QUESTIONS:
I. Based on the first letter of your last name, read one of the following Wall Street Journal articles assigned to you. Then, respond to questions A-D in this section, Although all AU students can register for a free Wall Street Journal account through e-campus (and then be able to access the articles through the hyperlinks below) to minimize trouble, the articles are also posted on Moodle under the September 28-October 11 block, visible once you click into the hyperlink
If your last name begins with a letter from M-Z, use the Bravin article “Supreme Court Reinstates South Caroline’s Absentee-Ballot Witness Rule,” WSJ, 6 October 2020.
Type the author of the article you will be using here: [Insert response here.]
A. Is the Wall Street Journal a reliable news source? Explain after researching its rating left/right and for adherence to the facts using BOTH https://mediabiasfactcheck.com and https://www.allsides.com/media-bias/media-bias-chart.
Make sure your answer:
● addresses any disagreements between the sources,
● uses a combination of information in your own words and at least one direct quote (with quotation marks), and
● clearly indicates which organization you are drawing on in different parts of your answer. (Entire response: 150 words or less; 10 points)
[Insert your response here.]
B. Given the topic of your assigned article, to which subfield of political science does this article most relate. Please explain. (60 words or less; 4 points)
[Insert your response here.]
C. Drawing on information assigned so far from our class textbook, The Challenge of Politics, define and then apply the concept of either negative or positive rights to your assigned article. In other words, identify a right at play in this article and explain whether it is a negative or positive right. Your response should show you understand the concept and can apply it to the article. (100 words or less; 8 points)
[Insert your response here.]
D. Identify one ethical concern related to the issues addressed in your assigned article and one empirical fact that the article mentions that would be important to know to make that ethical judgement. Don’t take a stance–just indicate the ethical issue and one fact from the article it would be important to know in order for someone to apply their ethical stance. (100 words or less; 7 points)
[Insert your response here.]
II. Drawing on Robert Putnam’s “Bowling Alone” article (using the version posted on our class Moodle page and/or the class notes posted there), answer A-B in this section.
A. Sandra has participated in his local Portuguese-American Club for the past five years. She attends meetings twice a month and finds out about social opportunities and issues affecting her local community. Another club member regularly gives Sandra a ride home, or even a ride to the store, when her spouse is using their only car. Define social capital, and identify and explain two key aspects of social capital that Sandra’s experience, above, illustrates. (150 words or less; 10 points)
[Insert your response here.]
B. Explain why political scientists study social capital–in other words, why is it important to political communities? (100 words or less; 7 points)
[Insert your response here.]
III. Define the CRAAP test for evaluating information and then analyze the fake news article in the picture below, using the “AAP” parts of the test. How could you tell it was probably fake using that method? Cite your sources for CRAAP and any research you do related to it. (250 words or less; 17 points)
[Insert your response here.]
IV. Define confirmation bias citing class materials. Drawing on what we learned about American liberals and American conservatives, choose a hypothetical person who leans toward one of these political affiliations (make sure to indicate which). Give an example of an issue on which this person will have to struggle against confirmation bias, and how. [250 words maximum; 17 points]
[Insert response here.]V. Based on the first letter of your last name, read one of the following passages assigned to you. Then, respond to the question in this section.
Type your last name here: [Insert response here.]