POLS 3380 Interest Groups and Political Parties (crn 81012) Fall 2014 Online Course 3.0 credits Dr. Joseph Corrado Office: Clayton Hall Room 105A Clayton State University voicemail: 678-466-4803 JoeCorrado@clayton.edu Webpage: go to www.clayton.edu, click search, type in Joe Corrado, click on the first link. Fall Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 11:00-12:30 p.m. Wednesday 10:00-11:00 a.m. Course Description Interest Groups and Political Parties (3-0-3) Interest Groups and Political Parties examines the nature, structure and functions of interest groups and political parties in differing national
cultural contexts with particular attention to electoral activity and their role in the policy making process. Prerequisite(s): POLS 1101 Required Texts: Berman, Ari. 2010. Herding Democrats: The Fight to Rebuild the Democratic Party and Reshape American Politics, New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. ISBN: 0374169705 Bibby, John F. and L. Sandy Maisel. 2003. Two Parties or More? The American Party System.Boulder: Westview Press. ISBN: 0-8133-4031-4. Fiorina, Morris, Samuel J. Adams, & Jeremy C. Pope. 2011. Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America. Boston: Longman. ISBN: 0-205-77988-3. The major form of communication between the instructor and the students outside of the classroom will be by CSU email. Go to: http://thehub.clayton.edu and click "service" for information on configuring your laptop computer to comply with IT requirements. It is necessary for you have your computer configured to access CSU email. You will need to take your computer to the HUB, which is located on the ground level of the University Center. Please have your computer configured and set up for CSU email as soon as possible. You can also contact the HUB at 678-466- 4357. Computers should never be used in class. Georgia View will be used for you to access your grades, see this full syllabus, to submit online assignments, to access course lectures and ppts. Required Skills: Students enrolled in this course should possess the following technology skills: The ability to access information via the Internet The ability to use GeorgiaView/D2L and associated tools, including discussion boards, chat rooms, online testing and assignment submission features The ability to use word processing software and to save in alternate formats The ability to send, receive and include attachments using email The ability to demonstrate netiquette (appropriate online conduct)
Training for required skills. http://www.clayton.edu/cid/d2lstudenttraining http://www.clayton.edu/hub/d2l Online Etiquette (Netiquette) This section should include your expectations of how students should conduct themselves when participating in your online course. These expectations may change depending on the technologies used in your course. A sample list of netiquette statements has been included below. Discussion, chat, and e-mail spaces within this course are for class purposes only, unless otherwise stated. Please remember to conduct yourself collegially and professionally. Unlike in the classroom setting, what you say in the online environment is documented and not easily erased or forgotten. The following guidelines apply: Avoid using ALL CAPS, sarcasm, and language that could come across as strong or offensive. Use proper punctuation, grammar and be sure to edit your contribution before posting. Read all postings before posting your responses to discussion topics so as to not unnecessarily repeat information. Keep chat comments brief and to the point. Focus on one topic at a time when chatting or posting to discussions. Remember that unlike in face-to-face learning environments what you say in discussions and chats is documented and available to be revisited. Choose your words and discussion topics carefully. E-mail should only be used for messages pertaining to the course. Please refrain from sending forwards, jokes, etc. within e-mail. Disabilities: For information about Disability Services or to obtain this document in an alternative format, contact the Disabilities Coordinator, Student Center, Room 255 - ADA/504 Compliance Officer at.678-466-5445 or disabilityservices@clayton.edu Semi-Daily Brief: Current events will often be discussed at the beginning of class. Read a major daily newspaper, or NEWSWEEK, TIME or U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT. Watch a daily national network news program on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS or CNN, and/or listen to NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (6:00-9:00
a.m., and 4:00-6:30 p.m.) on WABE FM 90.1. You can and should pick up the New York Times in the hallways of the A&S building or in the University Center (Baker center). CSU Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades. The purpose of this policy is to increase retention. Students who have poor class attendance records often do poorly in our courses. The new policy is designed in order to emphasize to students that attending class is important and expected. Course Attendance policy: There are three required meeting dates for this course. Mandatory orientation: August 15 1:00-1:30 Clayton Hall room 220 Midterm: September 22 1:00-2:30 Clayton Hall room 220 Final: November 26 1:00-2:30 Clayton Hall room 220 Academic Dishonesty Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism. All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs. Judicial procedures are described at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial/. University Handbook is now at: http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentaffairs/studenthandbook/foreword.htm Disruption of the Learning Environment Behavior which disrupts the teaching learning process during class activities will not be tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior. A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom
behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF. The classroom is a learning space. Avoid all behaviors that disrupt others. Here are some things to avoid: use of computers, use of cell phones, use of blackberries, having headphones in your ears, and having a Bluetooth in your ear. If you are late to class take the first seat in the back of the room closest to the door. Don t leave class early! A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is provided at: http://a-s.clayton.edu/disruptiveclassroombehavior.htm Midterm Grades: A course midterm grade will be posted on the DUCK by midterm each semester. The midterm grade will only reflect work completed to the middle of the semester. More than half of the scored work in this course is completed after the midterm date. If you have questions, please contact the instructor. The Fall deadline for you to withdraw from this course without academic accountability is October 4. Operation Study: At Clayton State University, we expect and support high motivation and academic achievement. Look for Operation Study activities and programs this semester that are designed to enhance your academic success such as study sessions, study breaks, workshops, and opportunities to earn Study Bucks (for use in the University Bookstore) and other items. Political Science Program Outcomes and Assessments (Revised April 2011)
Outcomes: Graduating political science majors should Apply concepts related to the structures and principles of the U.S. Constitution to historical and current politics. Explain and criticize U.S. political institutions and processes. Demonstrate ability to understand and apply social sciences research methods. Research and compose a Senior Thesis in a subfield of political science. Successfully complete a political science related internship. Assessments: POLS 1101 geography tests POLS 2101 pre and post-assessment surveys POLS 4490/POLS 4491 Internship/Practicum Site Supervisor Evaluation POLS 3000 and 4000 level course research papers POLS 4501 Senior Thesis ACAT Area Concentration Achievement Test taken by graduating seniors Course Outcomes: To understand why the United States only has two political parties,. To be able to identify and describe why some third parties have done well electorally. To be able to explain why some third parties have disrupted the normal two party balance by exposing factions in one of the parties. To be able to critically examine the argument that Americans are not polarized.
