Introduction to Political Science Syllabus

Course Description | Overview and Course Goals | Course Competencies | Course Policies
  Required Text | Course Schedule

Course Description

POS 105   Introduction to Political Science    Five credits
This course introduces the student to the field of political science by examining the state, elements of government, the political process, political ideologies, and international relations.

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I. Overview and Course Goals

Welcome to Introduction to Political Science (POS 105) on line! This course is a fundamental study of the concept of ideology. Students will study liberalism, conservatism, socialism, communism, fascism and newer ideologies by comparing them to the democratic ideal. By the end of the semester the student will be able to satisfactorily complete all the listed learning objectives. There are two possible texts you may use for this course. The eight assignments required in this class are listed in the Course Schedule below. Each of these assignments are worth 10 points. There is only one exam, the final exam, which has 40 multiple choice questions worth .5 points each, for a total of 20 points.

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II. Course Competencies

If you successfully complete this course you will be able to demonstrate an increasing level of competency in each of the following:

	Define ideology and identify its functions
	Recognize the difference between democracy as an ideal and the different conceptions of democracy held by competing ideologies
	Identify the several varieties of liberalism, conservatism, socialism, communism, and fascism and the historical circumstances in which they emerged
	Show how liberalism, conservatism, socialism, communism, and fascism perform the functions of ideology
	Describe the characteristics and main features of the newer ideologies, such as liberation ideology and green ideology
	Read and comprehend assigned reading material, demonstrating the ability to analyze and interpret a variety of materials
	Write in an intelligent and informative manner, demonstrating the ability to produce clear, correct, and coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion, and audience
	Think critically in analyzing information, demonstrating the ability to evaluate arguments and to construct alternative strategies
	Display increasing computer literacy, demonstrating the ability to use computer-based technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information
	Display respect, acceptance and appreciation for diversity

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III. Course Policies

Ground Rules for On Line Participation

This is an online course designed to give you direct, one-on-one feedback on assignments. You are expected to complete your work online. If you have problems transmitting your assignments to me, contact me immediately, and we'll come up with a plan B. I do not have assignment deadline dates for Aims students. However, you need to keep in mind that the college has an anticipated course completion date for you. Ideally, you should plan on completing one assignment each week. I know some weeks are harder than others, but pick a day on which you intend to send me your assignments and try to stick to it. For example, if you usually have time to work on the course on Saturdays, plan to send me an assignment every Saturday. If you will stick to your schedule as often as possible, I'll get used to looking for you and can more quickly reply with your grade.

1. I will not accept any assignments from you until you have received an email from me saying that you have successfully completed the orientation. Anything sent to me prior to that time will be returned to you. The orientation is located on the main page at www.amyglenn.com/courses.htm.

2. Students should use e-mail for all course communication ... not the telephone. If you have an emergency or if your internet access goes down, don't hesitate to call me. My cell number is given on the main Courses page. Confusion of concepts, being late on an assignment, not understanding an assignment and so on ... do not constitute emergencies. All communication other than emergencies should be handled by email.

3. Conventions of online etiquette, which collectively embody courtesy to all users, will be observed at all times. You can find these on the main courses page under Email Etiquette, which is required reading for your orientation.

4. Students may get assistance with computer-related problems through their college's computer help department. It's possible I can help you with the smaller things ... but I'm a social scientist, not a techie!

5. Students must submit assignments in the body of their emails. I encourage you to complete the assignments in Word, Word Perfect, or whatever word processing software you use, and then copy and paste the assignment into the body of your email message to me. Save your assignments in your software in case you need to resend one for some reason. I do not accept files attached to email, assignments in forwarded emails, faxed work, or work that is snail mailed.

6. Always include your name and the number of your assignment at the beginning of your assignment. I don't want to hunt for or guess at who you are or the number of the assignment you are completing.

