In this creative writing assignment, you will take on the role of an advocate and analyze how federal and state powers interact in addressing public, health, and environmental issues. Utilize the First Amendment, your state constitution, and any other documents needed. Select a topic from the list below and create a (one-page) visual representation—such as a brochure, a flyer, or infographic—that shows how your state’s government shares power with the federal government on your chosen topic.

Topics:

· COVID-19

· Vaccine policies

· Regulation of substances such as tobacco and cannabis

· Human trafficking

· Environment: The right to clean air and water

· Regulation of Class IV drug policies: Legal (ex. opioids) v. illegal (fentanyl, methamphetamine, etc.)

· OR choose your own relevant topic of interest

Visual and Informational Media Design Method

Tips! It is recommended that you use one of the following for your Creative Writing Assignment:

· An MS Word document template for flyersLinks to an external site. or brochuresLinks to an external site.

· A PowerPoint slide Links to an external site.

· A CanvaLinks to an external site. infographic

· A posterboard that you talk through by creating an MP4 video on your phone

Canva and Word templates provide colors and other visual elements. Just your written text will need to be inserted. Here are a couple of examples: Example 1Links to an external site. , Example 2Links to an external site. , Example 3Links to an external site. .

Please feel free to download the template for the Creative Writing Assignment: TemplateLinks to an external site..

Prompts

Your (one-page) flyer or brochure should include the following elements and respond to the following prompts:

· A clear title

· A short introduction about your topic

· Then use any of the Amendments from the Bill of Rights, your state constitution, or any federal policy to answer the following questions:

· How does your topic relate to your state constitution?

· How does your topic relate to federal government policies?

· Describe how your state shares power with the federal government pertaining to your chosen topic.

· Would you advocate for any type of change to your state or federal policies regarding your topic?

Writing Requirements

· One page in length.

· Integrate at least one source. All material within the course room can be cited and referenced as needed.

· Please be sure to paraphrase the information. Please do not copy and paste unless it’s a reference.

· At the bottom of your flyer, add references.

· Follow appropriate APA citation guidelines. Here are two excellent resources: Crediting Sources Made SimpleLinks to an external site. and the Writing CenterLinks to an external site. .

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Tutor Guide to Completing the Creative Writing Assignment

This assignment evaluates your ability to advocate, analyze federalism, and communicate clearly using visual media. Follow these steps to meet all rubric and writing requirements.

Step 1: Select a Strong Topic

Choose one topic from the list (or your own approved topic) that clearly involves shared power between state and federal governments.

Topics that work especially well:

Vaccine policies
Environment: right to clean air and water
Regulation of substances (tobacco, cannabis, opioids)

Tutor tip: Pick a topic where both your state and the federal government clearly have authority—this makes analysis much easier.

Step 2: Decide on Your State

Identify your specific state early. You will need:

Your state constitution
At least one state-level policy or agency

Examples:

State Department of Health
State Environmental Protection Agency
State public safety or regulatory statutes

Step 3: Choose Your Visual Format

Select one of the approved formats:

Flyer or brochure (Word template)
PowerPoint (single slide)
Canva infographic (recommended for visuals)
Posterboard + MP4 explanation

Tutor reminder: This is a one-page visual—concise wording matters.

Step 4: Create a Clear Title

Your title should:

Be short and specific
Reflect advocacy and shared power

Example:

Clean Air, Shared Responsibility: How Federal and State Governments Protect Public Health

Step 5: Write a Short Introduction

In 2–3 sentences:

Introduce your topic
Explain why it matters to the public
State your advocacy perspective

Example focus:

Public health impact
Environmental justice
Individual rights vs. government authority

Step 6: Address the Constitutional & Policy Prompts

Use headings or sections in your flyer to organize content clearly.

How does your topic relate to your state constitution?

Identify a relevant state constitutional provision
Explain how it protects rights, health, or welfare
Paraphrase (do not quote extensively)

How does your topic relate to federal government policies?

Use the U.S. Constitution (e.g., First Amendment, Commerce Clause)
Reference a federal law or agency (CDC, EPA, FDA, CMS)

How does your state share power with the federal government?

Explain federalism in action:
- Federal standards + state implementation
- Shared funding
- Concurrent enforcement

Tutor tip: This section is the heart of the assignment—be explicit.

Step 7: Advocate for Change

Take a clear position:

Should policies be strengthened?
Should states have more flexibility?
Should federal oversight increase?

Support your advocacy with:

Logic
Course concepts
One credible source

Step 8: Add References (APA Style)

At the bottom of your flyer:

Include at least one source
Use APA-style references
Cite:
- U.S. Constitution
- State constitution
- Federal or state agency website

Step 9: Final Review Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that you:

Stayed within one page
Used paraphrased language
Included a clear title and headings
Explained shared federal–state power
Added APA references

Helpful Academic & Government Resources

You can safely use these for your assignment:

U.S. Constitution (official):
https://constitution.congress.gov/
National Conference of State Legislatures (Federalism):
https://www.ncsl.org/federalism
Environmental Protection Agency (state–federal roles):
https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations
CDC & State Health Policy Overview:
https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/index.html
Purdue OWL – APA Formatting:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html

Advocacy Flyer on Federal and State Power