POLS 201

 

Introduction to Political Science

 

Dr. Chad Raymond

Dover Chapel 108

(704) 406-3806

craymond@gardner-webb.edu

 

Course Objectives

 

This course is designed to give students a basic introduction to the academic discipline known as political science.  The instructor has decided to take a shotgun approach to the topic:  the material covered in the class will be very broad but not very deep, in the hope that at least some of it will penetrate the student’s head.  This course is also intended to demonstrate some of the reasons why people study political science as well as the practical uses of political science outside the classroom.

 

Students with documented disabilities or chronic illnesses that may affect their academic performance should contact me within the first week of class.  I am quite willing to make accommodations if needed.

 

All assignments are due at the beginning of class – which means by the time roll is called – on the date indicated in the syllabus.  I do not accept assignments by email.  If you are not going to be in class on the day an assignment is due, deliver the assignment to me or have it delivered by a friend before I leave my office for class.  You can also give the assignment to another student who is taking this course, but that student must turn the assignment when class begins.  Any assignments received after attendance is called at the beginning of class are considered late and will receive a grade of zero.  Exceptions to this policy will be made only in the event of true emergencies, such as hospitalization or the sudden death of a family member.  “The computer ate my disk” and “my printer didn’t work this morning” are not acceptable excuses.

 

Lectures

Studies have shown that passive learning – the instructor lectures while students listen – is not very satisfying for either the student or the instructor.  Active learning, where the student actually does something to analyze information and acquire knowledge, has been shown to be more productive.  With this in mind, the lectures in this class will only give a brief introduction to the material.

Reading Assignments and Entrance Questions

Reading assignments should be completed before the date indicated in the syllabus.  The texts are required for this course:

 

Pin Yathay, Stay Alive, My Son, Touchstone, 1988.

 

A. J. Langguth, Patriots:  The Men Who Started the American Revolution, Simon & Schuster, 1989.

 

The other readings are websites at the indicated URLs.

 

Students must turn in written answers to entrance questions when they enter class on the date indicated for each question.  Answers to entrance questions should include examples drawn from the relevant reading assignment.  The answers will receive grades of 1 to 3.  A grade of 2 is equal to full credit or 100 percent.

 

Essays

Movies will be shown in class to illustrate theories and subfields of political science.  Students are required to critically analyze and write essays on these movies.  Each essay must incorporate answers to one of the questions about the movie that are listed at the end of this syllabus.  All rough drafts and the final essay must be typed in a 11 or 12 point font, double spaced and stapled.  Each final essay must be between three and four pages long.  Essays that do not meet formatting requirements will be penalized.  Students are encouraged to take rough drafts of their essays to the Writing Center in Craig Hall.  Five points will be deducted from the final essay’s grade for each rough draft that is not turned in on the appropriate due date.

 

Any essay that is accepted for publication in a venue approved by the instructor prior to May 5 will earn 10 points toward the student’s final grade.

 

Exams

There are two exams.  The second exam occurs during final exam week.

 

Grading

 

Your final grade for this class is based on the following components:

 

3 Essays

30 percent

2 Exams

40 percent

Entrance questions

30 percent

 

 

The final grade for the class will be calculated as follows:

 

90-100

A

80-89

B

70-79

C

60-69

D

below 60

F

 

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and any policies related to this class at his discretion.

 

Theories and Systems

 

1/12     Introduction

 

1/17     Anonymous.  Socrates Had It Coming, at

http://users.mo-net.com/mlindste/socrates.html

 

1/19     Garth Kemerling.  Plato: The State and the Soul, at

http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/2g.htm

 

1/24     Patriots, p. 13-51.

           

1/26     Patriots, p. 52-105; begin Bridge on the River Kwai

 

1/31     Rough draft of Essay 1 due, continue Bridge on the River Kwai

 

2/2       Rough draft of Essay 1 due, finish Bridge on the River Kwai

 

2/7       Final version of Essay 1 due

 

2/9       Patriots, p. 106-142.   

 

2/14     Stay Alive, p. 1-54.

 

2/16     Patriots, p. 143-187.

 

2/21     Patriots, p. 188-223.

 

2/23     Patriots, p. 224-269.

 

2/28     Exam 1

 

Development and Political Economy

 

3/2       Patriots, p. 271-313.

 

3/7       Stay Alive, p. 55-80.

 

Political Behavior

 

3/9       Stay Alive, p. 81-109.

 

Spring Break! 

 

3/21     Stay Alive, p. 110-161.

 

3/23     Patriots, p. 314-365.   

 

3/28     Patriots, p. 366-419.

 

3/30     Stay Alive, p. 162-202.

 

4/4       Stay Alive, p. 203-239.

 

4/6       Patriots, review p. 143-187; begin Brazil

 

4/11     Rough draft of Essay 2 due, finish Brazil

 

4/13     Easter Break

 

4/18     Final version of Essay 2 due

 

International Politics

 

4/20     Patriots, p. 420-457.

           

4/25     Patriots, p. 458-509.

 

4/27     Patriots, p. 510-563; begin Dr. Strangelove

 

5/2       Draft of essay 3 due; finish  Dr. Strangelove

 

5/4       Final version of essay 3 due

 

Exam 2 during Finals Week