Texas Govt Think of an issue
1. Think of an issue that is important to you or an issue
that has been in the news in Texas. I am including a list of possible topics
that can be used for your assignment. Some of the ideas come from issues that I
have seen in the news or are topics that are covered in the Discussion Board.
Remember, these are just some examples – you may use one of these or you may
use something completely different. Remember -- Your topic needs to be a state
issue, not a federal issue. If you are unsure if your topic is appropriate,
please send me a note through the Messages link and I will let you know. To
view news articles on Texas, click on the Texas news articles link on the left.
Voting – ways to increase turnout; voter id Education – suggestions
for improving the system; school funding; standardized testing; funding
Regulation – should there be more regulation on businesses that store hazardous
chemicals (for example -- disaster in West, Texas in April 2013) Justice system
– death penalty; reforms on sentencing; equality in the system; public
defenders Health care – ways to improve access in Texas Water issues –
municipalities and farmers fighting over access to water during drought;
actions the state can take to ensure adequate water supply Revenue – ways the
state or city can collect revenue; how should a budget surplus be used
2. Once you pick a topic, you need to prepare a background
analysis of the issue. You will need three or more comprehensive, full-length
articles from mainstream newspapers or news magazine publications. Your
articles should discuss the substance of the issue, provide recent information
and should consider various viewpoints. Avoid strict opinion pieces that
provide a one-sided analysis of the issue. Your background analysis should
include the people/groups involved in the debate, description of the
conflicting viewpoints of the people/groups involved, including economic or
ideological positions, and the various policy outcomes that are desired by the
different participants in the debate. To help find articles, you can use the
Newspaper Source available on the list of databases through the Central Texas
College Library at www.ctcd.edu/academics/library
or other online searches available to you.
3. The background analysis should be two to three pages
(double spaced). In addition to the information from the articles, you need to
draw on relevant information in the textbook to show you understand how the
issue relates to topics covered in the course. Make sure you cite all the
articles used and include the URL for the article.
4. Once you have completed your background analysis, you
need to identify a state, county or city government official in Texas that can
address your issue. Hint: US Senators and members of Congress are not state
level officials. Using formal correspondence style, prepare a three-fourths to
one page (single spaced) letter informing the official of your concern and
offering a solution or making a request for action. Yours may be an emotional
issue, but your argument must be based on reason, not just emotion. Support
your position and refute opposing positions with factual information, data and
well-reasoned arguments. When writing your letter, you will use information
from your background analysis, but you should not just cut and paste the
information from your background analysis into the letter.
5. Save the letter and background analysis as one document
and submit the file through the link below.
6. This assignment is worth 150 points. The background
analysis is worth 65% of the grade and the letter is worth 35%.
7. Be careful when writing your background analysis and
letter that you put the information in your own words. Simply cutting and
pasting information from websites is unacceptable and will result in grade of
zero for the writing assignment.
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