Political Science 101, Section 1009 — Spring 2017

This small essay assignment will expose students to the so-called “fourth branch” of government—the press. A free press is fundamental to a democratic civil society. Newspapers, magazines, journals, handbills or pamphlets, online publications, and books, among others forms of written and social media, form the basis for the transmission of ideas within society. The Unites States possesses the distinction of maintaining this as one of its strongest and most resilient freedoms rarely found in other societies. Found in the First Amendment of the Constitution, the Free Press Clause guarantees that “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of… the press,” it is a significant negative freedom barring any public authority from infringing upon this right as it has come to evolve alongside American political life.

Students will familiarize themselves with an aspect of the press that provides an outlet for the expression of opinion. Almost all newspapers and magazines have an opinion-editorial section. These sections allow readers and editors of the publication to express an opinion on an aspect of society that they believe is important. A majority of these types of articles argue a perspective on a particular policy. The article can be from a local or major newspaper or magazine publication, e.g. The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Chicago Tribune, Time, The Economist, Newsweek, Christian Science-Monitor, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Rolling Stone, among others. The article must be an editorial piece from a U.S.-based newspaper or news analysis publication.

This essay is worth 100 points. It is a position paper, familiarizing students with the indispensable role of a free press in civil society, and the diversity of opinions and political perspectives that it entails. In the paper, students must address these tasks:
• Search and select an opinion-editorial article that expresses a position on a matter that holds some significance to society and/or the community (30 pts.);
• Briefly summarize the author’s topic, argument, and specific aspect of government and/or policy that is discussed (10 pts.);
• State why you believe the author of the piece is right or wrong (10 pts.). Give a meaningful and thoughtful reflection of the editorial (12 pts.); essays must be well written using appropriate paragraphing, complete sentences, proper grammar, punctuation and syntax (10 pts.). Proofread your essay before submitting it (5 pts.). The heading should be single-spaced (1 pt.) while the text itself is double-spaced (2 pts.) (= 40 pts).
• Finally, students must cite the article that is the focus of their discussion using the appropriate APA format that applies to a printed or online source (10 pts.).

When composing the document, use these guidelines:
• Students’ papers should not exceed < 500 words long, but no more than two pages, double-spaced (1 pt.).
• Use 12-point (1 pt.), Times New Roman font (1 pt.).
• Measure margins 1” from the left, right, top, and bottom of the page (1 pt.), and justified to the left (1 pt.).
• Electronically submit the paper as a Word document (5 pts.) under the class’s course menu on WebCampus by 11:59 pm on the day its due, marked as the “Op-Ed Response Essay.”

Late submissions are strongly discouraged.