Government & citizenship
Rights, leadership, participation and the purposes of government.
Appealing Images Versus Truth in Contemporary Society: GRE Issue Essay
An argumentative essay arguing that contemporary society often rewards compelling images, but that presentation is valuable when it clarifies reality rather than substituting for it.
Fear-Based Persuasion: When Scaring People Backfires
An evidence-based argument that fear can prompt attention but often provokes resentment when it overwhelms agency, credibility, or shared purpose. Warnings are more effective when they identify a real risk and offer constructive action.
GRE Argument: Should Children with Special Talents Receive Early Training?
A qualified argument for offering early, focused training to children who show particular interests or abilities, provided identification remains flexible and opportunity is broadly accessible.
Public Opinion and the Judgment of Government Officials
An argument that elected officials should listen and answer to constituents while using independent judgment to test public demands against evidence, constitutional duties, and long-term consequences.
Five-Year Leadership Limits: Does New Leadership Ensure Success?
An argumentative essay weighing leadership renewal against continuity and experience, using evidence from the presidencies of George Washington and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
GRE Argument: Does the Faster Pace of Modern Life Create More Problems?
A model argument that weighs the benefits of speed against its costs to deliberation, public oversight, and long-term welfare, using two historical examples.
Measuring Leaders by Citizens’ Well-Being: GRE Issue Essay
An argumentative essay defends citizens’ well-being as the best central measure of leadership while explaining why attribution, institutional performance, and long-term outcomes must also be considered.
Can Laws Solve Problems Rooted in People’s Beliefs?
An argument that law cannot by itself change private convictions, but can constrain conduct and redesign institutions—sometimes protecting people, and sometimes giving prejudice the force of government.
Principle and Compromise in Political Leadership
An argument that political leadership needs a principled foundation, while compromise and responsiveness are essential tools when they serve legitimate ends.
Accessible Elections Benefit More Than One Group of Voters
An explanatory essay on how accessible voting systems and information can serve voters with disabilities while also strengthening the election process for others, and why access still requires sustained attention.
Should Voting Be Mandatory in the United States?
An argument that the United States should encourage, but not require, eligible citizens to vote, weighing representation and civic engagement against personal choice, enforcement costs, and uninformed ballots.
Politicians and Public Judgment: Are Government Experts Better Informed?
An evidence-based argument that political expertise can improve decisions but does not by itself make officials better judges than the public. The essay weighs specialized knowledge against public experience and democratic accountability.