POLS 2306: Texas Government ESSAY

POLS 2306: Texas Government

Paper Requirements for Fall 2021

I. POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSESSMENT AREAS

1. Personal Responsibility: connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making

2. Social Responsibility: knowledge of civic responsibility, intercultural competence, knowledge of engaging in regional, national, and global communities.

II. INSTRUCTIONS

1. You must answer all questions under #1 and #2 in section IV.
2. Write two separate essays (each essay 2-3 pages) in a single document, that demonstrates your understanding of Personal Responsibility and Social Responsibility as described above.
   1. You must answer each of the questions posed.
   1. No typographical errors, misspelled words, or grammatical errors. 
   1. Use proper paragraphing and improve your writing style by revising the paper as many times as necessary.  Reread your paper before turning it in.  I recommend that you have someone else review your paper before you turn it in.

III. REQUIRED WRITING AIDS FOR STUDENTS

1. Political Science (North Carolina) https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/political-science/
2. Writing in Your Major: Tips From Tutors (Vermont) https://www.uvm.edu/wid/writingcenter/tutortips/polsconstruct.html

IV. PROMPTS^[1]

1. Personal Responsibility Essay

You are a Texas Senator on a three person Senate Committee on Education.  The committee has been given an extra $2 million by the Comptroller of Public Accounts who shows that there has been a significant increase in tax revenue in the state.  The money will go toward college scholarships in public universities.  The committee’s job is to decide on proper allocation of the funds and make a recommendation to the full Senate. 

Senator Rawls represents an economically challenged portion of urban Dallas.  Senator Rawls grew up in this neighborhood and expresses that poor people are the individuals most in need, and that all extra resources should go to those most in need.  Senator Rawls recommends that all scholarships be need based.  Senator Bentham represents and was raised in an upper middle class portion of Houston.  Senator Bentham says the money should go to the students who are excellent high school students who want to major in STEM fields.  Senator Bentham says the investment will produce an overall healthier society and that the ability to succeed in college in an important field is more important than being in personal need because the investment is more likely to produce more overall good in things like medical procedures, drugs, and infrastructure.

You are the third and deciding vote.  In a full sentence &  grammatically correct essay explain the following in the order outlined by the numbers below.

1.   What is your decision on how to distribute the money? (You may not split the funds)

2.  Rawls (give to those most in need) and Bentham (give to those who will give the most back) explain their basis of decision making in justifying their decision.  Explain the basis of your decision.  Justify your decision.  What will this mean in future decisions that you make as a legislator?  What are the pros and cons of your decision-making process?

3.  What about general experiences in your life caused you to have the core beliefs to make the decision.

2. Social Responsibility

Knowledge of civic responsibility

In your own words, answer the following questions. 

1. Why is it important to vote?
2. Why is it important to be well informed on civic issues?
3. Considering your previous answers, what is your responsibility to your community when it comes to voting and being informed on civic issues?

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^[1] Authored by David P. Branham.