Political Science 111
United States Government
Fall 2006
TTh 8:00-9:15
MH 206
Instructor: Dr. Fred Slocum
Office: 204A Morris Hall
Phone: 389-6935
E-mail: frederick.slocum@mnsu.edu
Web site: http://sbs.mnsu.edu/psle/faculty/slocum.html
Office Hours: M, W, F 1:00-3:00; T, Th 11:00-12:00 and 2:00-3:00; or by appointment
This course explores the theory and practice of government and politics in the United States - in particular, the development, structures and procedures of American government. The course will draw upon a variety of information sources: text material, lectures, class discussion, current events and Internet activities. A major goal I hold out for us all is to interpret and understand current events in light of what you are learning in this class. Unfortunately, most television news programs do not foster informed and critical understanding of American politics. An excellent way to better understand American politics is to read a major national newspaper, such as the New York Times or Washington Post. Both papers have outstanding Web sites (http://www.nytimes.com/ and http://www.washingtonpost.com/).
You should subject the concepts you encounter this semester to critical inquiry. Ask yourself: to what extent does what I'm learning help me understand events in American politics and government? In class, I will sometimes bring out a story or event related to that week's topic. My hope is that these stories will encourage thought, discussion and debate among members of the class. Furthermore, I will sometimes use current events to promote participation and discussion in class. I will try to maintain an atmosphere in which students of all political persuasions will feel equally free to express their opinions during class discussions.
To the extent they do well in this course, students will gain knowledge and understanding of:
There will be two in-class midterm exams and a non-cumulative final exam, each accounting for 20% of the course grade. All exams will consist of identification and essay questions. About a week before each exam, I will distribute in class a study guide to help you prepare. The first midterm exam will be Tuesday, October 3; the second will be Thursday, November 9. The final exam will be Friday, December 15 at 8:00 AM.
Two Internet simulations are required; students will submit worksheets for these simulations before the first and second midterm exams. You may choose from simulations related to any topic in the course that has already been covered in class. For optional extra credit (up to one point added to your course grade), you can submit a third simulation worksheet during the final third of the course. Worksheets are due September 28, November 2 and (for extra credit simulations) December 5. A list of possible activities and further details on them will be handed out separately; blank worksheets will be distributed in class as well.
A short paper (4-5 typed, double spaced pages) is also required; details on this paper will be distributed separately. The paper, due Tuesday, November 21, will require you to research an issue or controversy in American politics, clearly and succinctly identify two or perhaps more contrasting positions on the issue or controversy, weigh the arguments and counterarguments, and state and defend your position on the issue. Some possible issues include social issues, like school prayer, Ten Commandments displays, abortion and same-sex marriage; economic issues, like the estate tax and whether or not to increase the minimum wage; international issues, such as indefinite detention of detainees; coercive interrogation techniques; whether or not the U.S. invasion of Iraq was justified; and others. No more than four (4) students can write on any one issue. Students who are earlier in declaring their issue will have the best chance of being able to write on that issue.
I will conduct periodic attendance checks in class. Attendance accounts for 5% of the course grade, and it can become a decisive factor for students in 'borderline' grading situations. A record of regular attendance may help a student whose course grade is on the border between a B and a C, for example. I will consider requests for an excused absence if the student notifies me in advance, providing a valid reason for the miss.
Excluding any extra credit for completing additional Internet activities, grades will be determined as follows:
In this course, grades will not be curved, meaning that you will not be competing against your classmates for a limited number of A's, B's and so on. The grading scale is a straight scale, as follows:
Students whose point totals place them very near (within 0.1 point of) the cut point for the next higher letter grade will be evaluated on an individual basis for promotion to the higher grade. In this evaluation, I will consider factors such as attendance, participation in class, attitude and improvement over the term.
I would like to hear (early in the semester is much preferred) from students with a documented learning or other disability that might require some modification of seating, testing, or other class arrangements. I will make every effort to accommodate students with these needs. If you have any questions, please see me or contact Julie Snow at the Disability Services Office (132 Memorial Library, 389-1819).
I will conduct frequent unannounced attendance checks throughout the semester. Students are responsible for all announcements and/or schedule changes made in class, and for obtaining notes for missed classes.
