US Government & Politics (AI) - POLS 1100 - 043

Summer Semester  2012

 Quantitative Literacy Assignment;  This assignment tested your understanding of using math in a political setting, it asked you to calculate percentages raised, medians, averages, and who raised the most campaign money.

 Quantitative Literacy Reflection

     First time I looked at this assignment I was thinking, why is their math? I've already done my math requirement, what does this have to do with Politics? Then as I started to do the problems i started to actually see the real world connections. This wasn't some made up world problem, you could defiantly confront this type of problem if you continue into Politics. It was really intriguing to see who had the most contributors or who raised the most with the least contributors. I really felt that this assignment will help me in the future for not only Political reasons but for many other challenges i will face in the future.

Quantitative Literacy Reflection Part 2; Why is it important for American citizens to have these basic skills: calculating mean and median, calculating percentages, and understanding data presented in tables and charts. 

     Simple and basic math is something that every American citizen should know, they will use it every single day of their life. Especially understanding charts and tables, you experience those every day whether with your taxes, your works or even at home figuring out a recipe or instructions. These basic skills will easily be a part of your campaign, these skills will help you keep track of your donations/donors, help you calculate your average income, and even help calculate how much your fellow opponents are earning. Any number of these basic math skills are needed for you to grow and continue you education, you can do and accomplish most any real life math problem with these skills that is why everyone should know them.

Gun Control Persuasive Essay

 Final Reflection Topic; Reflect on how you thought about the American political system before you took this course and how you think about it now that the course is over. Have any of your assumptions or understandings changed? Why? What assignments/activities/readings were influential in this process? How will you approach politics differently?

      I'm not going to lie this was a fun course. It was fun learning about Government in a way that was not high school, I loved the active discussions. It was fun to read what other people thought on a subject, their opinions, their experiences, and what they wish to see in change. Some of the students in this class have come from great hardships and they have such a clear activism that they will make change happen, while others still want nothing to do with Politics and they still haven't changed. Which is sad, because I have learned so much in this class on how things work and how I can make a difference wouldn't you want to create change?

     This class has taught me such a great deal of usable knowledge, it has expanded my mind a great deal. Basically the only things that i knew about politics came mostly from School House Rock and what I had heard around me. Before this class i had actually never read the Constitution, wow what a incredibly powerful document. I was dumbstruck it only our leader today could have that much courage, passion, love for their country then I think America would be better off than it is now. Everyone is just power hungry, they do not realize until it is too late what damage that they have really done, if they could only see the repercussions of their actions.

     Because of this class i actually watch the news and stay up on current events of my party and of others too. I was politically active before this class, but never like this i am politically capable now. I now know when the telecasters use political jargon I understand it. Because of this class I am politically engaged. I now strive to know what is going on, I am actually interested in the debates, the telecasts and so forth. It's incredible what you can learn just by paying attention. I don't have to rely on my parents or friends for their views on a particular person, i can now do the research and make my own views, it's great. I definantly got more out of this class than I thought I would.