Go to the signature assignment module. Read the assignment. Complete the worksheet in a quick brainstorming session. Then answer the question(s) below. Make sure that you elaborate and not just provide a short response. You will need to submit your brainstorming session before you will be able to go to the Signature Assignment discussion question. This will give you an opportunity to earn points and learn about the signature assignment from each other (classmates) in a productive and constructive manner. This also gives the instructor the opportunity to clarify questions and address any major weaknesses in announcements. Many of the typical questions are also discussed in the details provided in the quiz questions.
The objective of this discussion is to make you look at the signature assignment, read the instructions, review the rubric (student learning outcomes and core objectives), and ask questions at the beginning of the course so you can understand what is expected for the signature assignment (mock letter). By doing this first, it will make it easy to do all the work associated with the signature assignment. The signature assignment quizzes throughout the course will help to fill in the gaps by applying the concepts to your selected issue as you are learning them in each module. When you have completed all the signature assignment quizzes and simultaneously updated your signature assignment mock letter with each quiz (updated draft addressing the questions from the quiz will be due with each quiz), your signature assignment (mock letter) will be essentially complete to do the final review with the signature assignment rubric quiz. In the rubric quiz, you will grade your signature assignment. Ideally, after the rubric quiz you will only have to do final touch-ups to your signature assignment mock letter before it is due.
Trying to figure out the signature assignment and complete it the week, even the day it is due will result in not earning points in the assignments related to the signature assignment and may also result in a low scoring for your final signature assignment submission. The signature assignment is trying to make you apply the information you are learning to an issue of your choice.
As you work through the quizzes, you may change or refine your issue and that is okay. What is not okay is using your work for or from another class or someone elses work. That is academic dishonesty. Also, it is much easier to create new original work based on the instructions. Furthermore, since this is your own original creation, as you learn the different concepts it will spark ideas on how to apply those ideas to your signature assignment.
After you have completed your initial post then you will provide feedback to two of your classmates posts. Feedback should be informative and concise not just agreeing with your classmate. Make sure to be checking the forum daily as I and others could be posting to the thread. You will not be able to see your classmates posts until you complete yours first. The initial post is worth 6 points and your feedback posts are worth 4 points, in total the assignment is worth 10 points. All discussions will list the Student Learning Outcomes and Core Objectives for the discussion. The discussion is based on answering the question(s). This activity is due by June 07.
Student Learning Outcome(s):
Explain the origin & development of constitutional democracy in the U.S.
Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system.
Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, & judicial branches of the federal government.
Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
Analyze the election process.
Describe the rights & responsibilities of citizens.
Analyze issues & policies in U.S. politics.
Core Objective(s):
Critical Thinking
Written Communication
Social Responsibility
Personal Responsibility
Question(s):
1. In your own words (no copying and pasting from assignment) how would you explain what you have to do for the signature assignment for this class to a 6 year old including what you did you not understand about the signature assignment? (2 points)
2. What parts of the worksheet did you have difficulty completing and why? All and most of them is not an acceptable answer. Be specific. (2 points)
3. Review your worksheet and grade it with the rubric. Be very critical-generalizations are not acceptable to earn points. Briefly discuss the total points earned, your strengths and weaknesses? (2 points)
A signature assignment is required for all courses used to determine whether students have mastered the learning outcomes and core objectives of a course. The Signature Assignment Worksheet is also located in this module. The signature assignment is a mock letter to an elected official which can be any United States (U.S.) Congressional senator or U.S Congressional Representative that conveys and analyzes your concerns about a national issue and demonstrating your knowledge of American Federal Government. This analysis must be specific and address all items in the rubric. This is not a report or research paper of an issue. The mock letter will be about an issue of your choosing. The more specific the issue, the easier it is to complete the Signature Assignment. The mock letter you create for this course should show that you have learned all the learning outcomes and core objectives for this course, Federal Government. Using a previously submitted work is plagiarism, even if you created the work.
The Signature Assignment Worksheet is to help you brainstorm, organize your mock letter and create your first draft of your Signature Assignment. The final draft of your Signature Assignment (mock letter) is due July 03. You will complete the Signature Assignment worksheet by June 07. The Signature Assignment Worksheet breaks down the learning outcomes and core objectives into separate questions. The Signature Assignment worksheet then has been broken down into four (4) untimed quizzes throughout the course (due by June 7-Quiz 1, June 12-Quiz 2, June 19-Quiz 3, June 26-Quiz 4). As you work through the quizzes and more clearly learn and understand the learning outcomes for the course, you will need to revise your mock letter and submit it with the quiz once you have completed the quiz.
