Political Science
PLS 101
Resources in Political
Science
Class Meetings, Office Hours and Contact Information
Faculty
Contact Information
Class
Office Hours
Dr. Sandra M. Emerson
Building 94-309,
Phone: 909 869-3879
email: smemerson@csupomona.edu
Monday & Wednesday 9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.
Office Hours:
Monday and Tuesday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Saturday either in a.m. or p.m. by appointment
Course Description:
This is a course for new political science majors (whether beginning college students or
transfers to Cal Poly Pomona). It is designed to introduce students to the resources available for
careers in, and the study of, political science. This course seeks to develop skills in research,
reading, writing, oral presentations, etc. The goal is to provide a clear understanding of what is
involved in being a successful political science major at Cal Poly Pomona and the scope of the
discipline.
Objectives:
At the completion of the course, students should be able to:
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identify members of the political science faculty and their core areas of specialization,
explain the areas of study in each of the disciplines subfields,
complete course assignments
make effective use of the library for academic research,
write an academic paper using appropriate citation format and analysis
demonstrate basic computer skills.
explain the key elements of an effective oral presentation, and
identify career possibilities for political science majors.
Readings:
Texts:
Grigsby, E. (2012) Analyzing Politics: An introduction to political science, 5th edition. Toronto,
Canada: Cengage
Schmidt, D. (2010) Writing in Political Science: A practical guide, 4th edition. Boston, MA:
Longman.
Articles (four on-line) are available via Blackboard for PLS 101
Blair, D. (2009)The child in the garden: An evaluative review of the benefits of school
gardening. Journal of Environmental Education 40 (2), 15-38.
Bogard, C.J. and I. Sheinheit and R. Clarke (2008)Information they can trust: Increasing
Youth Voter Turnout. PS Online 41 (3) 541-46.
Meyers, J. (2008) The aftermath of environmentalism. American Prospect 16 (10), 5-7.
Stolle, D., M. Hoog he and M. Micheleth (2005). Politics in the Supermarket: Political
Consumerism as a Form of Political Participation. International Political Science Review
26(3), 245-269.
Course Activities:
This class meets weekly and there are assignments and/or exams in 8 of the 10 weeks. One
objective of this course is for students to learn to manage time. Consequently promptness,
completeness and quality are equally valued. Unless otherwise stated the assignments are
due on the date specified and are submitted in hard copy during class time. Assignments
should be TYPED. If assignments are not typed they will not be graded.
There will be 4 impromptu quizzes this quarter. The top 3 of 4 grades will be summarized to
constitute your exam score. PLEASE bring the short 15 item Scantron to each class just in case
it is needed.
Class Policies:
Academic Honesty: Students should review the University regulation concerning academic
honesty. Those regulations will be enforced in this class. In particular students should avoid
plagiarism. See the following site if you have questions about plagiarism. A student who
engages in plagiarism will receive a failing grade. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend every class. They should arrive before the lecture
begins and leave when the class is over. Perfect attendance earns the student 6 points. No
makeup exams or supplemental assignments are available. Assignments are posted well in
advance and may be submitted on the due date or earlier. Missing a class is not an excuse for
submitting a late assignment. However, a student that has an extended illness, hospitalization
or is incapacitated may contract with the faculty for alternative dates and times for completing
assignments. Documentation of illness or incapacitation is required.
Disabilities: A student with a disability (physical, learning, etc.) that requires special
consideration should notify the faculty in the first week. Appropriate accommodations will be
made for the classroom portions of the course.
Civility: Permission to remain in the class is dependent on demonstrating respect for the faculty
and students. This includes (but is not limited to) listening to others, treating persons with
