Write An Essay: After President Obama's First Two Years
TOPICS:
1. It has now been almost 2 years since President Obama took office. Write an essay assessing his presidency during his first two years. What were the principal promises he made during his campaign? How successful has he been in keeping those promises? How do you explain his successes and failures to date?
2. At the 1992 Republic National Convention Patrick Buchanan gave a speech arguing that,
“there is a religious war going on in the United States, a cultural war . . . for the soul of
America.” The ‘culture war’ presumably has been reflected in the partisan division between ‘blue states’ and ‘red states in recent presidential elections. And it centers on issues such as abortion, school prayer, and gay rights. Other disagree …show more content…
and argue that most
Americans are pretty much middle-of-the-road on most issues with only small differences between Democrats and Republicans. What do you think? How polarized is the
American public today on hot-button moral, religious and cultural issues? Write an essay in which you review and evaluate the evidence on American public opinion today.
3. The civil rights movement in American has made big strides in closing the gaps between whites and blacks, between Anglos and Latinos, and between men and women in
American. Some think, however, that we still have a ways to go to achieve true equality in America. What do you think. Write an essay reviewing the evidence on the nature and extent of sexual, racial, and/or ethnic equality or inequality in American. How wide is the gap and what if anything can be done to close it completely?
4. The United States has only two major political parties, the Democrats and Republicans.
While there are a number of smaller parties, only the Democrats and Republicans elect substantial members to public office. Why is this the case? And is this good or bad for
American? Write an essay in which you assess the causes of the two party system and its strengths and weaknesses in the United States.
5. A number of states have adopted term limits for state legislators. There also is a two term limits for the U.S. President. U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, however, do not have term limits. Indeed, some, such as former Senator Strom Thurmond and
current
Senator Robert Byrd, served 40 years of more. Do you think terms limits should be adopted for the US Congress. Write an essay in which you evaluate the arguments and evidence for and against term limits.
6. President Obama was elected President promising a new era of bi-partisan government in which he promised to work with both democrats and republicans in Congress to get legislative passed? How successful has he been in this? Why has he not been more successful? How do you explain the partisan conflict in Washington?
If none of these paper topics is of interest to you, you are welcome to suggest a different one. However, you must give me a one paragraph statement of that topic in writing for my approval by October 12th.
The teaching Assistants for this course will grade your papers and are available to help you as you write.
You also may contact me for help, but their advice is probably better since they are doing the grading.
You should email them to make an appointment to meet with them if/when you need help.
Each Student should work with one TA. The TA assigned to depends on your Last name.
Students whose last names begin:
A-G should work with Jeff Hanlon
1. It has now been almost 2 years since President Obama took office. Write an essay assessing his presidency during his first two years. What were the principal promises he made during his campaign? How successful has he been in keeping those promises? How do you explain his successes and failures to date?
2. At the 1992 Republic National Convention Patrick Buchanan gave a speech arguing that,
“there is a religious war going on in the United States, a cultural war . . . for the soul of
America.” The ‘culture war’ presumably has been reflected in the partisan division between ‘blue states’ and ‘red states in recent presidential elections. And it centers on issues such as abortion, school prayer, and gay rights. Other disagree …show more content…
and argue that most
Americans are pretty much middle-of-the-road on most issues with only small differences between Democrats and Republicans. What do you think? How polarized is the
American public today on hot-button moral, religious and cultural issues? Write an essay in which you review and evaluate the evidence on American public opinion today.
3. The civil rights movement in American has made big strides in closing the gaps between whites and blacks, between Anglos and Latinos, and between men and women in
American. Some think, however, that we still have a ways to go to achieve true equality in America. What do you think. Write an essay reviewing the evidence on the nature and extent of sexual, racial, and/or ethnic equality or inequality in American. How wide is the gap and what if anything can be done to close it completely?
4. The United States has only two major political parties, the Democrats and Republicans.
While there are a number of smaller parties, only the Democrats and Republicans elect substantial members to public office. Why is this the case? And is this good or bad for
American? Write an essay in which you assess the causes of the two party system and its strengths and weaknesses in the United States.
5. A number of states have adopted term limits for state legislators. There also is a two term limits for the U.S. President. U.S. Senators and Members of Congress, however, do not have term limits. Indeed, some, such as former Senator Strom Thurmond and
current
Senator Robert Byrd, served 40 years of more. Do you think terms limits should be adopted for the US Congress. Write an essay in which you evaluate the arguments and evidence for and against term limits.
6. President Obama was elected President promising a new era of bi-partisan government in which he promised to work with both democrats and republicans in Congress to get legislative passed? How successful has he been in this? Why has he not been more successful? How do you explain the partisan conflict in Washington?
If none of these paper topics is of interest to you, you are welcome to suggest a different one. However, you must give me a one paragraph statement of that topic in writing for my approval by October 12th.
The teaching Assistants for this course will grade your papers and are available to help you as you write.
You also may contact me for help, but their advice is probably better since they are doing the grading.
You should email them to make an appointment to meet with them if/when you need help.
Each Student should work with one TA. The TA assigned to depends on your Last name.
Students whose last names begin:
A-G should work with Jeff Hanlon