This course introduces students to core concepts and problems in politics and policymaking. Among the questions we address: What determines political preferences and electoral outcomes? How are interests represented? How do political institutions shape policy outcomes? We focus on tools that students should be able to apply broadly in analyzing the political world.
To facilitate discussion of the issues, each student will participate in a group presentation at some point during the semester("I do and I understand"). A group presentation should identify the one or two most important questions that the readings seek to answer, consider alternative explanations and answers fromother theoretical approaches, examine recent occurrences in American politics and what the theories say about them, and analyze their importance for the future of American democracy. You must use a visual aid for your presentation("I see and I remember"). You can be as creative as you wish in your approach to the group presentation. You can use video clips from news programs or movies to illustrate a particular point. You may want to use music that expresses the same themes found in the readings. You are responsible for helping us to understand why these theories and the questions they raise explain such persistent patterns in American politics. The first presentation will be May 13th to give you time to think about what you might want to do. More substantive details on the group presentation can be found here.The groups will be small to minimize the "free-rider" problem. However, 40% of your grade for the group presentation will depend upon the evaluation of the other members of the group. If the other students do not think that you contributed significantly and meaningfully to the presentation, they can penalize you. After your presentation, you mustturn in a self-reflection within 24 hours, as well as grades of your peers. Peer grades will influence, but not constrain the instructor's grades. More detailson the self-reflection can be found here.
ANALYZING POLITICS KENNETH SHEPSLE ANSWER KEY.
Each person in the group must apply a theory to a recent examplein American politics during the presentation. Each person must use a differentexample; the example the person presents will be used in that person's final paper (see above). Each group must meet with me before their presentation to discusstheir plans, and to examine the readings. I also strongly encourage you to meetwith the teaching assistant.At the end of the semester, each student will turn in a ranking of all group presentations (excluding her/his own), with written justification. In addition, there will be questions on thefinal exam that will refer to the group presentations.You should treat the presentation in a professional manner, similar to makinga presentation to a prospective client for your company. Therefore, you shouldpractice your presentation, and have contingency plans in place when things go wrong.(For example, when IT services fails to deliver the correct cable, what will you do?How would a prospective client view comments such as, "This never happened before--can we reschedule?") Do not apologize or give me any reason not to take your presentation seriously (lack of time, poor dress, etc.).Further suggestions on presentations generally can be foundhere andhere.Final ExamThere will be a final examination that will be comprehensive. The final exam will be administered in the Testing Center (265 HGB) June 16-17 (as noted on the final exam schedule). Do not ask to take the final examination early. It is against university policy to give final examinations outside of the scheduled time. Youshould not make any plans that interfere with the final exam schedule. Pleasedo not ask for exceptions. I am not authorized to grant them. You may bring any notes that you have written yourselfinto the exam (i.e., you may not bring anyone else's notes, the text,or any articles). The exam will consistprimarily of short-answer questions and essay questions that assess the skillslisted in Objectives. The examination will be difficult.I expect you to be able to apply the material that we have covered in class,to apply current events, and to answer questions about different groups' presentations. You have the opportunity to suggestquestions for the exam here.A mock-up of a previous semester's finalcan be found here.The exams may be picked up in the Political Science office (745 SWKT) afterthey are graded. The exams will be discarded at the end of the Fall 2004term. 2ff7e9595c
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