Purpose: to provide you with a full-text copy of your research assignment.

REQUIREMENT FOR WORK OUTSIDE OF CLASS

1. REPORT NO. 1 - MEETING ATTENDANCE.  This assignment is to  attend a meeting of a public agency, board or commission.   The San Diego County Board of Supervisors, a city council, a  board of education, or the Governing Board of the Grossmont- Cuyamaca Community  College District are examples of public  agencies suitable for this requirement. It is up to you to  select which meeting to attend and to find out the date,  place and time of the meeting.  A brief report (2-3 pages) of the meeting will be turned in by Monday, November 3,  2003. This report will, as a minimum, identify the agency or  board, state the purpose or objective of the meeting (i.e. a  regularly scheduled meeting or a special meeting held for a  specific purpose, such as to hear public comments on an  issue), and a brief summary of the business conducted.  If a  meeting agenda is available it will be attached to the  report.  This report counts 10% of the course grade.

2. REPORT NO. 2 - ON LINE RESEARCH.  This assignment is to use  on-line research to select one article of your choice to  read from a political science journal or political opinion  magazine on a subject dealing with the material covered in  this course.  The article must be a feature article (one  with a title and named author).  Book reviews are not  feature articles and are not acceptable for this report.   Analyze the reading in the context of the material covered  in this course.  Compare and contrast the article with  information presented in your textbooks and my lectures.   Include your own opinion of the reading, i.e., whether or  not you agree or disagree with the author’s thesis and/or  conclusions.  Include, if applicable, one or more insights   you may have gained from the reading, such as something that  changed the way you previously thought about the subject, or  a new way of looking at and understanding the subject as a  result of your reading.  You will give me a note containing  the name and date of the journal or magazine and the title  of the article you have chosen not later than Monday,  October 6, 2003.  Your report will be 3 to 5 pages and is  due on ________.  This report counts 15% of  the course grade. 

3. All reports will be typed double-space. A word processor may  be used.  Reports do not have to be in a folder but each  must have a cover page with your name.  The name of the  board or agency meeting will be on the cover page of the  first report.  The title of the article, the name of the  author, and the name and date of the journal or magazine  will be included on the title page of the second report.   Grades will be based primarily on the content and substance  of your report.  Quality of writing, including organization,  clarity, spelling, and grammar also count. Adherence to the   details specified in this handout will also be considered in  assigning a grade to the report.  Reports submitted late  without a valid reason will be assessed a grade penalty.

 a. Journals: