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Instructions: Address all the prompts below in a thoughtful 2-3 page paper using MLA format.  *NOTE: Turnitin does not accept papers submitted using Pages.  You must submit using Word or PDF.
Prompt 1:  Introspection and Background
Begin by introducing yourself and providing a brief overview of your background, including any familial, cultural, or geographical factors that might have influenced your political perspectives. Include details about your upbringing that have influenced your views. 
Prompt 2:  Key Political Experiences
Share at least two significant personal experiences that have impacted your political views.  These experiences could involve interactions with government institutions, participation in political events, discussions with peers or family members, exposure to media, or any other encounters that have contributed to your understanding of American politics. It can also include: voting, volunteering, campaigning, donating to political campaigns, public school policies, law enforcement, military, Covid policy, taxes, DMV, political conversations (online or in-person) etc. No student should have “no experience” answer here.
Prompt 3:  Beliefs and Ideologies
Reflect on how your experiences have influenced your political beliefs and ideologies.  Analyze whether your experiences align with any particular political ideology (e.g., conservatism, liberalism, libertarianism). Explain how these beliefs have evolved/changed or solidified over time. Draw the line between your experiences with government and your attitude toward government. Describe how they may or may not have change over time.
Prompt 4:  Civic Engagement
Discuss your level of civic engagement, including any involvement in: political campaigns, volunteering, voting, attending public hearings, military experience, participating in city programs, jury duty, etc. Reflect on how your experiences with civic engagement have shaped your sense of political efficacy (the extent to which you believe your vote counts) and citizenship. Reminder: Civic means anything related to a city or town, so please reflect here. This answer should not be “none.”
Prompt 5:  Challenges and Contradictions
Address any challenges or contradictions you have encountered in your political journey.  Have you experienced conflicts between your personal beliefs and real-world situations?  How have you navigated these challenges, and have they led to any shifts in your political outlook? These contradictions and challenges should be internal; they are a conflict between what you believed to be true, and what you then experienced, not external conflicts. (Examples include: school shootings, and gun laws; belief in social welfare programs, but want lower taxes; support green energy, but cannot afford electric car, etc.). 
Prompt 6:  Connection to Course Concepts
Incorporate relevant concepts and theories discussed in our PS1 American Government class into your reflection.  Explain how your personal experiences align with, or challenge these concepts, and demonstrate a deep understanding of the course material. (Hint: you can look at the last pages in the syllabus that list the topics discussed in class).
TOPICS:
* CONSTITUTION AND FEDERALISM, CHP 2&3   * CIVIL LIBERTIES & CIVIL RIGHTS, CHP 4&5    * POLICY CHP 16&17   *IDEOLOGY  * INTREST gROUPS  CHP 10    *MEDIA/PUBLIC OPINION CHP 8     *POLITICAL PARTICIPATION  CHP 7   * POLITICAL PARTIES   CHP 9    *CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS  CHP 7    *BUREAUCRACY    CHP 15   *LOCAL GOVERNMENT    CHP 14  *EXECUTIVE BRANCH    CHP 12  * JUDICUAL BRANCH    CHP 13
ON LINE BOOK LINK AS REFRENCE
American Government 3e – OpenStax 
HERE IS A BIT OF MY BACKGROUND. YOU COULD JUST MAKE UP ANY OF THESE ANSWERS, YOU COULD USE YOURS OR SOMEONE ELSES BELIEFS OR EXPERIENCES AND MAKE THEM “MY OWN”
I AM FEMALE lATINA 32. MEXICAN AMERICAN, I WAS A TEEN MOM AT 16, FIRST TO GO TO COLLEGE, GREW UP IN EAST LA WITH A SINGLR MOM OF 4. MOM WAS ALWAYS AFRAID OF POLICE/AUTHORITY BECAUSE SHE WAS SCARED OF DEPORTATION. I’VE NEVER VOTED IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I AM NOT SO ,UCH INTO POLITICS AND NOT SURE IF MY COUNT WOULD MAKE A DIFRENCE. I THINK THAT THE GOV. IS RIGGED AND NOT HONEST WITH ITS PEOPLE. THE MOST HONEST PRESIDENT WE’VE  HAD IS TRUMP AND BELIEVE THAT THE GOV. TRIED TO TARNISH HIS REPUTATION WITH PUBLIC MEDIA WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT, AND NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP HIM OUT OF OFFICE BY SLAMING HIM WITH LEGAL ISSUES.  iT WAS EASY TO ADD BIDEN INTO PRESIDENCY BECAUSE HE CAN BE EASILY MINIPULATED AND CONTROLED BY THE HIRE UPS.