Read this overview BEFORE you open and take the final exam.

FINAL EXAM -- SUBMIT VIA ASSIGNMENT PAGE -- SUBMIT VIA ASSIGNMENTS PAGE OR VIA EMAIL TO CVAROGA@VAROGA.US.

The final exam for GOVT-443/643.001 (“Applied Political Writing”), Fall 2022, is attached (SEE ABOVE). Read the instructions closely before beginning each section. Email me during the exam, at cvaroga@varoga.us, with any exam-based issue that interferes with your ability to take the exam.

The final exam is divided into three sections.
The total number of exercises is five (two in Section I, two in Section II, one in Section III).
You have three hours (and no more) to complete all five exercises.
Follow the instructions, which are explicitly stated in the final exam.
Source materials for Section I and Section II are included above, as PDFs.
The final exam is open book.
The final exam will count toward 20% of your course grade.

SECTION I: WRITING (40%)

Section I has two exercises (Exercise A and Exercise B); each exercise counts toward 20% of your final exam grade (i.e., Section I counts toward 40% of your final exam grade). You must complete both exercises as instructed.

SECTION I, EXERCISE A (Message Box): Four (4) Source Materials

Read all four source materials, as provided, before completing the exercise (attached above). Do not search for, read or use any other source materials for this exercise.

Harvard Crimson (October 9, 1963)
New York Daily News (October 20, 1963)
Associated Press (October 21, 1963)
Undelivered Speech (November 22, 1963)

SECTION I, EXERCISE B (Talking Points or Letter to the Editor)

Read the one source material, as provided (see above). Do not search for, read or use other source materials for this exercise.

The New York Times (October 28, 1980).

SECTION II: ANALYSIS (40%)

Section II has two exercises (Exercise A and Exercise B); each exercise counts toward 20% of your final exam grade (i.e., Section II counts toward 40% of your final exam grade). Each analysis must be 300-500 words. You must complete both exercises as instructed.

SECTION II, EXERCISE A (Speech)

Read the one source material, as provided (see above). Do not search for, read or use other source materials for this exercise.

Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s speech on January 25, 1972, announcing her candidacy for President of the United States.

SECTION II, EXERCISE B (Op Ed/Guest Commentary)

Choose one of these four source materials, as provided (see above). Do not search for, read or use other source materials for this exercise.

“As Democrats celebrate averting disaster, we can’t ignore the voters we’re losing,” by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, November 13, 2022
“Will Asian Americans Swing Republican in Nevada’s Senate Race?,” by Joseph Lai, October 18, 2022
“Midterms Bring Republicans to a Fork in the Road,” by Senator Mitt Romney, November 10, 2022
“Why the Latino vote will surprise us for the next 20 years,” by Roberto Suro, October 27, 2022

SECTION III: KNOWLEDGE (20%)

Section III has only one exercise (Exercise A). Section III counts toward 20% of your final exam grade. You must complete the entire exercise as instructed.

SECTION III, EXERCISE A (Quotations from Course Readings)

The ten quotations (from eight course readings) are in the final exam. Each of the following eight course readings is included at least once.

ASHER, Herbert: “Polling & The Public”
CARROLL, Brian: “Writing and & Editing for Digital Age”
LAKOFF, George: “Don’t Think of an Elephant”
LEHRMAN, Robert, “The Political Speechwriter’s Companion”
LUNTZ, Dr. Frank: “Words That Work”
ORWELL, George: “Politics & The English Language”
WESTEN, Drew: “The Political Brain”
WISH, Dr. Peter A.: “The Candidate’s 7 Deadly Sins”