Heartland Community College
Social and Business Sciences Division
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: POS 145
Course Title: Politics of Mid East, Central/South America, Asia
Semester: Summer 2011
Credit Hours:
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets: ONLINE/FLEX
Course Website: https://my.heartland.edu
Introduction:
The Middle East, Central and South America and Asia is a course designed to familiarize students with
these regions of the world. In order to function effectively and productively in an increasingly global
society, students need a general understanding of politics and culture in that developing part of the world
as well as a clear conception of its relationship to the rest of the international community. This
understanding will allow students to understand an increasingly significant world around them.
The integration of this course with other curricular offerings of this college will be facilitated by the
discussion and interdisciplinary examination of current global problems. The integration of effective
communication skills will be enhanced by the requirement that the student follow acceptable standards of
good composition and research as he/she demonstrates the ability to organize and present written
materials.
Catalog Description:
The Middle East, Central and South America and Asia from the standpoint of the politics of international
relations, social/economic change, internal factionalism, revolution, warfare and religion.
Instructor Information:
Instructor name: Khalil M. Marrar, Ph.D.
Instructor e-mail address: (email using Blackboard)
Textbook:
Required:
Politics and Culture in the Developing World: The Impact of Globalization by
Richard J. Payne and Jamal R. Nassar.
Other readings may be required to complete assignments. Book MUST BE purchased from HCC
Bookstore.
HCC Portal
Just a reminder that to access WebCT, IRIS, and your Heartland Student Email, you will need to log into
my Heartland, at https://my.heartland.edu.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
This course fulfills 3 of the 9 semester hours of credit in Social Sciences required for the A.A. or A.S.
degree. This course should transfer as part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in the
Illinois Articulation Initiative to other Illinois colleges and universities participating in the IAI. However,
students should consult an academic advisor for transfer information regarding particular institutions.
Refer to the IAI web page atwww.itransfer.org for more information.
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
At the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Demonstrate a familiarity with the environment within which Third World political systems operate.
Demonstrate an awareness of the demographic and economic problems faced by Third World countries.
Understand the cultural aspects of modernization.
Demonstrate a familiarity with the patterns of policy making in Third World political systems.
Course/Lab Outline:
Topic Outline for the Course:
The following topics are to be covered during the instructional process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
The Basic Condition Of Poverty- Personal Perspectives
Exploration And Colonialism
The Impact Of Imperialism On The Colonies
The Economic Structures Of Imperialism
The World Wars And The Impact On Colonialism
The Battles For Independence
Independence And The Problems Of Nationhood
Economic, Political, And Social Dilemmas Of New States
Globalization
Method of Instruction:
This course will be as student centered as possible, employing the “e-Socratic” method in
order for students to engage one another in a safe cyber-environment.
Please be advised that the course text will serve the purpose of critical reflection and hence
should be used in conjunction with original ideas on the Web through your postings and my
Power Point Lectures.
In order to read Power Point Lectures, you will require Microsoft Office or a free program,
“OpenOffice.org” which is available from http://www.openoffice.org/
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Grades will be issued on the basis of the following three criteria:
1)
Mid-Term and Final Writing Essays: (200 Points, 100/100)
2)
Weekly Chapter Reflections: (5 points each)
Grade Breakdown
A: 90% ^
B: 80% ^
C: 70% ^
D: 60%^
F: 59 and below
1. Essays:
This course will include a Mid-term Essay and a Final Essay derived
from the course. Both Essays will involve one or more questions that
involve student understanding of the text and will incorporate knowledge
gained from Power Point Lectures and classmates’ postings. STUDENTS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT RESEARCH USING OTHER ONLINE RESEARCH TOOLS. Responses to questions may not exceed 3
pages, double spaced, 12 point. THEY ARE TO BE EMAILED ON OR
BEFORE THE DUE DATE (see schedule below and course homepage).
2. Weekly Chapter Reflections:
All reflections must be well crafted, double spaced and typed in
standard 12 point font. I encourage you to write the reflections each week
so as to not fall behind.
Reflections should include about 2 pages, per chapter read. They will be
due each week and are to be posted in the Discussion Board in reply to my
Power Point Lectures. An “excellent” Chapter reflection will have the following:
1.
Evidence of thorough reading and understanding of the chapters
and Power Point Lectures (1 point).
2.
The ability to express yourself clearly and succinctly (1 point).
3.
Demonstration of comprehension of basic political principles
surrounding the issues being discussed in the chapters and Power
Point Lectures (1 point).
4.
Excellent reflections have specific quotes from the textbook to
support your synopsis, along with page numbers/slide numbers from
Power Point Lectures (1 point).
5.
Finally, the best reflections connect the readings to current events
in some way (1 point).
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL REFLECTIONS MUST BE
COMPLETED ON THE WEEK THEY ARE DUE, NO LATER THAN
SUNDAY.
Students that miss more than 4 Chapter postings will not pass the
course.
Incompletes: Incompletes will not be issued.
Extra Credit: I will define extra-credit options, if any, throughout the semester.
Make-up of tests and assignments: Make ups will not be allowed.
Deadlines: I will define deadlines in advance.
Required Writing and Reading:
Students are required to read the text(s) and other assigned materials. Writing will be
required on exams and/or assignments.
Student Conduct: All students must give the courtesy of reading and understanding all
positions taken by other students and must accordingly respond to those positions in
cyber space. While humor is generally acceptable, “put-downs” of or jokes about other
students’ beliefs and/or arguments will not be tolerated.
