169syl

PLS 169 Introduction to Political Science Spring 2011

Dr. George E. Connor

Phone: 836-5630 E-mail: georgeconnor@missouristate.edu

Office: Strong 307

Office Hours: MTWRF by appointment

Texts:

Van Belle and Mash. A Novel Approach to Politics (2^nd ed.)

Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451

Ishiguro: Remains of the Day

Policies:

1. Exams: There will be two exams worth 50 points; each consisting of one 15-point essay and 10 points for multiple choice/matching/fill-in-the-blank/word search.

2. Grading: 13 Online Chapter Quizzes 155 points

(drop lowest quiz)

13 Online Study Questions 65 points

13 Website Explorations 65 points

13 Online response posts 65 points

20 Class response posts 100 points

2 Exams 50 points

MyWritingLab Proficiency 100 points * 600 points

*Full credit includes pre- and post-test diagnostic

Final grades will be based on total semester points (600) and the following scale: 93% A, 90 A-, 87 B+, 83 B, 80 B-, 77 C+, 73 C, 70 C-, 67 D+, 60 D (Please note that there are no A+s or D-s). No curve will be utilized, no extra-credit will be given, and no "rounding-up" will occur.

3. Attendance/Participation: Both are expected, neither is required. Attendance will be taken for administrative purposes only and will not be directly reflected in course grades. However, attendance will be monitored with respect to class response posts. Pre-arranged absences may be tolerated with prior (24 hour) notice, University sanction, and documentation.

4. Promptness: Students arriving late for class will be glared at. Students arriving late for exams may not be allowed to take the exam.

5. Academic Dishonesty: Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at www.missouristate.edu/assets/provost/AcademicIntegrityPolicyRev-1-08.pdf and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.

6. Cell phones and other electronic devices: As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the community. When cell phones or pagers ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the Office of the Provost prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the University’s emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When this occurs, students may consult their devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that is not the case, the devices should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this policy may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.

7. Academic Accommodation: To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.

8. Emergency Response: Students who require assistance during an emergency evacuation must discuss their needs with their professors and Disability Services. If you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. For additional information students should contact the Office of Disability Services, 836-4192 (PSU 405), or Larry Combs, Interim Assistant Director of Public Safety and Transportation at 836-6576. For further information on Missouri State University’s Emergency Response Plan, please refer to the following web site: http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/erp.htm.

9. Nondiscrimination: Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Institutional Equity and Compliance, Park Central Office Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head. Please visit the OED website at www.missouristate.edu/equity/.

10. Dropping: It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. If you drop while failing after the drop deadline you will receive a failing grade. For information about dropping a class or withdrawing from the university, contact the Office of the Registrar at 836-5520. It should be noted that withdrawing from the University does not insure a "drop while passing" grade.

11. No Food or Drink in Strong Hall classrooms

Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of PLS 169 is to introduce students to the discipline, methodology, and sub-fields of political science as they are defined at Missouri State University. This introduction is rooted in three main pillars of public affairs, civic engagement, ethical leadership, and cultural competence, and is designed to provide a foundation of knowledge that can be applied in upper-level political science coursework as well as to expose students to academic and professional opportunities related to the discipline.

Class Schedule:

Jan 10 Introduction and Syllabi Novel 15 and pp. 9-10

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Jan 12 Online Access: Blackboard, Novel Approach, MyWritingLab

Assignments: Login to Blackboard

Jan 14 The Allegory of the Cave Novel 1

A Prelude to Fahrenheit 451

Jan 17 Martin Luther King Jr, No Class

Jan 19 It’s More Than Real and Ideal Novel 1 Ancient v. Modern

Jan 21 Politics and Political Science Novel 1

Traditionalism, Behavioralism, Post-Behavioralism

Jan 24 Guests: Drs. Quantitative and Qualitative

Jan 26 Lord of the Flies (1963), Part I Novel 2

Jan 28 Lord of the Flies (1963), Part II Novel 2

Jan 31 Panopticon, Self-Policing, and Social Adaptation Novel 3

The Experiments of Stanley Milgram

Feb 2 What’s Wrong with Marx? Novel 4

Nothing Really

Feb 4 Guests:

Feb 7 Fahrenheit 451

The Novel, Plot, and Characters

Feb 9 Fahrenheit 451

The Value of Books: A Debate (Faber/Beatty/Granger)

Feb 11 Fahrenheit 451

Upon Further Reflection: Mirrors as a Metaphor (Mildred/Montag/Clarisse)

Feb 14 Fahrenheit 451

Fire and the Oppositional Structure of the Novel (Hearth/Salamander, Sieve/Sand, Burning Bright)

Feb 16 Fahrenheit 451

The Allegory (Every Character has Their Place)

Feb 18 Exam

Feb 21 Presidents Day, No Class

Feb 23 Constitutional Purposes Novel 5

John Wayne, Jeff Bridges, and Don Lutz

Feb 25 Political Culture Novel 5

Daniel Elazar: The Domestic Version

Feb 28 Power, Authority, and Executives Novel 6

Max Weber and Authority Systems

Mar 2 The Work of the Legislature Novel 7

Flags Flown Over the Capitol

Mar 4 Theories of Representation Novel 7

No, the other ones: Sociological and Collective

Mar 7-11 Spring Break, No Class

Mar 14 Characteristics of Bureaucracy Novel 8

When Max Weber Came to my House for Thanksgiving Dinner

Mar 16 Guests:

Mar 18 Judicial Interpretation Novel 9

Cry Me a River

Mar 21 Types of Law Novel 9

A Framework with Examples

Mar 23 Guests:

Mar 25 The Democratic Ideal and Elections Novel 10

Bactrian and Dromedary

Mar 28 The Democratic Ideal and Initiatives Novel 10

Let the People Decide (or not)

Mar 30 Politics and Media Novel 11

It’s All Biased

Apr 1 World Views in International Relations Novel 12

Conservatives, Liberals, and Radicals

Apr 4 Ideology in International Relations: Idealism and Realism Novel 12

A Prelude to Remains of the Day

Apr 6 More Ideology in International Relations: Feminism Novel 12

A Prelude to Remains of the Day

Apr 8 More Political Culture Novel 14

Huntington: The Foreign Version

Apr 11 Guests

Apr 13 What Is Political Science Again? Novel 15

Apr 15 Careers in Political Science

Video, Pamphlets, and Brochures

Apr 18 Career Center Presentation

Apr 20 Graduate School

Drs. Patel and Hickey

Apr 22 Spring Holiday, No Class

Apr 25 Remains of the Day: Plot and Characters

Apr 27 Remains of the Day: Idealism

Apr 29 Remains of the Day: Realism

May 2 Remains of the Day: Feminism

May 4 Remains of the Day: IR and Democracy

May 6 Study Day, No Class

May 11 Exam (at 1:15 PM)