POSC 110: Introduction to Politics Course Syllabus. Instructor: Edwin Kent Morris. Department of Political Science Radford University.

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1 POSC 110: Introduction to Politics Course Syllabus Instructor: Edwin Kent Morris Department of Political Science Radford University Fall 2012 Time: MWF 8:00AM 8:50AM Location: 302 Young Hall Final Exam: TBD Instructor's Instructor's Office: 247 Russell Hall Office Hours: Mondays 9:00AM-10:00AM and by appointment Please note: The Radford University Honor Code expressly forbids cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of student work of any kind. The honor code applies to this course in its entirety. The Honor Pledge: I shall uphold the values and ideals of Radford University by engaging in responsible behavior and striving always to be accountable for my actions while holding myself and others to the highest moral and ethical standards of academic integrity and good citizenship as defined in the Standards of Student Conduct. Course Description POSC 110 will introduce students to the study of politics by examining enduring questions and concerns of political life utilizing classical political philosophy and contemporary political theory. This course will explore concepts of political life dealing with four major questions: 1) What is politics? 2) What is human nature and its relation to politics? 3) What is the relationship of power and justice in political life? 4) What are the different ways in which politics is studied? You will be asked to become familiar with the course material by reading and thinking carefully about the texts. Open minds and different points of view are welcomed and encouraged. Course Goals: 1. Students will practice thinking critically and creatively about ideas, issues, problems, and texts within political science. 2. Students will examine and think about the relationship between politics and the human condition in the spirit of a liberal arts education. 3. Students will practice constructing logical and persuasive arguments about political questions examined through a variety of oral and / or written assignments. 4. Students will work with others in a shared process of inquiry concerning political life, learning the importance of civility and open-minded dialogue as a model for democratic citizenship. 5. Students will identify the personal and collective political values that shape decisions in public, professional and private life, assessing the ethical implications of those decisions.

2 2 Required Texts Four books will be required for this course. In order to keep up with readings as they are assigned it is highly recommended that students purchase the copies of these texts at the Radford University bookstore or order the books as listed below online. The course may also include other assorted materials provided in class or posted on D2L by the instructor. 1. Plato, Republic, trans. C.D.C Reeve. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc ISBN-13: Niccolo Machiavelli. The Prince, trans. Peter Constantine. New York: Random House Modern Library, ISBN-13: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract. New York: Penguin Books, ISBN-13: Sheldon S. Wolin. Democracy Inc. Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, ISBN-13: Evaluation and Grading Students have the possibility to earn a total of 100 points in this course. Student s do not lose points in this course. Rather, they earn points starting at the level of zero. The final course grade will be comprised from exams, participation, essays and reading quizzes. Participation (10%): Student attendance will not be taken systematically. However, it is strongly encouraged that each student attends all class sessions. Participation in this course can earn a student up to approximately 10 points. Attendance is not participation. Thus, in order to earn the highest percentage of participation points possible, students must first attend, but more importantly, participate in class discussion. Essays (20%): Students will write two typed essays throughout the course. The two essays can earn students up to 10 points each. They will evaluate student comprehension and allow for students to write about the material with their own thoughts and questions. Each of these essays will be up to 3-4 pages in length, double-spaced, and based on the material assigned. Reading Quizzes (20%): Ten reading quizzes will be administered throughout the semester at the beginning of each Friday class session unless otherwise noted (see Course Schedule below). Each quiz can earn up to approximately 2 points. These quizzes will be taken in class and based on a question from that week s particular readings / lecture. Students will have roughly 20 minutes to answer the question. Quiz responses will be handwritten on loose-leaf paper, and will be turned in when the quiz time is up. It is crucial that students write as legibly as possible. Unreadable responses will be given a zero. Pen or pencil is acceptable.

3 3 Exams (50%): Four exams will be administered throughout the semester, including the final exam for the course. Students can earn up to 10 points for each of the first three exams, 20 points for the final. The final will not be cumulative. Each exam will consist of 2 writing responses of the student s choice of four questions offered (i.e. the student will pick two questions from four choices provided). Each writing response should be roughly two paragraphs in length or as necessary to properly answer the question chosen. Each response is worth up to five points. It is crucial that students write as legibly as possible. Unreadable responses will be given a zero. Pen or pencil is acceptable. Bluebooks are required for these exams and can be purchased at the RU bookstore. Extra Credit: No extra credit assignment is planned. However, the possibility of an extra credit opportunity remains open. Note on evaluation and grading: The instructor retains at their discretion a level of subjectivity regarding student s work. What will be graded for is evidence of reading the material, thinking analytically about it, the attempt to grasp it, and showing concern for the topics discussed. Guidelines for Assignments: -All essay assignments are to be typed, double-spaced, and in 12 point Times New Roman font. Document margins (left, right, top, and bottom) should be set to 1. Header and footer should be set to Citations: You must include proper citations in each essay assignment. For citations students MUST CITE in Chicago style. The student will cite their sources as footnotes. ALWAYS cite any material from the readings (and others) you include in your assignments! Plagiarism will not be tolerated. -All assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments will NOT be accepted via , unless prior arrangements have been made and approved by the instructor. -Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students are expected to uphold the Radford University Honor Code at all times. Students found in violation of the honor code will automatically fail the course Course Policies: It is expected of the student to not only be respectful of the material, but to also be respectful of their classmates and instructor. In the same vein, students should be respectful of different points of view and perspectives as discussed in class by students and instructor alike. Keeping up with the readings and participating during class on the basis of one s own understanding of the material is the single best way to succeed in this course. Simply put, students are expected to give the readings their best shot. In this great experiment we call learning the instructor believes that there are no bad questions or absolutely right answers, as questions and different perspectives are at the heart of all political discussion.

