Midterm and Presentations Due for 2/7/13

The Midterm is due next week:

Seidman's article: Let's Give up on the Constitution

Midterm:

Professor Louis Seidman has recently argued that adherence to the Constitution, “with all its idiosyncratic and downright evil provisions” is the reason why America’s system of government is broken. He argues that the Constitution has given us  “a dysfunctional political system”.  Seidman is not the only critic of the Constitution, Charles Beard is a historian who “provided the most controversial historical interpretation of the origin of American national government in his landmark book, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States (1913).He argued that the founders benefitted financially from the Constitution.

You will find a summary of Beard’s book on page 69 in your ebook in  Conflicting View: An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution.

Write a three-page essay (12pt Times New Roman, 1 inch margins) analyzing arguments from Seidman and Beard and answering the question, “Should we give up on the Constitution?” To support your analysis briefly define what Seidman means by Constitutional disobedience. Demonstrate in depth understanding of his article as well as Beard’s view that the framers economically benefited from the Constitution. You will need to discuss what Beard, Seidman, and the founders of the Constitution expected from a government, and asses Beard’s and Seidman's arguments based on the circumstances of the Constitution. In your essay do not simply summarize Seidman and Beard, your role is to analyze and evaluate their assertions as well as include viewpoints of those who oppose their ideas from class lectures and reading. For full credit you need to demonstrate clear understanding of Seidman’s article.

50 points
due: February 7th

Presentations are due next week too! 

Presentations should be between 3 to 5 minutes long. You will not be turning anything in to me. You will be graded on:

1. Nonverbal skills: eye contact, posture
2..Verbal Skills: Clear, loud voice, correct pronunciation, positive about topic
3.Organization: Logical sequence of information
4. Visual Aids: Readable, clear, professional
5. Correct & Complete: Correct facts, audience learns

25 points