Political Science 201 (Spring, 2013)
Introduction to American Government: Michael D. Cobb
M/W: 10:15-11:05, 2304 Erdahl Cloyd + Friday Lab (required)
Website: http://faculty.chass.ncsu.edu/cobb/
E-Mail: mike_cobb@ncsu.edu
Office: 223 Caldwell Hall, Phone # 513-3709
Office Hours: By appointment
Course Description and Goals
This course provides you with a broad survey of the behaviors and institutions that define the
American political experience. Although the focus of our course is on American government,
you should also think of this class as an introduction to political science. I have three main goals
in this course:
(1) to introduce you to the social scientific study of political behaviors, institutions, and events;
(2) to introduce you to some of the basic facts about American government and politics; and
(3) to exercise your critical reasoning and communication skills.
The first goal treats this course as a fundamental one in political science, much like introductory
classes in economics, mathematics, and chemistry introduce you to fundamental concepts and
tools that are needed to do more advanced work in the discipline. The second goal is narrower:
to supply you with the terminology and vocabulary necessary to be able to discuss basic and
essential facts about the American political system. We will discuss political behaviors like why
people do or do not vote, why Americans “dislike” public policies such as welfare, and how the
design of political institutions such as the Courts affects their “performance.” The third goal
recognizes this course’s place in a liberal arts education because I aim to help you develop
important life skills whether or not you plan to pursue a career in political science.
Consequently, I emphasize critical thought and analysis as opposed to mere memorization of
names, events, and descriptive statistics.
Required Reading Materials
There are three required textbooks for this course. These books are available at the NCSU and
nearby bookstores, or via places like Amazon: (1) America’s New democracy (6th edition), by
Morris Fiorina et al; (2) Republic Lost, by Lawrence Lessig; and (3) and The Measure of a
Nation, by Howard Freidman.
Lectures will cover current events, the Fiorina textbook, and the Measure of a Nation book. Lab
discussions will focus on reviewing my lectures, discussing current events, and taling about the
Lessig book in particular. You are also required to subscribe to the on-line Washington Post for
free. You must submit confirmation of your online Post subscription to your lab instructor
(NOT ME!) no later than Jan 18 by the time you meet for Lab (**Your performance in the class
will be adversely affected if you do not routinely read at least one daily newspaper**).
Course Requirements
(1) Exams: (45%; 15% each)
Two Midterms (Feb 11 & March 20)
Final Examination (May 6) (cumulative exam)
(2) Pop-Quizzes (taken Fridays in Lab) (25% combined)
(3) Research paper (approximately seven pages in length) (20%)
(4) Class/Lab participation and minor assignments (10%)
(5) Political science research requirement (PSRR) (0%)
Exams: Each exam is worth 15% of your course grade (45% total). Exams consist of a
answering a few concept identification questions and then about three short answer essay
questions. Performing well on the exams is obviously important for your course grade, but you
should also notice that a majority of your course grade is based on your performance in other
areas of the class.
Quizzes: Starting the second time you meet in Friday lab (Jan 18), your instructor is likely to
give you a pop-quiz on the week’s reading, my lectures, and important news events about
American government covered in the Washington Post. The first quiz might also cover main
points in the syllabus, to make sure you’ve read it. Quizzes typically involve multiple-choice
question/answers. Quizzes are not announced ahead of time, but they will occur most times you
meet in Friday’s lab. Thus, you should plan on having taken anywhere from seven to ten quizzes
over the course of the semester (total of 25% of your total course grade); however, your single
worst quiz performance will be dropped when your quiz average is calculated.
Research Paper: You will be provided with appropriate research topics and suggested research
articles to get started. You must use these articles when writing your paper, although you will
also supplement these articles by finding additional ones on your own. The topics and term
paper instructions will be available in early February. The paper is worth 20% of your grade,
and it is due by the start of the last Friday lab, April 26. Papers submitted more than 10 minutes
after the start of lab are subject to one-day point deductions according the late assignment policy
explained below in the grading policy section.
