Political Science 2304-01

Introduction to Political Science

Fall Semester 2001

Instructor: Dr. James L. True Office: Maes, Room O-86

Time: MWF 10:10-11:00 Phone: 880-8813

Room: Maes, Room 103 Office Hours: TWR 2:00-4:00

E-mail: “truejl@hal.lamar.edu” and by appointment

Overview: Political Science 2304 is designed to familiarize you with some of the concepts, content, and methods of analysis currently used in political science and other social science disciplines. The goal of this course is for you to improve your reading, thinking, and writing about political science. Specifically oriented toward lower division political science majors, this course can also be a useful elective for any student interested in politics and the foundations for political analysis. Its content will include a global view of political beliefs, actions, and systems as well as a specific view of public problems, political institutions, and policymaking in the United States. The following texts are required:

James E. Anderson, Public Policymaking: An Introduction, Fourth Edition, and

James N. Danziger, Understanding the Political World: A Comparative Introduction to Political Science, Fifth Edition.

Class Participation: Class participation is important to active learning. The format of the class will be largely lectures, but there will be daily opportunities for questions and for class discussions. Your abilities to read and think critically can be improved by diligently reading the assignments and reflecting upon them. Your active listening and talking can also improve these abilities. Some class time will be scheduled to review, clarify, and expand on topics raised by the students based on their reading and class lectures.

Examinations: There will be four written examinations during the semester: three fifty-minute exams and a two-hour final exam. These are essay exams and will consist of term definitions and short answers. Examination questions will be drawn from assigned readings and from lectures.

Research Assignment: Students will prepare a one-page report of their research in the library and/or on the Internet concerning some political topic. Additional information on this assignment will be provided in class.

Grading: Grades will be calculated according to the following formula (no extra credit work will be assigned or accepted):

Class participation 5% Third hour exam 24%

First hour exam 14% Research Report 6%

Second hour exam 19% Final examination 32%

______________________

TOTAL 100%

Important Dates:

September 3 No Class – Labor Day

September 7 Last day to drop (not withdraw) with refund

September 17 First hour exam

September 28 Library/Internet Research Assignment

October 1 Last day to drop or withdraw without academic penalty

Turn in Library/Internet Research Assignment

October 8 Second hour exam

November 7 Third hour exam

November 22-23 No Class – Thanksgiving

December 3 No Class – Final Exam Study Day

December 10 Final examination (11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p. m.)

Course Outline and Reading Assignments

		POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOR
1.	August 22 W	Course Introduction	No reading assignment
2.	August 24 F	Politics and Knowledge	Danziger, pp. 3-22.
3.	August 27 M	Political Beliefs & Culture	Danziger, pp. 25-35.
4.	August 29 W	Political Ideologies	Danziger, pp. 33-44.
5.	August 31 F	Comparing Ideologies	Review Danziger, pp. 25-44.
6.	September 5 W	Political Actions	Danziger, pp. 47-68.
7.	September 7 F	Environment and Influences	Danziger, pp. 71-97.
		PUBLIC POLICYMAKING
8.	September 10 M	Policymaking, Policies, & Systems	Anderson, pp. 1-19.
9.	September 12 W	Approaches and Stages	Anderson, pp. 19-35.
10.	September 14 F	Environment and Participants	Anderson, pp. 39-73.
11.	September 17 M	First Examination	Bring Bluebook
		POLITICAL SYSTEMS
12.	September 19 W	National States	Danziger, pp. 101-111.
13.	September 21 F	Concepts and Systems	Danziger, pp. 112-124.
14.	September 24 M	Legislative & Executive Structures	Danziger, pp. 127-140.
15.	September 26 W	Admin. & Judicial Structures	Danziger, pp. 140-148.
16.	September 28 F	Library/Internet Assignment	Turn in assignment on October 1^st.
17.	October 1 M	Institutional Arrangements	Danziger, pp. 151-182.
18.	October 3 W	Political Economy I	Danziger, pp. 185-194.
19.	October 5 F	Political Economy II	Danziger, pp. 194-206.
20.	October 8 M	Second Examination	Bring bluebook
		VALUES, PROBLEMS, AND SOLUTIONS
21.	October 10 W	Elites and Classes	Danziger, pp. 211-219.
22.	October 12 F	Pluralism & Comparisons	Danziger, pp. 219-228.
23.	October 15 M	Public Problems and Agendas	Anderson, pp. 85-109.
24.	October 17 W	Formulating Proposals	Anderson, pp. 109-122.
25.	October 19 F	Decisionmaking	Anderson, pp. 127-144.
26.	October 22 M	Adopting Policies	Anderson, pp. 144-159.
		POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
27.	October 24 W	Policy Implementation	Anderson, pp. 201-223.
28.	October 26 F	Administrative Policymaking	Anderson, pp. 223-254.
29.	October 29 M	Impact and Evaluation	Anderson, pp. 261-277.
30.	October 31 W	Problems and Responses	Anderson, pp. 277-293.
31.	November 2 F	Policy Termination & Cycling	Anderson, pp. 293-304.
32.	November 5 M	Political Analysis	Danziger, pp. 439-451.
33.	November 7 W	Third Examination	Bring bluebook
		POLITICS AMONG NATIONAL STATES
34.	November 9 F	Change and Political Development	Danziger, pp. 231-254.
35.	November 12 M	Goals and Cooperation	Danziger, pp. 279-292.
36.	November 14 W	Competition and Violence	Danziger, pp. 292-308.
37.	November 16 F	Categorizing Countries	Danziger, pp. 311-315.
38.	November 19 M	Developed Countries	Danziger, pp. 316-340.
39.	November 21 W	Developing Countries I	Danziger, pp. 343-365.
40.	November 26 M	Developing Countries II	Danziger, pp. 365-384.
41.	November 28 W	Transitional Countries I	Danziger, pp. 387-409.
42.	November 30 F	Transitional Countries II	Danziger, pp. 409-423.
	December 3 M	Final Exam Study Day
	December 10 M	Final Examination	Bring bluebook(s)

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