Though many of you may not identify yourselves with either of the two major U.S. parties, we have seen that they help us organize and understand current political issues facing our nation today. And, though the two parties seem to divide our nation more than ever before as of late, nevertheless we have seen the value they bring to the table in helping us have a starting point and framework for creating our own opinions on political issues. We have also seen how being uninformed can have unintended and detrimental consequences for our democracy.

In this assignment, choose one or two contemporary U.S. political issue(s). Use the two political parties’ positions on the topic as a starting point to establish each side of the issue. After a thorough investigation, present both side’s opinion, evidence, and reasoning on the topic. Then establish your own position on the topic and explain the reasoning for your conclusion.

Your essay needs to be 4 to 5 pages and must be in MLA formatting style

(https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/). This means that you will need to cite within your essay where the information you are using comes from as well as include a Works Cited page that cites the sources you used to conduct your research. The Internet is a great source for research but please be mindful of which sites are credible. Your school library offers a number of databases that give you full access to scholarly journals and other helpful tools that are not available to everyone.

You will also need to submit your essay through the Essay Assignment link on our class Canvas page (powered by turnitin.com) before 11:00pm on the due date.

Please note:plagiarism very seriously.

Please use the following outline to structure your essay:

1. Introduction
   1. Introduce the topic (or topics) and explain why it is (they are) important
   2. State your thesis: This is a clear, concise, and definite statement that allows the reader to understand where you stand on the topic(s)
2. Discussion: Issue # 1
   1. Introduce and explain
   2. Present one side
   3. Present the other side
   4. Present your analysis
   5. State and explain your opinion
3. Discussion: Issue # 2 (if applicable)
   1. Introduce and explain
   2. Present one side
   3. Present the other side
   4. Present your analysis
   5. State and explain your opinion
4. Conclusion
   1. Restate importance of your chosen issue(s)
   2. Synthesize the information presented in the body of your essay
   3. State your final opinion on the issue(s) you’ve chosen in a way that leaves a lasting impression on the reader