Y150 Foundations of Community Advocacy

Spring Semester, 2008

11:00-11:50 p.m. – Monday, Wednesday, Friday

SB G65

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:   All readings are on reserve through the Helmke Library.

 

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the Certificate in Civic Education and Public Advocacy (CCEPA).  The CCEPA is one of the ways that IPFW is institutionalizing an educational experience that offers students an intellectual and experiential understanding of civic engagement.  This course will prepare students to learn more than the basic structure of government.  It will prepare students to learn the historical and philosophical foundations of our democracy and to question long-established ideas.

 

Course Objectives

Students who diligently pursue the work of this course will be better prepared to learn the following in the courses that make up the CCEPA:

·         Recognize they are a part of a larger society and that every person has value.

·         Understand that as a part of a larger society, they share the responsibility for addressing social issues.

·         Develop the knowledge, skills, and ability through classroom learning and active student learning to function effectively in a variety of workplace and community-based roles and activities.

·         Develop the necessary language and technical skills for purposeful inquiry and communication.

·         Be able to clarify issues in the community, develop a plan to address the issues, and marshal support for that plan.

·         Understand how to involve the community in decision-making processes and see the value in doing so.

·         Know how to marshal the resources to address the needs of the community and feel obliged to contribute to the betterment of the community.

·         Be civic professionals.

This course fulfills the introductory requirement of the Certificate in Civic Education and Public Advocacy.

 

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 one exam and it is worth 30% of the final grade.  The exam must be taken on the scheduled date except in very unusual situations.  A make-up exam 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 contact the instructor directly 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. 

 

Assignments: There are assignments for each unit.  The assignment for each unit is worth 10% of the final grade for a total of 40% of the final grade.  Assignments must be turned in on or before the due date except in very unusual situations.  Make-up assignments will be permitted at the instructor’s discretion.  In order to be considered for a make-up assignment, a student must contact the instructor directly prior to the due date of the assignment.  It is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the instructor to arrange for the make-up assignment.

 

Writing Assignment: There will be one writing assignment worth 30% of the final grade.  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.

 

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 a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs.  Contact the Director of Services for Students with Disabilities (Walb, Room 113, telephone number 481-6658 (voice) or 481-6657 (TTY)), as soon as possible to work out the details.  Once the Director has provided you with a letter attesting to your needs for modification, bring the letter to the instructor.  More information can be found at http://www.ipfw.edu/ssd/.

 

Important Dates

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

·         January 18: Payment Deadline (late registrants)

·         January 16: Last Day for Full Refund (for five-week classes)

·         February 1: Last Day to Withdraw from Classes (for five-week classes)

 

Schedule and Assignments

Week One (1/14 – 1/18)

·         Introduction to the class

·         Introduction to government and politics

·         Lasswell, Harold D.  1958.  Politics: Who Gets What, When, How.  Chapter 1, pgs. 13-27

·         Simpson, Dick.  2004.  Inside Urban Politics: Voices from America’s Cities and Suburbs.  Chapter 9, “Reading 33 Neighborhood Empowerment” (pgs. 241-249) and “Reading 35 Citizen’s Views on Urban Revitalization in Providence” (pgs. 257-269)

·         UNIT ONE ASSIGNMENT DUE 1/18

Week Two (1/21 – 1/25)

·         NO CLASS ON 1/21

·         Conclusion of introduction to government and politics

·         Essential communication skills

·         All speeches can be found at www.americanrhetoric.com/speechbank.htm with the exceptions of the speeches from Anna Howard Shaw and Margaret Chase Smith.

·         Anna Howard Shaw.  “Fundamental Principle of a Republic.”  June 21, 1915.  (http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/annashawrepublic.htm)

·         Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  “First Inaugural Address.”  March 4, 1933.

·         Margaret Chase Smith.  “Declaration of Conscience.”  June 1, 1950.  (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/margaretchasesmithconscience.html)

·         Dwight D. Eisenhower.  “Farewell Address.”  January 17, 1961. 

·         Martin Luther King, Jr.  “I Have a Dream.”  August 28, 1963. 

·         Gerald R. Ford.  “Pardon of Richard Nixon.”  September 8, 1974.

·         Barbara Jordan.  “1976 DNC Convention Keynote Address.”  July 12, 1976. 

·         Ronald Reagan.  “First Inaugural Address.”  January 20, 1981. 

·         Mario Cuomo.  “A Tale of Two Cities” (1984 DNC Convention Keynote Address).  July 17, 1984. 

