1. Reading Responses (20%) In each of the weeks 2 to 6, these 5 assignments will be 500-750 word responses to assigned Theodoulou & Cahn and Light readings. Students will briefly (no more than a third of their response) summarize the main argument and findings of the assigned reading. They will then assess the author’s argument. That is, discuss the following: What sort of evidence does the author use to advance their thesis? Is the argument convincing? How does this author’s argument relate to arguments made by other authors we have covered this semester? Students must submit their reading responses no later than Monday nights at 11:59 p.m. CST before class via the Discussion Board section in BlackboaWEEK 5: February 13 A President’s Resources, Issues, Ideas, and Alternatives Read: Light, Introduction and Chaps. 1‐5. Johnson, Chap. 9. An Abstract is Also Due for a position paper later in the future. If I select you as a writer and you help me come up with the abstract, I will select you to do the final paper that is between 10-15 pages due by the end of the semester. But for right now, we just need a topic and an abstract: . Position Paper and Presentation (30%) Each student is required to develop a position paper. The selected topic may, of course be guided by your own research interests, but in all cases the paper should engage directly with public policy. A 350-word abstract of proposed paper topics will be due in class no later than Week 5 (February 13). Thus, it is suggested that students skim through the readings for the whole semester prior to deciding on a topic; you may get some good ideas from the course material itself! NO LATE abstracts will be accepted. The final draft of the position paper (10-15 pages) is due no later than 11:59pm on Sunday, April 22 via Blackboard. Specific requirements and expectations for this paper will be discussed in class. Student will make a 10-minute presentation on the position paper arguments The only two items that are needed this week though are the abstract and the reading response. About 1-2 pages each. The more lenghthy work will be in using the same writer for the position paper at the end of the semester, so you are key in this assignment.