Research Paper: Interest Groups

Research Paper on Interest Groups
Please select one of the following topics found on the list below concerning interest groups and the issues they represent.
You must then research the WEBSITES of the interest groups representing the issue you have selected to write about. The interest groups you research must be from the United States.
You will then research the website of the interest group that supports the issue. and then research the website of the interest group that opposes the issue. For example, if you happen to choose gay rights, you have to research at least one interest group that supports gay rights (e.g. National Gay & Lesbian Task Force) and at least one interest group that opposes gay rights (e.g. Traditional Values Coalition).
In your paper you must answer/summarize the following:
1. Define what an interest group is.
2. What is your opinion on the issue you chose to research? (no more than two paragraphs should be devoted to this section)
3. Summarize the information you find in the websites of the interest groups you selected to research. What information/messaging does each interest group provide about the issues they are representing?
4. How do the interest groups you are researching embed themselves into politics? Do they endorse candidates? Do they provide campaign funds? Do they write legislation? Be specific about the information found in the websites.
5. What do the interest groups say in their websites about the organizations that oppose their views?
6. What incentives do these interest groups offer people? Are they trying to recruit people to join their interest groups? Do they ask for donations? What do the websites show regarding what is being asked in this question? Be specific.
Issues can include the following:
Abortion
Affirmative Action
Campaign/Political Reform
Drugs
Education
Environment
Euthanasia (Right to Die)
Gay Rights
Gun Control
Health Care
Immigration
Labor
Military/Veterans
Social Security
Taxes/Taxation
Women’s Issues
Things to Include in Your Paper:
1) Use MLA formatting while writing your paper.
2) Introduction that states the purpose of the paper and an overview of what it is about.
3) Detailed responses to the questions. This will mean you’ll have to find outside research to help answer the questions. Reputable sources means good, solid academic sources. I would suggest that you utilize the Northwest Vista College library. Do NOT use About.com, ProCon.org, or Wikipedia as they are not reputable academic sources. Even though I’m asking for your opinion at the beginning of the paper, please do not let that dominate your paper. I want to know what the groups are offering regarding information.
4) Conclusion to summarize the paper.
5) Include a reference page.
6) Include at least 4 references (one for each website of the interest groups your are researching, at least one to describe the issue, and at least one to describe what an interest group does).
7) Paper should be uploaded in Canvas as a Word document or PDF.
Format:
MLA
Typed
Size 12, Times New Roman font
Double-spaced
1-inch margins throughout
At least five (5) full pages in length ( the Reference Page is NOT part of the page count.)
The paper should be uploaded as a Word document or PDF.
There are no restrictions concerning the maximum number of pages you produce for the paper beyond the minimum of 5 pages.

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