Political Science 2304-01

Introduction to Political Science

Fall Semester 2002

 

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      6%                               Third hour exam            24%

            First hour exam            14%                             Research Report         5%

            Second hour exam            19%                             Final examination            32%

                                                                                    ______________________

                                    TOTAL                      100%

Important Dates:

 

            August 22                    Last day for schedule changes

September 2                No Class – Labor Day

September 6                Last day to drop (not withdraw) with refund

September 13              First hour exam

October 2                    Second hour exam and

Last day to drop or withdraw without academic penalty

October 11                  Library/Internet Research Assignment

October 14                  Turn in Library/Internet Research Assignment

October 28                  Third hour exam

November 28-29            No Class – Thanksgiving

            December 9                Final examination (11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p. m.)

 

 

Course Outline and Reading Assignments

 

		POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
1.	August 21 W	Course Introduction	No reading assignment
2.	August 23 F	American Political Environment	Anderson, pp. 39-52.
3.	August 26 M	Policymakers & Levels of Politics	Anderson, pp. 52-80.
4.	August 2 W	Legislatures & Executives	Danziger, pp. 127-140.
5.	August 30 F	Admin, Judiciary, & Parliaments	Danziger, pp. 140.147 & 168-175.
		POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOR
6.	September 4 W	Politics and Knowledge	Danziger, pp. 3-22.
7.	September 6 F	Political Beliefs & Culture	Danziger, pp. 25-35.
8.	September 9 M	Political Ideologies	Danziger, pp. 33-44.
9.	September 11 W	Comparing Ideologies	Review Danziger, pp. 25-44.
10.	September 13 F	First Examination	Bring Bluebook
		POLITICS AND VALUES
11.	September 16 M	Policymaking, Policies, & Systems	Anderson, pp. 1-19.
12.	September 18 W	Approaches and Stages	Anderson, pp. 19-35.
13.	September 20 F	Political System	Danziger, pp. 112-123.
14.	September 23 M	Elites and Classes	Danziger, pp. 211-219.
15.	September 25 W	Pluralism & Comparisons	Danziger, pp. 219-228.
16.	September 27 F	Political Economy I	Danziger, pp. 185-197.
17.	September 30 M	Political Economy II	Danziger, pp. 197-207.
18.	October 2 W	Second Examination	Bring Bluebook
		PUBLIC PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
19.	October 4 F	Public Problems and Agendas	Anderson, pp. 85-109.
20.	October 7 M	Formulating Proposals	Anderson, pp. 109-122.
21.	October 9 W	Decisionmaking	Anderson, pp. 127-144.
22.	October 11 F	Library/Internet Assignment	Turn in assignment Monday, Oct 14th
23.	October 14 M	Adopting Policies	Anderson, pp. 144-159.
		POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
24.	October 16 W	Policy Implementation	Anderson, pp. 201-223.
25.	October 18 F	Administrative Policymaking	Anderson, pp. 223-254.
26.	October 21 M	Impact and Evaluation	Anderson, pp. 261-277.
27.	October 23 W	Problems and Responses	Anderson, pp. 277-293.
28.	October 25 F	Policy Termination & Cycling	Anderson, pp. 293-304.
29.	October 28 M	Third Examination	Bring bluebook
		POLITICS AMONG NATIONAL STATES
30.	October 30 W	Nations and States	Danziger, pp. 101-111.
31.	November 1 F	Defining Democracy	Danziger, pp. 151-162
32.	November 4 M	Institutional Arrangements	Danziger, pp. 163-181.
33.	November 6 W	Change and Political Development	Danziger, pp. 231-254.
34.	November 8 F	Goals and Cooperation	Danziger, pp. 279-292.
35.	November 11 M	Competition and Violence	Danziger, pp. 292-308.
36.	November 13 W	Categorizing Countries	Danziger, pp. 311-315.
37.	November 15 F	Developed Countries	Danziger, pp. 316-340.
38.	November 18 M	Developing Countries I	Danziger, pp. 343-365.
39.	November 20 W	Developing Countries II	Danziger, pp. 365-384.
40.	November 22 F	Transitional Countries I	Danziger, pp. 387-409.
41.	November 25 M	Transitional Countries II	Danziger, pp. 409-423.
42.	November 27 W	Analyzing Data	Danziger, pp. 439-445.
43.	December 2 M	Relations, Causes & Conclusions	Danziger, pp. 445-451.
	December 9 M	Final Examination	Bring bluebook(s)