The course will be organized around panel discussions of current events and political issues. During each meeting, student panelists will lead discussions on relevant topics. The panel discussion option gives students more flexibility in their research projects. Presentation dates and topics are selected by you at the beginning of the semester. Panelists must turn in a one page fact sheet which includes a thesis sentence, an outline or bulleted list of main points and evidence, and a list of sources.
Fact sheets are due at the beginning of the presentation.
For those students who choose the research project option, you may choose any topic from the list of discussion panels. The written examinations will give you an opportunity to synthesize what you have learned in the semester. The exams will cover all of the required reading materials, including those found on the Net. Allyn and Bacon, 1998. Richard J. Hardy, ed., Perspectives on American Government .