7. You may send assignments as quickly as you like but you must send them in order and you may only send one at a time. Once I have responded to that assignment, you may send the next one. If you send me, for example, three at once, I will send the last two back to you. I do this for two reasons. First, if you have made a mistake in your assignments, I will have to send all of them back to you for correction. If you only send one, you'll know to correct the others before you send them. Second, I don't have the space to save several assignments for each student who likes to work quickly. So ... one at a time, please! (This does not apply to assignments 1A-2B. Since I get a copy of the same email you get, there's nothing for me to grade and send you.)

8. When emailing me, always use POS 105 as your subject line. The subject line must look exactly as I have typed it here - capital letters, one space, and the course number - with nothing else in the subject line. Emails using the wrong subject line will not reach me. I get several hundred emails each day and so have very strict spam controls on my software. Emails with any other subject line usually get deleted before I ever see them.

9. I usually respond to all emails, if only to say "I received your message." If you do not get a response from me within 48 hours, chances are I did not get your email. Try three things. First, check to make sure you had the appropriate subject line on the email you sent. Second, check the computer that you used. When I reply, I do not type your address into a new email. I use the 'reply' button. This means that the reply goes straight back to the address from which you sent your original message. If you sent your message from a friend's machine, or work, or school, that's where my response went. Finally, check the announcements on the main Courses page. You must check the announcements frequently. I post anything that affects a number of students as an announcement, rather than using several hours to respond to each of their individual emails. Things such as schedule changes, syllabus corrections, absences, computer problems and so on will always be posted under the Announcements section. If you discover you made a mistake sending your assignment or if you're simply not sure, paste it in a new email and send it again before it's too late for me to accept.

10. Some of you print out the syllabus. I must caution you that the official syllabus and schedule are online. Although I detest making changes in the middle of a class, I do have that right as your professor and occasionally it is necessary. You are responsible for knowing any changes that are made while you are enrolled in the course. More importantly, I often put announcements in the syllabus. If you're working off of a printout, you miss those. If you work off of a printout, make sure you remember to check the online syllabus often!

Academic Honesty

Institutional policies are in effect. All your work must be your own, unless I authorize collaboration, in which case you must, in writing, acknowledge the help you have received. Presenting as one's own work the words, ideas, or expressions of another in any form is cheating through plagiarism, and is not tolerated by your institution or by me. The claim of ignorance is no excuse. The web is a marvelous resource for today's students. I encourage you to use web resources in preparing your work. However, any sites used must be listed at the end of your work. Too, using web resources does not mean you can copy-and-paste from a site for use in your assignment, even if you give credit to the site. Your work must be precisely that ... your work in your words. I use web resources extensively and I can usually spot a copy-and-paste job instantly. At the least, I will refuse to accept your assignment. At the worst, students are frequently expelled for academic plagiarism. It's a huge risk for a limited return.

Grading Policy & Assignments

I send you a grade for every assignment you complete. You must keep up with those grades and take responsibility for tracking your total during the course. You do not need to email me with questions about your grade. The grading scale is as follows: A = 90 or above; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = 59 or below. I do NOT average grades or use percentages. I simply add up the points you earn for all assignments you complete. The final exam is worth 20 points and each of the eight assignments is worth 10 points. The assignments add up to a potential of 100 points.

I am responsible for giving you prompt, clear, & useful feedback and for helping you become a better student & writer and a more critical thinker.
You are responsible for:

	Completing the textbook reading assignments (in the Course Schedule chart below)
	Reading the Notes (on Margin Notes page linked above)
	Completing any additional reading or activities assigned, either as part of the lectures or as part of the assignments
	Completing 8 assignments (on the Assignments page linked above)
	Completing an online final examination (directions at the bottom of this page)

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IV. Required Text

Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 7th edition
ISBN 0-205-60737-3
Ball & Dagger
Longman


Textbooks usually are much cheaper if purchased online. You have to be careful to purchase the correct text, though, so I have given your text's ISBN above. You are also welcome to use an older edition of the text (6th edition - 0-321-39015-6). But ... if you buy an edition other than the one I've listed above, you will be responsible for matching up the appropriate material in the chart below to the chapters in the text you buy and for any "holes" in the coverage.

BUY A PRINT TEXT ONLINE

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V. Course Schedule

VI. ONLINE FINAL EXAM INSTRUCTIONS

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