QUESTION 1

Week 1 Discussion: Determining Democracy

No unread replies.22 replies.

REQUIRED RESOURCES
READ/REVIEW THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES FOR THIS ACTIVITY:

• Textbook: Chapter 1 ,2, 3
• Lesson
• Minimum of 1 scholarly source (can include your textbook)

INITIAL POST INSTRUCTIONS

For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2:

• Option 1: Does democracy require equality of income or wealth? Discuss why democracy might make a country more or less egalitarian?
• Option 2: Political scientist Larry Sabato has proposed a new constitutional convention (Links to an external site.). Select any one of his proposed ideas and write a short list of pros and cons for this idea and support your reasoning.
• QUESTION 2
  

  REQUIRED RESOURCES

  Read/review the following resources for this activity:

  • Textbook: Chapter 1, 2, 3
  • Lesson
  • Minimum of 2 scholarly sources in addition to the textbook.

  INSTRUCTIONS

  • Go online and look up your state constitution. Choose three state sections such as religious freedom, freedom of the press, etc. and discuss the guidelines for each.
  • Compare these sections to the equivalent section in the United States Bill of Rights. List differences, if any.

  WRITING REQUIREMENTS (APA FORMAT)

  • Length: 1.5-2 pages (not including title page or references page)
  • 1-inch margins
  • Double spaced
  • 12-point Times New Roman font
  • Title page
  • References page (minimum of 2 scholarly sources in addition to textbook if cited)
• • QUESTION THREE
    
    Week 2 Discussion: Connection Between Our Culture and the News Media22 unread replies.22 replies.

    Required Resources
    Read/review the following resources for this activity:

    • Textbook: Chapter 3, 6
    • Lesson
    • Minimum of 1 scholarly source (can include your textbook)

    INITIAL POST INSTRUCTIONS

    For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2:Option 1: The framers of the Constitution were concerned that everyday citizens would not be able to understand or comprehend the makings of our government. They felt that everyday citizens were uninformed and did not care what was going on in our government. Even today we see where citizens are interested in government affairs seemingly only if our country is in turmoil such as unemployment, recessions, civil unrest, etc. Do you agree with this assessment? Are we uninformed? Do we wait till a crisis happens to voice our opinions?Option 2: Many experts see the media as biased and more like infotainment. In fact, many people have turned to social networks as an outlet for news instead of CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN and other news stations. Do you see this as an issue? Do you see the news as biased or unbiased? Should there be more restrictions on the news stations?Be sure to make connections between your ideas and conclusions and the research, concepts, terms, and theory we are discussing this week.

  • QUESTION FOUR
    
    Week 3 Discussion: Pros and Cons of Interest Groups, and Corporations22 unread replies.22 replies.

    REQUIRED RESOURCES
    READ/REVIEW THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES FOR THIS ACTIVITY:

    • Textbook: Chater 7, 8
    • Lesson
    • Minimum of 1 scholarly source (can include your textbook)

    INITIAL POST INSTRUCTIONS
    

    For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2:

    • Option 1: What are the pros and cons of lobbyists as a tool for special interest groups? Should former members of Congress be allowed to become lobbyists? Explain your answer.
    • Option 2: Social movements can at times use disruptive behaviors. What are some of the possible benefits of disruptive behaviors in social movements? What are the drawbacks or possible negative consequences? What does the First Amendment state concerning citizens’ right to use disruptive methods? Refer to examples from history as you frame your analysis. Explain your answer.

    Be sure to make connections between your ideas and conclusions and the research, concepts, terms, and theory we are discussing this week.

  • QUESTION FIVE
    

    REQUIRED RESOURCES

    Read/review the following resources for this activity:

    • Textbook: Chapter 7, 8
    • Lesson 3
    • APA style manual
    • Citation and Writing Assistance: Writing Papers At CU
    • Library Overview
    • How to Search for Articles – the Everything Tab

    INSTRUCTIONS

    Social Movements are only as important as the person leading them. The person(s) leading a social movement must have charisma and be able to captivate an audience. Political scientists and historians are taught to analyze body language, especially during debates and speeches.For this assignment, you will watch Dr Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream (Links to an external site.) speech and a speech by Alicia Garza of the Black Lives Matter movement (Links to an external site.) and answer questions listed below. Pay special attention to the following aspects in the two speeches.

    • Importance of body language while delivering the speech.
    • Gestures, cadence and delivery style.

    ANSWER THE FOLLOWING

    1. Provide a summary of the two speeches.
    2. Compare Dr. King’s leadership, charisma, power and passion to capture his audience to Alicia Garza’s speech. What are the similarities, if any? What are the differences, if any?
    3. How does the location of the speeches support their messaging? Dr. King’s speech was held in a church and at the Lincoln Memorial, whereas today we have social networking and more avenues to relay messages. Does messaging make a difference?
    4. Describe how the audience in Dr. King’s speeches relate to the Alicia Garza’s audience. Do you see a similarity or differences in the speeches and in the audience?

    PAPER REQUIREMENTS (APA FORMAT)

    • Length: 2-3 pages of substantive content
    • 12 pt font
    • Parenthetical in-text citations included and formatted in APA style  
    • References page (a minimum of 2 outside scholarly sources plus the textbook and/or the weekly lesson for each course outcome) . At least one of the references should be a state constitution.
    • Title and introduction pages are present.
    • QUESTION SIX
      
      Week 4 Discussion: The Electoral College Argument, Politics and Social Media22 unread replies.22 replies.

      Required Resources
      Read/review the following resources for this activity:

      • Textbook:
      • Lesson
      • Minimum of 1 scholarly source (can include your textbook)

      INITIAL POST INSTRUCTIONS
      

      For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2:

      • Option 1: List the ways in which contemporary presidential campaigns have used social media as a campaign tool. Do you consider social media as a successful tool? Explain your answer. Do you see social media as an unsuccessful tool? Explain your answer and provide examples.
      • Option 2: There are numerous discussions involving the Electoral College. There are some people that want to abolish the electoral college while others want to keep it. What do you think? Keep the electoral college or abolish it? Explain the reasons for your choice.

      Be sure to make connections between your ideas and conclusions and the research, concepts, terms, and theory we are discussing this week