It should go without saying that your term paper must be original work; please do not
jeopardize your course grade and academic standing by plagiarizing. For free writing assistance,
you might want to contact the Writing Assistance Program offered by the Undergraduate
Tutorial Center—147 Leazar Hall (515-3163). Or, if reading this on-line, follow this link:
http://www.ncsu.edu/tutorial_center/writespeak/
Lab: Minor Assignments: Although infrequent, you might be given assignments to complete by
the next time you attend your discussion section. For example, I might ask you to watch the
local news and to record the stories, their length, and substance, so that we can evaluate the mass
media’s role in providing citizens with quality information about their political environment.
Lab: Political Activity Assignment: You must either: (A) write a letter to a government
representative or a newspaper, OR (B) participate in some form of a politically oriented event,
such as attending a city council meeting or a politically oriented event.
To receive credit for the letter writing assignment (A), you need to post-mark or email your letter
no later than March 1. You will turn in a copy of your letter, any reply you received, and your
reaction to this, to your lab instructor by April 5. If you email your letter, you need to “blind
carbon copy (BCC)” your lab instructor to verify the date, otherwise you might not receive full
credit. DO NOT start your letter by writing this is an assignment, or it won’t have the desired
effect.
Regarding the alternative assignment (B), to receive full credit for the political activity, you need
to get advance approval from your lab instructor to verify the event you want to attend is valid.
Afterwards, you will submit a brief, one page maximum report that explains what you did and
what you learned from doing it. Submit this to your lab instructor no later than April 12. Also, it
is acceptable to do this working in a group to promote some kind of political/civic activity.
Attendance: It is your responsibility to regularly attend class and labs. According to university
policy, attendance is mandatory in this class and it is recorded. Although it might sound cliché,
school is your job. An unexcused (by University policy) absence on an exam or quiz means you
forfeit all 100 points. Because of past abuses, if you claim an excused absence because of a
death in the family, the university will be asked to verify this claim. Closer to home, I have yet
to award a grade of an “A” to anyone who did not regularly attend class. If you are unsure about
how the university views attendance, follow this web link to find out more:
http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/academic_regulations/attend/reg.htm
Grading: All assignments are graded on a 100-point scale. Unless stated otherwise, you
automatically forfeit ten points per day (24 hours) that an assignment is late without a valid
(University approved) excuse. Point deductions occur over weekends as well.
Political Science Research Requirement:
All PS201 students are required to become familiar with the procedures of political science
research, either by participating in the Political Science Research Subject Pool (PSRSP) or by
writing a short (3 page) paper. Either activity should require the same amount of time. (Students
repeating PS201 do not have to complete the requirement a second time). Students that fail to
satisfy the research requirement will receive a grade of incomplete for the course until they
satisfy this requirement.
PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH: Students choosing the PSRSP will
satisfy the requirement by participating as a participant in political science research studies
totaling more more than two hours in four, half-hour units. A study lasting less than 30 minutes
earns one credit; one that lasts more than 30 minutes earns two credits. To sign up for the pool,
you will be sent a link to a survey where you provide your name and e-mail address. When
studies are available, you will be contacted (via e-mail) by researchers seeking subjects. You will
receive a brief description of the study and session locations/times and may choose to accept or
decline participation. The studies will insure student anonymity and/or confidentiality and follow
the guidelines of the NCSU Institutional Review Board. You may at any time withdraw from a
study you find objectionable without loss of participation credit. Please report any such incident
to Dr. Boettcher (bill_boettcher@ncsu.edu). At the conclusion of participation the investigator
will explain the study and answer any questions.
REPORT ON A RESEARCH ARTICLE: As an alternative to participating in the PSRSP you
may write a paper discussing a recent article from a political science journal. You are expected to
gain and demonstrate some familiarity with the methods of political science research. Select an
article from the list found at: http://faculty.chass.ncsu.edu/boettcher/articles.html Give the full
reference for the article: name of author(s), year, title of the article, title of the journal, volume,
page numbers. Then summarize the hypotheses/goals of the researcher(s), method(s) used to test
the hypotheses, results of the study, and political significance/relevance of the results. The paper
should be typed, double-spaced, in a 10 or 12 point font, at least three pages long, and include
you name and social security number. Papers must be turned in by the 14th week of the semester.
