Government’s response to the pandemic (COVID-19)

This paper will be addressed to a current member of Congress, focused on a single public policy issue. The paper should achieve three things:

1.The paper should explain the issue in detail (1 to 2 pages);

2.The paper should describe the issue’s connection to different parts of

 government (4 pages); and,

3. The paper should encourage the member to take a particular course of action (1 page).

You are required to base the paper around this issues:

Government’s response to the pandemic (COVID-19)

You are required to use at least three chapters in the American Government textbook as supporting evidence, and whatever material from the assignments you find helpful. Although not a requirement, you may cite popular news sources, but they should be reputable journalistic sources.

And here is the textbook link:

https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government

!!! the paper is double-spaced using 1” margins and 12-point Times New Roman font.

Citations and References:

In your paper, you must employ a clear, unambiguous, and thorough system of citations to your sources. Many standard citation styles exist, and all accomplish the same thing: provide the reader with a definitive indication of the source material. The principle at work is that a citation should permit a reader to find the material you used.

You may use any of the standard styles, so long as you are consistent in the style that you choose. MLA, named after the Modern Language Association, is one common style. APA, named after the American Psychological Association, is yet another style. For an excellent overview of styles with a detailed guide to citations, see this link: http://researchguides.dartmouth.edu/citingsources

Notes on the Topic

This is not a traditional “research” paper requiring library work or Internet-based searches. All of the supporting material and evidence you will need is contained in the book assigned for this class and in the course material. You must use and cite as your main evidence three chapters of your choice from the American Government textbook (any three are acceptable, whether assigned in the reading or not) and any other material from the class.

Your challenge is NOT to figure out “the right answer” and feed it back to me. Political issues are too large and complex. There are several ways to address any political issue. You will be graded on 1) whether you provide a coherent and plausible thesis, and; 2) how well you systematically support your thesis throughout the paper. I will also grade you on how well organized and well written your paper is, and whether or not you follow directions.

The thesis of the paper is inexorably connected to the course of action that you will recommend your member of Congress to take. This will be the major argument of the paper. You should carefully plan and outline your entire paper before you start typing. In fact, the introduction of the paper should give the reader a preview (or roadmap) of what you intend to do in its remaining pages. This includes your thesis and which parts of government you think are affected by the issue.

Some students are timid about asserting a clear thesis that answers the question in the introduction to their papers, partially out of fear of getting the thesis wrong. That is not a good strategy with this assignment. You are more likely to be graded down for failing to take a position rather than for taking a position that is flatly wrong.

It may help to think about the introductory section of your paper containing the thesis as partially analogous to the opening statement of a trial attorney in a major constitutional case. In that opening statement, a good civil liberties attorney tells the court that he or she is going to show that the government violated the Constitution when it acted, and the attorney gives a preview of the logic and principles that will be presented throughout the trial. In this way, the attorney starts right from the beginning with an answer to the question of constitutionality, and then attempts with careful argumentation to convince the court of his or her initial assertion. Similarly, in your introduction you should tell the reader what you think the answer is (thesis) and give a preview of the arguments you’ll be making in the body of the paper. Do not fall into the trap that entangles many students who are fearful of getting the wrong answer, merely telling the reader that it is an interesting question and you’ll be discussing various sides of the matter. This would be analogous to an attorney telling the court that he is not sure about his client’s position and whether or not the Constitution was violated.