Fall 2009 Professor
Richard Robyn
POL 10100, Section 002 306
Bowman Hall, x. 28944
3 credits E-mail:
rrobyn@kent.edu
MW 11:00 am - 12:15 p.m. Website:http://www.personal.kent.edu/~rrobyn/
BOW 133 Office
hours: MW 3:30-4:30 p.m.
TTH
3:00-4:30 p.m.
Course Syllabus
AMERICAN POLITICS
This
course is an introduction to the basic concepts of American government and politics.
We will examine the nature of democracy, and the institutions that were created
after the American Revolution to fulfill that promise and how they have measured
up since. We will look at the campaign process and especially discuss how the
2008 election unfolded and what might happen in those coming up next year. We
will examine the basic institutions of our government; but we will go beyond
that to investigate the decision-making process itself, how the system is
designed to function and how it may not always do so to the benefit of most
Americans. It is expected that students will gain an appreciation for the
complex nature of the political process and from that how to make better
informed evaluations of public policy. Finally, we will speculate on the likely
future of American politics in the face of the many challenges that face our
nation and the international system.
The
course is generally lecture-type format, although discussions are encouraged. Readings include a basic
text and various news articles that I may hand out in class. Four exams during
the semester and a final are the primary means of assessment, along with a
research project on a topic of your choice. POL 10100 is an LER and
Diversity Course.
Course
Requirements:
Attendance: You are required to
attend classes. You are permitted 3
absences -- after that your grade will suffer (please note: attendance is 5% of
your final grade). If you have an
emergency that precludes your coming to class, please let me know as soon as
you can.
Readings: All readings listed in the syllabus are required
and should be read before the class session for which they are assigned. Lectures and class discussions will follow
from, build on, or provide background for the reading material, but they
generally will not duplicate it. You are
responsible for all material, whether from class or the readings.
Text: The following required text is available in
the college bookstore.
Ø
American Government: Roots and Reform, Karen O’Connor and Larry
S. Sabato. 2009 Edition (New York:
Longman).
Assignments: In addition to
attendance, there will be six graded assignments in this course. You must complete all six assignments in
order to earn a passing grade.
Exams: There will be four exams
during the semester and a final exam for this course, made up from
material from readings and lectures (which do not always coincide). Mid-term exams are usually multiple choice;
the final exam will be a combination of multiple choice (for the final chapters
in the semester) and identification/short answer/essay type (comprehensive of
the entire semester), and so requires that you purchase and bring a blue book.
(A blue book may be purchased in the Political Science office, although
Undergraduate Senate has been offering them for free lately.) There may on
occasion be a small quiz or two, particularly if participation in class seems
to be flagging due to inattention to readings.
The text for the course has a number of
excellent exercises on-line that will help you better understand the concepts
brought out in class. During the
semester you are strongly advised to search these out. They are found on the
websites listed in the text.
Research Project. The research project
will involve your exploring a topic of your choice in American politics.
Suggested topics are on-line on my website (see above) at the “Topics” link. You
don’t have to pick any of these if you prefer another, but clear that with me
before you start your research. In the process of researching the paper, you
will be translating what you learn into usable form to communicate your
concerns to others. This will be in three steps: as a letter to the
editor of a newspaper, as a letter to an elected official and as a final paper
in which you will present your findings.
1) Letter to the editor.
This assignment is designed to encourage you to communicate your concern
about your research topic and your suggested solution, to the editor of a
newspaper. You are to write the letter to the editorial staff of the Cleveland
Plain Dealer. Your letter-to-the-editor will require you to do a certain
amount of research that should be evident in reading the letter. You should
clearly state your opinion about the issue of your interest.
The letter-to-the-editor should be no
more than one page in length and conform to the editorial guidelines of the Cleveland
Plain Dealer (detailed on the editorial page of that newspaper). Letters should bear the writer’s full
signature. All letters must have the
writer’s address and daytime phone. You are required to hand in two copies of
your letter: a) a letter to the editor ready to be mailed (sealed in a stamped
envelope addressed to “Letters to the Editor, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1801
Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114”); and b) a copy of the letter for me to
read and keep in my files. The letter is due Wednesday, October 21. The letter will not be graded, but two points
will be taken off the research paper for each day it is late.
2)
Write an elected official.
You are also required to write a letter to an elected official on your research
topic. The official may be in national, state or local office. Find the address
of the official, write your letter for delivery, and give it and a copy to me. The
letter is due Monday, November 23. This letter also will not be graded, but two
points will be taken off the research paper for each day it is late.
3)
Research Paper. The
paper is the final product of your research project. It should be at least 5
pages (typewritten and double spaced, with 1” margins) and have at least three
sources of information (book, article or internet source). Pick a topic that
relates to American Politics (suggested topics and the requirements for the
paper are on my website [see above]); explore the issue; present at least two
sides to the issue; then come to YOUR OWN conclusion about what should be done
about this issue and present that. For another source for help in writing and
researching papers, look on the web at http://www.researchhaven.com/Style/APSA.htm.
