Towson University
Introduction to International Relations, POSC 107 ONLINE
SEMESTER, YEAR
Instructor: Molly Ruhlman
Office Hours: XXXX (online only, via blackboard IM or email)
mruhlman@towson.edu
Course Description (from the catalog):
POSC 107 is an introductory examination of principles of legal, political and social relations among nations; coordination and
conflict in the international system; global issues, such as trade, security, war and peace, power and formation of foreign
policy. GenEd II.D.
Students may not repeat this course for credit. It may be repeated once to replace the grade. It cannot be repeated more than
once without prior permission of the Academic Standards Committee.
Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
The goal of the Department of Political Science is to provide students with an understanding of politics that will prepare them
for further study in graduate or professional education or that will prepare them to enter the world of domestic or international
public service or business. To meet this goal, the department seeks to accomplish the following four general student learning
outcomes:
1.
Substantive Knowledge about Politics - Describe the structure and nature of politics in international relations.
2.
Critical Thinking Skills - Identify historical, cultural, and socio-economic assumptions that underlie understandings
about politics and explain how they affect one’s perspectives and actions.
3.
Affective Meanings of Politics - Explain the importance of politics in the attitudes and beliefs about current issues
that affect local, national and international affairs.
4.
Skills for Learning and Life - Present articulate and persuasive arguments about politics in written and oral
communications.
This course addresses these outcomes by introducing you to the study of International Relations. Upon completion of the
course, students should be able to do the following:
1. Understand how the international system evolved into its current form;
2. Identify and describe the major actors and institutions in the international system; including the role of states,
international organizations, and the world political economy;
3. Understand various theoretical approaches to the study of international relations;
4. Understand the instruments of international relations such as power, military force, diplomacy, law, and economics;
and
5. Be able to use these understandings and theories to explain major issues that affect international relations.
Course Overview
This course offers an introduction to International Relations theory and contemporary issues of international politics. We will
explore competing theoretical approaches as we seek to understand and explain the interaction of international actors including
states, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations and individuals. We will explore these theories as we look at
several challenges to international politics, including security, political economy, human rights, environmental protection, and
development. We will consider challenges to international cooperation and how states overcome those challenges. At the
completion of the course you will be familiar with global governance, including an understanding of international organizations
and international law. This online course includes several quizzes, online class discussion board participation, three short
writing assignments, and two exams.
Although we will not be meeting in person, there will windows of time when you will need to have access to a computer and be
able to finish assignments. Please be aware of the posted dates and times of the exams now and arrange your schedules
accordingly.
1
Communication with the instructor
As we will not be meeting in person, all of our communication will take place electronically. I will hold online office hours,
answering questions and discussing material via the Pronto chat tool and by email on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00pm
to 1:00pm. Of course you may email me at other times of the week as well.
Assignments and Grading
Chapter Quizzes (15%)
Assignments (15%)
Discussion board (12 pts a week) and News board (4 pts a week) participation on blackboard (20%)
Midterm Exam (25%) Final Exam (25%)
Chapter Quizzes
A quiz will be assigned for each chapter. We will use the textbook’s quizzes that are available online at
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/essentials-of-international-relations5/
Access to the textbook website is free. You will choose the largest number of questions available for each quiz. At the end of
the quiz you will be prompted to send your results to me, with my email address.
Yes you may use your textbook during the quiz.
Each week that an online quiz is assigned, it is due by Friday at noon.
Assignments
There are three short (2-3 page) writing assignments throughout the semester. In order to give you a chance to become familiar
with the fundamentals of International Relations and its theoretical approaches, there will be no assignment due until the second
half of the course. Each is worth 5% of the course (for a total of 15% of your grade). There are three deadlines listed in the
syllabus along with details of each assignment (weeks 8, 12, and 15). To turn in the assignment send me an email with a word
file attached and the text also copied into the body of the email, by Midnight on Friday. Assignment details are on the last page
of the syllabus.
Discussion Board Participation (a total of 12 possible points each week)
A significant part of this class will take place through online discussion boards, available via blackboard. There are three main
components to your weekly discussion board participation:
1) First Post Response to weekly questions (4 points possible two times, total of 8 points)
Each week there will be several discussion questions listed on the syllabus. There will be a discussion forum created
on Blackboard for each week. Within each week’s discussion forum a thread will be started for each question. You are
required to reply to two of these questions. Each question response can earn you up to 4 points (for a total of 8). To
earn the full credit available for each of these question responses your post must thoughtfully reply to the question and
attempt to reflect on course reading. Due each week by Friday at Noon (they are due at noon so that you have some
posts to read and respond to by midnight (see 2 below).
