Assignments

Three Response Papers (15% of final grade each)

Throughout the course, we will talk about the state of American democracy. After each of the major sections of the course (foundations, institutions, and the public) you will return to the question of whether American democracy is fragile or stable. In these short papers (about 3 double-space pages) you will discuss how the different foundations, institutions, or players in American politics contribute to the resilience or erosion of democracy in the United States.

Report of Campus Event (5%)

There are some events on campus that touch on important topics relevant to our course. You are required to attend one of them and write a 1-2 page (double-spaced) reflection on the event. This report must briefly summarize the content of the event and then provide a reflection that connects the event to the topics of our course. Here are the three events that you can choose from:

  1. Revolutionary America: Religion, Morality, and the Problem of Governance (Wednesday, September 16, at 4:30 pm in the Rehm Library)
  2. Constitution Day lecture (Thursday, September 17, at 4:30 pm, Room TBD)
  3. The American Revolution and the Case for Redemption (Thursday, November 5, at 4:30 pm in the Rehm Library)