Write a three-to-five-page argumentative essay responding to the prompt: Should the Electoral College
be reformed? An argumentative essay is a short, nonfiction piece of writing that uses logical evidence
and empirical data to convince the reader of a certain point of view.Step 1: Identify Scholarly Sources• You must cite a minimum of three scholarly sources, which include peer-reviewed journal articles and
books written in the past 25 years (post 1999).• Your sources must be obtained from JSTOR, which can be found through JCTC’s Learning Commons
Database website.• You will use MLA Style for your in-text citations and Works Cited list. This is a helpful MLA Style guide.• JCTC’s Learning Commons offers free tutoring for research assistance if you need help identifying
sources or formatting your bibliography.Step 2: Write Annotated Bibliography• An annotated bibliography includes the full publication information for each source (MLA Style) as well as
a short paragraph summary of what the source says and explain why it is relevant to your paper topic.• Your sources should be listed in alphabetical order by the author’s last name, followed by a 3-5 sentence
summary that is written in paragraph form. This is a helpful annotated bibliography guide.Step 3: Write Your Thesis Statement• A thesis statement is a one- to two-sentence statement that presents the main idea and makes an
assertion about your issue.• This is a helpful guide about how to write a thesis statement for an argumentative essay.Step 4: Electoral College Analysis: 2024 Presidential ElectionReview the 2024 Presidential Election results on 270towin and answer the following questions:• Compare the difference in the seven swing state & national polls before the election to the actual vote
shares for each candidate. Were the polls consistently higher or lower for one candidate?• Did the winner of the national popular vote also win the most Electoral College votes?• Did this outcome influence your opinion of whether the Electoral College should be reformed? Why or why
not?II. Argumentative Essay: Due Sunday, December 1 at 11:59PMStep 1: Write Your Argumentative Essay OutlineYour argumentative essay should include in-text citations (MLA Style) from the scholarly sources you submitted
from your annotated bibliography and adhere to following outline structure:I. IntroductionA. Open with a hook, something to keep the reader interested enough to read until the conclusionB. Give any background information or context necessary to understand the topicC. Provide a thesis statement explaining your stance and why you feel that wayII. First reasonA. Start with the least controversial reason to support your argument, explaining your point clearly as an
overviewa. First evidential support of your reasonb. Second evidential support of your reason, then third, and so onB. Summarize your first reason again and tie it together with evidential supportIII. Second reason, third reason, etc.A. Continue to list your reasons in the same format as the first. List your reasons from least to most
controversialIV. First opposing point of viewA. Explain the reasoning of the opposing side. Point out their defenses and evidence—what would they say if
they were writing the essay?a. Point out weaknesses and inconsistencies in their argumentb. Refute their points with evidential support and reinforce your position as the more reasonable
positionV. Second opposing point of view, etc.A. Continue to present and refute opposing points of view in the same format as the firstVI. ConclusionA. Reiterate your position and thesis statement, drawing on your strongest evidential support and rebuttals of
opposing pointsB. Wrap everything up with a thought-provoking ending or call to action (a suggestion you want the reader to
take).
Amar, Akhil Reed. “A Constitutional Accident Waiting to Happen.” Constitutional Commentary, vol. 12, no. 2, 1995, pp. 143-158.
This article represents a trenchant critique by Amar of the electoral college as outdated machinery that is likely to cause severe damage to democratic legitimacy. He argues that, considering the modern political realities and technological improvements, the reasons behind its establishment—such as voters’ ignorance, anti-populist considerations, and balance of power issues—are no more valid. Amar favors abolition of the electoral college in place of direct, national elections. It would be done via constitutional change, and more advanced technology could make informed decisions and recounts possible. It is also relevant to my work because it went into details reviewing the failures of the electoral college and furthered the argument for reform of the electorates in current society.
Adkison, Danny M., and Christopher Elliott. “The Electoral College: A Misunderstood Institution.” PS: Political Science & Politics, vol. 30, no. 1, Mar. 1997, pp. 77+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A19284547/AONE?u=kctcsjcc&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=e4a7cdf1
Adkison and Elliott discuss misconceptions in general regarding the U.S. Electoral College with a focus on mistakes specifically from political science textbooks. The authors chastise 18 introductory textbooks for incorrectly describing how electors are selected, the method of allocating electoral votes, and a variety of historical misunderstandings including the 1876 and 1888 elections. They conclude that these misrepresentations will distort the student understanding of the Electoral College and its potential reform. Because this source is a requisite for understanding how such false beliefs about the Electoral College take hold and persist in educational materials, and with the critical analysis of its mechanics and criticisms of the institution included, this makes it particularly relevant to any discussion of electoral reform or the educational framing of U.S. institutions.
Grant, Alan. “The 1992 U.S. Presidential Election.” Parliamentary Affairs, vol. 46, no. 2, Apr. 1993, pp. 311-318. Oxford University Press.
Alan Grant’s article describes the contest of the 1992 U.S. Presidential Election in great detail because he focuses on the campaign approaches of both the Clinton and Bush campaigns. Grant discusses salient topics such as Clinton’s media-savvy counterattacks in response to Bush’s negative ads, debates and dynamics of shifting politics, and economic issues that dominated the election. The central thesis of his work is that Clinton succeeded due to his ability to address economic concerns, to manage positively with the media, and to present himself as a change candidate against failed economic policies by Bush with no apparent domestic agenda. This source is of great relevance for my paper, as it outlines the electoral strategies that Clinton used to win-election strategies, especially his quick responses to negative campaigning and economic reform, which are very important themes for understanding the outcome of this election.