Constitutional convention

Political discussions in the United States often include assertions about what leading figures, especially the framers
of the Constitution, would have thought, said, or done about contemporary political problems.
Midterm essay prompt: Imagine some of the authors read and discussed so far this semester appeared together at
Mohonk Mountain House sometime this week having learned about American history and contemporary politics.
Imagine their discussion of some interesting and important issues, focusing on major themes in American politics
and American political thought, reflecting on their ideas, the course of American history, and recent and
contemporary politics.
Your assignment: Summarize their conversation making detailed, appropriate references to course readings.
Format: you may write the exam in a standard essay form or as a transcript of the conversation (like James Madison’s
Notes on the Constitutional Convention). You may include yourself as an interlocutor (a participant in the
conversation), as moderator, questioner, or an equal participant – or add your own views in a conclusion.
Like some constitutional phrases, the phrases “some of the authors” and “some interesting and important issues,
major themes” are vague in order to allow flexibility.
One option: 4 authors, 3 themes. You may choose fewer authors and/or themes; if so, be sure to focus on authors and
themes that you can credibly assert are the most important authors and themes and to discuss those in greater detail
than would be the case with more authors and themes.
While excellent midterms may be written in many ways, as a general rule, best to include at least one citation to: a
Federalist paper, an Anti-Federalist paper, Constitutional Convention debate, and one other text
Length: No specific length requirement. Focus on quality not number of words or pages or tricks with spacing.
A typed, carefully considered, well-organized response, focused on the contemporary relevance of major themes in
American political thought, with frequent, detailed, appropriate, accurate use of course readings and discussions,
illustrated with short, well-chosen quotations, accompanied by accurate citations, is due Thursday, October 7.
(Citation format: may be somewhat informal; indicate in parentheses after the reference or quotation the author, text
title, and page number. For Federalist Papers, use, for example, Federalist 1:1 for Federalist paper #1, page 1; for
Constitutional Convention debates indicate the speaker, date of the debate, and page number.
Criteria for evaluation:

1. Appropriate selection of significant themes of enduring and contemporary relevance
2. Appropriate selection of authors and texts addressing those themes
3. Insightful analysis of ideas presented
4. Effective comparisons and contrasts of the ideas of different authors
5. Thoughtful application of the arguments from previous centuries to enduring and current controversies
6. Detailed, frequent, appropriate, accurate references to texts and ideas
7. Accurate citations
8. Good organization
9. Original ideas

Sample Solution