The Signature Assignment Rubric Quiz (due June 28) is a self assessment to ensure you address all the elements of the signature assignment before final submission (July 03). The Signature A
ssignment Rubric Quiz is graded for completion (points for each item and justification of those points) not accuracy since this is a self assessment. Again, points on this quiz will be based on whether your self assessment score is realistic and the justification is provided. This is not the grade you will receive for your signature assignment.
The Signature Assignment Final Submission (due July 03) is the final step. The grade for the final submission will be based on the rubric. You must completed the Signature Assignment Rubric Quiz before you can move on to the final submission.
It is a good idea to review the signature assignment information and worksheet at the beginning of the semester so you can start to develop your signature assignment as you go through the course and not leave it until the deadlines.
Assignment:
This assignment requires that you write a letter to any one of the United States (U.S.) Congressional Senators or any U.S Congressional Representative that conveys and analyzes your concerns about a national issue. This analysis must be specific and address all items in the rubric. A general letter stating an issue and your position will not receive points. The letter is to demonstrate your competency in the learning outcomes and core objectives of this course.
The Letter of Concern will demonstrate your ability to effectively communicate by developing and writing an executive summary that identifies, integrates, critically analyzes and makes recommendations for a solution to an issue that is based on considering the origins, facts, processes, inputs (public opinion, interest groups, political parties and the intercultural communities they serve) and the ethical consequences for the issue and recommendations. The grader through the rubric should be able to specifically identify each learning outcome and core objective that you have addressed in your letter.
Address the following criteria for the letter you will write. Research the issue and find a constitutional solution to the problem and develop an ethical strategy(ies) that can be used to help implement your policy solution.
Identify and analyze either a civil liberties, civil rights, or foreign or domestic (social/economic) policy issue or controversy. (SLO 8; CT, SR, PR)
Demonstrate why this why this is a national issue and not a state issue. (SLO 2; CS)
Explain how this issue is related to the origin and development of a constitutional democracy in the United States. Make sure to provide background on the issue and how it relates to the constitutional foundations, amendments of the U.S. Bill of Rights. (SLO 1; CS)
Evaluate how different people in our society may be affected by the specific issue. What is the publics as well as certain groups like interest groups and political parties opinion on the matter? (SLO 5;CT, SR)
Identify the branch of the government responsible for that policy issue and if there is part of any other branch that could also be implicated in the matter. (SLO 3 and SLO 4; CS)
Discuss your constitutional solution to the problem and develop an ethical strategy(ies) that can be used to help implement your policy solution. (CT, CS, SR, PR)
Analyze how your action you may take regarding this issue may impact the election process and discuss how the congressional leaders stance on the issue might impact how you vote in the next election. (SLO 6; CT, CS, SR)
Conclude the letter with why this is a right and responsibility to address this letter to your representative in Congress. (SLO 7; CS, PR)
The following are databases where you can find samples of letters/emails of how to write to your member of Congress, however remember you must include all items identified in the rubric:
https://www.apa.org/advocacy/guide/letter-email (Links to an external site.)
https://www.writeexpress.com/How-to-Write-a-Letter-to-Congress.html (Links to an external site.)
Letter Organization:
Start out by putting the date on the letter.
Then put the address of your selected U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative.
Start the letter with the proper salutation (Example: Dear Senator (Last name) or Representative (Last name).
Make sure to clearly state the reason for your concern for the issue in your letter.
Make sure that you fulfill the criteria listed at the beginning of this handout.
Make sure to point out your relationship to the legislator, for example, if you are their constituent.
At the end of the letter, place your name, signature and city.
Format:
12-point
Times New Roman
Single spaced
Minimum 1000 words, maximum 1100 words (this is a guideline to ensure you do not just put in filler words/get off topic/write vague generalizations and write an excessively long mock letter that does not address the rubric or do not write it so short that you do not specifically address all the items in the rubric-focus on specifically addressing the items in the rubric).
At the bottom of your letter you should include your name and city.
PLAGIARISM: Anytime you copy something word for word or simply rephrasing or not your original work for this class (you or someone else created this work or has submitted this work for this or another class). You must cite your source according to APA formatting. If you use someone elses words and ideas without citing them you are committing plagiarism. You will receive a 0 for plagiarism.
Due Date: 11:59 pm by July 03
You will upload your letter to Canvas.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) met with this activity:
Explain the origin & development of constitutional democracy in the U.S.
Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system.
Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, & judicial branches of the federal government.
Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
Analyze the election process.
Describe the rights & responsibilities of citizens.
Analyze issues & policies in U.S. politics.
Core Objectives met with this activity:
Critical Thinking Skills (CT): To include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.
Communication Skills (CS): To include the effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication.
Personal Responsibility (PR): To include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Social Responsibility (SR): To include demonstration of intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility and to engage effectively in regional, national, and/or global communities.