Electoral map

Student Questions

Print the essay. Read it at least twice, making notes on the margins of the paper to identify the main elements of the essay.

1. How does the title prepare for what follows in the essay?
2. What purpose is served by the quotations at the head of the essay?
3. Does the opening paragraph have a thesis? If so, what is it?
4. Why does the author begin with criticisms, rather than praise, for the Electoral College? 
5. How does the author counter the “undemocratic” argument? What is his view of democracy?
6. How does the author counter the argument that the College violates the principle of majority rule?
7. In order to make his case, the author argues that the abolition of the College would have dangerous consequences. What are they? What do you think about this line of argument?
8. Compare the conclusion with the introduction of the essay, especially the first sentence. What do you notice about the connection between the two?
9. Make your own argument for or against the Electoral College. 
10. Google to see if there are any alternate plans to the electoral college, or brainstorm some ideas of your own. Does the electoral college just need to be "tweaked" instead of abolished? What are the options?