2) Reply to others’ posts (4 points possible)
Another 4 points can be earned by posting thoughtful responses to others’ comments or questions (follow up posts).
You are only required to write one follow up post, but are allowed to submit as many additional posts as you like. To
gain credit your response must be more substantive than simple agreement or disagreement; you must add to the
conversation in some way. Follow up posts (for credit) are due each week by Friday at midnight.
3) A note about grading: I will record 4/4 points for posts that thoroughly answer the question, reference course reading,
and are generally above average in content. Average submissions will be scored at 3.5/4 points. Minimally acceptable
posts will receive 2/4 points. Late submissions will be docked points (depending on severity of lateness)
How to post to the discussion board:
 To submit your initial response to a discussion board question click on the question itself (that I will have posted) and
hit reply. Delete the question from the subject line and replace it with your name.
 To respond to what someone else has said in a discussion board, make sure you hit reply on the comment that you
intend to respond to. You can change the subject line, but it is not required.
International News/Current Affairs Discussion Board (4 points possible each week)
Each week you are to post something on our continuing news discussion board. You can introduce a news item that you
have read or heard about (include links to articles) or respond to something posted by another person. Your post should
include comments on why you find the news item interesting, and how it is related to the material we are reading and
studying that week in class. This is meant to be a conversational forum where we share news items that are interesting
2
and relevant to international relations. To earn the possible 4 points each week for this assignment any reply post must
be thoughtful and ADD to the conversation; more than a simple “I agree” or “I don’t agree.” At least once during the
semester you MUST supply a news item for discussion. You are only required to submit one post to this discussion
board each week, but are welcome to submit as many additional comments as you like. Posts (for credit) to this
discussion board must be submitted each week by Friday at midnight.
How to post to the news board:
 If you want to post a new item on the news board, click where it says “post new news item for week # here” and hit
reply. CHANGE the SUBJECT line to give an indication of what you are writing about. (ex: Security Council meets to
discuss Syria)
 If you want to reply to something someone else has posted, click on the news item or the post that you want to respond
to and hit “reply” – you can change the subject line to indicate what you have to say, or leave the subject line alone.
General Discussion Board Rules:
1) Read the assigned material, be prepared and post on time. 2) Speak out! Explore your ideas and raise questions. 3) Be
polite and respect a diversity of viewpoints. 4) Regurgitation is insufficient. 5) Pay close attention to where you are
posting and change the subject line. For your first discussion board post your subject line should be YOUR NAME, for
news item posts the subject line should indicate the topic you are writing about.
2) You cannot simply agree or restate what others have written. To earn full credit each post must ADD to the
conversation in some meaningful way. Also attempt to connect your answers/posts to the reading material of the class.
3) First discussion board posts in which you answer a discussion question are due by each Friday at noon. Subsequent
reply posts, to another student’s comments (for credit) are due by Friday at midnight. All news item posts are due by
Friday at midnight.
4) You do not need to wait until Friday to post to these boards! In fact, it will be easier for everyone if many people post
their answers or news items earlier in the week; this way there will be material for folks to reply to without having to
wait until the last minute.
Exams
Each of the two exams will require writing an essay response to a question. I will give you a list of possible questions before
each exam, one or two of which will be selected for the exam. You will have 24 hours to write your answers once the final
question has been posted. Because you will have a full 24 hours to write this exam, and you will have access to your materials,
expectations for quality and content will be high. Failure to submit your exam on time will result in a grade of zero unless prior
arrangements have been made with the professor at least one week before the scheduled exam. The exam time will be
rescheduled only in EXTREEM cases. Arrange your work and travel obligations now. The exam times are posted below.
Grading
I use the +/- grading system for grades A-, B+, B-, and C+. I do not use +/- below the grade of C. My scoring for grades is as
follows
Letter
Grade
A
AB+
B
B-
Range
92-100
90-91
88-89
82-87
80-81
Score Recorded when only
a Letter Grade is Assigned
95
90
88
85
80
Letter
Grade
C+
C
D
F
Range
78-79
70-77
60-69
Below 60
Score Recorded when only
a Letter Grade is Assigned
78
75
65
Varies
Individual Student Needs
If English is not your first language special arrangements can be made to improve your performance on the exams and
assignments. Please see me prior to the first exam for more information.
This course is in compliance with Towson University’s policies for students with disabilities. Accommodations can be made on
exams and assignments for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with Disability
Support Services (DSS), 7720 York Road, Suite 232, 410-704-2638 (Voice or TDD). Students who expect that they have a
disability but do not have documentation are encouraged to contact DSS for advice on how to obtain appropriate evaluation. A
memo from DSS authorizing your accommodation is needed before any accommodation can be made.
