GOVT 2304
Intro to
Political Science
ROY EDWARD
CASAGRANDA
Assistant Professor of Government
and friend to workers
Fall 2009
Section:
44147
Lec 002
Time:
TTh
4:15 pm - 5:30 pm
Location:
Pinnacle
Room:
410
Session:
August 25
- December 14
Office Hours: M 2:40 to 4:05
TTh 11:50 to 1:25
or by appointment
Office:
PIN 407
Phone:
512-223-8134
Website: http://gov.casagranda.com
Textbook: Introduction
to Political Science
Moten, Abdul Rashid and Syed Islam
Cengage
Learning Asia, 2008
ISBN 978-9814253192
Plato (424-348 BC)
Anyone
who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all
cities and
all peoples there still exist, and have always existed, the same
desires and
passions. Thus, it is an easy matter for him who carefully examines
past events
to foresee future events in a republic and to apply the remedies
employed by
the ancients, or, if old remedies cannot be found, to devise new ones
based
upon the similarity of the events. But since these matters are
neglected or not
understood by those who read, or, if understood, remain unknown to
those who
govern, the result is that the same problems always exist in every era.
Niccolo Machiavelli
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION
This course is an
introductory survey of the discipline of political science, focusing on
the
history, scope, and methods of the field and the substantive topics in
the
discipline. This course includes a survey of Political Theory, the
State, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Foreign Policy.
The basic
objectives of the course are for the student to:
1. Gain an awareness of different fields within political science.
2. Develop basic concepts within political science.
3. Develop theoretical and analytical skills.
4. Develop comparative skills.
5. Develop an understanding of international relations and foreign
policy concepts.
6. Develop independent critical thinking skills.
7. Understand the theoretical nature of what government is.
8. Critically explore such concepts as republic, democratic theory, and
liberalism.
9. Develop an understanding of rational choice theory.
The course will begin with an exploration of Political Theory. It
will start with thinkers like Plato and explore their contributions to
our understanding of politics.
Next, we will look at the state, its origins, and its evolution.
In the third part of the course we will look at the field of
comparative politics. We will compare several governments.
It will be assumed that you have an
understanding of US and British governmnet. If you do not have
familiarity with these two governments, then it is up to you to develop
that familiarity with them on your own.
Then we will look at International Relations and foreign policy.
We will finally conclude the course with an examination of the field of
Political Science.
While this is primarily a lecture course, students will be graded for
classroom participation, at least two formal presentations, and three
essays. It may also include
videos, transparencies, role-playing simulations, internet activities,
tests, and classroom discussions. Students must
attend and participate regularly.
But the
husband and wife, though they have but one common concern, yet having
different
understandings, will unavoidably sometimes have different wills too; it
therefore
being necessary that the last determination, i. e. the rule, should be
placed
somewhere; it naturally falls to the man's share, as the abler and the
stronger.
John Locke
CLASS POLICIES
OFFICE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented
physical or psychological disabilities. Students with
disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office
for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take
the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this
three weeks before the start of the semester.
POLICY ON ATTENDANCE AND WITHDRAWAL
Each student is expected to attend and participate in each class
meeting and to complete the assigned reading PRIOR to each class.
Although class attendance is not a direct component of the final grade,
absences do limit the student’s opportunity to participate fully in
class activities and will almost certainly impact the student’s final
grade. Should it be necessary to miss a class a student should
contact other class members for copies of the notes amd materials
covered in that
class. Attendance is required on test days and on oral
presentation days. Should you miss a test day there will be NO
make up exams, instead your final grade will be based on the tests
taken. Should you miss two or more exams you should consider
dropping the course rather than suffering a failing grade.
Cell phones and text-messaging devices must be turned off and should
not be in evidence in the classroom unless you have prior approval from
the instructor. Late arrivals and early departures are disruptive
so please be on time and plan to stay the entire period unless you have
previously spoken to the instructor. Excessive tardiness or failure to
follow class policies on cell phones may result in the student being
dropped from the course. Do NOT get up during class to throw
something away.
The professor reserves the right to withdraw (drop) anyone from the
class for any reason. This does not mean that you will
automatically be
withdrawn if you are failing or if you are not attending class.
If you wish to drop the course please make sure to do so
yourself. The instructor will not do it for you.
If, for any reason, you decide to withdraw from the course you must
complete the required forms in the Admissions and Records office by the
last day to drop.
EMAIL
This professor does not like email. Avoid using it as a means of
communication. It is best to see the professor during office
hours or meet before or after class to schedule an appoinment.