Barring uncontrollable extenuating circumstances (which I must be notified of and approve in advance), late papers will be downgraded one full letter grade (10%) for each calendar day late (20% over a weekend), and no papers will be accepted more than three days late, unless other arrangements are made with the instructor. These must be for valid reasons, similar to, but more compelling than, those justifying a makeup exam. Computer-related problems (i.e. printer malfunctions, hard drive or disk crashes) are not an acceptable reason for late papers or extensions.
Exams cannot be made up unless the student provides acceptable, documented reason for missing the exam. Makeup exam requests have merit to the extent that (1) the circumstance is unavoidable, (2) the reason for missing the exam can be documented, and (3) the instructor is notified well in advance of the exam. Makeup exams will not necessarily be identical to, and may be more difficult than, the exam given in class. Early exams will not be given.
The MSU Undergraduate Bulletin outlines University policy on incomplete grades as follows. "The grade of 'incomplete' is reserved for special cases and means that, because of extenuating circumstances, the student failed to meet a specific need and an important requirement of the course, but has in other respects done passing work for the semester. The incomplete must be made up in the next semester in which the student has enrolled, unless other arrangements have been made between the student and instructor. If the deficiency is not made up within the specified time, the grade automatically becomes an F or NC" (pp. 31-32). I will support and enforce this policy fully.
A number of activities may be construed as academic dishonesty (cheating). These include, but are not limited to: copying material from another source (book, manuscript or another student) without proper acknowledgment, using crib sheets during an exam, talking during an exam, or looking at another student's exam. Any cheating will result in an automatic F in the course and the possibility of further disciplinary action. Come see me if you have any questions.
The required textbook for this class is available at the CSU/Barnes and Noble Bookstore and the Maverick Bookstore. New copies should come packaged with a packet containing an individual access code for the required Internet simulations. If you buy a used copy of the textbook at the Maverick Bookstore, be sure you also obtain an access code.
Morris P. Fiorina, Paul E. Peterson, D. Stephen Voss and Bertram Johnson, America's New Democracy (3rd edition, Penguin Academics series). New York: Pearson Longman Publishers, 2005.
Recommended reading: The New York Times or Washington Post (in print or on the web).
Please arrive in class on time, and plan to remain for the entire class period. Cell phones and audible pagers must be turned off during class. In courtesy to me and your classmates, avoid disruptive behaviors such as leaving early (unless prior arrangements have been made with me), reading the newspaper, chewing gum, eating, talking or whispering, or shuffling books and papers. University policy prohibits smoking in all classrooms.
I will make reasonable efforts to follow the schedule of topics below. However, as time and circumstances dictate, the dates may change somewhat. I will announce any changes to the schedule below in class. Students are responsible for all announcements made in class regarding scheduling, topic changes, assignments or other matters.
Week 1 - August 29-31: Introductions; politics; the changing face of America. Chs. 1 and 4.
Week 2 - September 5-7: The American founding; the Constitution. Ch. 2.
Week 3 - September 12-14: Federalism and federal-state relations. Ch. 3.
Week 4 - September 19-21: Civil liberties. Ch. 13.
Week 5 - September 26-28: Civil rights. Ch. 14.
(Thursday, September 28: First Internet simulation worksheet due)
Week 6 - October 5: Public opinion. Pp. 92-102.
Week 7 - October 10-12: Public opinion and voting. Pp. 102-113 and Ch. 6.
Week 8 - October 17-19: National elections. Ch. 7.
Week 9 - October 24-26: Political parties. Pp. 195-210.
Week 10 - October 31-November 2: Interest groups. Pp. 210-223.
(Thursday, November 2: Second Internet simulation worksheet due)
Week 11 - November 7: The mass media. Pp. 113-131.
(Thursday, November 9: Second midterm exam)
Week 12 - November 14-16: Congress. Pp. 168-174, 176-178 and 227-236.
Week 13 - November 21: Congress. Pp. 236-251 (rest of Ch. 9).
(Tuesday, November 21: Issue/position paper due)
(Thursday, November 23: Holiday - NO CLASS)
Week 14 - November 28-30: The presidency. Pp. 178-181 and Ch. 10.
Week 15 - December 5-7: The bureaucracy; the federal courts. Chs. 11 and 12.
(Tuesday, December 5: (Optional extra credit Internet simulation worksheet due)
(Friday, December 15, 8:00 AM: Final exam)
