Political Science 200
Introduction to the
Study of Politics
Instructor: Dr. Naji J. Dahi
Office: Social
Sciences 1425-02
Phone: (714) 992-7524
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.geocities.com/ndahi
Office
Hours:
MW: 9:45-10:30
TTH: 1:20:-3:00
Time and room: 10:30-11:50,
Room 1427
I. Text:
A.
Required:
James
N. Danzinger. Understanding the
Political World: A Comparative Introduction to Political Science.
Latest Edition. Longman Publishers.
II. Course Objectives:
This course is
intended to introduce you to the basic concepts used in the study of politics.
As an introductory course it selects issues and topics from the three major sub
fields in political science: American politics, comparative politics, and
international relations. One basic purpose is to teach you the difference
between “politics” and the systematic study of politics or “political science.”
You will be asked to reflect on the meaning and applicability of “science” in
the study of politics. You will also learn about: political culture and
socialization, the different types of political and party systems, who
determines the outcome of the political process, political and economic
development, and inter-state relations during and after the Cold War.
III. Evaluation & Grading:
A.
Examinations: 80 percent of your final grade will be
based on four exams. All exams are
made up of multiple choice questions
and/or short answer and essay questions. The exams will test
your abilities in two ways:
·
The multiple-choice questions will test your factual and analytical knowledge.
·
The short answer/essay questions will test your analytical knowledge as well as your writing skills.
The exam dates
are listed in the class schedule section below. Each of the first two exams
will count as 15 percent of your
grade. The third exam will count as 20
percent of your grade. The final exam will count as 30 percent of your grade.
B.
Thought Paper:
As the heading suggests this is
a thought paper and not a term paper. It requires analytical thinking on you
part. The paper will be short (4-5 pages) and will be based on a topic that I
choose. You will get more instructions on the paper topic and structure early
in the semester. The paper will count as 10
percent of your grade.
C.
Participation
& Attendance (10 percent): This portion of the grade is based on
your attendance and participation. A roll call will be taken occasionally
based on my discretion. These attendance points will add valuable points to
your final grade. As such absences will reduce your class participation grade.
D.
Classroom Rules: The following
classroom rules must be obeyed at all times:
Failure to obey any or all of these rules will result in being asked to leave the class for one or two class sessions.
E.
Make-up Exams: No makeup exams will be administered.
If you miss an exam, consult with your professor for available options.
F.
Extra Credit: There are no extra credit assignments in this
course. However, the instructor reserves the right to assign extra credit
should a valid topic arise.
G.
Exam Review
Sheets:
Each exam has a review sheet. The review sheets are meant to guide you in your
study for the exam. I will hand you the review sheets one week before the exam.
H.
Grade
Breakdown:
As a general rule there is no curve
in this class. Grade breakdown is as follows: 90-100 A; 80-89 B; 70-79 C; 60-69
D; 0-59 F.
Tips for Success
A.
Reading Assignments: You should
complete reading assignments prior to attending the relevant lecture. Use the
syllabus as a guide. Completing readings prior to lecture will enormously aid
your understanding of the material being discussed. If you are not able to complete
reading assignments before the class, then do the readings after the class. Use
the lecture as a guide for reading and highlighting what is important in the
book.
B.
Notetaking: It is important to take accurate and complete notes while
attending lectures. Taking notes is a skill that you must learn for success in
College and in any future career. As such bringing tape recorders to class with
the intention of taping lectures without my oral or written consent is strictly prohibited. For
students needing special accommodations please see me at the beginning of the
semester.
C.
Communicating
with the Instructor: If you have questions about the subject matter of this
class or your progress in the class you should not hesitate to raise your
concerns after the class is dismissed. The instructor is willing to stay after
the class to discuss student problems.
D.
Academic
Honesty:
Students caught cheating on a test will fail both the test and the
course. Books, notes, and dictionaries are not to be used for test. If you have
any questions on the meaning of words during an exam do not hesitate to ask.
