sources at the end. Also, on the Works Cited page, explain why you chose the sources you did. Why do you think they are reliable?

Give examples. State your conclusions clearly, and support them with specific reasons – logic and evidence.  

Address more than one side to the question. Consider possible objections to your conclusion.  

Most students who do poorly do so because they ramble aimlessly, because they make assertions without support, because their essays are too general or trite, or because they fail to answer the question asked. I will not formally grade grammar or spelling, but it is difficult to express your ideas without good composition. Original thinking is also important, especially if you want an A.  

 

 

Specific instructions for this question. Take about one page (two pages handwritten) to discuss what election campaigns in Texas are like today (in the course of doing this, define an election campaign). Give examples. Then, in about two pages, answer the following questions: Evaluate election campaigns as practiced in the United States and Texas. What purpose do you think they should serve? Do they serve this purpose adequately? Would you change campaigns in any way? Why? If you would not change them, why not? In the course of answering this question discuss at least two major criticisms often made of campaigns.