PS 105: INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE
Department of History & Political
Science
Instructor: Gregory Sember
Office Location: RA-102
Email: gregory.sember@montgomerycollege.edu
Course Description:
Basic principles &
concepts of Political Science. Scope & methods of Political Science,
nature, & purposes of the state; government, its organization, &
functions; politics, elections, parties, pressure groups, international
relations, & political thought.
Credits, Hours, Prerequisites:
A. Three (3) Semester Hours Credit.
B. Three (3) Class Hours Per Week; Zero (0) Laboratory Hours Per Week.
C. Prerequisite: EN 101/EN
101A
Student Outcomes:
Upon completion of this
course, the student will be able to:
1.
Familiarity with
the basic concepts, terminologies, & concerns of Political Science.
2.
Identifying
various fields of the discipline of Political Science & recognition of
their methodologies.
3.
Applying these
concepts & method to the political problems of here & now while
examining them critically.
Student
Materials Required:
Textbooks:
Roskin, M. (2006).
Political Science: An Introduction. (10th ed.).
Reserve readings from
assorted regional & national newspapers.
Evaluation:
A student’s final grade in
this course will be determined as follows:
75% - Three
Examinations (25% each) based upon textbook, reserve readings, class
lectures, & class discussions. Both exams may consist of any & all of
the following formats – multiple choice, short identification, & essays.
The final exam is not cumulative.
25% - There will be five Miscellaneous Assignments which individually count as 5% &
collectively count as 25% of your grade. Each of these assignments will include
a written component, but will also involve critical thinking, popular culture,
or gaming simulations while generally asking you to apply Political Science
concepts to your life in an unexpected way. While there may be some alteration
to this schedule, please expect the following assignments:
a.
The Electoral College
Simulation:
In this gaming simulation, you will run for President within the controversial
electoral college format. This exercise involves fund raising, issue selection,
& targeting strategic states for victory. You will also provide a written
component outlining your strategy for victory.
b. Issue Paper #1: The paper will be 2-3 double-spaced typewritten pages. It is designed
to show your ability to critically think & synthesize ideas. It is not a
research paper. Further instruction about the paper will be posted, but the
first topic will likely be education.
c. Dehumanization Assignment: For this assignment, you will be asked to
research past & present political leaders & issues, & explain their
portrayal in political cartoons, parodies, & songs. Further instruction
about this assignment will be posted.
d. Censorship Assignment: For this assignment, you will reach into popular
culture to find controversial themes in song lyrics. This is not an assignment
designed to bring in songs with the most offensive language, but rather themes
(crime drugs, sex, etc.) which could negatively socialize American citizens.
You will provide several songs, an explanation of the controversial themes,
& a youtube link so the class can decide while viewing the material.
e. Discussion Boards: For especially hot discussions or when we are running out of time, I
post some discussion boards where I ask you to comment on the thoughts of your
classmates. This will involve making 2-3 paragraph length posts on a specific
topic. I will likely jump in on these as well.
A student’s final grade in this course will be
based upon the following scale:
90-99: A
or superior work
80-89: B
or very strong work
70-79: C
or average work
60-69: D
or below average work
59 or below: F
or failing work
Student Behavior Standards: Students are expected to
be familiar with and to abide by the student behavior standards as noted in the
current Montgomery College Catalog and Student Handbook.
Attendance Policy: Class attendance is
essential to building fundamental understanding, especially in
light of the scope of the
subject matter. Therefore, I expect you to attend class regularly and to
realize
that failure to do so will
definitely affect your grade. You are allowed three unexcused absences in the
whole semester. Excessive
absence may result in your involuntary withdrawal from the course. Excessive
absences (more than 3)
and/or failure to present will lower this grade. In addition, you are expected
to be
in the classroom ready to
work at the appointed hour. It is your responsibility to be on time, ready and
attentive. Please do not
come late to class: this interrupts work already in progress and is very
rude to
your classmates.
Best Practices
1.Take thorough notes during
lectures – you will need them to succeed on exams.
2.Continually review your
notes from previous lectures to increase your participation &
comprehension. Pop Quizzes may result if no one remembers from the previous
discussions.
3.Make-up & late
assignments will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. You will have two weeks
to make-up an exam, but taking the full two weeks usually results in a lower
grade because of lower retention by you. Late assignments will be penalized a
letter grade per day.
4.Neither cheating nor
plagiarism will be tolerated in any form. The penalty for having committed
either one of these violations is a failing
grade for the course. NO EXCEPTIONS!
5.Beepers, cell phones, &
other disruptive devices must be silenced before you enter the classroom.
Accidents happen (to me as well), but please do not make it a regular
occurrence.
6.Discussions will become
heated sometimes depending on the issues. Please treat the instructor &
each other with respect at all times.
7.Student email using the
montgomerycollege.edu server is an official means of communication for the
College. It is expected that you check
your student email frequently, as you are responsible for information and
announcements that will be sent to you form the College.
