POLS 1100-501: U.S. Government and Politics Spring 2017
REFLECTION OF THIS COURSE: When I first realized I would have to take this course, every fiber of my being cringed. I was not raised in a home where any politics were ever discussed. My parents are fairly uneducated on worldly events or how politics even have anything to do with our everyday world. As I went through school I learned about US Government but mostly the history of it and what was currently happening. Once I graduated high school and my life took a turn, politics was the last thing I ever thought about. So needless to say, I was at a serious disadvantage coming into this class for someone my age. But I also recognized the need for learning more about the political system and how it works in today’s world.
I work in news so many find it very hard to believe that I do not have much of a political background. So many believe we are mindless robots who serve for some political agenda and distrust in our communities so it is often best to completely avoid making any political statements or state any opinions of agendas. While I have kept my opinions to myself, a lot of it had to do with not fully understanding how politics even work. I based my opinions on issues, actions and how it affected MY life. I really started to pay attention to politics about ten years ago, just before Obama was elected. I was fascinated with the entire process and progress our country was making in electing out first African American President.
This course has allowed me to dig deeper into why certain issues are still issues today. How they intertwine with each other and how they affect so many people other than myself. I see a bigger picture and understand that politics are a very complicated topic but also understand that our political system has been compromised. Taking this course at a time in our country where there is huge personality issues with the man running our country and not understanding why anyone would ever want this man in our Oval Office. But taking this course has allowed me to think outside the box a little more than I had before. I understand how it happened and more about why not just our national politics and local governments work.
While I do not see a future for me in politics, I feel that I can hold a small conversation versus running from the first person that asks me my political opinion on anything. I have found in the past that not talking about the things I hear have also helped me to stop over-concentrating on the things I do not know. I have seen more and more people discuss politics without any education or knowledge of the facts behind what they are “strongly” opinionated about. I have seen more fighting and bickering over non political events that involve our government. The anger and frustration our country is in has me worried about our future but I can say that at least I can approach some of it with more knowledge than I had before.
I work in news so many find it very hard to believe that I do not have much of a political background. So many believe we are mindless robots who serve for some political agenda and distrust in our communities so it is often best to completely avoid making any political statements or state any opinions of agendas. While I have kept my opinions to myself, a lot of it had to do with not fully understanding how politics even work. I based my opinions on issues, actions and how it affected MY life. I really started to pay attention to politics about ten years ago, just before Obama was elected. I was fascinated with the entire process and progress our country was making in electing out first African American President.
This course has allowed me to dig deeper into why certain issues are still issues today. How they intertwine with each other and how they affect so many people other than myself. I see a bigger picture and understand that politics are a very complicated topic but also understand that our political system has been compromised. Taking this course at a time in our country where there is huge personality issues with the man running our country and not understanding why anyone would ever want this man in our Oval Office. But taking this course has allowed me to think outside the box a little more than I had before. I understand how it happened and more about why not just our national politics and local governments work.
While I do not see a future for me in politics, I feel that I can hold a small conversation versus running from the first person that asks me my political opinion on anything. I have found in the past that not talking about the things I hear have also helped me to stop over-concentrating on the things I do not know. I have seen more and more people discuss politics without any education or knowledge of the facts behind what they are “strongly” opinionated about. I have seen more fighting and bickering over non political events that involve our government. The anger and frustration our country is in has me worried about our future but I can say that at least I can approach some of it with more knowledge than I had before.
The following are assignments completed during the course of the class:
5_powerful_questions.pdf | |
File Size: | 40 kb |
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money_sources_in_races_.pdf | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
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president_rhetoric.pdf | |
File Size: | 33 kb |
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reactions_to_the_constitution_discussion_2.pdf | |
File Size: | 38 kb |
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senaca_falls_.pdf | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
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pursuasive_.pdf | |
File Size: | 42 kb |
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