INCOMPLETES
Incompletes will not be
given to any student for any reason. If it becomes clear
that you will not be able to complete the course please consider
dropping the course by the drop deadline. Failure to
complete the required coursework will likely result in an F grade.
During
the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they
are in
that conditions called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against
every
man.
Thomas Hobbes
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered
include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on
an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with
another in preparing outside work. Academic work submitted by
students shall be the result of their thought, research, or
self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to
tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper, projects,
either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.
If a student commits any of these actions, I will seek disciplinary
action in the form of an academic penalty, which will likely include a
course grade of ‘F’.
Look, I take this very seriously and it has a real simple
solution. If you want to include text from someone else feel free
to cite the original author. It will strengthen your argument and
suggest that you have done research on the subject. Otherwise, I
am ruthless and will show no mercy when it comes to plagiarism.
Failure to comply with this rule is almost certain to cause you to fail
the course.
"Give
me, woman, thy little truth!" said I. And thus spake the old woman:
"Thou
goest to women? Do not forget thy whip!"--
Friedrich Nietzsche
CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
Just as each student is expected to attend class, each student is also
expected to participate in the class discussion. This not only
includes preparing for class and listening in class, but also includes
asking questions, answering questions, providing examples, and
expressing opinions. This class will be much more educational (as
well as interesting) in an atmosphere of active participation and
lively exchange of ideas. There will be numerous opportunities
throughout the semester to use current events to explore and expand
upon our understanding of the concepts we are studying. As a
result I
also expect students to keep up with current events. If you are
not normally in the habit of doing, then so you must plan to begin
looking at a
reliable news source. The BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/ and Reuters
http://today.reuters.com/news/home.aspx are two examples of the sort.
In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical
thinking, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These
differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere
where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and
learn. On sensitive and volatile topics, students may sometimes
disagree not only with each other but also with the instructor.
It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of
others when expressed in classroom situations.
Each person has the right to express his or her opinion. Our Bill
of Rights not only guarantees us the right to express our opinions but
also provides us the opportunity to learn from our fellow citizens as
they express their opinions.
The
trouble with Eichmann was precisely that so many were like him, and
that the
many were neither perverted nor sadistic, that they were, and still
are,
terribly and terrifyingly normal.
Hannah Arendt
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND SCHEDULE
EVALUATION
Four essays given during this semester as noted on the Course
Schedule. In addition to this your grade will include a
participation component, and two presentations.
I will lower your grade by one letter grade for every day it is late on
essay assignments. Should
you miss a presentation date you will NOT receive an opportunity
to make it up.
I have staggered the value of the four Essays so as to take into
account the improvement of your writing skills as the semseter
transpires.
All Essays will be 1,500 to 2,500 words in length and turned into
Turnitin.com. The essay should not be treated as a
summary of the information on the topic, but rather as a
thesis covering some aspect of of the material. You
are to ask and answer some thesis or question of
political science significance. Be creative. It will not be
turned in, in hard copy, but rather to
http://www.turnitin.com. The class ID and enrollment passwords
are listed below:
| class ID: |
2797962 |
| enrollment password: |
plato |
You will be required to make a 5 minute presenation on the state of
your choice. This presentation will elaborate on the
constitution, institutions, and workings of the government. You
will be considered the expert on this state during the entirety of the
class.
In addition to the state presentation you will also make a ten minute
presentation of your Conference
Paper. The Conference Paper will be a revised Essay of your
chosing. You are expected to improve the Essay, turn it back in,
and then make a public presentation of it during the Pinnacl Political
Science Conference.
Classroom participation is worth 150 points (one and a half letter
grades). There is no formal attendance grade,
however, it will be difficult to participate in classroom discussions
if you are not in attendance. The best way to earn a high
participation grade is to ask questions, answer questions, and
contribute insights when appropriate. This does not include
randomly guessing what my next word will be (this is not
indication of intelligence, but rather an indication of poor
communicative skills and is odious).
POINTS TOWARDS
REQUIREMENT
FINAL GRADE
FIRST ESSAY
|
150
|
SECOND ESSAY
|
200
|
THIRD ESSAY
|
250
|
STATE PRESENTATION
|
100
|
CONFERENCE PAPER PRESENTATION
|
150
|
| PARTICIPATION
_ |
_150 |
TOTAL
|
1000
|
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT
Final letter grades will be assigned after determining total points
earned, as follows:
Final Grade Scale
Letter
Grade
900 –
1000
A
800 –
899
B
700 –
799
C
600 –
699
D
0 –
599
F
But the
state lieth in all languages of good and evil; and whatever it saith it
lieth;
and whatever it hath it hath stolen.
