Category: Political Science

please take a few notes on the readings uploaded and send them to me.
https://americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2004/04/u-s-…

Instructions
Every ten years after the census, state legislators must redraw the lines. As a result, after the redrawing of the district lines your district may or may not change.
Using the link below check your district’s map: New district map (2020-2030) and compare it with the old district map (2010-2020) (State house and state senate districts only).
After clicking on the link below, enter your street address in the box labeled “Enter Your Address”. Then answer the following questions.
Click here. Texas Redistricting Map
Your data should be presented in a table and be accompanied by a narrative explanation of your findings. (10 points)
Table Example:
State House District number 0(Old Map)
State House District number 0(New Map)
0% White Alone Voters
0%White Alone Voters (-/+%)
%Hispanic Voters
% Hispanic Voters (-/+%)
%Black Alone Voters
% Black Alone Voters (-/+%)
%Asian Alone Voters
% Asian Alone Voters (-/+%)
State House District: (10 points)
Did your district change? Yes/No (for example: previously my street address was part of state house district number——– now is part of state house district number——–)
Comparing the two district maps, were there any changes demographically?
White voter population previously was ———% and in the new district’s map is ——— % which is (-/+ %) higher/lower/the same compared to the old district’s map.
Hispanic voter population previously was ———% and in the new district’s map is ———% which is (-/+ %) higher/lower/the same compared to the old district’s map.
Black voter population previously was ———% and in the new district’s map is ——— % which is (-/+ %) higher/lower/the same compared to the old district’s map.
Asian voter population previously was ———% and in the new district’s map is———% which is (-/+ %) higher/lower/the same compared to the old district’s map.
——————————————————————–
Pay close attention to the shape of your district maps. Do the district lines show any signs of gerrymandering? Using your own words, explain your reasoning; you must quote at least 3 of the assigned sources as your evidence, fact, or example to support your answer. (Minimum one to two paragraphs:30 points)
Where are the lines drawn?-All about Redistricting!
Texas Congress Plan
Click Here: Public Mapping Project/What is Redistricting?
Click Here: What is Redistricting?
An Algorithm to Detect Gerrymandering
Click Here: Gerrymandering Explained
Redistricting Report CardTexas-All About Redistricting
Watch Video Gerrymandering, explained | The Washington PostDuration: 2:42
User: n/a – Added: 11/14/17
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGLRJ12uqmk
Watch Video Regular and Irregular Shapes – December 2
Duration: 3:28
User: n/a – Added: 11/25/20
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arzUUuvdePM
Your data should be presented in a table and be accompanied by a narrative explanation of your findings. (10)
Table Example:
State Senate District number 0(Old Map)
State Senate District number 0(New Map)
0% White Alone Voters
0%White Alone Voters (-/+%)
%Hispanic Voters
% Hispanic Voters (-/+%)
%Black Alone Voters
% Black Alone Voters (-/+%)
%Asian Alone Voters
% Asian Alone Voters (-/+%)
State Senate District:(10 points)
Did your district number change? Yes/No (for example: previously my street address was part of state senate district number——– now is part of state senate district number——–)
Comparing the two district maps, were there any changes demographically?
White voter population previously was ———% and in the new district’s map is ——— % which is (-/+ %) higher/lower/the same compared to the old district’s map.
Hispanic voter population previously was ———% and in the new district’s map is ———% which is (-/+ %) higher/lower/the same compared to the old district’s map.
Black voter population previously was ———% and in the new district’s map is ——— % which is (-/+ %) higher/lower/the same compared to the old district’s map.
Asian voter population previously was ———% and in the new district’s map is———% which is (-/+ %) higher/lower/the same compared to the old district’s map.
————————————————————————–
Pay close attention to the shape of your district maps. Do the district lines show any signs of gerrymandering? Using your own words, explain your reasoning; you must quote at least 3 of the assigned sources as your evidence, fact, or example to support your answer. (Minimum one to two paragraphs: 30 points)
Where are the lines drawn?-All about Redistricting!
Texas Congress Plan
Click Here: Public Mapping Project/What is Redistricting?
Click Here: What is Redistricting?
An Algorithm to Detect Gerrymandering
Click Here: Gerrymandering Explained
Redistricting Report CardTexas-All About Redistricting

