The course is designed to introduce you to some central aspects of politics and the study of politics. This includes introducing you to the different 'subfields' of political science and to how political scientists think about understanding the political world.
Structure
Though I will lecture, I also see the classroom as a space for active learning – class discussion will be an important element of the course, therefore. For this to work, you must have read the assigned text before coming to class. I will provide background information and starting places for discussion, where necessary, but you should be prepared with your own thoughts and reactions (however provisional).
Attendance Policy:
Attendance is mandatory. Roll will be taken. No more than one undocumented absence will be allowed. Additional undocumented absences will lead to an automatic reduction of your participation grade by two numerical points (see grade scale: one point is a third of a letter grade) per session missed (if you have earned a C for participation, based on your participation when present, this would drop to an F with three unexcused absences). Documentation must be verified through the Dean of Students Office, or other appropriate University office (religious holidays excepted, but notice must still be provided in writing).
Academic Integrity Statement
All students at the University of Southern Mississippi are expected to demonstrate the highest levels of academic integrity in all that they do. Forms of academic dishonesty include (but are not limited to):
· Cheating (including copying from others’ work)
· Plagiarism (representing another person’s words or ideas as your own; failure to properly cite the source of your information, argument, or concepts)
· Falsification of documents
· Disclosure of test or other assignment content to another student
· Submission of the same paper or other assignment to more than one class without the explicit approval of all faculty members’ involved
· Unauthorized academic collaboration with others
· Conspiracy to engage in academic misconduct
Engaging in any of these behaviors or supporting others who do so will result in academic penalties and/or other sanctions. If a faculty member determines that a student has violated our Academic Integrity Policy, sanctions ranging from resubmission of work to course failure may occur, including the possibility of receiving a grade of “XF” for the course, which will be on the student’s transcript with the notation “Failure due to academic misconduct.” For more details, please see the University’s Academic Integrity Policy, visit Academic Integrity | The University of Southern Mississippi (usm.edu) Note that repeated acts of academic misconduct will lead to expulsion from the University.
Participation:
Participation accounts for 10% of your total grade. Being an active participant involves asking questions and talking, but also listening and responding, in a respectful way, to others. It is important to note, however, that you are not being graded on the frequency of your participation alone, but also the quality of your contribution to the class discussion.
Written Assignments:
(1) Exams. There will be two exams. The midterm exam will be taken in class; the final will be held at the University-scheduled exam time.
(2) Paper. Each student will write one paper, around 6 pages in length: the topic is here. Papers must be submitted via Canvas. Directions for doing so will be posted at a later date. Papers are due November 11th, by 5pm.
(3) Reading Quizzes. There will be reading quizzes each Wednesday, due before class begins. These will focus on basic comprehension of the reading for that day. They will be short. They cannot be made up – however allowances will be made for up to two missed quizzes with appropriately documented excuses.
Books
Readings are to be completed for the class period on the date they are assigned: see the calendar for details.
The following book has been ordered and should be at the Bookstore:
Machiavelli, The Prince (any edition will do)
Isaac Balbus, Governing Subjects: An Introduction to the Study of Politics (Routledge)
Supplementary readings are available online or in Canvas (as indicated in the Calendar).
All exams, papers, and quizzes will be returned with a number marked between 0 and 12. This is your grade for this assignment. In calculating your final grade (A, B, C, D, or F) I consider whether your work for the semester has been consistently in the low or high end of the letter grade range. USM does not give + or - grades as final grades.
Grade scale:
12: high A 6: high C
11: A 5: C
10: low A 4: low C
9: high B 3: high D
8: B 2: D
7: low B 1: low D
0: F
Grading Standards:
The following general standards guide assessment of work in this course. Use the questions to assess your own written and oral work, as you are developing it.
Clarity: Are your core ideas communicated clearly? Do you use examples and illustrations?
Accuracy: Is your argument supported with relevant evidence, or quotes from texts read in class?
Precision: Is the central argument specific and detailed?
Relevance: Is your discussion related to the questions you have asked, or the question posed in the assignment? Do you draw on relevant class discussion/lectures and readings?
Depth: Do you deal with the complexity of the issue you are discussing?
Logic: Does the paper/essay make sense?
Grade Breakdown:
Participation 10%
Reading Quizzes 10%
Paper 25%
Exam I 25%
Exam II 30%