Y103 Introduction to American Politics

Spring Semester 2008

8:00-8:50 p.m. – Monday, Wednesday, Friday

CM 212

Instructor: A. Downs

Office Hours	Contact Information
10:00 to 10:50 a.m. M, W, F	Office: CM 221
By Appointment	Dept. Office: CM 209
	Phone: (260) 481-6691
	Dept. Phone: (260) 481-6686
	Email: downsa@ipfw.edu
	Web address: www.ipfw.edu/pols/

Text: Keeping the Republic: Power and Citizenship in American Politics, third edition by Christine Barbour, Gerald C. Wright, Matthew Streb, and Michael Wolf

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the government and politics of the United States.  The topics covered include the founding of the United States, fundamental liberties, the executive branch, the legislature, the American legal system, voting and campaigns, and public policy.  Both the formal institutions and dynamics of politics will be considered.  While the primary focus of this course is the present, special attention will be paid to some of the important social and historical factors that shaped the present. 

Course Objectives

Students who diligently pursue the work of this course will be better able to:

· Understand the American political system and its dynamic nature;

· Recognize the fundamental issues confronting the American political system;

· Appreciate and respect the multicultural diversity of American society;

· Synthesize information into a coherent whole;

· Distinguish between reasoned argument and unsupported opinion and ask intelligent and critical questions about political rhetoric and news reports; and

· Articulate and defend, with appropriate evidence, ideas, views, and opinions

This course fulfills the General Education requirement for Area III.

Course Requirements

Participation: Classes will include lectures and discussions.  Students should read the assigned material before class and be prepared to participate in the discussions and to ask questions about things they do not understand.  Students should not confuse quantity of participation with quality of participation.  Also, it is possible that we will discuss sensitive and controversial subjects in this class and polite disagreement is welcome.  The instructor and students are expected to be respectful of the opinions of others.  The instructor may use a student’s attendance and participation to determine a final grade in very close cases.

Exams: There will be three exams during the semester and a final exam.  Each of the first three tests will be worth 20% of the final grade (total of 60% of the final grade).  The final exam will be worth 20% of the final grade.  Exams must be taken on the scheduled date except in very unusual situations.  Make-up exams will be permitted at the instructor’s discretion.  Make-up exams may be different in form.  In order to be considered for a make-up exam, a student must directly contact the instructor prior to the time of the exam.  It is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the instructor to arrange to take the make-up exam. 

Writing Assignments: There will be two writing assignments.  Students are expected to submit the writing assignment on or before the due date.  Writing assignments submitted after the due date will be accepted at the instructor’s discretion.  In order for a late writing assignment to be considered for anything other than a failing grade, a student must directly contact the instructor prior to the due date.

Writing Assignment One: Each student will select one of the topics listed below and write a four-page paper.  Additional information on this writing assignment can be found below.  This assignment will be worth 10% of the final grade.

Writing Assignment Two: Each student will select a presidential primary or caucus to analyze.  The race has to be approved by the instructor.  Students will write a four- to six-page analysis of the primary or caucus.  Additional information on this writing assignment can be found below.  This assignment will be worth 10% of the final grade. 

Assistance for all writing assignments is available from the IPFW Writing Center located in Kettler Hall KT G19 (http://www.ipfw.edu/casa/wc/default.htm).  

Cheating, plagiarism, or even facilitating academic dishonesty are serious offenses that may lead to failure on an exam, assignment, or course grade.  Serious cases may result in suspension or expulsion from the university.  (See IPFW Code of Student Rights, Responsibility, and Conduct (http://www.ipfw.edu/senate/STU_CODE.HTM ))

If you have or acquire a disability and would like to find out what special services and accommodations may be available to you, contact Services for Students with Disabilities in WU 113 (481-6657, voice/TTY).

Important Dates

· January 14-18: Late Registration and Drop/Add

· January 18: Payment Deadline (late registrants)

· January 20: Last Day for Full Refund (for full-term classes)

· March 21: Last Day to Withdraw from Classes (for full-term classes)

Schedule and Assignments

M	W	F	Topic	Readings
1/14	1/16	1/18	Introduction, Politics, American Citizens and Political Culture	Chapters 1 and 2
1/21			NO CLASS
	1/23		Politics, American Citizens and Political Culture	Chapters 1 and 2
		1/25	WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2 STATE AND PARTY DUE
		1/25	Founding of the United States	Chapter 3
1/28			Founding of the United States	Chapter 3
	1/30		WRITING ASSIGNMENT 1 TOPIC DUE
	1/30	2/1	Federalism and State and Local Politics	Chapters 4 and 16
2/4	2/6		Federalism and State and Local Politics	Chapters 4 and 16
		2/8	EXAM 1	Chaps. 1, 2, 3, 4, & 16
2/11	2/13	2/15	Fundamental Liberties and Equal Rights	Chapters 5 and 6
2/18			Fundamental Liberties and Equal Rights	Chapters 5 and 6
	2/20	2/22	Congress	Chapter 7
2/25			Congress	Chapter 7
	2/27	2/29	Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Foreign Policy	Chapters 8, 9, and 19
3/3			WRITING ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE
3/3	3/5	3/7	Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Foreign Policy	Chapters 8, 9, and 19
3/10	3/12	3/14	NO CLASS
3/17			Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Foreign Policy	Chapters 8, 9, and 19
	3/19		EXAM 2	Chaps. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 19
		3/21	America’s Legal System	Chapter 10
3/24	3/26		America’s Legal System	Chapter 10
		3/28	Political Parties	Chapter 12
3/31	4/2		Political Parties	Chapter 12
		4/4	Public Opinion, Interest Groups, Voting, Campaigns, Elections, and the Media	Chapters 11, 13, 14, and 15
4/7	4/9	4/11	Public Opinion, Interest Groups, Voting, Campaigns, Elections, and the Media	Chapters 11, 13, 14, and 15
	4/16		WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2 DUE
4/14	4/16	4/18	Public Opinion, Interest Groups, Voting, Campaigns, Elections, and the Media	Chapters 11, 13, 14, and 15
4/21			Public Opinion, Interest Groups, Voting, Campaigns, Elections, and the Media	Chapters 11, 13, 14, and 15
	4/23		EXAM 3	Chaps. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
M	W	F	Topic	Readings
		4/25	Public Policy	Chapters 17, 18
4/28	4/30		Public Policy	Chapters 17, 18
		5/2	Exam Review
		5/9	Final exam 8:00 to 10:00