Watch Video Gerrymandering, explained | The Washington Post
Duration: 2:42
User: n/a – Added: 11/14/17
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGLRJ12uqmk

Watch Video
Regular and Irregular Shapes – December 2
Duration: 3:28
User: n/a – Added: 11/25/20
YouTube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arzUUuvdePM

Develop a rough and ready theory of declining participation in democratic process. Taking any case that you choose, or reviewing democracy in general, brainstorm to come up with some hypotheses that help to explain why there is a general trend of declining participation in the democratic process. The dependent variable in each hypothesis will be declining participation (with the values being voting, party membership, pressure group participation, protests, etc.). What are some independent variables? Keep a few things in mind:
Choose variables that could reasonably be measured (though a survey or some other means).
Consider carefully issues of both conceptual and operational definition. For example, if you posit literacy as an independent variable, do you mean that people with education are different than those without, or do you mean that there will be differences between people of different levels of education – you also need to consider what that means and how you might measure.
Specify the nature of the relationship. Do not merely say that participation is related to education. Or is there a difference with regard to the levels of education?
Provide rationales for your hypotheses. (“Educated citizens are more likely to participate because they are more aware of the impact of the political system on their lives” )
Don’t worry at this point about whether your hypothesis is valid.

Social Movements are only as important as the person leading them. The person(s) leading a social movement must have charisma and be able to captivate an audience. Political scientists and historians are taught to analyze body language, especially during debates and speeches.
For this assignment, you will watch Dr Martin Luther King’s I Have a DreamLinks to an external site. speech and a speech by Alicia Garza of the Black Lives Matter movement to an external site. and answer questions listed below. Pay special attention to the following aspects in the two speeches.
Answer the following:
1. Provide a summary of the two speeches.
2. Compare Dr. King’s leadership, charisma, power and passion to capture his audience to Alicia Garza’s speech. What are the similarities, if any? What are the differences, if any?
3. How does the location of the speeches support their messaging? Dr. King’s speech was held in a church and at the Lincoln Memorial, whereas today we have social networking and more avenues to relay messages. Does messaging make a difference?
4. Describe how the audience in Dr. King’s speeches relate to the Alicia Garza’s audience. Do you see a similarity or differences in the speeches and in the audience?
RequirementsLength: 2-3 pages of substantive content
12 pt font
Parenthetical in-text citations included and formatted in APA style  
References page (a minimum of 2 outside scholarly sources) .
Title and introduction pages are present.

Develop a rough and ready theory of declining participation in democratic process. Taking any case that you choose, or reviewing democracy in general, brainstorm to come up with some hypotheses that help to explain why there is a general trend of declining participation in the democratic process. The dependent variable in each hypothesis will be declining participation (with the values being voting, party membership, pressure group participation, protests, etc.). What are some independent variables? Keep a few things in mind:
Choose variables that could reasonably be measured (though a survey or some other means).
Consider carefully issues of both conceptual and operational definition. For example, if you posit literacy as an independent variable, do you mean that people with education are different than those without, or do you mean that there will be differences between people of different levels of education – you also need to consider what that means and how you might measure.
Specify the nature of the relationship. Do not merely say that participation is related to education. Or is there a difference with regard to the levels of education?
Provide rationales for your hypotheses. (“Educated citizens are more likely to participate because they are more aware of the impact of the political system on their lives” )
Don’t worry at this point about whether your hypothesis is valid.

