POSC 1100: (Fordham -- Rose Hill)
Introduction to Politics EP1 (Freshman)
Spring 2014
Instructor: José A Alemán
Office: Faber Hall 662
Office hours: T&F, 1-2 pm
E-mail: aleman@fordham.edu
Course web site: Blackboard (IMPORTANT: you must have a working account!)
TEXTs (required):
Stiglitz, Joseph. 2013. The Price of Inequality: How Today’s Divided Society Endan
gers our Future. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Nichols, John & McChesney, Robert W. 2013. Dollarocracy: How the Money and
Media Election Complex is Destroying America. New York: Nation Books.
Hacker, Jacob S. & Pierson, Paul. 2010. Winner-Take-All Politics: How Washington
Made the Rich Richer – And Turned Its Back on the Middle Class. New York: Simon
and Schuster.
DESCRIPTION:
This course provides an introduction to political analysis. In particular, we will study the
politics of income inequality in the United States. You will be encouraged, through
writing assignments and in class participation, to develop skills in analysis,
interpretation, and evaluation of political phenomena. Whether or not you plan to major
in political science, or use it in your post-graduate career, our goal is to learn some
important critical thinking skills.
REQUIREMENTS:
(A) take-home assignments: there will be 3 take home assignments (length 2,000
words), each worth 20% of the grade. No late papers will be accepted except in case of
a medical condition (accompanied by doctor’s note). Assignments are designed to
encourage cogent and clear thinking and proper use of evidence
(http://people.bu.edu/jgerring/documents/Adviceonessaywriting.pdf). In order to
improve the quality of writing, students are required to submit a revision unless the
grade on the initial assignment is an A- or A. The final grade for each paper will be
based on an average of the grades for the two drafts. We will use turnitin.com
(http://www.turnitin.com), the online plagiarism detection tool, as a repository of
written assignments.
(B) attendance and participation: as stated in the attendance policy of the
Undergraduate Faculty Handbook, attendance is mandatory and students are expected to
attend class having done the readings and ready to participate with questions and
comments. Four classes or more missed constitute grounds for failure in the course and
the student’s name will be forwarded to the Dean. In the event of an extraordinary
circumstance, students must provide adequate documentation to the Dean’s office, who
will then determine whether the absence is excused or not. Arriving late to class, after
attendance has been taken, counts as an absence.
Students are also asked to refrain from bringing cell-phones, laptops or any other
electronic equipment to class, unless it has been switched off and put away. In the event
a laptop is necessary for note taking, proper medical documentation must be provided.
(C) final examination: the final exam will be done in class. Cheating (using
unauthorized materials or giving unauthorized assistance during an examination or other
academic exercise) and plagiarism (using others' ideas and words without
acknowledgment) are serious offenses and will be forwarded to the Dean.
EVALUATION:
(A) class participation: 15%
(B) take-home assignments: 60%
(C) final examination: 25%
Each class period a student will be asked to speak for 10-15 minutes on the readings for
that day. There should be two questions at the end of the presentation leading the rest of
the class into a discussion. The questions could be formulated around a point that
requires more elaboration, an argument that is not convincing or anything that would
provide a 'hook' for more discussion. The goal is to improve skills in oral presentation.
Students will be graded on the quality of their presentation as well as other forms of
class participation.
On all papers and exams, evaluation is based on a thorough understanding and
command of the materials presented in class and readings and original critical analyses
of those materials.
RESOURCES:
(A) books: the above list of texts are required and available for purchase at the Fordham
University bookstore or on reserve at Walsh library.
(C) special assistance: students with disabilities should contact the instructor at the
beginning of the semester to allow for coordination of assistance with the Office of
Disability Services (ODS). Students in need of assistance with class assignments should
contact or visit the Writing Center (x4032) located in Dealy E-533.
Course schedule
1/14
1/17
1/21
1/24
1/28
1/31
2/4
2/7
2/11
2/14
2/21
2/25
2/28
3/4
3/7
3/11
3/14
3/25
3/28
Politics: What is it? Why study it?
PBS documentary “Park Avenue: Money, Power & the American
Dream”
http://video.pbs.org/video/2296684923/
The Problem
N&M, Foreword, Preface, Introduction and chapter 1
Gerrymandering: http://www.pbs.org/tpt/constitution-usa-petersagal/watch/built-to-last/, 37:25-44:40 mins.
The $10 Billion Election
N&M, chapter 2
The Supreme Court, Free Speech, and Money in Politics
N&M, chapter 3
PBS documentary “Big Sky, Big Money”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/big-sky-big-money/
Political Advertising
N&M, chapter 4
Corporations and the Media
N&M, chapter 5
Journalism and Money
N&M, chapters 6 & 7
Digital Politics
N&M, chapter 8
The Right to Vote
N&M, chapter 9
The Winner-Take-All Economy
H&P, Introduction & chapter 1
“Sick Around the World”
http://video.pbs.org/video/1050712790/
Capitalism and Democracy
H&P, chapters 2 & 3
Public Goods in Practice
‘Help for Homeowners?’ http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/506/
Organized Interests and Democracy
H&P, chapters 4 & 5
Dysfunction in Washington: http://www.pbs.org/tpt/constitutionusa-peter-sagal/watch/built-to-last/, 31:15-37:25 mins.
Political Polarization
H&P, chapters 6 & 7
“Climate of Doubt”
http://video.pbs.org/video/2295533310/
Democrats and Republicans
H&P, chapters 8 & 9
Possible Reforms
4/1
4/4
4/8
4/11
4/15
4/17-4/21
4/22
4/25
4/29
H&P, chapter 10 and conclusion
Class documentary: “Inside Job”
Class documentary: “Inside Job”
Stiglitz chapters 1 & 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg7xhTyOtAk
Stiglitz chapters 3 & 4
Stiglitz chapters 5 & 6
Easter Recess
Stiglitz chapters 7 & 8
Stiglitz chapters 9 & 10
Conclusion and review