3
If you have special needs regarding assignments or exams, please talk with me at the beginning of the term. The number for
Towson disability support services is 410-704-3475
Required Text
1) Essentials of International Relations, 5th edition, Karen A. Mingst and Ivan M. Arreguin-Toft (EIR)
2) Essential Readings in World Politics, 4th edition, Karen A. Mingst and Jack Snyder (ERWP)
Week 1, January 30 – February 3: Introduction to the class
Reading:
1) Syllabus. Read it thoroughly, more than once, and keep it handy throughout the semester!
In particular, read pages 2 and 3 especially closely.
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) Why is the study of IR important?
b) What would you like to learn by taking this class?
c) What issue in international relations is currently most interesting to you? This can be general (economics, security, etc)
or specific (Syria, Famine in Somalia, etc)
2) Respond to another student’s answer to one of the above questions (submit by Friday at midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board – post comments on a news item of your choice or respond to another
student’s comments (submit by Friday at midnight)
Week 2, February 6-10: Introduction to the International Relations
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 1, all
2) ERWP: Chapter 1, all
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace): (submit by Friday at midnight)
1) Chapter 1 online quiz (select the 25 question option)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
4) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) What argument did the Melians make when attempting to persuade the Athenians to let them be? What was the
response of the Athenians, and their reasoning?
b) What does Immanuel Kant’s recipe for perpetual peace include? Do you think these would create stable international
peace, or is Kant missing something?
c) Respond to Jack Snyder’s essay on Rival Theories. Which theory of international politics do you think, at the beginning
of this course, most aligns to your personal perspective?
5) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at midnight)
6) International News / Current Affairs discussion board, post comments on a news item of your choice or respond to another
student’s comments (submit by Friday at midnight)
Week 3, February 13-17: Historical Context of Contemporary IR
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 2, all
2) ERWP: Chapter 2, all
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace): (submit by Friday at Midnight)
1) Chapter 2 online quiz (select the 35 question option)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) The Treaties of Westphalia are often viewed as the beginning of modern international relations. Why are they a useful
benchmark? What factors does this benchmark ignore?
4
b) Colonization by the great powers of Europe has officially ended. However, the effects of the colonial era linger.
Explain with specific examples.
c) Woodrow Wilson and George Kennan demonstrate two different perspective about creating peace and stability – one
Liberal and the other Realist. Compare these two approaches and their principle ideas.
d) Which of Wilson’s 14 points do you think are most important for IR today, and why?
e) The development of international relations as a discipline has been closely identified with the history of Western
Europe and the United States. With this civilizational bias, what might we be missing?
f) Are the US and Russia heading for a new Cold War? Why or why not?
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
Week 4, February 20-24: Theoretical Perspectives and Realism
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 3 pages 65-76
2) ERWP: Chapter 3, Morgenthau and Mearsheimer
Online Assignments: None due this week
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) What is the value of studying international relations from a theoretical perspective?
b) Choose a current event. Describe and explain that event using the three levels of analysis. Which level of analysis do
you think is most important for understanding international relations?
c) Mearsheimer believes that the structure of the international system (anarchy) drives state behavior. What does he
believe is the result for international relations? Can you think of an example in current affairs that might demonstrate
this tendency in state behavior, or an example that counters Mearsheimer’s claims?
d) What are the major theoretical underpinnings of realism and neorealism? In your opinion is this theoretical perspective
“realistic” in the modern world?
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
Week 5, February 27- March 2: Liberalism and Social Theories
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 3 pages 76-91
2) ERWP: Chapter 3, Doyle, Wendt and Tickner
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace): (Submit by Friday at Midnight)
1) Chapter 3 online quiz (select the 18 question option)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) President Barack Obama: is he a realist, a liberal, or a radical? Provide evidence to support your position.
b) Constructivists assert that the power of norms and ideas is continuously shaping and reshaping state behavior. Select a
political idea – equality, democracy, or human rights. How has that idea been changed over time? How has state
behavior changed?
c) Doyle, Wendt and Tickner all provide an alternative perspective to the realism demonstrated by Morganthau and
Mearsheimer. Choose one author and discuss how they critique the tenets of Realism. Do you agree with the critique?
d) You have now been introduced to several theories of international politics. Which do you think presents the most
accurate view of international relations?
