Advocacy Paper Instructions
The advocacy paper is a paper in which each student will find a contemporary (within the last 6
months) controversial issue in American or California politics. The paper will describe the issue,
discuss both/all sides of the issues, and provide the student’s opinion of the issue. The paper
should be written as an advocacy paper, the student should support their stance–a good advocacy
paper addresses the opposing side’s strongest arguments. A minimum of 3 sources is required for
this paper. Papers will be turned through the drop box in moodle by 11:45 pm on 7-27
Each paper MUST be a minimum of 2500 words. All papers must be written in a
paragraph format, typed double spaced, with one inch margins, a 12 cpi times new roman font,
using APA style citations, including page numbers, a title page and works cited page. Direct
quotes should be kept to a minimum, on average a sentence or two or four lines per page.
PAPERS THAT DO NOT MEET THE 5 PAGES (2500 WORDS) OF TEXT REQUIREMENT
WILL NOT RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE.
No late papers or electronic versions will be accepted. Please do not use folders to place
the paper, I only require that they be stapled, papers in folders are difficult to read. A grading
rubric will be provided on Moodle under the course documents heading at the top of the course
page.
Paper Expectations:
1. The paper will thoroughly describe a contemporary controversial issue (in the last 6 months)
in American National politics. If you are unsure of your topic please ask the professor. The paper
will describe the facts related to the issue along with why the issue is important.
2. The paper will discuss both/all sides of the issue. Utilizing sources related to the issue,
describe the controversy surrounding the issue. State what both sides determine is the issue and
their arguments as to why their side is right.
3. Students opinion, provide an opinion on the issue that is related to the arguments
provided earlier in the paper. Students should write this section as an argumentative paper
arguing for your position. You must pick a side and defend that side. Students should avoid
personal experience or observation in the opinion section instead relying upon the arguments
presented in the paper.
Sources:
The best source for this type of paper is magazine articles. Good magazines for this assignment
would be
Time The Economist
Newsweek U.S. News and world report
Online sources are acceptable from a reputable news outlet:
ABC NBC CBS CNN MSNBC NY Times LA Times
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