Intro to American Politics Part Two   Note: This page will be updated the next time the course is taught.  Until then, some links may be invalid.

Dangerous Intersections: Race, Class, & Gender in the U.S.    Anita Hill        Clarence Thomas        Movie: The Hill/Thomas Case: Public Hearing/Private Pain   Required Readings: 1.  Background on the Hill/Thomas Hearings 2.  An Overview of Sexual Harassment Law 3.  Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson (1986) (print) 4.  Race, Gender, and the Hill/Thomas Controversy 5.   Sex, Race, and Income Distribution in the U.S. 6.  The Personal Is Political      Rethinking the Clinton/Lewinsky Affair (print) 7.  The Personal Is Political.  Now What? (print) Questions for Class Discussion (Bring answers on 11/5) How did the history of race relations inform public perceptions of Hill and Thomas? How were the hearings shaped by the struggle for women's rights? How has economic competition contributed to racial division in the U.S.? How has economic competition contributed to gender inequality in the U.S.? Why would people be inclined to side with Clarence Thomas? Why would people assume that Anita Hill must have been lying? Should Anita Hill have remained silent about her experiences with Clarence Thomas? Why would people see Clarence Thomas as a victim? Describe the balance of power between Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill. Why would people tend to see men as victims in sexual harassment cases? Why did the Hill/Thomas hearings fail to resolve any questions? What did most members of the Senate seem to conclude about the Hill/Thomas matter? If Anita Hill's testimony had been shown to be absolutely truthful, would this case have come to a different conclusion? Compare and contrast the Hill/Thomas scandal with the Clinton/Lewinsky Affair. Why would people tend to view Bill Clinton as a victim in the Lewinsky scandal? Describe the balance of power between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Do you believe that Clinton's affair with Lewinsky should have remained private? Home        The Supreme Court Page       Readings & Resources

 

11/14 - 12/12 Conflicting Positions: Current Issues in American Politics

Requirements for Take-Home Final Exam: You must answer three essay questions.  Each answer should be approximately two pages long (double spaced, one-inch margins, readable type). All answers must be carefully argued and free of spelling and grammatical errors.  Use the term paper checklist in order to avoid common mistakes.  If you have writing problems, please bring your exam to the Writing Center before you hand it in.  Keep in mind that your essay will be previewed in class by a fellow student.

11/14	Overview of Topics for Presentations and Take-Home Final Exam Note: All students must submit presentation topics for approval on 11/14.
11/19	Writing Workshop:  How to Summarize Sources and Defend an Argument
11/21	Presentations on Capital Punishment, Gun Control, Related Issues One-page typed summary of presentation due in class Summaries must be thoughtfully written and free of grammatical and spelling errors.
11/26	Presentations on civil liberties, terrorism, foreign policy
12/3	Presentations on Civil Liberties, Same-Sex Marriage; Adoption Law, the Human Egg Market, and Related Issues
12/5	Writing Workshop/ Peer Editing  Final Exam due in class
12/10	Presentations Continued
12/12	Presentations Continued  (Final Exams returned)
12/17*	Check in/Check out with Professor in Coburn 106

 

Keep in Mind:

For presentations, you must gather specific information to back up all of your assertions.  For example, if you argue that affirmative action should be abolished, you must be able to explain why affirmative action policies were adopted in the first place and how these policies have functioned over time.  Usually, the best way to convey these explanations is to cite representative cases, reliable studies, or conclusions drawn by trustworthy experts. 

Locating Reliable Sources on the Internet

Scroll through the links below in order to find background information for presentations, summaries, and exams.  If you are not sure about how to stake out a position, visit the Thesis Statements Page.  You may use any of the statements there as a starting point for your one-page summary of your in-class presentation.  Remember: Before you submit any written work, be sure to consult Citation Style Guides and use the Term Paper Checklist to correct common mistakes.

 

  Research Sites Arranged by Field or Topic

Note: You may have to browse through links to find relevant information. 

  Home Page        Supreme Court Page         Course Outlines       Term Paper Guide

Links to Comprehensive Research Sites

Public Interest Internet Sites

The Media Education Foundation - provides access to multimedia presentations on current issues in American political life

 

 PBS Webcast on the Election Process in the U.S.

  

OpenSecrets.Org: Your Guide to Money in U.S. Elections

 

  The Center for Public Integrity

Independent Media Center

 

 

Photo: AP June 5, 2000
A protester stands in front of burning debris during protests against the World Trade Organization

 

 

Click here to go to final exam.

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