8.I am not a mind reader, so
please contact me via email, telephone, or in person if you find yourself
struggling with assignments, course content, or exams. It is advisable to
contact me prior to exams.
9.I maintain an open door
policy & I take this very seriously. If there is any sort of issue, please
contact me. I cannot attempt to address if I do not know it exists. I also
cannot successfully address an issue if I hear it from a third party – meaning
from someone other than you.
10.
Enjoy yourself. This is a challenging course that will open your eyes if
you prepare & participate. Good Luck!
Schedule,
Weeks 1 & 2: Chapter 3 – Nations, States, &
Governments
Dates: January 26th, 28th, 30th, February 2nd, & 4th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 37-54 in the Roskin text
Course
Reserves
Return to Stone Age
Rape victim stoned to death
S. Dakota readies again for abortion fight
Woman blinded by spurned man invokes Islamic Retribution
Is negotiation appeasement?
Backlash emerges against Latino culture
If Democracy is aim, let Iraqis vote on
Wealthy region wants out
Party seeks verified vote
Darfur starves;
Why the
Miscellaneous
Assignment #1
The Electoral College
Assignment
This assignment requires the PoliSim disk on reserve in the library.
Weeks 2 & 3: Chapter 6 – Political Ideologies
Dates: February 6th 9th, 11th, & 13th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 94-115 in the Roskin text
Course Reserves
Traffic drives
California to consider tunnel
Jim Crow: Chapter
& Verse
Some question removal
of Brass Cross from William & Mary Chapel
Ruling limits whistleblower
rights
Detainee won’t eat;
seeks to die
Baby whose father is
sex offender is put in foster home
Texas city infected
prostitute
Miscellaneous
Assignment #2
Issue Paper #1 -
Fixing Education
Weeks 4: Chapter 7 – Political Culture
Dates: February 16th, 18th, & 20th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 116-133 in the Roskin text
Course Reserves
On Sale Now: the
Wal-Mart Vote
Court OKs suit over
mail
Golden Age of Oil
might tank soon
Denver letting voters
weigh in on seriousness of marijuana laws
Signs soon to offer
addicts cash, catch
Japan revises history
texts
Swelling tide of tips
to police buoys poor
Miscellaneous
Assignment #3
The Political Cartoon Assignment
Week 5: Chapter 4: Individuals & Constitutions
Dates: February 23rd, 25th, & 27th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 56-72 in the Roskin text
Course Reserves
To save Africa: a
missing step
Jailed Reporter
Throwing our judicial
junk in Britain’s backyard
Film’s Bush slaying
debated
Anger over Halloween
display with Palin in noose
String “slang” Bible a
hit in secular Australia
Miscellaneous
Assignment #4
Song Lyric Censorship
Exam #1: March 6th, 2009
Week 6: Chapter 5: Democracy, Totalitarianism, &
Authoritarianism
Dates: March 2nd
& 4th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 73-93 in the Roskin text
Course Reserves
Bush’s Mideast
Democracy
Africa is still
struggling
Oily Despots
Pax Americana
Weeks 7 & 8: Chapter 14: Legislatures
Dates: March 9th, 11th, 13th, 23rd, & 25th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 256-276 in the Roskin text
Course Reserves
Health care tops lists of new laws
Thai King appears an ally of overthrow
Ruler of Monaco admits to having son
Japan may be ready to rewrite tradition
King orders people to vote
Pakistan
Sign Statements: the power of the pen
What say will the Senate have?
Week 8 & 9: Chapter 15: Executives
Date: March 27th, 30th, & April 1st
Reading
Assignments
Pages 277-297 in the Roskin text
Course Reserves in Library Readings
Leader’s recent power struggle worries west
Africa’s new cash prize for top leaders
The bizarre plan to suspend the Constitution
Does America need to update Constitution?
Miscellaneous
Assignment #5
Issue Paper #2 –
Electoral Problems: Due January 22nd
Weeks 9 & 10: Chapter 17: Legal Systems &
Courts
Dates: April 3rd, 6th, 8th, & 10th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 319-337 in the Roskin Text
Course Reserves
Court to weigh conflicting permissions for searches
Supreme Court to hear Utah police search case
On the docket
Disabled inmates’ right to sue affirmed
Swearing on the Koran
Technology complicates Muslim divorce cases
Only in America
The “Eagles Court” may end in Philadelphia
How far is too far for self-defense?
Exam #2: April 17th, 2009
Weeks 11 & 12: Chapter 12: Elections
Dates: April 13th, 15th, & 20th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 213-234 in the Roskin text
Course Reserves
These articles will be included in Issue Paper #2.
Week 13 & 14: 9: Chapter 19: Violence &
Revolution
Date: April 27th, 29th, May 1st, 4th, 6th, & 8th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 359-378 in the Roskin text
Course Reserves
These articles will be added later this semester.
Final Exam: To Be Announced