Introduction to Political Science
Austin Community College
Instructor: Karry L. Evans
Course
#: GOVT2304
Office: Room 3118 Bldg. 3000
Phone: 512-223-3394
Email: kevans@austincc.edu
Course Description
This course is an
introductory survey of the discipline of political science, focusing on
the
history, scope, and methods of the field and the substantive topics in
the
discipline. This course includes a survey of the political culture,
institutions, political parties, and domestic and foreign policies of
the
United States, Britain, Russia, China, Japan, Mexico, India, Iran and
Nigeria.
Needed Resources
The required text
for this
course is Comparative Politics in Transition (6th
ed.) by
John McCormick. There are new copies available in the bookstores around
the Rio
Grande Campus or you can order online through Amazon or other book
sites. You will also be expected to access
information on
current issues in the countries we will be studying. This can be done
via the
internet using web sites provided in the text, as well as others you
may find
in your research.
Course Rationale
The purpose of this
course is
to provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand
and
participate in a complex political system that includes the United
States and
187 other states that all interact, along with other governmental and
non-governmental
actors, in the international political system. This course utilizes a
comparative approach that will broaden your understanding of yourself
and the
world in which you live and allow you to meet the challenges and
opportunities
the future holds.
Course Objectives
The following is a
list of
the main objectives this course is designed to help you achieve. These
are
items we will be focusing on in our reading both in the text and
through other
sources. After completion of this course, you should be
able to:
1. Discuss the
major social,
economic and political variables used to compare different countries
and
understand the effect of each on their political and economic
development.
2. Compare and
contrast the
common features found in liberal democracies, communist and
post-communist
countries, newly industrializing countries, less developed countries,
Islamic
countries, and marginal countries.
3. Compare and
contrast the
political development of the United States, Great Britain, Japan,
Russia,
China, Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Iran.
4. Compare and
contrast the
political culture of the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Russia,
China,
Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Iran.
5. Compare and
contrast the
political institutions of the United States, Great Britain, Japan,
Russia,
China, Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Iran.
6. Compare and
contrast the
electoral systems of the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Russia,
China,
Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Iran.
7. Compare and
contrast the
political parties in the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Russia,
China,
Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Iran.
8. Compare and
contrast
policymaking in the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Russia, China,
Mexico,
India, Nigeria, and Iran.
9. Compare and
contrast the
major economic policy issues facing the United States, great Britain,
Japan,
Russia, China, Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Iran.
10. Compare and
contrast the
major foreign policy issues facing the United States, Great Britain,
Japan,
Russia, China, Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Iran.
Instructional Methodology
This course is
designed to
introduce you to the comparative political method by studying the
politics and
government of the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Russia, China,
Mexico,
India, Nigeria, and Iran. We will look at the political development,
culture,
institutions, parties, and policies in each of these countries and
compare and
contrast their similarities and differences in an attempt to better
understand
their strengths and weaknesses and the potential for workable solutions
for the
problems faced by each.
Effective
preparation and
meaningful participation are very important in determining the quality
of this
course. I believe that you learn by doing. Therefore, numerous
individual and
group activities are planned throughout the semester. These activities
allow
for much better understanding of the topics and make the class more
enjoyable
for everyone.
There is no single,
correct
way to view politics and economics. During the course of this semester,
I urge
you to be open-minded, to engage in critical thinking and to question
text and
lecture materials, as well as other supplemental sources of
information. My
view of education includes the notion that the classroom is a community
of
scholarship. This requires an open-minded approach to the topics and
consideration of other opinions. In order to get answers you must ask
questions
and the best questions follow from reading, thoughtful analysis of the
material
and listening to others.
Grading and Course Requirements
Your grade will be
whatever you
want it to be. I do not grade on a curve; consequently everyone can
earn an “A”.
Your grade will come from a total of three unit tests, six comparative analyses, one research
paper, and
ten news summaries. The possible points are
distributed in
this manner:
Three Unit Tests worth 50 points each = 150 points
Six Comparative Analyses worth 25 points each = 150 points
Research Paper
worth 100
points = 100
points
Ten News Summaries worth 10 points each =
100 points
TOTAL
500
points
Letter grades will
be
assigned based on the total number of points accumulated.
450-500 points = 90-100% = A
400-449 points = 80-89% = B
350-399 points = 70-79% = C
300-349 points = 60-69% = D
0-299 points = F
Unit Tests
There will be four
unit
tests, but only the top three test grades will count. The fourth test
is on the
scheduled final exam day, but it is not comprehensive. The points on
each unit
test will be divided as follows:
25 multiple-choice
questions
worth 2 points each =
50
points
Make-up Exams
Tests must be taken
on the
date they are scheduled unless prior arrangements are made with me. There
are no make-up tests. You must take at least three of the four
tests to
pass the class.
Comparative Analyses
News Summaries
There will be ten
required
and four optional news summaries due throughout the
semester.
The first ten assignments are
worth
ten points each and any additional assignments will count five points
each. The assignments must be turned in via email by the dates given in the calendar at the end of the syllabus. No
late assignments will be accepted and you must be present the following class to receive
participation credit when we discuss the news summaries.
Research Paper
You will need to
write a
research paper that compares and contrasts certain political aspects of
a
country or countries. You do not have to cover the same countries that
we are
studying in class, but you may choose to do so if you wish. Examples of
acceptable topics include comparing political parties in two or more
countries,
comparing presidential systems versus parliamentary systems, comparing
the
political institutions in the Soviet Union to current Russian
institutions,
etc.