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
5
Week 6, March 5-9: The International System
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 4, all
2) ERWP: Chapter 4, all
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace): (Submit by Friday at Midnight)
1) Chapter 4 online quiz (select the 25 question option)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) Is the international system like other physical or biological systems? How are these systems similar? How are they
different?
b) The realist view of the international system has been criticized as oriented to the status quo. To what extent is that
critique valid? Is that characteristic desirable or not?
c) Neorealists and neoliberals agree on an essential characteristic of the international system. How do they disagree? Why
is that disagreement important?
d) After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some theorists argued that Marxism had been discredited and was, in fact, dead.
Is that true? How can radicalism help us explain anything about the international system?
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
Week 7, March 12-16: The State and Power
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 5, all
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace):
1) Simulation titled “The Use of Power”, under Chapter 5 on studyspace (suggested, not for credit)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) What does power consist of in international relations? What do you think is the most important component of state
power?
b) You are the leader of an emerging economy such as Brazil. What tools of statecraft do you have at your disposal to
influence your neighbors? A hegemon like the United States?
c) Discuss news item in current international relations that suggests the use of soft power. How can you tell whether soft
power “works”?
d) Transnational criminal activities – money laundering, drug trafficking – undermine the effectiveness of governments
and control by the state. Choose a state where such activities flourish and discuss the government’s approach to
addressing such problems.
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
SPRING BREAK March 19-23
Week 8, March 26- 30: The State Continued, and Foreign Policy Making
Reading:
1) ERWP: Chapter 5, all
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace): (submit by Friday at Midnight)
1) Chapter 5 online quiz (select the 26 question option)
2) Simulation titled “Prisoner’s Dilemma” (suggested, not for credit)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) What is sovereignty, and how is it challenged?
6
b) What is the importance of nationalism to international relations? Do you think nationalism is a positive or negative
force in international relations?
c) Should there be a right of national or ethnic self-determination? Why or why not?
d) What can be done when sovereignty fails? What should be done, in your opinion?
e) Compare the ideological confrontations of the cold war to the modern post 9/11 conflicts.
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
4) First written assignment due, emailed by Friday at Midnight
Week 9, April 2-6: The Individual
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 6, all
2) ERWP: Chapter 6, all
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace): (submit by Friday at Midnight)
1) Chapter 6 online quiz (select the 25 question option)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) Leaders such as Fidel Castro, Robert Mugabe, or Muammar Qaddafi, are often dismissed as “crazy” or “nuts.” What do
we mean? What other explanation can be offered for their behavior?
b) You are a top decision maker in a government bureaucracy. What strategies would you use to try to minimize the
effects of misperceptions in decision making?
c) If more women held major leadership positions in international affairs, would policies be any different? What theories
would explain behavior by women leaders that is similar to or different from that of male leaders?
d) Mass publics are often stimulated by the media and connected by new technologies. How? How have the internet, cell
phones and twitter made a difference?
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
MIDTERM EXAM Monday April 9th
I will post the exam question(s) on Blackboard on Sunday April 8th at noon. Your answers are to be emailed to me (attach a
word file to your email, and also copy and paste your answer into the email body itself) by Midnight on Monday April 9th. You
must arrange your schedule to accommodate this exam.
Week 10, April 9-13: International Organizations and International Law
NOTE: April 13 is the LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW with a GRADE of W, or to change to a PASS option
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 7, all
2) ERWP: Chapter 7: Keck and Sikkink, Power, Kissinger, Roth
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace)
1) Simulation titled “International Organizations and International Law” (suggested, not graded)
2) Chapter 7 online quiz (select the 26 question option)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) Should the United States become party to the Rome Statute (join the International Criminal Court)? Why or why not?
b) It is generally true that “most states follow most international law most of the time.” Why might this be? Without a
global government or official global police, what enforcement mechanism is there for international law?
a) Has international law made a positive contribution to international relations? Why or why not?
b) Describe the benefits of, and the problems with, the UN. Discuss several reforms that you believe would improve the
United Nations, making it a more representative and effective international organization.
c) Explain UN Peacekeeping operations. What are the strengths and weaknesses of UN Peacekeeping?
7
d) How can/do NGOs and transnational advocacy networks impact international relations? Can you provide any
examples?
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
Week 11, April 16-20: Understanding War and Managing Insecurity
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 8, all
2) ERWP: Chapter 8, Clausewitz, Posen, Kydd and Walter, Evans, Finnemore
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace): (submit by Friday at Midnight)
1) Chapter 8 online quiz (select the 15 question option)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) What do you think are the most important or significant causes of war? Why?
b) What are the most useful means to prevent war? Why?
c) How can we identify an aggressor in international conflicts? Is such an identification important? Why or why not?
d) Would a nuclear armed Iran endanger the world? If so, who and how? If not, why not?
e) Can the international community prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons? If so, how? If not, why not?
f) Discuss the laws of war and how ideas about the use of force have evolved over time. When, if ever, do you believe it
is “right to fight”?
