Political Science 2 Comparative Government and Politics (#2010 on Tuesday and Thursday)
Assistant Professor David J Uranga
Classroom C360, Office C405
Course Hours 1:00 pm-2:35pm
Office Hours M-Th 9am-10am
Phone Number: 626 585-7750
Website:http://faculty.pasadena.edu/djuranga
I - Introduction
Welcome to the Wonderful World Wide web based Study of Comparative Politics: A Global Approach (Pol Sc
2) taught by yours truly: David J Uranga! During this semester, we will study “Comparative constitutional
principles, governmental institutions and political processes in developed, developing and least developed
nations. Our emphasis will include a greater respect for social scientific methodology and a global
understanding of various governments.”
We will use Michael Sodaro’s textbook and combine its social
scientific and global approach with John McCormick’s case study approach to accomplish two main themes:
First, to master the hypothesis testing method and second, to apply it McCormick’s seven world’s classification
system. Each student shall be able to apply and comparatively classify regimes and explain the impact of
globalization upon a liberal democracy through marginal states.
II – Texts
Michael Sodaro. Comparative Politics: A Global Approach, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2004
John McCormick. Comparative Politics in Transition. Thomson: New York, 2004.
You will need you student identification number and pin number to access the web ct based website that I have
created at http://www.pasadena.edu.
III – Grading
Your grade will be determined by homework, tests, an oral presentation and written project. The grading
breakdown is as follows:
Four Homework:
Four Mixed Exams:
1 Group Created Hypothesis :
1 Group/Oral Presentation Hypothesis
20.0%
40.0%
20.0%
20.0%
Your course grade will be out of 1000 possible points. There is NO EXTRA CREDIT!
Letter Grades will then be assigned on the following basis:
90%-100% (900-1000)
A
79% - 89% (790-899)
B
68% - 78% (680-789)
C
56% - 67% (560-679)
D
Below 56% (Below 560)
F
“Love me Two Times!”
IV– Four Homework Assignments and Four Essay Exams-{40%}
Each student will complete four homework assignments and take four “mixed exams’ that include
identifications, short answer and a long essay question for each of the four exam periods. Below are the
scheduled readings, homework assignments and exam schedule. We will cover most of Sodaro’s theoretical
chapters in class; we will cover especially the first half of McCormick in class and the hypothesis teams will
cover the other chapters through your research.
V – Our Schedule
Week
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Readings
Sodaro and McCormick
Sodaro 1, McCormick Intro
Sodaro 2, McCormick 1
Sodaro 3-4, McCormick 2
Exam One (blue book)
Sodaro 5, McCormick 4
Sodaro 6, McCormick 5
Sodaro 7,
Exam Two
Sodaro 8-9, McCormick 6
Sodaro 10
Sodaro 11, McCormick 8
Exam Three
Sodaro 12, McCormick 9
Sodaro 13,
Sodaro 14,
Final Exam
Due dates = Thursdays
Homework, Tests + Groups
Homework #1 given
Sign up to do groups!
Homework #1 due
Exam 1 given
Homework #2 given; Groups
Groups possible
Homework #2 due
Exam 2 given
Homework #3 given
Groups
Homework #3 due
Exam 3 given
Homework #4 given
Hypothesis Project due
Homework #4 due
Final
VI – Your hypothesis team and term paper: {worth 40%}
The hypothesis team (six students comprise a team) will research, will collectively write a 3-5 type written
hypothesis testing paper on a developing nation state or a marginal state, and finally each team will orally
present their findings in class and in the following manner:
Presenter of the Team Hypothesis: Present your “educated guess” about the supposed positive or negative
impact of ______ upon _________. An example of a guess might be: Lower tariffs should greatly increase the
national wealth of Nigeria.
Presenter of the Independent Variable: Clearly identify the independent variable (the factor that explains an
outcome). An example of this would be Lower tariffs.
Presenter of the Dependent Variable: Clearly identify the dependent variable (the outcome +/- that occurs
due to the changing variable). An example of this would be national wealth of Nigeria.
Presenter of the Expectation: A clear statement of what the group would expect to find if the independent
variable directly (positively or negatively) affects the outcome/dependent variable (positively or negatively). An
example of this be the following statement: We expect to find that an increase in access to higher technology
markets will create a higher likelihood of political instability in Iran.
Presenters of the Evidence: Two presenters will clearly describe what the group found! The first presenter
will state what information supports your original hypothesis? The other presenter will provide counterfactual
data that contradicts the original “guess”.
Presenter of the Group and now your Conclusions: As a group, what conclusions do you draw based upon
your findings or discovery? Did the evidence (supportive and counterfactual) impact your original hypothesis??
Obviously your group’s conclusions are still tentative and your group should declare them to be! If your group
feels that further study is needed on the hypothesis, the presenter should say so.
After your oral presentation is completed, please answer questions that I or your colleagues may have
regarding your hypothesis. The oral is 200 points and the written paper is another 200 points; the oral
presentations may occur earlier than the due date of the hypothesis paper (14th week=due date of the
hypothesis project), so you may present without having finished your project. It is highly recommended,
however, that each team provide to me an outline of your oral defense of the hypothesis. {hint, hint}
VII – Miscellaneous
1. Make-ups (for medical reasons only please) for the in class essays shall occur within a week of
each test and are in to occur in C337. Contact Chris or me to schedule a makeup.
2. Cheating on any exam or plagiarizing on the hypothesis equals a zero score and possible
disciplinary action if warranted.
3. Excessive absences in class (two or more) = drop time! Please come to class fully prepared to
discuss the material presented to you in the book, in lecture, and in the videos. You will do well in
this course if you do.
VIII– Information on the Instructor.
Professor David Uranga received his BA California State University, Northridge in 1987, and his MA from the
University of California at Los Angeles in 1989. He began teaching in 1987 at Cal State Northridge. He has
taught at Glendale Community College, College of the Canyons, and here at Pasadena City College. You can
reach Professor Uranga at djuranga2003@yahoo.com. His TA’s name is Christopher Castaneda and his
email is ccastaneda29@yahoo.com