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Introduction to the American Political Process >> Content Detail



Syllabus



Syllabus

A list of topics is presented in the calendar below.



Course Description


This course provides students with an introduction to the basic institutions of American government, especially as established in the constitution, and with an introduction to currents of thought among social scientists about the workings of U.S. politics. This is a communication intensive course. As such you are required to write at least 20 pages - that's the C.I. requirement - and participate in class discussions.



Requirements and Grading



RequirementsPercentages
Participation20%
Reading Paper and Discussion Leader20%
Observation Paper20%
Term Paper40%



Participation


Regular attendance and participation in class discussion.



Reading Paper and Discussion Leader


Write one short paper on the readings for one of the weeks. Please choose one of the weeks during the first week of class.

This paper is due Tuesday morning, 10 a.m., of the week about which the paper is written. The paper should engage what you feel to be an interesting political question raised in the readings. The paper should be 3 to 4 pages long, double spaced, 12 points, 1 inch margins. Send the paper to me and to all other students in the class electronically. I will use these to open conversation about the week's topic. During your week I expect you to help lead discussion. The paper will be graded on your writing and analysis and your participation during that week.



Observation Paper


The paper should be 3 to 4 pages long and on a topic related to your term paper. Please submit your paper by the end of Week 7.



Term Paper


A 15-page research paper that builds off the observation paper on one of the topics distributed in class. I expect you to choose a topic and inform your TA by the end of Week #6. You will work in recitation on how to research and write your paper. You are required to submit a paper outline by end of Week #8 and a rough draft by the end of Week #10. We will give you comments on your draft so that you can rewrite the paper and turn it in by the end of Week #14.



Term Paper Grading



Term paper stagesPercentages
Outline10%
Rough Draft40%
Final Term Paper50%

Please see assignments for more detailed instructions for the reading paper, observation paper, and term paper.

The papers will be graded on the quality of thought and analysis of the political situation, the research you do, and the quality of writing.



Calendar



WEEK #TOPICSKEY DATES
Introduction and Politics of the American Constitution
1Introduction and Organization
2Theories and Theoretical ToolsChoose one week's readings on which to write a short paper
Pluralism and Its Critiques
3Pluralism
4Economic Interests
5Race
6Collective ActionTerm paper topic due
Voting and Elections
7Party and IdeologyObservation paper due
8ResponsivenessTerm paper outline due
9Retrospective Voting Issue Ownership
10Voting and Seats Election ReadingRough draft of term paper due
Law Making
11Representation
12-13Policy Making
Media and Politics
14Zaller's TheoryTerm paper due

 








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