Instructions : This is a 2 part focused writing assignment. I will provide the context, necessary information, background, as well as links and resources, needed to comply with the minimum requirements necessary to participate and complete this assignment. If you are aiming for an A or B on this assignment, I do expect that you will include additional resources and research links. These do not have to be a laundry list.  More is not better. Direct and to the point is key.  I expect additional resources be properly cited, at the end of your part 1 critical analyses.   Part 1: Choose a Prompt and Post Reply Minimum length of analysis is 1 page double spaced, or half page single spaced. Type it first in a word document for reference. Then, copy and paste. Formatting standards: 12 point font, times new roman, double spaced ( if 1 full page in word) otherwise single spaced (equivalent to half page in word). Must include properly formatted citations for any and all resources, links and information publications, used in your research, as well as incorporated as supporting evidence, for your critique and analysis. I expect you to incorporate information, offering supporting evidence specifically from at least one or more of independently researched resources and links, to be discussed, mentioned and cited within either your part 1 or part 2 post, if not both.  You can just note the source when citing parenthetically, within your analyses, as long as you provide a full title, and link to the information source, listed at the end of your reply. This is what will earn you a A or B grade. Part 2:  Critique and Rebuttal You will not be able to review posts submitted by your peers, until you yourself have submitted your critical analysis, for Part 1. Review your classmates posts. Select one to offer a rebuttal or critique. Selection Criteria and Post Formatting Requirements - Cannot choose to reply to post of someone who shares your same prompt or your same position and analyses. You only have to do this once, but I encourage you all to reply and post to as many classmates posts to enhance discussion to make the course more engaging. Minimum length of analysis is 1 page double spaced, or half page single spaced. Type it first in a word document for reference. Then, copy and paste. Formatting standards: 12 point font, times new roman, double spaced ( if 1 full page in word) otherwise single spaced (equivalent to half page in word). Introduction and Background on Discussion Topic and Prompts Modern political scientist debates begin with matters of what research methods are to be accepted as the best approach. Structuralists believe research, methods and analysis should focus on objective factors. Understanding political context of one’s environment can only be objectively achieved, if focus is on factors pertaining to the way in which the world is organized. Structure and organization determine politics. Therefore, the proper objects to study ar.

1. Instructions
:
This is a 2 part focused writing assignment. I will provide the
context, necessary information, background, as well as links and
resources, needed to comply with the minimum requirements
necessary to participate and complete this assignment. If you
are aiming for an A or B on this assignment, I do expect that
you will include additional resources and research links. These
do not have to be a laundry list. More is not better. Direct and
to the point is key. I expect additional resources be properly
cited, at the end of your part 1 critical analyses.
Part 1: Choose a Prompt and Post Reply
Minimum length of analysis is 1 page double spaced, or half
page single spaced. Type it first in a word document for
reference. Then, copy and paste. Formatting standards: 12 point
font, times new roman, double spaced ( if 1 full page in word)
otherwise single spaced (equivalent to half page in word). Must
include properly formatted citations for any and all resources,
links and information publications, used in your research, as
well as incorporated as supporting evidence, for your critique
and analysis.
I expect you to incorporate information, offering supporting
evidence specifically from at least one or more of independently
researched resources and links, to be discussed, mentioned and
cited within either your part 1 or part 2 post, if not both. You
can just note the source when citing parenthetically, within your
analyses, as long as you provide a full title, and link to the
information source, listed at the end of your reply. This is what

2. will earn you a A or B grade.
Part 2: Critique and Rebuttal
You will not be able to review posts submitted by your peers,
until you yourself have submitted your critical analysis, for Part
1.
Review your classmates posts. Select one to offer a rebuttal or
critique.
Selection Criteria and Post Formatting Requirements
-
Cannot choose to reply to post of someone who shares your
same prompt or your same position and analyses. You only have
to do this once, but I encourage you all to reply and post to as
many classmates posts to enhance discussion to make the course
more engaging.
Minimum length of analysis is 1 page double spaced, or half
page single spaced. Type it first in a word document for
reference. Then, copy and paste. Formatting standards: 12 point
font, times new roman, double spaced ( if 1 full page in word)
otherwise single spaced (equivalent to half page in word).
Introduction and Background on Discussion Topic and Prompts
Modern political scientist debates begin with matters of what
research methods are to be accepted as the best approach.
Structuralists believe research, methods and analysis should
focus on objective factors. Understanding political context of
one’s environment can only be objectively achieved, if focus is
on factors pertaining to the way in which the world is
organized. Structure and organization determine politics.
Therefore, the proper objects to study are power, interests, and

3. institutions.
Culturalists prioritize subjectivity. Exploring research of
objects relative to perception is the best practices
methodological approach to evaluating and understanding
politics. Values, opinions and psychology are argued to be more
important than objective and tangible reality.
Structuralists and culturalists agree on the issue and topic of
debate. For example, both groups would acknowledge and
validate there is considerable emerging inertia within the United
States political systems, as it pertains specifically to
presidential (s)election. The methods required to achieve an
explanation is the source of opposing divergence.
Take the presidential selection issue. Structuralists research and
methods would rely on explanations of factors, such as electoral
laws and processes. It would be necessary to build a research
method that evaluates variation or uniformity, with a state by
state comparison of laws, rules, processes, and methods that
govern how the state’s electoral college is selected, organized,
structured, empowered, and ultimately the rules and processes
that govern how presidential votes will be cast, tabulated and
awarded.
A culturalist would require a research method that focuses on
factors, such as public opinion. They would assume that the
recent and increasing inertia behind electoral college concerns
in deciding the country’s President, is most accurately and
informatively explained as variable(s) dependent of people’s
attitude in apathy towards voting system, all together. Or
perhaps, evaluating the value in objects, like people’s obedience
and acceptance of a 250 plus year old institution, that was
created before modern United States’ geography. For
culturalists, the root of the problem is not the governing laws
and processes that structure the existence and behavior of the

4. institution: electoral college. The explanation requires
evaluation of the governed. Namely their values in acceptance
and tolerance toward the current system. Their research and
methods would be driven by a question focused more towards
psychology. For example, despite a lack in federal law—outside
of the constitutional creation of the electoral college
institution—to uniformly mandate each state’s electoral college
selection and voting processes be the same, and with the
exception of 3-4 of the 50 total states, somehow the states
ended up adopting the same selection and procedural system, by
which their independent electoral college and its voters operate.
Thus, the higher priority being placed on values of acceptance
amongst the public, instead of the institutions (lack of
uniformly mandated) procedural rules, guidelines and laws.
PROMPT
Decide and discuss whether you consider yourself as one of the
following….either
1.) exclusively one or the other: structuralist or culturalist,
2.) Neither, providing and discussing ideas about what you
think a better approach and method to explaining current
political system environments, include reasoning, examples and
hypotheticals
3.) A combination, provided discussion must include
identification of specific aspects from each approach that you
would rely on, to achieve a balanced reasoning and
rationalization to discuss and explain a more individualized
approach, which you would defend as the best approach to
finding the most accurate method to understanding political
systems. Include any examples, along with hypothetical
comparisons, explanations, or scenarios to fully explain your
position.

5. Remember, there is no right or wrong answer. You can base
your response on the presidential selection and electoral college
example I outlined, while introducing the prompt and topic for
this current event discussion. Your response does not require
you to focus your analysis and response on the particular
example I illustrated. You can find your own. Be thorough. Be
direct. Be reflective. Be thoughtful. Be a political scientist!!