Government Paper
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO THOROUGHLY READ THE REQUIREMENTS.
You will be conducting research on a current U.S. foreign policy issue. You will create a presentation about your issue using Powerpoint, Google Slides, Prezi, or some other presentation making software. Aside from your presentation you will also be writing a letter to a U.S. politician about your topic including your stance and a recommendation for action. You are encouraged to send this letter to a politician you choose but are not required to do so. Your letter needs to be at least 500-1000 words. Below are some issues to choose from if you do not have one of your own and following are resources to help you write your paper.
- Click on the link in the Red Box to view the Project Rubrics for this project.
Issues you may choose from, but you may choose a foreign policy issue of your own:
- Foreign Drone Strikes
- Nuclear Weapons in Iran
- Nuclear Weapons in North Korea
- Somali/Nigerian Pirates
- Drug Cartels-Mexico
- Climate Change
- Cyber-security
- Human-trafficking
- US in Afghanistan
- Food Security
- AIDS
- Ebola
- Sex Trafficking
When making your presentation, include answers to the following: What are the current events associated with the issue you chose? How does the issue affect the U.S.? What is the U.S. doing about it currently? What is the President’s stance regarding the issue? Does the issue have partisan sides? Which party is in support of it and which against, if so?
Remember to write in your own words and in complete sentences.
Please write your letter in MLA format, and follow the standard five paragraph essay model. Your essay should have an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. If you need help with how to write an essay in MLA format or the five paragraph model, please refer to the following links:
- MLA: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01…
- 5 Paragraphs: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/five_par.htm
You must use at least 2 credible sources other than your textbook and provide a Works Cited page with your sources. Failure to include a Works Cited page will result in a rejected assignment.
General Foreign Policy Websites
- Answers.USA.gov: Diplomacy: Foreign Policy of the United States
- Answers.USA.gov: International Issues of Interest to U.S. Citizens
- Background Notes on Countries – From the U.S. Department of State. Information about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations of independent states, some dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty.
- CATO Institute – A public policy research organization — a think tank — dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.
- Center for Strategic and International Studies
- CNN Online
- Council on Foreign Relations – An independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries.
- Foreign Policy – An online magazine of foreign policy, global politics, economics, and ideas.
- Foreign Policy In Focus
- Foreign Policy: The White House
- New York Times
- PBS NewsHour
- Times Topics – From the New York Times, this is an alphabetical list of world topics. They provide excellent summaries of major issues as well as updated information.
- U.S. Department of State
- United Nations
- US News & World Report Online
- Voice of America
- Washington Post
- World Factbook – Published by the CIA. Provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.
- National Security Strategy 2013 – A summary of foreign policy topics and goals from The University of Texas.
How Do I Locate a U.S. Politician?
You can visit these websites or others of your own to choose the U.S. politician you will address your letter to.
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House of Representatives
- U.S. President