Dr. Johnson Library Resources Course Guide: PO 104 - Election Project Assignment

Assignment

US House of Representatives Election Project Assignment

Directions: You are the expert on your congressional race. You will do a 3-step written
assignment, culminating in a paper due election day. You will also give a presentation on your
race to the class.
Step One, Due September 18, 2020 at 12 PM
Step Two, Due October 9, 2020 at 12 PM
Final paper Due November 2, 2020 at 12:00 PM

Step 1: Lay of your District Assignment: 2-4 pages double-spaced

Tell me about your district. What are the demographics of the district, important political issues in the district, partisan make-up of the district, and how has the district voted in House and presidential elections over the last decade? How has your district changed over time? Is the district economically healthy? What are major sources of jobs? Tell me about the current member of Congress in the district and whether he/she is a good fit for the district as representative. If running for re-election is the incumbent vulnerable. You must use the Almanac of American Politics 2020 and at least three other sources for this assignment. Your citations must conform with the expectations outlined by the Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Step 2: Following the campaign: 2-4 pages double-spaced

Tell me about the election campaign in your district and how the race is evolving among the candidates. You must use at least eight different news articles, including four news articles from newspapers located in or near your district. Your citations must conform with the expectations outlined by the Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Final Paper: Double-spaced: 5-10 pages. Double-spaced, not counting title page or reference page

Write a thesis-driven paper about your election. You may incorporate material from the above two steps in your final paper. The paper must be well-written. Your citations must conform with the expectations outlined by the Department of Political Science and International Relations. You must discuss, the district, the campaign, how local and national issues are affecting the election, what part—if any—the presidential race plays. Definitely discuss Covid-19 and the economy. Discuss the quality of the candidates. Discuss campaign money—who is financing the campaigns, who has more money (and how much), endorsements from the press and elites, and the advertisements voters are seeing in the district. What do national prognosticators have to say about your race? Predict which candidate will win the election and the final margin and suggest why you think the candidate will come out ahead.

Newspaper Resources

	The Almanac of American Politics 2020 - ProQuest Central Version by Columbia Books Inc (Editor) ISBN: 9781938939884 Publication Date: 2019-08-09 ProQuest Central Version
	The Almanac of American Politics 2020 - Ebook Central Version by Columbia Books Inc (Editor) ISBN: 9781938939884 Publication Date: 2019-08-09 Ebook Central Version