Introduction to Political Science

POLI 101

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE

Dr. L. T. Farley

Spring 1998

Summer 1998 courses taught by Dr. Farley: POLI 210 State and Local Government HIST 328 Seminar: US since 1945

This course will introduce the student to the major substantive and theoretical topics examined by political scientists and to the significant methods used by political scientists to investigate these matters.

COURSE MATERIALS

Required Readings:
Huxley Brave New World
Orwell 1984
Skinner Walden Two
Buck The Good Earth
Butler The Parable of the Sower
Voltaire Candide
Tinder Political Thinking

Recommended Readings:
Plato The Republic
Hoffer The Ordeal of Change
Mill On Liberty
Hobbes Leviathan
Butler Erewhon
Machiavelli The Prince

ASSIGNMENTS

There are ten written assignments that must be turned-in during the semester.

(a) There are six sets of papers (typed) dealing with the first six books listed on the Required Readings list. These papers will be due on the scheduled days for the class discussion of these books. Late papers will not be accepted. Two of these papers will be in essay form, two in dialogue form, and two in sonnet form. Also, a paper on the Tinder book (click here for assignment guidelines) will be due on May 5.

(b) A "Journals" assignment requiring an examination of ten of the leading research journals in political science will be due on May 5.Click here is see the description of the Journals assignment.

(d) An INS Debriefing Questionnaire will be due on May 5.

Note: Written assignments that are found to be satisfactory will not be returned. Thus, the student is advised to make copies before turning assignments in. Unsatisfactory work will be returned to the student for rewriting.

Click here to browse the Department of History, Political Science, Economics, and Management home page.

GRADING

Your final grade will be computed on the following basis:

Best Test 30%

Next Best Test 25%
Poorest Test 20%
Assignments 10%
Simulation Exer. 10%
Discretionary 5%

To see some sample exam questions, click here.

Note: All assignments and exercises must be satisfactorily completed to pass the course.

Note: Students seeking either an A or an A- grade in the course must read one of the Recommended Readings listed above and submit a four-page paper (essay) dealing with the book. See the professor for details on the form and content of the paper.

Academic Honesty: Students must do their own work. Students must respect the intellectual property of other persons. Therefore, students must cite all materials (from whatever source) that is used, quoted, or paraphrased. Failure to respect the intellectual property rights of other people will result in an automatic failing grade for the semester and in possible permanent dismissal from the University.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Jan 19 - 25
Introduction to Course
Politics and Political Science
Required Readings: Huxley, all.

Jan 26 - Feb 1
Political Legitimacy. and Power
Huxley discussion
Required Readings: Orwell, first half; Tinder, start.

Feb 2 - 8
Political Concepts
Democracy
Required Readings: Orwell, second half.

Feb 9 - 15
Democracy continued
Orwell discussion
Required Readings: Skinner, first half; Tinder, cont.

Feb 16 - 22
Review
Test I
Required Readings: Skinner, second half.

Feb 22 - Mar 1
Skinner discussion
Elections.
Required Readings: Buck, first half; Tinder, cont.

Mar 2 - 8
Political Ideologies
Required Readings: Buck, second half

SPRING BREAK

Mar 16 - 22
Political Ideologies continued
Review
Test II
Required Readings: Butler, all; Tinder, continue

Mar 23 - 29
INS Training
Required Readings: Voltaire, all

Mar 30 - April 5
INS training
Required Readings: Tinder, finish.

April 6 - 12
Buck discussion
Required Readings: none

April 13 - 19
Butler discussion
Required Readings: none.

April 20 - 26
Voltaire discussion
Required Readings: none.

April 27 - May 4

Careers

Review

Test III -- Final Exam

Note: INS scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 1998 (tentative).

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