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
4) Second writing assignment due, emailed by Friday at Midnight
Week 12, April 23-27: International Political Economy
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 9, all
2) ERWP: Chapter 9, all
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace): (submit by Friday at Midnight)
1) Chapter 9 online quiz (select the 27 question option)
2) Chapter 9 online simulation titled “Foreign Trade Policy” (suggested, not for credit)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) Liberals, statists, and radicals see multinational corporations in different ways. What are those different ways?
b) Explain to a French student, a recent voter in the election for European Parliament, how the objectives of NAFTA
differ from those of the European Union.
c) What has been the impact of global economic organizations – the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO – on developing
countries? Do you find these international organizations to be, on the whole, beneficial or not?
d) Has neoliberal economic globalization been beneficial, or not? (describe neoliberal economic globalization in your
answer)
e) Is China’s economic growth a good or bad thing for the United States? How do the liberal and realist perspectives view
the rising economic power of China differently, and which do you think is most accurate?
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
Week 13, April 30-May 4: Disease, Environment, and Human Rights
Reading:
1) EIR: Chapter 10
2) ERWP: Chapter 10, Easterly, Hardin, Sen,and Snyder, Vinjamuri
Online Assignments (wwnorton.com/studyspace): (submit by Friday at Midnight)
1) Ch. 10 Simulation titled “International Environmental Policy” (suggestion, not for credit)
8
2) Chapter 10 online quiz (select the 25 question option)
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer one of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) Before World War II, crises and disasters in distant parts of the world stayed there. This is no longer the case today.
What are two important implications of this new reality?
b) Describe a situation that addresses the trade-off between economic development and environmental sustainability. Can
these two objectives be harmonized in the twenty-first century?
2) And answer one of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) When and how should states intervene in the affairs of other states with poor human rights records? What threshold of
violations has to be crossed first? Who decides when it has been crossed?
b) Are there some human rights that are universal, or are human rights culturally determined? What rights do you believe
should be considered universal human rights? Why these?
3) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
4) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
Week 14, May 7-11: Conclusion, wrap up
Discussion Board Assignments (bbweb.towson.edu):
1) Answer two of the following with an original post: (submit by Friday at Noon)
a) Describe one thing that you understand today that you did not at the start of this class
b) Describe something that this class made you want to know more about
c) Describe how US foreign policy should be designed (broadly), in your opinion.
2) Respond to or comment on at least one post submitted by another student. (submit by Friday at Midnight)
3) International News / Current Affairs discussion board (submit by Friday at Midnight)
4) Third writing assignment due, emailed by Friday at Midnight
FINAL EXAM, Friday May 18th
I will post the exam question(s) on Blackboard on Thursday May 17th at noon. Your answers are to be emailed to me (attach a
word file to your email, and also copy and paste your answer into the email body itself) by Midnight on Friday May 18th. You
must arrange your schedule to accommodate this exam.
9
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
1) International Politics in the Presidential Campaign, Due Fri March 2nd (midnight)
Compare and contrast the foreign policy approaches of the political candidates campaigning for President of the United
States. Make connections to concepts and material we have covered in this class.
2-3 pages double spaced.
2) International Politics in Social Media (Twitter), Due Fri April 20th (midnight)
Choose a current event in international politics and follow that topic on Twitter (I can suggest individuals that you should
follow for particular issues, and of course you will want to explore relevant hashtags for the issue you choose). Write about
the event/issue that you have selected – give a basic background about it (including why it matters) and report on what you
have learned about it. Reflect on the uniqueness of Twitter as a source of information for this – did you learn something
different by following this issue/event on Twitter than you would have from other media sources? What do you think about
the issue (for example, what do you expect to happen going forward, or what do you think the US or some other relevant
actor should do)? While you may not have space to answer all of these questions, give a good overall report on what’s
going on, what you learned, and what you think is important depending on the situation you have been following. Contact
me if you need help understanding Twitter.
2-3 pages double spaced.
3) International Politics in Your Life, Due Friday May 11th (midnight)
This is an opportunity to explore in writing the connections between international politics and your life. There are many
ways that you could write this essay, and endless topics that you could focus on. As you reflect on international political
policy or theory as it connects to your life be sure to keep your writing grounded in the concepts that we are learning in this
course. Make sure that you have something clear to say; take a position or make a statement. Avoid waxing on poetically
without a clear and informed point.
2-3 pages double spaced.
10