Writing Assignment Information

All writing assignments must be typed.  Students are expected to use Times New Roman 12-point font and double-space the type.  The margins are to be one inch on the sides, top, and bottom.  Page numbers are to appear in the lower right-hand corner.  Papers are to be stapled in the upper left-hand corner.  Cover pages are not necessary.  Student’s name, course name or number, and the date can be typed in the upper left- or right-hand corner of the first page.  The issue that was analyzed should appear centered and double-spaced above the first line of text.  Students should not turn in assignments in folders.  In order for a page to be included in the page count, at least half of the page must contain text.  Cover pages and the reference page are not included in the page count. 

Students must use a citation method and are encouraged to use a method with which they are comfortable. 

Writing Assignment One

Each student will select one of the topics listed below and write a four-page paper.  Students must have their topic approved by the instructor.  The grade will be affected negatively if the instructor did not approve the topic. 

· No Child Left Behind (funding of NCLB or student performance under NCLB)

· Timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq

· Illegal immigration

· Censorship and the internet

· Future of Social Security

· Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

· Global warming

· Who should be responsible for cleaning up toxic waste sites

· Smoking bans or raising cigarette taxes

· Access to health care

· Eliminating the Electoral College

· Gridlock in Washington, D.C.

Students must use at least five news and/or scholarly journal sources.  No more than one of the five sources can be a web-only source.  If more than five sources are used, then no more than 20% of the sources can be web-only sources.  Web-only sources are those sources that cannot be found in a hard copy somewhere.  For example, articles from The New York Times may be retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/, but also can be found in the papers that are delivered to the IPFW campus thanks to funds from the Chancellor, Office for Academic Affairs, and the Indiana Purdue Student Government Association (IPSGA).  The New York Times is not a web-only source.  Also, articles from the American Political Science Review can be found through the Helmke Library’s web site, but also can be found on the second floor of the Library.  The American Political Science Review is not a web-only source.  Wikipedia is available only through http://www.wikipedia.org/ and only through that web site.  It is a web-only source.  Regardless of whether the source is web-only or not, students should critically evaluate the source for its credibility.  The grade will be affected negatively if the paper relies heavily on sources with questionable credibility. 

The analysis must include sources with varied perspectives.  Students are expected to include alternative press sources which can be accessed from the “Database and Indexes” link on the library home page.  Also, the Alternative Press Index (call number AI3.A27) can be found in the reference section of the Helmke Library on the first floor.  The grade will be affected negatively if the paper fails to include varied perspectives. 

Students are expected to include a copy of the alternative press source and other sources used in the paper with the paper.

The writing assignment should include:

· General description of the issue or news story (1/4 to 1/2 half page)

· At least two perspectives on the issue or news story (1 to 2 pages per perspective)

· The student’s position on the issue or news story (1 to 2 pages)

Writing Assignment Two

Each student will write a four- to six-page analysis of a presidential primary or caucus listed below.  Students must have their state and political party approved by the instructor.  The grade will be affected negatively if the state and political party are not approved by the instructor. 

· January 3: Iowa

· January 8: New Hampshire

· January 5: Wyoming (R)

· January 15: Michigan

· January 19: Nevada, South Carolina (R)

· January 26: South Carolina (D)

· January 29: Florida

· February 1: Maine (R)

· February 5: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho (D), Illinois, Kansas (D), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico (D), New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah

Source: National Association of Secretary of States (www.nass.org)

At a minimum, students must use the following sources. 

· Daniel Elazar’s typology of political cultures

· At least one national newspaper: Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today

· At least one newspaper from the state

· At least one national broadcast news source: ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, NBC

· Web sites for all viable candidates

Below is a list of sources that might be helpful. 

· C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, C-SPAN3

· Project Vote Smart

· National Association of Secretaries of State

· Secretary of State for the state being analyzed

· Real Clear Politics http://www.realclearpolitics.com/

To do this assignment well, students will have to read newspapers; watch television news; listen to radio news; visit the web sites of the candidates; and watch and listen to debates.  They also will have to learn what issues are important to the voters and review political advertising (television, radio, direct mail, websites, newspapers, etc.). 

The writing assignment should include:

· Description of the state including its political culture and past primary or caucus results (approximately ½ page)

· List of the viable candidates leading up to the primary and why each candidate is considered viable (1/2 page to 1 page)

· Prediction of who should win based on past election results, the political culture of the state, and other data (1/2 page to 1 page)

· Who won the race including vote totals (1/2 page to 1 page)

· Why the winner won (approximately 1 page)

· Significance of the win in securing the nomination (1/2 page to 1 page)