Government & citizenship
Rights, leadership, participation and the purposes of government.
Should Civic Education Include the Practical Steps of Voting?
A nonpartisan argument that civic education should teach both democratic principles and the practical skills needed to understand registration, verify election information, and navigate barriers to participation.
Community Voices and Truth: Maxine Hong Kingston’s Claim
An argumentative essay weighing when a community of voices can reveal more truth than an individual voice—and when collective agreement can obscure it.
Local Community Participation Is More Than Casting a Ballot
An explanatory essay on how voting, accessible election systems, and sustained relationships contribute differently to civic life in U.S. communities.
Why Voting Access Matters in the United States
An evidence-based explanation of how registration, reliable information, and accessible voting procedures shape meaningful participation in U.S. elections.
Why Election Participation Statistics Need Careful Definitions
An explanatory essay showing why U.S. election participation rates depend on what is counted, who is included, and how registration and voting are measured.
GRE Practice: Political Consensus and Idealism
An argumentative essay on when political leaders should seek achievable consensus and when compromise risks abandoning important principles.
Leadership: Competition, Cooperation, or a Balance of Both?
An argument that effective leadership depends less on constant competitiveness than on matching cooperation and constructive competition to the demands of the situation.
Immediate Government Problems Versus Future Risks
An argumentative essay weighing urgent public needs against prevention and long-term planning, using the Tennessee Valley Authority and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s farewell address as historical examples.