Course Calendar:
Week 1 8/22: Introduction to the Course and Syllabus. Introduce yourself to your classmates by
replying to my welcome. Read Chapter 1 Government, Politics, and Cultures in Africa, Asia, the
Middle East, and Latin America. Post Chapter Reflection in Discussion Board.
Week 2 8/29: Read Chapter 2, Global Interdependence, Post Chapter Reflection in Discussion Board.
Week 3 9/5: Read Chapter 3, Religion and Politics. Post Chapter Reflection in Discussion Board.
Week 4 9/12: Read Chapter 4, Nationalism, Colonialism, and Independence. Post Chapter Reflection in
Discussion Board.
Week 5 9/19: Read Chapter 5, Global and Domestic Inequalities. Post Chapter Reflections in
Discussion Board.
Week 6 9/26: Read Chapter 6, Challenges of Development. Post Chapter Reflection in Discussion Board.
Check out Midterm Question in the Discussion Board.
Week 7 10/3: MIDTERM ANSWER DUE 10/9.
Week 8 10/10: Read Chapter 7, The Costs of Development. Post Chapter Reflection in Discussion
Board.
Week 9 10/17: Read Chapter 8, Women in the Developing World. Post Chapter Reflection in Discussion
Board.
Week 10 10/24: Read Chapter 9, Transitions to Democracy and Human Rights. Post Chapter Reflection
in Discussion Board.
Week 11 10/31: Read Chapter 10, Political Leadership and State Capacity. Post Chapter Reflection in
Discussion Board.
Week 12 11/7: Read Chapter 11, Ethnicity, Ethnic Conflict, and Conflict Resolution. Post Chapter
Reflection in Discussion Board.
Week 13 11/14: Read Chapter 12, Migration. Post Chapter Reflection in Discussion Board.
Week 14 11/21: HAPPY THANKGIVING BREAK!
Week 15 11/28: Read Chapter 13, Foreign Relations of the Developing Countries. Post Chapter
Reflection in Discussion Board. Check out Final Essay Question in the Discussion Board.
Week 16 12/5: FINAL ESSAY ANSWER DUE 12/11.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College and is essential to
the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because grading may be competitive, students who
misrepresent their academic work violate the right of their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of
academic dishonest as a serious offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and
even expulsion from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far beyond
any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or suborning cheating or other acts
of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data, falsification of academic records or documents and
unauthorized access to computerized academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations
may be found in the college catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper, create a
project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work, except for that which is
attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is considered a serious academic offense and
may take the following forms:
1
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
4
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
5
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it were your own.
6
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as if it were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism.
The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece of work, failure in
the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. New York:
MLA, 1995: 26]
Support Services:
Academic Support Services (Academic Support Center)
Heartland Library Information
The Library, located in the Students Commons Buildings at the Raab Road campus, provides Heartland students
with a full range of resources including books, online journal databases, videos, newspapers, periodicals, reserves,
and interlibrary loan. Librarians are available to assist in locating information.
For more information please call the Library (309) 268-8200 or (309) 268-8292
ISU now accepting HCC Library Cards!
HCC now accepting ISU Library Cards!
Heartland students can now check out items from ISU’s Milner Library by showing a punched HCC library card
and a photo ID. Get your library card punched at the Library desk and you are good to go.
Because Heartland Community College Library is now a member of ILCSO (Illinois Library Computer Systems
Organization), Heartland students, faculty, and staff can check out materials from 64 academic libraries across the
state, including ISU, Illinois Wesleyan, University of Illinois, etc.
(seehttp://office.ilcso.illinois.edu/About/ilcsolibs.htmlfor a complete list). Likewise, patrons from other ILCSO
libraries may now check out materials from Heartland Community College Library with their institutional IDs. Also,
as members of ILCSO we will be switching over our card catalog from CARL to ILLINET online. Not only will this
allow for better searching capabilities, there will also be expanded interlibrary loan services.
For more information please call the Library (309) 268-8200 or (309) 268-8292
Tutoring Center
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland students at the Academic
Support Center (ASC) in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln Centers. Tutors are available at convenient times
throughout the week. Study groups, group tutoring facilitated by a specially-trained tutor, are also available by
request. For more information about services available at each location, please call the ASC in Normal (309) 2688231; the Pontiac Center (815) 842-6777; the Lincoln Center (217) 735-1731.
Testing Center
The Testing Center provides a quiet environment for students to complete make-up exams, online exams, and exams
for students with special accommodations. Students may be able to complete exams in the Testing Center if
arrangements are made with their instructor. For more information, contact the Testing Center at (309) 268-8231.
Open Computing Lab www.hcc.cc.il.us/divisions/asc/complab
The Open Computing Lab provides free computing for HCC students at convenient times throughout the
week. The computer lab is staffed by trained Lab Assistants and offers the use of approximately 70
computers, a scanner, a laser printer, and an electric typewriter.
Specifications for written materials: Students may use APA, MLA or Chicago Manual of Style. All
written assignments must be double spaced, 12 pt font in “Times New Roman” style.
[Adapted by the Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee June 1998]
Revised6/98
Updated8/21/01
IHAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL ABOVE; I UNDERSTAND THAT FAILURE TO
COMPLYWITH THE SYLLABUS MAY RESULT IN AN “F” IN THE COURSE.
X_________________________________
PRINTOUT A COPY, SIGN AND DATE IT, ANDKEEPIT FOR YOUR RECORDS