Assignment: Essay – Creating Your Ideal State
Assignment: Essay – Creating Your Ideal State
Week 7 Assignment: Essay – Creating Your Ideal State
Due Sunday by 11:59pm
Points 160
Submitting a file upload
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 15, 16, 17
Lesson
Instructions
Your country just overthrew its dictator, and you are the newly elected President. Unfortunately, due to the divisions in the country and the years of war, economic, military, and political structures are non-existent. A group of loyalists to the old dictator have been detonating bombs, murdering civilians, assassinating leaders, and terrorizing towns with help from a neighboring country’s dictator.
Create a comprehensive plan for your new government. While creating this government identify 1) the governing style of your government and the principles that govern your leaders (see rubric); 2) the functions of various branches of government; 3) how to maintain public good in domestic areas through at least two programs; 4) an economic structure that is most beneficial to your citizens; 5) ways to create national unity; 6) ways to combat terrorism and violence; and, 6) international organizations to join.
See rubric for specific ways to meet the requirements of the paper.
Paper headings: (Use of APA paper format with headings required!)
Introduction (1 paragraph)
Introduce your country
Briefly outline all of the parts of the paper
Domestic Concerns (1-2 pages)
Identify governing style and principles that correlate to this style
Identify the branches of government and its functions
Development of two public good domestic programs and how they will meet the public good
Economic structure and reason why this should be used
Socializing citizens is noted with rationale for how it creates national unity
Foreign Concerns (1-2 pages)
Two international organizations are noted, one for economics and one for security
Descriptions of both organizations
Rationales for joining these organizations
Steps to joining
Two ways your country will combat the neighboring country’s terrorist threat and the domestic threat
Two ways these will be effective
Conclusion (1 paragraph)
Summarize information
Writing Requirements (APA format)
Length: 3-4 pages (not including title page or references page)
1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Title page
References page (minimum of 2 scholarly sources)
Grading
This activity will be graded based on the essay rubric.
Course Outcomes (CO): 8, 9
Due Date: By 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday
Rubric
Week 7 Assignment: Essay – Creating Your Ideal State Week 7 Assignment: Essay – Creating Your Ideal State Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Governing style and principles of the government. 25.0 pts The governing style is understandable and the principles support the choice of the governing style. Provides structure of power, source of power, ideology of power. 20.0 pts The governing style is unclear, the principles are unclear, or the governing style and principles do not support each other. 15.0 pts Missing one part of the governing style and principles. 0.0 pts Missing both parts of the governing style and principles. 25.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Branches of government and its functions. 20.0 pts Explains each branch of government and the function of the particular branch and how they support the governing style. 16.0 pts The branches of government and their functions do not match, or the branches are discussed without talking about their functions AND how they support the governing style. 12.0 pts Only minimally discusses branches, and their functions or the branches do not support the governing style chosen. 0.0 pts Does not discuss the branches and their functions. 20.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Maintaining public good through at least two domestic programs 20.0 pts Two domestic programs are created clearly explaining how public good is maintained with these programs. 16.0 pts Two domestic programs are noted, but it’s unclear how they both benefit the public good. 12.0 pts Only one domestic program is noted. 0.0 pts No domestic program is noted. 20.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Economic structure 15.0 pts The economic structure is named and supports the governing style with a rationale for using the structure. 12.0 pts The economic structure is named and supports the governing style, but the rationale is unclear. 9.0 pts The economic structure is named, but does not support the governing style and the rationale is unclear. 0.0 pts The economic structure is not addressed. 15.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Political socializing to create national unity 15.0 pts There is at least one method the new government will use to socialize citizens to create national unity and rationales for using these methods. 12.0 pts The method described will create national unity, but rationale is not provided. 9.0 pts The method described will not create national unity and rationale is not provided. 0.0 pts No method for national unity is addressed. 15.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome International organizations 25.0 pts At least two different international organizations, one economic and one for security, were identified to join with brief descriptions of the purposes of these organizations, rationale for joining, and steps on how to join. 20.0 pts At least two different international organizations, one economic and one for security, were identified to join with brief descriptions of the purposes of these organizations, rationale for joining, but no steps on how to join were included. 15.0 pts At least two different international organizations, one economic and one for security, were identified to join with brief descriptions of the purposes of these organizations. 0.0 pts International organizations were not addressed 25.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Combatting terrorism and violence 20.0 pts Two ways were offered to combat terrorism and violence (one to deal with international threat and one with domestic). Effective rationale for solutions were offered. 16.0 pts Two ways were offered to combat terrorism and violence (one to deal with international threat and one with domestic). Effective rationale for one or both solutions were not offered. 12.0 pts Only one way to combat violence and sound rationale on why to use that solution was offered. 0.0 pts Ways to combat violence is not noted. 20.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Scholarly resources 10.0 pts Uses both the book and, at least, one outside scholarly source. 8.0 pts Uses only the book or a scholarly source. 6.0 pts Uses only a scholarly source and the source is not scholarly. 0.0 pts Does not use the book or scholarly source. 10.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome APA 5.0 pts All sources are properly cited and referenced according to APA standards. 4.0 pts Sources are either properly cited or referenced, missing one of those elements. 3.0 pts The citation and/or reference are incorrect. 0.0 pts No APA format was used. 5.0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Writing 5.0 pts Presents information using clear and concise language in an organized manner (minimal errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). 4.0 pts Presents information using understandable language but is somewhat disorganized (some errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). 3.0 pts Presents information using understandable language but is very disorganized (many errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). 0.0 pts Presents information that is not clear, logical, professional or organized to the point that the reader has difficulty understanding the message (numerous errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and/or punctuation).
You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.
Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.
Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.
The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS
Discussion Questions (DQ)
Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, include a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
One or two sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.
Weekly Participation
Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.
APA Format and Writing Quality
Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.
Use of Direct Quotes
I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’ level and deduct points accordingly.
As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.
LopesWrite Policy
For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.
Late Policy
The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.
Communication
Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me:
Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.
