Write a three to four (3-4) page paper on the relationship between political parties and the electoral process in which you:

1.  Identify three to four (3-4) ideological differences between America’s two (2) major political parties.

2.  Analyze key reasons why third parties have never been successful at the presidential level. 

3.  Determine the role of the campaign process in maintaining the two-party system. Use examples to support your response.

4.  Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites to not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

•  Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

•  Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length.

Points: 225  Assignment 2: Political Parties and the Electoral Process

Criteria

Unacceptable

Below 60% F  Meets Minimum Expectations

60-69% D 

Fair

70-79% C 

Proficient

80-89% B 

Exemplary

90-100% A

1. Identify three to four (3-4) ideological differences between America’s two (2) major political parties.

Weight: 25%  Did not submit or incompletely identified three to four (3-4) ideological differences between America’s two (2) major political parties.

  Insufficiently identified three to four (3-4) ideological differences between America’s two (2) major political parties.Partially identified three to four (3-4) ideological differences between America’s two (2) major political parties.Satisfactorily identified three to four (3-4) ideological differences between America’s two (2) major political parties.Thoroughly identified three to four (3-4) ideological differences between America’s two (2) major political parties.

2. Analyze key reasons why third parties have never been successful at the presidential level. 

Weight: 25%  Did not submit or incompletely analyzed key reasons why third parties have never been successful at the presidential level. 

  Insufficiently analyzed key reasons why third parties have never been successful at the presidential level.    Partially analyzed key reasons why third parties have never been successful at the presidential level.    Satisfactorily analyzed key reasons why third parties have never been successful at the presidential level.    Thoroughly analyzed key reasons why third parties have never been successful at the presidential level. 

3. Determine the role of the campaign process in maintaining the two-party system. Use examples to support your response.

Weight: 25%  Did not submit or incompletely determined the role of the campaign process in maintaining the two-party system. Did not submit or incompletely used examples to support your response.  Insufficiently determined the role of the campaign process in maintaining the two-party system. Insufficiently used examples to support your response.Partially determined the role of the campaign process in maintaining the two-party system. Partially used examples to support your response.  Satisfactorily determined the role of the campaign process in maintaining the two-party system. Satisfactorily used examples to support your response.  Thoroughly determined the role of the campaign process in maintaining the two-party system. Thoroughly used examples to support your response.

4. Writing / Support for ideas (5%)  Never uses reasons and evidence that  logically support ideas  Rarely uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas  Partially uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas  Mostly uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas  Consistently uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas. 

5. Writing / Grammar and mechanics

(5%)  Serious and persistent errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation  Numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation  Partially free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation  Mostly free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation  Free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation

6. Writing and Information Literacy / Integration of Sources

(5%)  Serious errors in the integration of sources, such as intentional or accidental plagiarism or failure to use in-text citations.  Sources are rarely integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations  Sources are partially integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations  Sources are mostly integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations  Sources are consistently integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations

7. Information Literacy / Crediting Sources in APA (5%)  Lack of citations and/or lack of reference section and/or citations don’t correspond to listed references  In-text citations and references are given, but not in APA format  Partially shows correct (or approximately correct) use of in-text citations, with matching references using APA-format  Mostly shows correct use of in-text citations with matching references using APA-format  Consistently shows correct use of In-text citations with matching references using APA-format

8. Information Literacy / Research (5%)Quantity and/or quality of sources are unacceptable  Too few references and/or references are of poor quality  Number of sources is less than expected and/or the quality of sources is questionable.    Number of sources is sufficient and the quality of sources is mostly good.    Number of sources is sufficient and the quality of sources is good.