By themselves or in a group of two, students will write a sizeable research paper comparing two different presidential primaries. The primaryobjective of thispaper is to give you a chance to investigate changes in the presidential nomination process.Your paper will contrast two different presidential primaries: one chosen after World War II but before the McGovern-Fraser reforms (1948-1968), andthe other occurring in more contemporary times (1988-2012). Byinvestigating these two campaigns, you should be able to develop your own observationsabout the changing presidential nomination process. The course material and lectures will also help guide you in crafting meaningful conclusions from your research.
The paper should have three sections: a detailed narrative description foreach presidential primary campaign, and then finally a comparative analysis of both primaries. To analyze differences over time, political scientistsneed tocontrol for as many political variables as possible. Forthis assignment, your two primaries should havesimilar political circumstances: the same political party,andthe same sort of general election (an open race, your partys candidateis facing a presidential incumbent, your party has a presidential incumbent, etc.) Other political similarities might exist to create additional controls.I can help students sort out these controls when selecting their two primaries.
Your paper should focus on primary source material from print media (newspapers & periodicals) during each campaign. You may also examine and include other material, including secondary sources that summarize the campaigns, or even biographies from the candidates involved.
The style and substance of presidential primaries has changed dramatically since the 1960s, especially since the adoption of the McGovern-Fraser reforms. Your paper should explore these differencesby examining thechanging role of state primaries/caucuses, party conventions, the media, the role of technology, and campaign financing. Discuss and evaluatewhat has changed and what has not. Good papers should include not only what happened in each primary, but a clear analysis as well. One key to a successful paper is to think about the most important differences and similarities between the two primaries.Formatting Standards
