MWF11
308 Curtiss
PS406: Public Opinion & Voting Behavior
Syllabus
Spring 2002
Instructor: Jim Hutter
REQUIRED texts (with abbreviation; all paperbacks)
E&T: Erikson, Robert S., and Kent L. Tedin. American Public Opinion. 6th edit. Longman,
ISBN: 0-205-29696-3.
F&Z: Flanigan & Zingale, Political Behavior of the American Electorate, 9th. ed. CQ Press,
ISBN: 1-56802-332-4.
P&S: Prysby, Charles, and Carmine Scavo. American Voting Behavior in Presidential Elections 1972 to 1992.
APSA. ISBN 6:1-878147-21-8
FF: Sabato, Larry J.: Feeding Frenzy. Lanahan. ISBN 5: 0-9652687-8-0
OT: Sabato, Larry J.: Overtime! Longman. ISBN 4: 0-321-10028-X
S&W: Strunk and White. The Elements of Style. Allyn and Bacon. (any recent edition)
Date Day Assignment
Schedule of Assignments and Tests
Date Day Assignment
Date
Day Assignment
M
W
F
1/14 1st day of classes
1/16 FF Prefaces., ch. 1-2
1/18 FF ch. 3-4
M
W
F
2/18 F&Z ch. 1
2/20 Exercise 1
2/22 F&Z ch. 2
M
W
F
4/1 E&T ch. 4
4/3 Exercise 4
4/5 E&T ch. 5
M
W
F
1/21 Univ. Holiday
1/23 FF ch. 5-6
1/25 FF ch. 7-8
M
W
F
2/25 F&Z ch. 3
2/27 Exercise 2
3/1 F&Z ch. 4
M
W
F
4/8 E&T ch. 6
4/10 Exercise 5
4/12 E&T ch. 6
M
W
F
1/28 EXAM 1
1/30 OT: Overview, ch. 1
2/1 OT ch. 2-3
M
W
F
3/4 F&Z ch. 5
3/6 Exercise 3
3/8 F&Z ch. 6
M
W
F
4/15 E&T ch. 7
4/17 Exercise 6
4/19 E&T ch. 8
M
W
F
3/11 F&Z ch. 7
3/13 F&Z ch. 8
3/15 EXAM 3
M
W
F
4/22 E&T ch. 9
4/24 Exercise 7
4/26 E&T ch. 10
M
W
F
M
W
F
2/4 OT ch. 4-5
2/6 OT ch. 6-7
2/8 OT ch. 8-9
2/11 OT ch. 10
213 EXAM 2
2/15 E&T App'dix; P&S all;
F&Z Appendix
M-F3/17-24 Spring Break
M
W
F
3/25 E&T ch. 1
3/27 E&T ch. 2
3/29 E&T ch. 3
M
W
F
4/29 E&T ch. 10
5/1 E&T ch. 11
5/3 E&T ch. 12; course
evaluations
Tues 5/7 FINAL EXAM begins at
9:45 a.m in our classroom
ABOUT THIS COURSE
This course examines the political behavior of the general public, focusing on public opinions and voting
behavior. A heavy emphasis will be placed on (a) the reading assignments, (b) lectures and class participation,
including oral presentations by class members, and (c) brief exercises presenting and analyzing polling data
(using the SETUPS data).
THE FOUR R's
The four R's are Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic, and…Rhetoric—the art of effective expression in speech
and writing (according to the American Heritage Dictionary). ISU Comm has come into existence to prompt an
added emphasis in ISU classes on communications skills, both verbal, written, and graphical. In this class, we
will do the traditional reading (and testing) and will add analysis of public opinion data and the presentation of
that analysis to the class both orally and graphically, turning in to the professor a written version. The data
analysis will include statistical procedures (i.e., 'rithmetic). These assignments are referred to as the Exercises in
the above schedule of assignments; each is worth 5 points. See pp. 12-15 of ISU Directory for SPSS and SAS
availability in computer labs.
PS 406 S'02
p. 1
ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is REQUIRED. Attendance will be taken and one point counted each hour you attend
all/most of a class. If you are not in class for any reason, you receive no point (no excuses). Your own illness is
one of the few reasons to miss a class, so do not miss! A failing grade will be given to anyone attending fewer
than 27 of these class meetings (about 67%). Midterm exam days are not counted in attendance.
TESTS & GRADES
There will be three midterm exams over the first three textbooks after each is completed (it may be
necessary to combine the first two exams). The final will consist of questions over the last text plus all lectures.
See also section below on Grading Scale. All tests and assignments must be completed successfully by all
students to receive a passing grade. While test scores and other points earned are used to determine final grades,
the instructor reserves the right to raise or lower final grades or any one or all students to reflect his best
judgment of each student's ability and performance in the class.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Read the statement on academic honesty in the ISU student handbook. All work turned in for a grade
(tests, papers, exercises, etc.) must carry the "Pledge," indicating that you have neither given nor received any
unauthorized assistance on the work. It is unauthorized assistance to observe or learn of others cheating without
informing the instructor promptly (usually by the end of the class period).
EXERCISES
There is no term paper in this course. Instead, there are seven (that might change) planned exercises using
ANES polling data obtained in each presidential election year, 1972-1992. Lecture instructions and a separate
handout will explain what is to be done.
GRADING SCALE
The initial grading scale for all work in the course is A-minus = 85%, B-minus = 75%, C-minus = 65%,
and D-minus = 60% of the points available. No single exam or assignment is curved. The final grade, based on
total points, may be curved. In addition, each student must earn at least 50 percent of the TOTAL points
available on (a) multiple choice (MC) exams (combined, not individually), (b) on the written tests, pop quizzes,
exercises, and oral work presentations, and (c) on attendance in order to pass (but 67% not 50%). Earn less than
the required points for any one of these sections of the course and you will not pass the course regardless of total
points. Inability to write at the college level, either extemporaneously (as on pop quizzes and exams) or on
written assignments (as on the exercises), will result in failing the course. The sources of points and tentative
grading scale follow.
SOURCES OF POINTS
Sabato: Feeding Frenzy (MC exam 1)
Sabato: Overtime (MC exam 2)
Flanigan & Zingale (MC exam 3)
Erikson & Tedin (MC final exam)
Lectures (MC final exam)
Long answer (LA) ques. on midterms
Pop quizzes
Exercises
Oral Reports (over exercises)
Attendance
Total
PS 406 S'02
Max.
10
10
24
36
20
30
35
35
10
40
250
TENTATIVE GRADING SCALE
A+ = 231-250
C+ = 181-187
A = 219-230
C = 169-180
A- = 213-218
C- = 163-168
B+ = 206-212
D+ = 160-162
B = 194-211
D = 155-159
B- = 188-210
D- = 150-154
F =
0-149
p. 2