All papers are graded pass/fail. If a paper is unacceptable you will be given the reasons for its
rejection and asked to make necessary revisions.
Statement on students with disabilities
Wherever possible modifications to tests and other assignments and special arrangements for
attending and recording lectures and seminars will be made in order to accommodate the needs
of students with disabilities. Any student with such a need is encouraged to make an appointment
with the instructor in order to obtain the necessary assistance.
Statement on academic integrity
Students are expected to complete their assignments with due regard to academic integrity. In
order to do so they should familiarize themselves with the relevant sections of the student code
of conduct (Sections 7-13). By signing all work submitted on paper, or by identifying
themselves in work submitted electronically, students affirm that they neither gave nor received
unauthorized aid. Collaboration on assignments among students may only occur when explicitly
authorized by an instructor.
In particular the Department of Political Science takes plagiarism very seriously. Plagiarism is
“the representation of another’s works or ideas as one’s own; it includes the unacknowledged
word for word use and/or paraphrasing of another person’s work, and/or the inappropriate
unacknowledged use of another person’s ideas.” Thus each argument made in a paper which is
not completely the student’s own, must be footnoted or otherwise referenced to indicate its
source. Students found guilty of academic misconduct will at a minimum receive a 0 for the
assignment and have their conduct reported to the office of student affairs. Depending on
the severity of the infraction, it is possible that you will automatically fail the course.
Class Rules
No food. No Phones. Please be respectful of me and your fellow classmates and turn off phones
by the time lecture begins; don’t use them since they are not needed for class. My lectures may
not be tape recorded without prior consent. Laptops are strongly discouraged. If a teaching
assistant sees you using social networking sites like Facebook during class, your course/lab
participation grade will be reduced a letter grade for each occurrence.
Discussion
Regular attendance and participation are good for you and for the whole class (especially in
Labs). Your attendance and participation are essential for your success in this class. You cannot
earn a good grade if you don’t come to class. I will take strong participation into account when
determining your final grade.
It is sometimes said that the world is run by those who show up. Certainly, holding a job
depends on getting there on a regular basis and carefully completing your assignments. Coming
to class and being prepared and active will develop your professionalism, which you will need
whatever sort of work you will do.
The entire class benefits from having active, engaged class members. The classes will be more
interesting if people are regularly involved in discussions, especially as we will be able to refer
back to earlier points and discussions.
To further good discussions, you should do complete and consider all assignments and regularly
follow the news. Quizzes will include questions about the news.
Our discussions will work best if they are open and, to the extent possible, rational and informed
by evidence. Each person’s point of view adds to our discussion and should be treated with
respect and consideration. As you voice your views, keep in mind the need for civility in the
classroom. Criticism of ideas is certainly acceptable; name-calling and derogatory labels are not.
CHASS CAREER SERVICES:
Exploring career options with your major, making decisions about your major or minor, building
resumes and cover letters, preparing for interviews, developing job search strategies,
maximizing career fairs, and more. Make an appointment with your career contact: Sara Concini
(A-H) or Woody Catoe (I-Z). Call 515-2396. University Career Center, 2100 Pullen Hall.
www.ncsu.edu/career
Schedule of Topics and Assignments
Jan 7: Introduction & Expectations
•
Introduction to the course/instructor; syllabus discussed
Jan 9: Lecture on Democracy in the US
•
Read = Chapter 1, Fiorina (pp. 3-21)
Jan 11. Discussion Section (This is a REQUIRED FRIDAY LAB)
•
•
•
Introductions
Political knowledge quiz
PSRSP discussion
Jan 14: Lecture on the US Constitution
•
Read = Chapter 2, Fiorina (pp. 23-45)
Jan 16: Lecture on Federalism
•
Read = Chapter 3, Fiorina (pp. 46-68)
Jan 18: Discussion Section
•
•
WAPO sign up due
Read = Lessig, Preface & Introduction (pp. xi-10)
Jan 21: No Class—MLK Holiday
•
Assignment about MLK due in Friday in Lab (25th): One or two paragraphs, typed, about how
MLK is or is not relevant to your understanding of race in American politics today. Be specific,
such as by quoting parts of a speech, or it probably will not be of passing quality.