Social Movements are only as important as the person leading them. The person(s) leading a social movement must have charisma and be able to captivate an audience. Political scientists and historians are taught to analyze body language, especially during debates and speeches.
For this assignment, you will watch Dr Martin Luther King’s I Have a DreamLinks to an external site. speech and a speech by Alicia Garza of the Black Lives Matter movement to an external site. and answer questions listed below. Pay special attention to the following aspects in the two speeches.
Answer the following:
1. Provide a summary of the two speeches.
2. Compare Dr. King’s leadership, charisma, power and passion to capture his audience to Alicia Garza’s speech. What are the similarities, if any? What are the differences, if any?
3. How does the location of the speeches support their messaging? Dr. King’s speech was held in a church and at the Lincoln Memorial, whereas today we have social networking and more avenues to relay messages. Does messaging make a difference?
4. Describe how the audience in Dr. King’s speeches relate to the Alicia Garza’s audience. Do you see a similarity or differences in the speeches and in the audience?
RequirementsLength: 2-3 pages of substantive content
12 pt font
Parenthetical in-text citations included and formatted in APA style  
References page (a minimum of 2 outside scholarly sources) .
Title and introduction pages are present.

Why might citizens of an authoritarian regime genuinely support their leader(s)? If they do, should it change the extent to which we consider restrictions of their freedoms violations of human rights?
Reflect on the nature of everyday life under authoritarianism that you, a friend, or a family member has experienced, if applicable. To what extent is/was it different than life in a democracy?
Is feeling pressure to sometimes publicly express beliefs that you do not truly hold a violation of human rights? Why or why not? Discuss with reference to both the readings and your personal experiences.
Papers to reference are attached

Ancillary Assignments. Read, watch, or listen to each of the following ancillary materials (there are 4 items).
Write an abstract for each of the ancillary items. Put them all into a single Word or pdf document and upload it under Module 3: Democracies: Comparing Legislatures – Abstracts

Module 3 Discussion Prompts:
Again, these prompts are simply meant to get the discussion started; you may raise any issues relevant to the topic.
-1- Since every legislature requires some voting/electoral system, which do you think is best, and why?
-2- How might U.S. Congressional politics change with a shift from first past the post to the alternative vote?
-3- How might U.S. Congressional politics change with a shift to mixed-member proportional representation?
-4- Do you think direct democracy is a more or less preferable system than using elected legislatures?

For this assignment you are to read the following article: (WHICH I HAVE INCLUDED THE PDF IN THE FILES)
Rabin, C., & Dutra, S. (2022). Predicting engagement in behaviors to reduce the spread of COVID-19: the roles of the health belief model and political party affiliation. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 27(2), 379–388.
Please write about the following aspects of the article in a 1-2 page double-spaced essay. Do NOT go over the page limit.
The author’s/s’ argument/hypothesis
What the author/s uses as evidence
The author’s/s’ conclusion
Your essay should include:
At least two (2) direct quotes to support your argument. (I CHOSE 2 SOURCES IN THE SERVICES BUT THEY SHOULD BE THE DIRECT QUOTES)
A short introductory paragraph of 4-5 sentences
A short conclusion of 4-5 sentences.
In addition to the above requirements, your essay will be evaluated according to:
Writing style- Correct subject-verb agreement and punctuation. I STRONGLY SUGGEST USING A TOOL LIKE GRAMMARLY TO CHECK YOUR WORK.
Correct citation style. My preference is APA.
How well you cover the three sections as well as the inclusion of quotes, an introductory paragraph, and a concluding paragraph.
Here are more detailed instructions just incase:
Intro (4-5 sentences): what the authors argument/hypothesis is
Introduce the article (title, authors name, date of publication
Present the argument/hypothesis
Body: What the authors used as evidence
Describe the methodology [did they do a survey.. an experiment?]
Did they do their own research or get someone else’s data?
Describe the independent variable and the dependent variable
Describe the findings
Conclusion (4-5 sentences): what you’re going to illustrate what the authors concluded; which is, did the data support the hypothesis?
Restate the hypothesis
Answer: did the data support the hypothesis?