False is
everything in it; with stolen teeth it biteth, the biting one. False
are even
its bowels.
Friedrich Nietzsche
HOW TO BEST COMPLETE THIS COURSE
1. Attend all class sessions; if you miss a class get copies of the
handouts/notes from a classmate.
2. Do not miss the Conference. Do not turn in essays late.
3. Read the assigned material prior to each class session.
4. Study the materials; prepare for and take each exam as scheduled.
5. Complete and turn in all assignments as assigned and on time.
NO LATE MAKEUP DATES WILL BE GIVEN FOR ANY MISSED PRESENTATION FOR ANY
REASON, EVEN CATACLYSM.
6. Contact the instructor if, at any time, you feel your performance is
not up to your standards.
FUNDAMENTAL ACADEMIC FORCES (STRONGEST TO WEAKEST)
1. Writing Ability
2. Reading Ability
3. Critical Thinking and Analytical Sills
4. Memorization
If you can master these four forces, then you can succeed in
academia.
To the extent possible this class will attempt to assist in developing
all four skills further. However, it should be obvious that
English classes are generally where the above skills (especailly the
first two) are formally
taught. It is assumed that you have had English classes and
that
you will apply those skill sets developed in such classes to ALL
writing
assignements.
COURSE SCHEDULE
| DATE |
TOPIC |
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE
|
TEXT |
Theory
|
| 8/25 |
Introduction |
|
|
8/27
|
Origins of Western Civilization
and Philosophy
|
|
Chapter 4
|
9/1
|
Plato
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
9/3
|
Aristotle
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
9/8
|
Collapse and Rebirth of Western
Civilization
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement |
9/10
|
Ibn Sina and Ibn al Khaldoun
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement |
9/15
|
Machiavelli
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
9/17
|
Hobbes
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
9/22
|
Locke
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
9/24
|
Rousseau
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
9/29
|
Marx
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
10/1
|
John Stewart Mill
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
10/6
|
Friedrich Nietzsche
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement |
10/8
|
John Rawls
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
10/13
|
Hannah Arendt
|
|
Chapter 4 & Supplement
|
|
Man
is born free; everywhere man is in chains.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
|
The State and
Comparative Politics
|
| 10/15 |
Origins of the State and
Government
|
|
Chapter 5
|
10/20
|
Role and Elements of the State
|
FIRST
ESSAY (Theory)
|
Chapter 5
|
| 10/22 & 10/27 |
Types of Political System
|
State
Presentations Continued
|
Chapter 6 and 7
|
10/29
|
Constitution
|
State
Presentations Continued
|
Chapter 9
|
11/3 & 11/5
|
Democracy?
|
State
Presentations Conclude
|
Chapter 8
|
|
Man
cannot be free if he does not know that he is subject to necessity,
because his
freedom is always won in his never wholly successful attempts to
liberate
himself from necessity.
Hannah Arendt
|
International
Relations
|
11/10
|
International Relations
|
|
Chapter 25
|
11/12
|
International Relations
|
SECOND
ESSAY (Comparative Paper)
|
Chapter 25 |
11/17 & 11/19
|
International Organizations
|
|
Chapter 26
|
11/24
|
Iraq
|
|
|
|
Political Economy regards the proletarian
... like a
horse, he must receive enough to enable him to work. It does not
consider him,
during the time when he is not working, as a human being. It leaves
this to
criminal law, doctors, religion, statistical tables, politics, and the
beadle.
Karl Marx
|
The Discipline
|
11/26
|
THANKSGIVING
|
NO
CLASS
|
|
12/1
|
Articles and Getting Published |
THIRD
ESSAY (IR or Foreign Policy) |
Chapter 1
|
12/3
|
Job Market and Departmental
Politics |
|
Chapter 2
|
12/8, 12/10
|
Conference
|
FIRST
ANNUAL PINNACLE POLITICAL SCIENCE CONFERENCE
|
|
The
knowledge of anything, since all things have causes, is not acquired or
complete unless it is known by its causes.
Ibn Sina
List of Mandatory States to be Presented:
Israel, Palestine (not a state), Sweden, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, India,
Japan, Germany, Russia, Italy, People's Republic of China, Republic of
Korea, South Africa, Brazil, and
Mexico.
The instructor reserves the right to modify any portion of the syllabus
at any time. The Course Schedule is meant as a guide; treat the
rest as law.