Weekly Discussion Starter Assignment, 200-Level (McGowen, UR)
This assignment, written by Dr. Ernest McGowen, has been implemented in his “Introduction to American Government” course. This assignment requires a designated group of students to serve as discussion starters for a given class meeting, and the remaining students to contribute substantive comments that broaden and deepen the discussion. Their submissions are then assessed using a rubric made available to students well in advance.
Instructions
You will be required to complete blog postings periodically through the semester. For whichever reading section you are assigned, you will write a blog post (approx. 500 words) that will quickly summarize the readings on the topic. You will then choose one aspect of that topic (it does not have to have been mentioned explicitly in the readings or class discussion) and evaluate whether government is actually working in this area. You should provide your standard for evaluation, evidence to support your point, and (possibly) a suggestion as to how this can be improved.
For example if you are writing for the Constitution chapter, you can talk about whether the constitution should be interpreted based on the intent of the framers or the literal meaning of the words in the document. As evidence that the document should evolve you can cite the ongoing debate over gun control and whether there should be a literal reading of the term ‘militia.’
If it is your week to post a blog it should be submitted by 5pm on the Tuesday of that week. All those not assigned will be required to comment on at least two (2) of the posted blogs. These comments are not simply ‘good job’ or ‘you’re wrong’ but should critically examine the poster’s standard of evaluation, data/evidence, and/or suggestions for improvement. Comments should be at least a full paragraph. More thorough and insightful comments will receive better scores.
Grading of the blog posts will be on a 5 point scale. Grading comments will be on a full credit, half credit, no credit scale.