The paper is due Wednesday, December 9. Ten points will be taken off
for each day it is late. Do not send the paper electronically; hand in a paper
copy on the date due.
NB: If you must miss any
assignment, you must discuss this with me in advance and receive
permission to take a make-up. Unless
there are reasonable extenuating circumstances, failure to arrange this in
advance will result in a failing grade for that assignment.
Since this course is built around investigations
of American politics, much of which is in the daily news, it is expected that
you will keep up with current events.
Most classes will begin or end with a brief discussion of what is
happening in the world, especially as events relate to American politics. Fairly regular reading of newspapers such as The
New York Times or watching CNN or The Lehrer Hour on PBS is highly
recommended.
NOTE: All Students (and especially Poli Sci
majors) should subscribe to POLSCI-UG, the political science listserve. It is a
forum to receive information on classes, scholarships, internship opportunities
and jobs in the field of political science.
To subscribe, send an email to listserv@listserv.kent.edu: with
the subject line POLSCI-UG firstname lastname. You must subscribe yourself.
Grading: Course grades will be
assigned on the following basis:
Attendance &
Participation 5 %
Exam #1 10
%
Exam #2 10
%
Exam #3 20
%
Exam #4 20%
Research Project 15%
Final exam 20 %
________________________________________
Total 100 %
This
is the total number of assessments available for your course grade. I award extra-credit points only for
the following:
¨ You
may earn three (3) points extra credit if you provide proof that you are
registered to vote or provide a copy of the guidelines for registering to vote
in your home county. If you want
these extra credit points, you must obtain official documents from the Board of
Elections in your home county (internet printouts will not be accepted). Bring
a copy of this to me in class that I can keep for my files. See details of
registering to vote and extra-credit requirements on my website <http://www.personal.kent.edu/~rrobyn/>.
¨ You
may earn up to two (2) extra credit points for visiting one or more U.S.
Presidential Sites in northeast Ohio.
See details of the presidential sites and extra-credit requirements on my
website <http://www.personal.kent.edu/~rrobyn/>.
The
grading scale I use is:
A
93-100 C 73-76
A- 90-92 C-
70-72
B+ 87-89 D+
67-69
B 83-86 D
60-66
B- 80-82 F Below 60
C+ 77-79
Students
with Disabilities: University
policy 3342-3-18 requires that students requiring accessibility be provided
reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content.
If you have a documented accessibility limitation and require accommodations,
please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make
arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must
first verify your eligibility for these through the Office of Student
Accessibility Services (Ground Floor, DeWeese Health
Center, 330-672-3391, or
visit www.registrars.kent.edu/disability/default.htm
for more information on registration procedures).
Schedule of Events and Assignments
DATE ACTIVITIES & ASSIGNMENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
Week
1. 8/31-9/2 Orientation to Course.
The Political Landscape.
Assignment: O & S, Ch 1.
Week 2. 9/9 Political Landscape (continued).
September 11 Discussion.
Assignment: O & S, Ch 1.
Examination 1. (Bring a #2
lead pencil to exam.).
NOTE: 9/7 LABOR DAY NO CLASS
II. FOUNDATIONS
Weeks 3-4. The Constitution.
9/14-16, 21-23 Assignment: O&S, Ch 2.
Examination 2. (Bring a #2 lead pencil
to exam.)
DISCUSS:
RESEARCH PAPER TOPICS
III. WHO
INFLUENCES HOW PUBLIC POLICY IS MADE?
Week
5. 9/28-30 Voting and Elections.
Assignment: O&S, Ch 13.
Week 6. 10/5-7 The Campaign Process.
Assignment:
O&S, Ch 14.
Week 7. 10/12-14 The Campaign Process (continued). Campaign
2008.
Assignment:
O&S, Ch 14.
Examination 3. (Bring a #2 lead
pencil to exam.)
IV. INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
Week 8. 10/19-21 Congress
Assignment: O&S, Ch
7.
Wednesday, October 21:
Letter to editor
due.
Week
9. 10/26-28 Congress (continued). The Presidency
Assignment: O&S, Ch 8.
Week
10. 11/2-4 The
Presidency (continued). Judiciary.
Assignment: O&S, Ch 10.
Week
11. 11/9 Judiciary
(continued).
Assignment: O&S, Ch 10.
Examination 4. (Bring a #2 lead pencil
to exam.)
NOTE:
11/11 VETERAN’S DAY NO CLASS
V. WHAT PUBLIC POLICY EMERGES FROM THESE
INSTITUTIONS?
Weeks
12-13. Foreign
and Defense Policy. America’s
Impact on the World.
11/16-18 and 23 Assignment:
O&S, Ch 19.
Monday, November 23:
Letter to elected official due.
11/25-27 NO CLASSES. HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Weeks
14-15. Domestic Policy. Responsibility.
11/30-12/2, 7-9 Assignment:
O&S, Ch 17.
Wednesday, December 9:
Research Paper
due.
TH
12/17 Final Exam Time (10:15 am – 12:30 pm). BOW 133. (Bring a #2 lead pencil and a blue book to exam.)
