STUDENT GROUP PROJECT

Students in groups will be responsible for leading a class discussion about of a set of issues listed in Part II of the Course Schedule. The purpose of this exercise is to encourage class participation. Failure to participate in your respective group will result in zero points and a heavy sigh of disappointment from your classmates. This penalty might be waived, in part, if the student demonstrates good cause. However, since the student has missed an in-class assignment that cannot be made up, she/he must submit a typed, double-spaced, two-page summary of the presentation they would have made in class. The summary is due one week after the group presentation; otherwise, no points will be awarded.

Focus:  Issues for Debate

Topics:  Each set of issues will be based on readings in the CQ Researcher book required for the class.  Students will present an analysis of their respective public policy issue followed by class discussion.  Dates for each issue presentation can be found in Part II of the Course Schedule.

Guidelines

1.  Members of each group will decide how each set of issues will be covered. Suggestion: divide the issue into sub-topics and have one student responsible for each one.

2.  The group report should run approximately 20-30 minutes per issue with each student's contribution about 4-6 minutes per issue leaving the remaining time for class discussion.

3.  Although you can use your notes, do not read out of the book. The purpose is to improve your verbal communication skills.

4.  Student performance will be evaluated by the instructor.  The instructor will use a five-point scale (1=poor, 5=excellent) on the following items (total of 20 points)

                                                      Sample

                                Criteria                               Points

Final Quiz

In order to ensure that all students have read the chapters required for each issue, a final quiz will be given the last day of the class.  Total = 50 points.