Your research
should consist
of a minimum of ten sources, including books, newspapers, magazines,
and web
sites. The final paper must be a minimum of five typed pages,
double-spaced and
in a normal 12 point font. Your research should be cited within the
paper
itself using standard MLA format and all sources should be included in
a “Works
Cited” page, also in MLA format, at the end of the paper.
Attendance and Participation
Class attendance is
mandatory, but it is not enough to just show up. The only way to make
the class
interesting and relevant to your lives is for everyone to come to class
prepared to discuss the assigned reading and the current news items for
the
day. Attendance will have a significant impact on your final grade.
Information
on the test will be covered in class discussions and video clips shown
and
discussed in class. In addition, I will calculate attendance and
participation into the final grade when determining those cases where
the
average is close to the next highest letter grade.
Classroom Etiquette
Tardies and other
disturbances will not be tolerated. Expected classroom etiquette
includes
arriving to class on time, remaining in class until you are dismissed,
and
controlling whatever urges you feel to get up or disrupt class in other
ways.
Please inform me about any medical or other condition that might
prevent you
from meeting these basic requirements. It is also expected that you
will show
respect and consideration to me and your fellow students at all times.
This
includes paying attention and not engaging in other activities not
related to
what is happening in the class. If this is seen to be a regular
problem, a
mandatory conference will be scheduled to determine if you will remain
in the
class.
Incomplete Policy
In the event that a
student
successfully completes 2/3s of the coursework, but fails to attend
sufficient
classes to adequately fulfill the remaining requirements and has
acceptable
documentation explaining the reasons (hospitalization, incarceration,
military
duty) for their inability to do so, I will give an Incomplete final
grade. You
are then responsible for making arrangements with me to fulfill the
remaining
course requirements by the end of the next semester. At that time, the
Incomplete will be changed to the appropriate letter grade in your
files.
Withdrawal Policy
Another alternative
in the
case of failure to attend class or meet the course requirements, is to
officially withdraw from the class. It is your responsibility to
officially
withdraw from class if necessary. Withdrawal forms are available
from the
Admissions Office.
Evaluation and Feedback
There will be
continuous
evaluation of your performance and my performance throughout the
semester. I
will give you regular feedback through evaluation of your performance
on
quizzes and unit tests and through conversations with you about your
participation in group activities and discussions. In return, I will be
asking
for periodic feedback from you concerning this course and my
performance as your
instructor. All of this is designed to allow everyone to perform to the
best of
their ability and improve the overall content and dynamics of the
course.
Instructor Conferences
My office is
located in Room
212 in the Attache building at 1209 Rio Grande. I am available for
consultation
during my posted office hours. If you need to meet with me at a
different time,
you can talk to me during class, email me or call my office at 223-3394
and
make an appointment.
Scholastic Dishonesty
As described in the
ACC
Student Handbook, scholastic dishonesty constitutes a violation of
college
rules and regulations and is punishable according to the procedures
outlined in
the Handbook. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to,
cheating
on an exam (either providing answers to or stealing answers from
another
student), plagiarism and collusion. Plagiarism includes use of another
author’s
words or arguments without attribution. Collusion is defined as the
unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written
work for
fulfillment of any course requirement.
In the event of
scholastic
dishonesty, I will meet with the student to discuss the alleged
offense. If
evidence supports the charge, I will inform the student and the
Assistant
Provost in writing. The Assistant Provost shall asses a penalty
appropriate to
the charges and shall inform the student of such in writing. The
student may
appeal the decision of the Assistant Provost.
Disability Services
If you have a
documented
disability and wish to request accommodations, you should contact the
Office of
Students with Disabilities at 223-3142. The office is located in Room
A155. The
office director will meet with you and recommend appropriate
accommodations and
services after you have submitted the required documentation.
Individuals
eligible for services include, but are not limited to, those with
chronic
problems related to health, mobility, orthopedic, hearing, vision,
speech,
traumatic head injury, attention deficit, learning or psychiatric
disabilities.
Academic Freedom
Each student is
strongly
encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any classroom
situation that
includes discussion and critical thinking, particularly about political
ideas,
there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. Students may not only
disagree
with each other at times, but the students and instructor may also find
that
they have disparate views on sensitive and volatile topics. It is my
hope that
these differences will enhance class discussion and create an
atmosphere where
students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn.
Therefore,
be assured that your grades will not be adversely affected by any
beliefs or
ideas expressed in class or in assignments. Rather, we will all respect
the
views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.
My Pledge to You
Ÿ
I
will do my best
to instruct this class and to increase your understanding of the world
you live
in.
Ÿ
I
will be kind
and respectful to you as long as you treat me with the same kindness
and
respect.
Ÿ
I
will be fair in
grading and expectations.
Ÿ
I
will do
everything I can to make class interesting and applicable to your life.
Ÿ
I am
interested
in who you are and what you do.
Ÿ
I
will be
available to meet with you. If you need to meet with me and cannot make
it to
my office hours we will work out another time to meet.
My Expectations of You
Ÿ
You
will
arrive to class on time and remain until class is dismissed.
Ÿ
You
will read the
assigned chapters before coming to class and be prepared to discuss the
issues
covered in those chapters.
Ÿ
You
will complete
all assignments and turn them in on time.
Ÿ
You
will
conduct yourself in a mature manner appropriate for a college student
and not
disrupt class when I am presenting information to the class.
Ÿ
You
will show
respect for me and your fellow classmates.
Ÿ
You
will let me
know when you do not understand the material or have difficulty with
homework assignments
or tests.
Caveat
This course guide
represents
the course as it was planned prior to the beginning of class. I will
make every
effort to adhere to all the policies and procedures outlined above, as
well
as the following
calendar. In
the event any changes are necessary, I will let you know.