respect, and not disrupting class activities. Consistently arriving late and/or leaving early is
disrespectful of students and faculty. Disagreements and arguments are expected but should
not devolve into personal attacks or exchanges. Falling asleep, surfing the net, text messaging
and related behaviors will be treated as an absence.
English Communication: All written and oral assignments should be prepared in Standard
English. Misspellings, poor grammar, incorrect syntax will lower your grade by 10 points or
more. Please write clearly, concisely and with care. A paper with more than 3 grammar,
spelling, and related errors will not be graded. Student may resubmit a no-grade paper once. If
you need assistance with writing consult the Writing Center in the CPP Library, building 15.
Grading:
A = 95 and above
A- = 90 to 94
B+ = 87 to 89
B = 84 to 86
B- = 80 to 83
C+ = 77 to 79
C = 74 to 76
C- = 70 to 73
D+ = 67 to 69
D = 64 to 66
D- = 60 to 63
Plagiarism or any summative grade of less than 60 is F. Plagiarized papers will be
forwarded to Judicial Affairs Office for adjudication.
Course Schedule
Week Date Topic/ Discussion
1
Readings
4/3
Introduction, tents Syllabus, Tents
4/8
What is PLS?
Schmidt, Chapter 1
( pages 3-25)
Grigsby, Chapter 2
Meyers, J. The aftermath ...
Assignments
BRING=download forms
DUE= Submit typed
Points
Journalism vs. political
science
**
Week Date
2
3
4
5
Topic/
Readings
Discussion
Points
Thinking
4/10 about
politics
Schmidt, Chapter 2 AND pages 247 to
255.
Select a topic for a lit
review.
Selecting
4/10 a Topic
Schmidt, Chapter 3
0 to -5
Topic …continued
Submit name & topic on
3X5 card
4/15 Analyzing Bodgard’s Information They Can Trust”
scholarly PS On line
work
Bring article to class for
discussion.
PLS
4/17 faculty
field
research
Preparation for assignments 1 and 2
Bring assign.1 and 2
4/18 Interview
4/21 PLS
faculty
Students interview PLS
PLS faculty are located in building 94- 3 rd
professors
floor
PLS
Debrief Assignment 1
4/22 discipline
at CPP
Assignment 1 and
Assignment 2 due
Citations Schmidt, Chapters 7, 8
4/24 and
Wikilobbying
Library
Resources What reality is!
Check your understanding
of plagarism a brief self
quiz on BLACKBOARD.
Bring Assignment 3
Citing scholarly sources
4/29 Library
Sources
with Don
Page at
CPP
Library
Room
2907
Bring Assignment 3:
Citing scholarly sources
and begin working on
identifying scholarly
articles for lit. review
Schmidt, Chapter 4
What is wrong with this site?
5/1 Politics as Schmidt, Chapter 10
normative
Grigsby, 3 and 5
6
Assignments
BRING=download forms
DUE= Submit typed
5/6 Theory
informs
critical
thinking
of
literature
Blair, 2008. The child in the Garden. On
Blackboard
10
10
Submit assignment 3
10
Bring Blair article.
**
5/8 Discussion of
qualitative
analysis and
evidence.
Schmidt, Chapter 5,
92 to 99.
Ideology of Independence
Bring Assignment 4
Annotated bibliography.
Schmidt 199 and
template
Blair, 2008. The child in the Garden.
On Blackboard
7
5/13 Non Traditional
Politics
Grigsby Chapter 7
**
Geene Davis on gender in film
UK on environmental 10/10
Discussion of
5/15 quantitative
analysis and
evidence
Stolle, D., M. Hooghe and M.
Micheletti 2005, Politics in
Supermarket. On line
10
Submit assignment 4
scholarly articles
annotated bibliography
.
Barking for Clean Air
8
Finding Themes
Copy of Assignment 4
5/20
5/22 Fascism:
Assignment 4 returned
**
Grigsby Chapter 6
American Fascism Fascism and Economics
9
5/29 Critique and
collaboration
DRAFT PARTNERS FOR 9:00 a.m.


review and assess
discuss and deliberate
Submit literature review
to draft partner. Bring
Assignment 5
0 to
-10
Examples of literature
reviews on Blackboard:
10

Public policy and
ENRON

Campaign Reform
6/3 Fascism continued
Australian Fascism
Can Be Fun
Submit 2 copies of Assign 10
5: 1 to Dr. E. and other to
author
6/5 Career Center
D. Craig
Submit Assign 6 in hard
copy to Dr. E. via
TURNITIN for full credit.
20
Evaluations
Attendance
[6]
SUM
100+
Final
----
Literature review
70
Best on 3 of 4 quizzes
30
This page is Copyright; 2010 by S.M. Emerson. Updated Winter 2013
Space for this page is provided by California State Polytechnic University Pomona. Although it
is intended to further educational mission of the university, the opinions expressed here are those
of Dr. S. M. Emerson and do not reflect official policy of the University. Send email to
smemerson@csupomona.edu