·         Mary Fisher.  “A Whisper of AIDS” (1992 RNC Convention Keynote Address).  August 19, 1992. 

·         UNIT TWO ASSIGNMENT DUE 1/25

Week Three (1/28 – 2/1)

·         Promise and problems of democracy

·         James Madison.  1787.  “Federalist No. 10.”  Found in Keeping the Republic, third edition pgs. 877-880.

·         James Madison.  1788.  “Federalist No. 51.”  Found in Keeping the Republic, third edition pgs. 881-883.

·         Democracy in America, translated and edited by Harvey C. Mansfield and Delba Winthrop. 

·         Part One: Chapter 4, On the Principle of the Sovereignty of the People in America (pgs. 53-55).

·         Part One: Chapter 7, On Political Judgment in the United States (pgs. 100-104).

·         Part Two: Chapter 7, On the Omnipotence of the Majority in the United States and Its Effects (pgs. 235-249).

·         “Is Increasing Economic Inequality a Serious Problem?” pgs. 117-133 in Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Social Issues, fourteenth edition.  Edited by Kurt Finsterbusch. 

·         UNIT THREE ASSIGNMENT DUE 2/1

Week Four (2/4 – 2/8)

·         Conclusion of promise and problems of democracy

·         Policy formation and analysis

·         Kraft, Michael E. and Scott R. Furlong.  2007.  Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives.  Chapter 1, pgs. 2-29.

·         UNIT FOUR ASSIGNMENT DUE 2/8

Week Five (2/11 – 2/15)

·         WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE 2/11

·         Conclusion of policy formation and analysis

·         Review for exam on 2/13

·         EXAM ON 2/15

 

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. 

 

Each student will write a three- to five-page paper identifying the actors in the community who need to address a specific community issue and the reason(s) these actors need to be involved.  This assignment will be worth 30% of the final grade.

 

The writing assignment should include:

·         Description of the issue (1/2 page to 1 page)

·         Actors who are involved and why they are involved (1 page to 2 pages)

·         Actors who are not involved, but should be involved and why they should be involved (1 page to 2 pages)

·         If space allows, students should include ideas for how to get those actors involved (1/2 page to 1 page)

 

Unit One Assignment

 

1.  What is Lasswell’s definition of politics?

 

2.  What is Lasswell’s basic definition of who is influential?

 

3.  Complete the following tables.

 

 

Percentage of all income in the United States

Richest 20%

 

Second 20%

 

Third 20%

 

Fourth 20%

 

Poorest 20%

 

 

Source: _______________________________________________________________________

 

 

Rank

Country

Per Capita GDP

1

 

 

2

 

 

3

 

 

4

 

 

5

 

 

 

Source: _______________________________________________________________________

 

Short Essays: Write a two- to four-paragraph answer to one of the following short-essay questions.  Be sure to include information from the readings.

 

4.  How much input should residents and citizens have in public policy?  Should their input be binding on elected officials?  Why or why not?

 

5.  What is the connection between satisfaction with the quality of life in Providence and satisfaction with services in Providence? 

 

Unit Two Assignment

 

1.  Identify the central message of three of the assigned speeches.

 

2.  Identify three phrases or passages that resonated with you and explain why they resonated.  You may not use the three speeches used above.

 

3.  Describe the kind of supporting evidence that is given in three of the speeches.  You may not use any of the speeches used above.

 

 

Unit Three Assignment

 

1.  In Federalist No. 10, Madison refers to factions as being evil.  Why?

 

2.  In Federalist No. 10, what did Madison suggest was the solution to the problems of factions?

 

3.  How is the following quote reflected in the structure of the government of the United States?  “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.  If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” 

 

4.  Alexis de Tocqueville observed that people in the United States have great faith in majority rule.  According to de Tocqueville, why do people in the United States give in to the majority?  In other words, what is the source of the majority’s force.

 

Short Essays: Write a two- to four-paragraph answer to one of the following short-essay questions.  Be sure to include information from the readings.

 

5.  Which data in the articles on stratification is most compelling?  Why?

 

6.  Should public policy in the United States guarantee substantive or procedural equality?  Why?

 

 

Unit Four Assignment

 

1.  Define public policy.

 

2.  Briefly describe four types of market failure.

 

3.  Short Essay: Write a two to four paragraph answer to the following short essay question.  Be sure to include information from the readings.  How would you explain the difference between a private good and a public good? 

 

4.  Short Essay: Write a two to four paragraph answer to the following short essay question.  Be sure to include information from the readings.  Which of the four methods for evaluating public policy do you think is the best method?  Why?