To be able to explain the current state of the major political parties in the United States. Assessments: Essay Examinations (200 points): There will be a midterm and a final essay exam. Online discussions/netiquette (40 points): There will be four online discussions. Your discussion posts should be based on the assigned readings for the week. While it is fine to disagree with your classmates only civil discussion points will be given credit (never use inflammatory language or refer to someone personally). Additionally only substantive posts and comments will be graded. Examples of non-substantive posts are (I agree, yes, you are wrong, way to go, etc.) Finally, each post must be in your own words. Grading rubric: 10 points: 4 or more substantive posts including at least one comment on another students post. 9 points: 3 of the above 8 points: 2 of the above 0-7 points: 1 or less of the above. Online Reading assignments (70 points) There will be 7 online reading assignments. Answer the questions given in each reading assignment in two to three paragraphs and place them in the dropbox on D2L. Very detailed and substantive answers in three or more paragraphs will be given 9-10 points. Somewhat substantive answers in 2-3 quality paragraphs will be given 7-8 points. Shorter and less substantive answers will be given 0-7 points. Online Research assignment: (10 points) Answer the questions based on some internet research in 2-3 paragraphs and place them in the dropbox on GeorgiaView. You need to provide citations for your sources and use quality nonpartisan or biased sources. Your analysis should be based on the data and not on your own preconceived thoughts/biases.
Grade breakdown 320 total points A=288-320 B=256-287 C=224-255 D=192-223 F=0-191 I will round up to the next highest grade if you are within one percentage point of that grade. Missed work/late work policy Midterm: It is possible to take the midterm early if a good reason is given well in advance. No makeup for the midterm will be given if I m not notified at least 24 hours in advance and a documented reason is given. Final: There are no make-up exams for the final. Online assignments will not be accepted for credit if they are late. Extra Credit (15 points): If you participate in the Constitutional Debate on Wednesday September 18 th from 11:00-12:00 in the SAC ballrooms. You will need to prepare arguments for or against having guns on college campuses. I will need to know if you plan on doing this no later than Wednesday September 11. Extra credit (10 points): Attend the constitutional discuss on government access to our information in Spivey Hall during Constitution Days and write a two page paper summarizing the
points made by the speakers. Typed papers received by Tuesday October 10 can receive up to 10 points. Extra credit (2 points each/10 points max) New York Times talks Attend a New York Times talk announced via email, participate, and sign in. Please RSVP if you plan on attending so that I can order the right amount of food for lunch. Course Plagiarism Policy: If you take another students work and represent as your own on an exam or any online assignment you will be given a zero for that assignment. A second infraction or incident of plagiarism will result in an automatic F for the course as well as potential further academic discipline from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Copyright infringement: https://clayton.view.usg.edu/d2l/le/content/504833/viewcontent/10313891/vie w This syllabus is subject to revision at the instructor s discretion to facilitate the educational process. Course Outline: Week one: Mandatory Orientation Clayton Hall T220 1:00-1:30 Week two: online reading assignment one: Understanding political parties Week three: online reading assignment two: Identifying recent third parties and explaining their success
Week 4: Online discussion one: Is it worthwhile to support a third party? Week 5: Online discussion two: Are Americans polarized? Week 6: Online reading assignment three: the evidence on polarization part one Week 7: Midterm exam Clayton Hall T220 1:00-2:30 Week 8: Online reading assignment four: the evidence on polarization part 2 Week 9: Online reading assignment five: Institutional obstacles to third parties Week 10: Online reading assignment 6: Public demand for third parties Week 11: Online Discussion 3: Why have Democrats been winning national elections recently? Week 12: Online Research Assignment 1: What is the Tea Party? How are tea party representatives different than mainstream Republicans? Week 13: Online Reading assignment 7: Herding Donkeys: The Democratic 50 State Strategy Week 14: Online Discussion 4: What is the future of the US party system? Week 15 Clayton Hall T220 1:00-2:30