United States Government
Examination 2 (Take-home essay component)

Due date: Monday, March 29, due at the start of class. An identical, second copy of the paper must be e-mailed to msetzler@highpoint.edu by 10am. This submission date is later than what is noted in your syllabus because I wanted to give you a minimum of a week to complete the paper.  

The syllabus (which was modified on the first day of class to reflect higher than expected enrollment) notes that students will submit 1-3 essays in the class. After each of our first two in-class test, you have had the option to write a paper on a topic that covers that unit's materials. If you write your paper on the third unit, it will be due at the start of our final exam. You must write at least one of the three papers. 

If you choose to write this paper, please respond to the prompt listed below with an essay that is no shorter 1,500 words (approximately 6 complete pages), not including the bibliography and/or footnotes. You are welcome to submit an essay that is longer if you would like. The paper should be double-spaced, have numbered pages, use standard page margins and fonts, include complete and properly-formatted citation, and have a title page that lists the total word count of your paper. Late penalties will apply as listed in your syllabus.

As this is an examination, your essay's analysis must focus closely on the materials covered in this course unit, and should not incorporate outside readings or any independent research. Before beginning to write, you need to review the detailed instructions I have placed on the course website addressing citation requirements and the paper grading criteria that I will use to evaluate your essay. Your paper's citations and bibliography must follow one of the following three style guides: University of Chicago, the APA, or the APSA. For your convenience, my website provides a handout with many formatting examples using the APSA style. 

Without exception, instances of plagiarism (cases where a student attempts to gain academic credit by submitting an essay in which a significant portion of the writing has been copied or paraphrased from any other author, the internet, or another student) will be reported and punished according to university policy. 

Paper Topic:

Does it really matter if most Americans do not to follow politics closely, if many citizens do not to vote, or if social capital is on the decline?