4 4 Attendance policy: Students are encouraged to attend all class sessions (see Participation above). Absences such as illness, family emergencies, and school-sponsored activities etc., will be excused with proper documentation and / or doctor s excuse from the student health center. Students should the instructor in advance of known absences. Students should not attend class if they are sick with contagious or disruptive illness. Late Homework: Late assignments will not be accepted. Disability policy: Students with special needs are encouraged to discuss their special needs with the instructor during office hours. Students with special needs are required to contact the Disabilities Resources Office to receive accommodations. Laptops, cell phones, and beverages: Both laptops and beverages are allowed in the classroom. Please turn cell phones to vibrate or silent while in class. Course Schedule Please Note: The instructor retains at their discretion the right to change any and all scheduled readings, quizzes, essays and assignments. Week 1 Aug 27 th M: Introduction to the course Aug 29 th W: Introduction to Politics I: Politics and the Political Aug 31 st F: Introduction to Politics II: Plato -Reading Quiz #1 Week 2 Sept 3 rd Sept 5 th Sept 7 th M: Plato, Republic (read the following pages): -pg (Book I) What is Justice?; pg The Myth of Metals -Announce 1 st Essay W: Plato, Republic (read the following pages): -pg Justice in the Soul; pg Guardian Women and Children (Book V) F: Plato, Republic (read the following pages): -pg Guardian Women and Children, cont. -Reading Quiz #2 Week 3 Sept 10 th M: Plato, Republic (read the following pages): -pg , Philosopher Kings + The Good Sept. 12 th W: Plato, Republic (read the following pages): -pg The Sun + Line Analogy cont.; pg Allegory of the Cave Sept 14 th F: Plato, Republic (read the following pages): -pg Allegory of the Cave cont; pg (Book VIII) -Reading Quiz #3

5 5 Week 4 Sept 17 th M: Wrap up Republic Sept 19 th W: Introduction to Politics III: Aristotle -Review Sept 21 st F: Exam #1: Plato and the Political Week 5 Sept 24 th M: Introduction to Politics IV: Machiavelli Sept 26 th W: Machiavelli, The Prince pg Sept 28 th F: Machiavelli, The Prince pg Reading Quiz #4-1 st Essay Due Week 6 Oct 1 st M: Machiavelli, The Prince pg Oct 3 rd W: Machiavelli, The Prince pg Oct 5 th F: Finish The Prince -Reading Quiz #5 Week 7 Oct 8 th M: Review Oct 10 th W: Exam #2: Aristotle and Machiavelli Oct 12 th F: NO CLASS Week 8 Oct 15 th M: Introduction to Politics V: Hobbes and Sovereignty -Announce 2 nd Essay Oct 17 th W: Rousseau, The Social Contract, pg Oct 19 th F: Rousseau, The Social Contract, pg Reading Quiz #6 Week 9 Oct 22 nd M: Rousseau, The Social Contract, pg cont. Oct 24 th W: Rousseau, The Social Contract, pg Oct 26 th F: Rousseau, The Social Contract, pg Reading Quiz #7 Week 10 Oct 29 th M: Rousseau, The Social Contract, pg Oct 31 st W: Finish The Social Contract Nov 2 nd F: Review --Reading Quiz #8

6 6 Week 11 Nov 5 th M: Exam #3: Sovereignty + Rousseau VOTE! Nov 7 th W: Film: Ethos Nov 9 th F: Film: Ethos Week 12 Nov 12 th M: Finish Ethos -Introduction to Politics VI (Part I) -Wolin, Democracy Inc. pg. ix-14 Nov 14 th W: Wolin, Democracy Inc. pg Nov 16 th F: NO CLASS THANKSGIVING BREAK Nov 17 th Nov. 25 th Week 13 Nov 26 th M: Wolin, Democracy Inc. pg nd Essay Due Nov 28 th W: Wolin, Democracy Inc. pg cont. -pg Nov 30 th F: Wolin, Democracy Inc. pg pg Reading Quiz #9 Week 14 Dec 3 rd M: Wolin, Democracy Inc. pg Dec 5 th W: Wolin, Democracy Inc. pg Dec 7 th F: Introduction to Politics VI: (Part II) (Last Day of Class) -Reading Quiz 10 Week 15 FINAL EXAMS Dec 10 th 13 th FINAL EXAM (Exam #4) TBD