Do’s and Don’ts

WRITING FREE RESPONSE

Overview4 Questions in 100 minutesDesigned to evaluate your analytical and

organizational skillsBrainstormOrganize and outlineRe-readDon’t leave points on the table

When you see the questionTake 5 minutes to

organize and brainstormUnderline the Directives

IdentifyExplainIdentify and ExplainDescribe and explainGive specific

explanantionsPay attention to the

specific task after directive

You will always need to support your answer with examples

If you can’t remember some information, don’t panic, answer the parts you know how to answer

Use correct grammar-they don’t count for grading purposes, but help the grader psychologically

Answer all 4 questionsSupport your

explanations with specific evidence

Write in your styleEdit your answer and

make sure you have answered all parts

Try to sound sophisticated or use big words, keep it simple and concise

Editorialize, they aren’t interested in your opinion and won’t get you points

Data dumpUse historical examples,

this a contemporary US political class

Do’s and don’ts

An example from Chapter 3The power of the federal government relative to the

power of the states has increased since the ratification of the Constitution.a. Describe two of the following provisions of the Constitution and explain how each has been used over time to expand federal power.

The power to tax and spendThe “necessary and proper” or “elastic”

clauseThe commerce clause

b. Explain how one of the following has increased the power of the federal government relative to the power of state governments.

Americans with Disabilities ActCivil Rights Act of 1964Clean Air Act

Rubric (trade with someone else)Part A: One point is earned for each of the two

descriptions and one point for the two explanationsAcceptable descriptions may include

Tax and spend power Response must indicate who exercises this power.

(Congress/national government) The response must describe both the power to tax and

the power to spend “necessary and proper” clause

Must indicate who exercises this power Must include the power to pass laws

The commerce clause Must indicate who exercises this power Response must refer to the regulation of interstate

commerce, foreign commerce/trade, or commerce with Native American tribes.

continuedPart B: One point is earned for identifying

a provision of one of the laws, and 1 point is earned for explaining how the provision increased federal power over the states. If the response doesn’t identify a provision of one of the laws, it cannot get the second point.

(Each point worth 5)

Questions for Unit Test I 1. In The Federalist paper #10, Madison expressed

concern over the possibility that both majority and minority factions would have too much power over government, and he presented ways of minimizing that danger. a. Identify the part of the national government that was

originally most closely tied to citizens and explain how it was tied to citizens.

b. Explain two ways the United States Constitution limited majority rule.

c. Choose two of the following 20th century developments and explain how each moved the United States from a less democratic system to a more democratic system. Primary elections The 17th Amendment Expansion of suffrage

2. A. Define federalismB. Select two of the following and explain how

each has been used to increase the power of the federal government relative to the states. Categorical grants Federal mandate Selective incorporation

C. Select two of the following and explain how each has been used to increase the power of the states relative to the federal government Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Block grants 10th Amendment