A. Critical
Thinking Approach: This professor
utilizes the Critical Approach to the study of politics. In that vein,
research, data, and information will be presented in the classroom that
challenges what a majority of students
have acquired about politics and government while in high school. The
information and data presented is sourced and it is replicable by any student
who will take the time to do the necessary research.
While
this approach to teaching government and politics is welcomed and appreciated
by an overwhelming majority of my students, there are a few students that do not enjoy such an approach to teaching.
Professors who use this approach report that these few tend to have very rigid
belief systems and have difficulty critically assessing that belief system.
They refuse to go through the process of self-evaluation and self-criticism.
They fear that critical thinking and research might undermine their
firmly held beliefs; any data/information that challenges their political and
social views is ipso facto seditious and is labeled “unpatriotic.” These few
almost always confuse criticizing government with lack of patriotism; they confuse
love of government and its institutions for love of country. This is of course
false. Love of country does not mean love of government. As Republican
President Theodore Roosevelt observed:
“Patriotism
means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or
any other public official. It is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether
about the president or anyone else. That we are to stand by the president,
right or wrong is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to
the American public.”
Therefore,
be prepared to be flexible in this classroom and do not make false assumptions
about the patriotism of others who enjoy thinking critically about government
and politics.
B. Structure
of Classroom Sessions: Classes that
meet twice per week during the Fall and Spring
semesters are sometimes made up of two parts: the lecture and a story
about a salient issue taken from a newspaper/magazine/Internet source. These
stories are intended to stimulate critical thinking on the part of the
student. Students are only tested on the lecture notes and the book used
in this course. These stories are simply a tool to further enhance the ability
of students to question their perception of reality as it is presented to them
by television news.
C. Your Ideology and Mine: Your beliefs and values about politics and society
have absolutely no impact on your grade. Your grade is based on the
exams, participation, and a paper. Do not assume that agreeing with the
instructor’s ideology will enhance your grade and do not assume that
disagreeing with the instructor’s ideology will hurt your grade. Basically,
there is no relationship between your beliefs and values and your grade.
VI. Class
Schedule
|
DATE |
|
CLASS ACTIVITY |
|
M AUG 18 W AUG 20 M AUG 25 |
Danzinger, Chap 1. |
Political knowledge; Political
science method; Values in PS; Hypothesis formation |
|
W AUG 27 W SEPT 3 M SEPT 8 |
Danzinger, Chap 2 and
4. |
Political culture; Civic culture;
Political ideology; Political socialization |
|
FIRST IN CLASS CLOSED BOOK EXAM ON
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10 |
||
|
M SEPT 15 W SEPT 17 M SEPT 22 W SEPT 24 M SEPT 29 W OCT 1 |
Danzinger, Chap 5, 6
and 7 |
State and Nation; Political system;
Legislatures and executives; Defining democracy; Power distribution; Forms of
government; Party systems |
|
M OCT 6 W OCT 8 M OCT 13 |
Danzinger, Chap 9. |
Elite, Group, and Class approaches to
understanding politics |
SECOND IN CLASS CLOSED BOOK EXAM WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15 |
||
|
M OCT 20 W OCT 22 M OCT 27 |
Danzinger, Chap 10. |
Political and Economic development;
Democratization vs. Political development |
|
W OCT 29 M NOV 3 W NOV 5 |
Danzinger, Chap 11. |
Political Violence: Terrorism; Riots;
Rebellions; Guerrilla war; Revolution |
|
THIRD IN CLASS CLOSED BOOK EXAM ON
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12 |
||
|
M NOV 17 W NOV 19 M NOV 24 |
Danzinger, Chap 12. |
Idealism; Realism; Cooperation;
Balance of Power; Use of Force; War |
|
W NOV 26 M DEC 1 |
Danzinger, Chap 13. |
A typology of states; The more
developed states; Prosperity; Stability; Security |
|
W DEC 3 M DEC 8 |
Danzinger, Chap 15. |
The meaning of Post-Communism;
Prosperity; Stability; Security |
|
THOUGHT
PAPER DUE IN CLASS ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 |
||
|
FINAL EXAM ON MONDAY DECEMBER 10,
9:00-10:50 AM |
||