Identify a current political issue that affects you and your community.

This assignment requires you effectively demonstrate core competencies in critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility within the context of engagement in the U.S. political process.  You must

1. Identify a current political issue that affects you and your community.
2. Educate yourself by reading at least three articles from reputable sources about the issue.
3. Identify three political parties (Republicans, Democrats, and a third party of your choosing); using their official websites or other reputable sources, report the position taken by each of the three parties on the issue you identified.
4. Specify which of the parties’ positions most closely aligns with your own views.
5. Does this information affect your party affiliation?  Explain why or why not.

There is no set minimum or maximum length to this assignment, but it will likely be about 250 words long.

You will turn in

1. a .doc, .docx, or .pdf version of your essay
2. a .doc, .docx, or .pdf document listing the three articles you read on your issue AND the three websites you used for researching the political parties.This assignment requires you effectively demonstrate core competencies in critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility within the context of engagement in the U.S. political process.  You must

   1. Identify a current political issue that affects you and your community.

   2. Educate yourself by reading at least three articles from reputable sources about the issue.

   3. Identify three political parties (Republicans, Democrats, and a third party of your choosing); using their official websites or other reputable sources, report the position taken by each of the three parties on the issue you identified.

   4. Specify which of the parties’ positions most closely aligns with your own views.

   5. Does this information affect your party affiliation?  Explain why or why not.

   There is no set minimum or maximum length to this assignment, but it will likely be about 250 words long.

   You will turn in

   1. a .doc, .docx, or .pdf version of your essay

   2. a .doc, .docx, or .pdf document listing the three articles you read on your issue AND the three websites you used for researching the political parties.

