State and Local
Politics
Gov
222
Fall 2008
Class Presentation Assignments
The purpose of these assignments is threefold.
First, I want to develop your expertise in the nuances of your region's political
institutions, policy, and political culture. Secondly, I want to develop your
political science researching and analytical skills. All of these assignments
encourage you to think systematically about political phenomena, to think
theoretically, and to understand the importance of empirical verification—in
short, to become a political scientist. Thirdly, I want to develop your oral
and data presentation skills.These exercises are also designed to help you
do basic quantitative and qualitative analysis and present your findings to
your classmates using a variety of computer programs. Your presentations
will be available on-line here.
Division of
Responsibility
| Region |
States |
Students |
| Deep South |
AL, GA, MS, SC |
Tyler and Brendan |
| Midwest |
OH, IL, IN, PA |
Cory and Tori |
| Northeast |
NJ, CT, NY, MA |
Michal and Tess |
| Pacific |
CA, OR, WA, HI |
Ben and Marianne |
| Mountain |
CO, WY, UT, NV |
|
| "Clean/Good Govt" |
MN, WI, MI, IA |
Mary and Andrew |
| Border States |
TN, VA, KY, NC |
|
Class Assignment
#1 Socio-Economic and Demographic Analysis
Class Assignment
#2 The Causes and Consequences of Interparty
Competition
Class
Assignment #3 Who
is powerful and why? Who are the 600 pound gorillas in your states?
Class Assignment
#4 Understanding
Your State Legislatures
Class
Assignment #5 Understanding
Your State Governors
Class
Assignment #6 Understanding
Your State Judiciaries