Jan 23: Lecture on American Political Culture
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 4 (pp. 69-98)
Jan 25: Discussion Section
•
Read = Lessig, Part I [chapters 1-3] (pp. 11-40)
Jan 28: Lecture on Public Opinion (part I)
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 5 (pp. 99-122)
Jan 30: Lecture on Public Opinion (part II)
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 5 (pp. 99-122)
Feb 1: Discussion Section
•
Read = Lessig, Part II [chapters 4-6] (pp. 41-66)
Feb 4: Lecture on Media (part I)
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 6 (pp. 123-145)
Feb 6: Lecture on Media (part II)
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 6 (pp. 123-145)
Feb 8: Discussion Section
•
Read = Lessig, Part II [chapters 7-8] (pp. 67-88)
Feb 11: Mid-Term Exam # 1
•
In-class exam / a blue book is not required, but you will need paper to write on
Feb 13: Lecture on Political Participation (part I)
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 7 (pp. 146-169)
Feb 15: Discussion Section
•
Read = Lessig, Part III [chapter 9] (pp. 89-124)
Feb 18: Lecture on Political Participation (part II)
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 7 (pp. 146-169)
Feb 20: Lecture on voting behavior in national elections
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 8 (pp. 170-202)
Feb 22: Discussion Section
•
Read = Lessig, Part III [chapter 10] (pp. 125-171)
Feb 25: Lecture on Political Parties (& Interest Groups)
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 9 (pp. 203-232)
Feb 27: Lecture on (Political Parties) & Interest Groups
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 9 (pp. 203-232)
March 1: Discussion Section
•
•
Read = Lessig, Part III [chapter 11] (pp. 172-192)
Reminder = Letter Assignment (sent by today)
March 4: NO CLASS / Spring Break
•
Read = NA
March 6: NO CLASS / Spring Break
•
Read = NA
March 8: NO Discussion Section / Spring Break
•
Read = NA
March 11: Lecture on Congress
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 10 (pp. 233-262)
March 13: Lecture on the Presidency
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 11 (pp. 263-294)
March 15: Discussion Section
•
Read = Lessig, Part III [chapters 12-14] (pp. 193-248)
March 18: Lecture on the Bureaucracy
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 12 (pp. 295-327)
March 20: Mid-Term Exam # 2
•
In-class exam
March 22: Discussion Section
•
Read = Lessig, Part IV [chapters 15-16] (pp. 249-272)
March 25: Lecture on Civil Liberties
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 14 (pp. 361-388)
March 27: Lecture on Civil Rights
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 15 (pp. 389-418)
March 29: NO Discussion Section / Spring Holiday
•
Read = NA
April 1: Lecture on Public Policy (General)
•
Read = Fiorina, Chapter 16 (pp. 419-450)
April 3: Lecture on Competitive (Comparative) Intelligence in Public Policy
•
Read = Freidman, Foreword & Introduction (pp. 11-28)
April 5: Discussion Section
•
•
Read = Lessig, Part IV [chapters 17-21] (pp. 273-308)
Reminder = Letter Assignment Due
April 8: Lecture on Health Care
•
Read = Freidman, Chapter 1 (pp. 29-70)
April 10: Lecture on Public Safety
•
Read = Freidman, Chapter 2 (pp. 71-98)
April 12: Discussion Section
•
•
Read = Lessig, Conclusions (pp. 309-326)
Political Activity Assignment due today
April 15: Lecture on Education Policy
•
Read = Freidman, Chapter 3 (pp. 99-130)
April 17: Lecture on Measuring Democracy
•
Read = Freidman, Chapter 4 (pp. 131-166)
April 19: Discussion Section
•
Read = NA
April 22: Lecture on “Equality”
•
Read = Freidman, Chapter 5 (pp. 167-206)
April 24: Lecture on Analyzing Public Policy Data
•
Read = Freidman, Chapter 6 (pp. 207-223)
April 26: Final Discussion Section
•
•
Reminder: Research paper is due at the start of class
Final Exam Review
May 6: (8:00 – 11:00 am): Final Examination in same room