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

   Criteria	Ratings	Pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent Development view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Thorough development of content 3.0 pts Proficient: Adequate development of content 2.0 pts Developing: Partial development of content 1.0 pts Beginning: Minimal development of content 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCorrectness view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Mastery application of the rules of standard English 3.0 pts Proficient: Above average application of the rules of standard English 2.0 pts Developing: Acceptable application of the rules of standard English 1.0 pts Beginning: Minimal application of the rules of standard English 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOrganization/Structure view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Skillful implementation of an organizational pattern enhances the content’s cohesion 3.0 pts Proficient: Organizational pattern makes the content mostly cohesive 2.0 pts Developing: Organizational pattern, in spite of interruptions, contributes to cohesion 1.0 pts Beginning: Organizational pattern is intermittently observable and results in minimal cohesion 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeStatement of Purpose view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Presents a sophisticated central idea 3.0 pts Proficient: Presents a central idea 2.0 pts Developing: Attempt to present a central idea 1.0 pts Beginning: Minimal attempt to present a central idea 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConsideration of context, assumptions, other perspectives and the credibility and authority of sources view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Analysis acknowledges complexity and bias; identifies influence of context and questions assumptions; clearly integrates multiple perspectives and justifies on view while respecting others 3.0 pts Proficient: Engages challenging ideas tentatively or in ways that overstate the conflict; identifies but mostly dismisses alternative views 2.0 pts Developing: Provides some recognition of context and consideration of assumptions and their implications 1.0 pts Beginning: Approaches the issue in egocentric or socio-centric terms; analysis is grounded in absolutes, with little acknowledgement of own biases 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDevelopment and presentation of argument, position or hypothesis with logical progression view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Presents and justifies clearly and in detail own argument, position or hypothesis while qualifying or integrating contrary views or interpretations 3.0 pts Proficient: Argument, position, or hypothesis includes original thinking that acknowledges, refutes, synthesizes or extends other assertions, although some aspects have not been fully developed 2.0 pts Developing: Argument, position or hypothesis is clearly stated but with little original consideration 1.0 pts Beginning: Argument, position or hypothesis is unclear, simplistic or re-stated with little original consideration; fails to accurately present, justify or develop argument, position or hypothesis 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIntroduction of problem, question or issue view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Clearly identifies the challenge and subsidiary, embedded, or implicit aspects of the problem, question or issue 3.0 pts Proficient: Summarizes the problem, question or issue but some nuances and details are missing or glossed over 2.0 pts Developing: Summarizes the problem, question or issue, though some aspects are incorrect or confused 1.0 pts Beginning: Fails to accurately identify and summarize problem, question or issue 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePresentation of conclusions and their implications view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Identifies and discusses well-reasoned conclusions and their implications; integrates conclusions and implications 3.0 pts Proficient: Accuratley presents well-reasoned conclusions; presents implications that are only loosely connected to the conclusions 2.0 pts Developing: Accurately presents conclusions; implications are absent 1.0 pts Beginning: Fails to accurately identify conclusions or implications; conclusions are simplistic, absolute or attributed to an external authority 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePresentation, interpretation and analysis of information, data or evidence view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Examines and addresses evidence and its source; questions the accuracy, relevance and completeness of evidence 3.0 pts Proficient: Provides evidence of search, selection and source evaluation skills; discerns fact from opinion and may recognize bias in evidence 2.0 pts Developing: Demonstrates adequate skill in searching, selecting and evaluating sources to meet the information need; use of evidence is qualified and selective 1.0 pts Beginning: Repeats information provided without question or dismisses evidence without adequate justification; data/evidence or sources are simplistic or inappropriate 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalyzes Ethical Issue view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Skillfully analyzes the ethical issue 3.0 pts Proficient: Adequately analyzes the ethical issue 2.0 pts Developing: Partially analyzes the ethical issue 1.0 pts Beginning: Minimally analyzed the ethical issue 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDescribes the Ethical Issue view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Skillfully describes the ethical issue 3.0 pts Proficient: Adequately describes the ethical issue 2.0 pts Developing: Partially describes the ethical issue 1.0 pts Beginning: Minimally describes the ethical issue 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDiscusses Possible Consequences of Solution view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Skillfully discusses possible consequences of solution 3.0 pts Proficient: Adequately discusses possible consequences of solution 2.0 pts Developing: Partially discusses possible consequences of solution 1.0 pts Beginning: Minimally discusses possible consequences of solution 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeJustifies the Suggested Solution to the Ethical Issue view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Skillfully justifies the suggested solution to the ethical issue 3.0 pts Proficient: Adequately justifies the suggested solution to the ethical issue 2.0 pts Developing: Partially justifies the suggested solution to the ethical issue. 1.0 pts Beginning: Minimally justifies the suggested solution to the ethical issue. 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSuggests Steps to Solve Ethical view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Skillfully suggests steps to solve the ethical issue 3.0 pts Proficient: Adequately suggests steps to solve the ethical issue 2.0 pts Developing: Partially suggests steps to solve the ethical issue 1.0 pts Beginning: Minimally suggests steps to solve the ethical issue 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAcknowledge Civic Responsibility view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: A complex and fully developed combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation as they relate to civic life and affairs of regional, national, and/or global communities 3.0 pts Proficient: An advanced and well developed combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation as they relate to civic life and affairs of regional, national and/or global communities 2.0 pts Developing: An adequate and acceptably developed combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation as they relate to civic life and affairs of regional, national and/or global communities 1.0 pts Beginning: A surface understanding of knowledge, skills, values and motivation involved in civic responsibility and difficulty relating to civic life and affairs of regional, national and/or global communities 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAcknowledge Perspectives view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Exceptional ability to articulate insights into diverse cultural/intercultural perspectives including one’s own cultural rules and biases. 3.0 pts Proficient: Advanced recognition and articulation of diverse cultural/intercultural perspectives including one’s own cultural rules and biases 2.0 pts Developing: Adequate understanding of diverse cultural/intercultural perspectives including one’s own cultural rules and biases 1.0 pts Beginning: Surface understanding of diverse cultural perspectives including one’s own cultural rules and biases 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeApply Civic Responsibility view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Demonstrates civic engagement through reflection on community based action and/or research and exceptional reflective analysis of the purpose and benefits of the engagement 3.0 pts Proficient: Demonstrates civic engagement through reflection on community based action and/or research and advanced reflective analysis of the purpose and benefits of the engagement 2.0 pts Developing: Demonstrates civic engagement through reflection on community based action and/or research and adequate reflective analysis of the purpose and benefits of the engagement 1.0 pts Beginning: Demonstrates civic engagement through reflection on community based action and/or research that shows limited ability to reflect or analyze the purpose and benefits of the engagement 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeApply Perspectives view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Demonstrates exceptional ability to assume a perspective other than one’s own and express empathy for diverse perspectives 3.0 pts Proficient: Demonstrates advanced ability to assume a perspective other than one’s own and express empathy for diverse perspectives 2.0 pts Developing: Demonstrates adequate ability to assume a perspective other than one’s own and express empathy for diverse perspectives 1.0 pts Beginning: Demonstrates minimal ability to assume a perspective other than one’s own and expresses limited empathy for diverse perspectives 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePersonal Development view longer description threshold: 3.0 pts	4.0 pts Advanced: Articulates insights about personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs seeking complexity and understanding and recognizing cultural biases, resulting in a shift in self-description 3.0 pts Proficient: Recognizes new perspectives about own personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs (e.g. not looking for sameness; comfortable with the complexities that new perspectives offer) 2.0 pts Developing: Identifies own personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs (e.g. with a strong preference for those rules shared with own cultural group and seeks the same in others) 1.0 pts Beginning: Shows minimal awareness of own personal attitudes, behaviors or beliefs, even those shared with own cultural group(s) (e.g. uncomfortable with identifying possible cultural differences with others) 0.0 pts Not Applicable: Did not complete or no attempt	4.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCitations	6.0 pts Advanced – Three references provided – All three are legitimate news sources – Proper citation format used – Three party websites provided 4.0 pts Proficient – Three references provided – One or more are from suspect sources – Proper citation format used – One or more party websites missing 2.0 pts Developing – Two to three references provided – All sources are suspect – Difficulty distinguishing source of citation – One or more party websites missing 0.0 pts Beginning – No references provided	6.0 pts
   This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent	18.0 pts Advanced – – Clearly identifies a political issue – Clearly identifies the author’s point of view – Clearly connects author’s POV to that of the political parties 14.0 pts Proficient – Clearly identifies a political issue – Author’s point of view unclear OR author fails to connect POV to party positions 10.0 pts Developing – Nature of political issue is vague – Author’s point of view unclear OR author fails to connect own POV to that of political parties 4.0 pts Beginning – Nature of political issue is vague – Author’s point of view unclear or absent AND author fails to connect own POV to political parties	18.0 pts
   Total Points: 100.0