American Federal Government Final

Assignment 5: Final Team Project (Complete by Sunday, Dec. 4)
Due No Due Date Points 150
This assignment will be due in this module.
This assignment aligns with Learning Outcomes 1–5
Directions
For this project you will work in a collaborative team to identify a political issue. Your team will
then research, analyze, develop, and defend a position within that issue. The end product will be
a paper that describes the issue and supports your team’s position. Remember, your goal is to
select an issue, take a position, and develop a paper to support that position.
Political issues could include discussions on healthcare, immigration reform, American’s
marijuana debate, tax reform, religious freedom act, LGBTQ rights, and, etc. If you are unsure of
what constitutes a valid political issue, please check with the instructor for guidance in this area.
In 2–3 pages, the outline should minimally contain the following sections below and be drafted
in APA 6th edition style and format. See the sample APA outline here
1. Brief introduction and thesis statement
a. Introduce the topic to your reader in a brief sentence or two.
b. Include a thesis statement that identifies at least one challenge/problem associated
with your chosen topic and also identify a policy you are recommending that will
effectively and efficiently address this challenge/issue.
2. Overview of the issue (research including at least 5 references)
Briefly address the origins of the contentions surrounding your selected political issue. For
instance, if you have opted to take on the marijuana debate, you might begin with the
federal government’s designation of marijuana as Schedule I drug under the Controlled

Substance Act. Here, you would describe the rationale for such designation and the political
discourse this policy has created.
3. Here, your team should take a position on your selected topic. Pointing back to the
marijuana debate, you may side with the federal government’s stance on criminalizing
marijuana or you might side with the states’ rights position (federalism) on the substance,
that is, allow states to administer their own policy in this regard.
4. Rationale for your position (research including at least 5 references)
In this regard, you are to justify your stance on your selected topic. For instance, if in favor
of the decriminalization of marijuana at the federal level, you should provide, relevant
scholarly data to refute the federal government’s belief that marijuana provides no
accepted medical use here in the U.S. Further, take note that you are not beholden to
addressing the medical use of marijuana, alone. There are, as know, other honorable
mentions as to why marijuana should be decriminalized. Effective research, here, as well as
it with any of the other topics you have to choose from, will be key in garnering a solid
response in this area.
5. Summary, conclusions and recommendations
a. Reiterate your selected political issue, as well as your team’s position on such.
b. Conclude by including a policy recommendation that will effectively and efficiently
address this political issue. For example, one might propose that the federal
government remove marijuana from Schedule I status on the Controlled Substance
Act, or one might propose, in terms of immigration reform, that immigration policy be
reformed to allow illegal immigrants, brought to the U.S. as children., to receive U.S.
citizenship.
Citations that document your research are a critical part of this project. Be sure to identify all the
references you use. These should be cited in the text as well as the References list. See the Tools
and Resources page for more information and resources about APA format, to include
information on a sample outline.
By now, your teams and topics should be well-established. While completing this assignment,
remember that your team project should focus on an issue that addresses a current problem at
the national level. Further, remember to decide on the scope of the issue. It should be small
enough to research thoroughly, but not so narrow that it becomes a “special interest” issue.
Perhaps the biggest challenge will be sorting out any bias in various sources of reporting. Also,

Final Team Project Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
30 pts
prior to submission, never hesitate to ask your professor for help, and/or search out other experts
on the topic.
Submission
A designated team member will be the one who submit this assignment. This assignment
requires a file upload submission. After you have reviewed the assignment instructions and
rubric, as applicable, complete your submission by selecting the Submit Assignment button next
to the assignment title. Browse for your file and remember to select the Submit Assignment
button below the file to complete your submission. Review the confirmation annotation that
presents after submission.
Grading
This assignment is worth 150 points toward your final grade and will be graded using the Final
Team Project Rubric. Please use it as a guide toward successful completion of this assignment.
Organization 30 to >26.0 pts
Exemplary
The paper is
logically
organized with a
well-written
introduction,
thesis statement
and conclusion.
26 to >23.0 pts
Meets
Expectations
The paper is
logically
organized with a
well-written
introduction,
thesis statement
and conclusion.
One of these
requires
improvement.
23 to >18.0 pts
Developing
The paper is
logically
organized with a
well-written
introduction,
thesis statement
and conclusion.
One or more of
the introduction,
thesis statement,
and/or conclusion
require
improvement.
18 to >0 pts
Beginning
The paper is
loosely
organized with
an introduction,
thesis
statement, and
conclusion. The
introduction,
thesis
statement,
and/or
conclusion
require much
improvement.

30 pts
30 pts
Topic Overview 30 to >26.0 pts
Exemplary
Provides an
overview that
comprehensively
describes the
selected political
issue. The
description is
clearly supported
with the number
of scholarly
sources noted.
26 to >23.0 pts
Meets
Expectations
Provides an
overview that
comprehensively
describes the
selected political
issue. The
description is
clearly supported
with fewer than
the number of
scholarly sources
noted and is
slightly
underdeveloped.
23 to >18.0 pts
Developing
Provides an
overview that
comprehensively
describes the
selected political
issue. The
description is
somewhat
supported with
at least one
scholarly source
and is
underdeveloped.
18 to >0 pts
Beginning
Few sources
cited can be
considered
appropriate and
from accepted
sources.
Attempts to
provides an
overview of the
selected political
issue. However,
the description
is not supported
with scholarly
sources and is
significantly
underdeveloped.
Position on Selected
Topic
30 to >26.0 pts
Exemplary
Takes a definitive
position on
selected topic
and provides
effective
rationale for
noted line of
thought. The
rationale,
including
subsequent
policy
recommendation,
is clearly
supported with
the number of
scholarly sources
noted.
26 to >23.0 pts
Meets
Expectations
Takes a
definitive
position on
selected topic
and provides
effective
rationale for
noted line of
thought. The
rationale,
including
subsequent
policy
recommendation,
is clearly
supported with
fewer than the
number of
scholarly sources
noted.
23 to >18.0 pts
Developing
Takes a
definitive
position on
selected topic
and provides
effective
rationale for
noted line of
thought. The
rationale,
including
subsequent
policy
recommendation,
is somewhat
supported with
at least one
scholarly source
and is
underdeveloped.
18 to >0 pts
Beginning
Attempt to take
a definitive
position on
selected topic.
However, the
rationale,
including
subsequent
policy
recommendation
is not supported
with scholarly
sources and is
significantly
underdeveloped.

Total Points: 150
30 pts
30 pts
Quality of Work 30 to >26.0 pts
Exemplary
Quality of writing
is exceptional
with no spelling,
grammar, or
mechanical
errors. Writing is
organized and
well developed.
26 to >23.0 pts
Meets
Expectations
Quality of writing
is good with
minor spelling,
grammar, or
mechanical
errors that do
not interfere with
comprehension.
23 to >18.0 pts
Developing
Quality of writing
is acceptable
with minor
spelling,
grammar, or
mechanical
errors that
usually do not
interfere with
comprehension.
18 to >0 pts
Beginning
Quality of writing
is unacceptable
with many
spelling,
grammar, or
mechanical
errors that
significantly
interfere with
comprehension.
APA
and<br>Documentation
30 to >26.0 pts
Exemplary
Citations are
formatted
correctly in the
document.
26 to >23.0 pts
Meets
Expectations
There are a few
formatting errors
in the
document’s
citations.
23 to >18.0 pts
Developing
There are some
formatting errors
in the
document’s
citations.
18 to >0 pts
Beginning
There are many
and/or frequent
formatting errors
in the
document’s
citations.