American Institutional and Political System I

Dr. Dana Crciun

Essay Assignment

Essay Assignment

One of the basic principles of the American government is the system of Checks and Balances
or the use of power to offset power (Patterson 2015: 52). Although it is one of the most
important ideas the Founding Fathers have inscribed in the Constitution, the contemporary
political reality invites a close examination of the mechanism. Is it still as appropriate and
efficient today as it was more than two centuries ago, when the newly created union was only
too aware of how widespread abuse of power was? Has the separation of powers become an
obstacle rather than a safeguard? Does it still facilitate meaningful governing or has it turned
into an impediment to the kind of efficient and dynamic government that contemporary
society needs?
This assignment requires you to write an argumentative research essay making a
clear claim in response to the above questions. Examine the system of Checks and Balances
closely to make sure you understand its mechanism; identify areas of weakness as well as
strength; research what other theorists/political scientists have had to say about it; define your
own stand in the matter by articulating a specific, clear, arguable thesis statement, which
you will then support with relevant and strong evidence.

Prewriting:
Make sure you understand well all the components of the system.
Identify advantages and disadvantages; look at historical developments.
Do more in-depth research, select, and evaluate your sources. Do this thoroughly a
lot of what is available online is of dubious quality. You are strongly encouraged to use
official and academic sources.
Annotate your sources closely and engage with them critically.
Draft a specific, arguable thesis, which clearly articulates the point you want you
make.
Draw an outline with the specific steps you will follow in supporting your thesis.
Decide on quotes/evidence that you will want to use to support your points.

Writing:
Write a clear introduction in which to explain and frame the topic, and introduce the
thesis.
Develop clearly structured and written paragraphs supporting the claim of your thesis.
Each paragraph should have one main idea only (expressed by the topic sentence).
 Write a clear conclusion which doesnt only sum up your argument but also challenges
the reader to investigate things further.
Make sure all your sources are properly cited. Any slip will result in the failure of
the course as a whole.
Edit and proofread carefully! Form is just as important as content, and you will be
marked on both.

Submission:
Length: a minimum of 5 full pages (Times New Roman size 12, double-spaced)
The essays will be submitted through Moodle and Turnitin.
Deadlines:
First draft: January 9 (you need to have a completed draft, otherwise you lose essay credit)
Final essay: January 23
LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES