3-4 pages essay, NOT INCLUDING the title page and work cited page. APA FORMAT 1. An introductory paragraph containing a brief description of three distinct subject areas studied this semester that you found most interesting and an identified contemporary political problem you will be discussing in the paper 2. Discussion of the three subject areas identified in your introduction. Citations and specific academic information gained from the course MUST be provided in both the body of the text and in the bibliography. The three subject areas you discuss MUST be from POLS 2302 and cannot be topics studied in POLS 2301.

The essay must include a title page containing your name, POLS 2302, Written Assignment (with an essay title), semester, and the date of your submission of the assignment through Safe Assign. (The title page is not included as a numbered page and your essay should meet the page number requirement exclusive of the cover page.) The assignment MUST be uploaded as a WORD document ONLY and MUST be in ONE file. 1. An introductory paragraph containing a brief description of three distinct subject areas studied this semester that you found most interesting and an identified contemporary political problem you will be discussing in the paper 2. Discussion of the three subject areas identified in your introduction. Citations and specific academic information gained from the course MUST be provided in both the body of the text and in the bibliography. The three subject areas you discuss MUST be from POLS 2302 and cannot be topics studied in POLS 2301 (i.e., parties, the media, interest groups, elections). Subject areas should focus on topics listed in the syllabus. In POLS 2302, one of your topic areas should be one of the three branches of the American government. Note that your three subject areas must be distinct. In other words, you cannot write on three cases studied in civil rights. Rather, one topic may be civil rights and various cases examined in the subject area may be used to communicate your knowledge of the topic. (Failure to provide in-text citations and a Works Cited section at the conclusion of your written assignment will result in a score of zero on the assignment.) Textbook: Krutz, Glen, Sylvie Waskiewicz, et al, American Government, 2nd ed., OpenStax. 21 February 2019, ISBN: Print: 1-947172-65-4; digital 1-947172-66-2. https://openstax.org/details/books/american- government-2e. Note: The topics studied in Module 4 including the Texas Constitution and Texas government may not be one of the three topics you select for written assignment discussion. Discussion of a Module 4 topic will result in an automatic 20-point deduction in your written assignment grade. Correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, complete sentences, and CITATION of your sources is required. Textbook readings with page numbers (or chapter headings and subheadings for digital textbooks without page numbers) and textbook citation; lectures or video instruction (title and presenter/author of the video); and outside scholarly research must be included in your assignment. Your written assignment should be typed and double spaced with 12-point font and one-inch margins top, bottom, and side. Political Science as a field has adopted the APSA Manual of Style; however, you are free to use the citation style adopted by your major department or the style used in your English composition courses (MLA or other style). Regardless of citation style, all sources must be properly, thoroughly, and consistently cited. When citing a URL, you must have the full URL, title, author, date of publication, and access date. Careful attention to grammar, spelling, and the mechanics of presentation is expected. Scholarly resources would include journal articles, books, and objective news organization websites. Scholarly sources are REQUIRED for this paper, you need 3-5 sources BEYOND your textbook, lectures, etc. Remember, your sources should support the points in your paper. TOPICS OF STUDY: American Government and Civic Engagement The Founding of the Nation and the U. S. Constitution The Federal Court System and Judicial Review American Civil Rights – Desegregation, Women’s Rights, and Equal Protection American Civil Liberties American Federalism The Powers and Structure of Congress The Powers of the President The Structure of the Executive Branch: The Bureaucracy American Public Policy: Domestic and Foreign Policy Early Explorations of Texas, Settlements, and Disputes over Texas Land (1519-1836) Migration and Immigration to Texas The Constitutions of Texas Texas Political Culture and the People of Texas The Legislative Branch of Texas Government The “Plural” Executive Branch of Texas Government The Texas Judicial Branch