Y103 - Introduction to American Politics

Internet/Cable Access: Spring 2010

Elliot Bartky Office: CM 213

Office hours T, Th 1:30-2:45 & by appointment

email: bartky@ipfw.edu

 

 

NOTE: PROF. BARTKY COMMUNICATES WITH STUDENTS THROUGH HIS EMAIL: bartky@ipfw.edu

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An introductory inquiry focusing on the ideas, institutions, processes, policies and people shaping the American Republic. Particular attention will be directed to the historical development of the American political order and the problem of establishing justice and securing liberty in the United States. 

 

COURSE TEXTS

1.   American Government: Power and Purpose         Lowi, Ginsberg, Shepsle

2.   Sources of American Founding (SAF) see course web page  Sources of the American Founding

 

3.   You are also required to be informed about contemporary American politics by reading a national daily newspaper or through other news sources. The internet provides access to many fine news sources and tools for political research. The Department of Political Science Web page-  www.ipfw.edu/pols  - provides access to many fine sources of political information.

 

COURSE GOALS
Course Goals: The course is designed to further the students’ ability to:

a) think about the problem of establishing justice and securing liberty in the USA;

b) enter debates about fundamental political issues;
c) think, speak, and act in accord with the unity amidst the diversity of American culture;
d) better prepared to increase their earning potential;
e) better prepared to find and maintain a mate;
f) better prepared to contribute to the well being of society;
g) better prepared to establish a record appropriate for securing a position in the world to come

 

This course fulfills the General Education requirement for Area Three: The Individual, Culture, and Society.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Reading Assignments
Follow the reading assignments on the course syllabus "Course Reading and Lecture Schedule." Your understanding of the lectures and performance on the tests will benefit by your having read the materials prior to viewing the lectures on the internet or TV.

 

It is especially important that you are able to integrate the reading material with the course lectures.

Exams

There are four exams. Each exam will count for one-fourth of the final grade. The first three exams consist of multiple choice, short answer and essay questions that indicate your progress integrating and comprehending course readings, lectures, and discussions. The final exam will focus on the last part of the course but include basic materials from throughout the course. The final exam will not include essay questions.

 

For students to demonstrate their proficiency they will need to acquire a basic knowledge of the dynamics and mechanics of American politics, as well as knowledge of the ideas and controversies that shape the way Americans think, speak and act in the political order.

Exam Reviews are available on the course web page.

Practice quizzes are available for the readings in the course text book on the website below. Simply click on the link for Diagnostic Quiz and go to the appropriate chapters. Note that the multiple choice portion of each exam will be based both on your reading of the text and the course lectures. Taking the review or diagnostic quiz will only provide a good idea of the sort of questions appearing on the test that are drawn from the text book.

 

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/lowi/lowi10_brief/

 

The first three exams each have essay questions. The essay questions appearing on these exams will be taken from the essay questions on the Exam Reviews on my website. If you do the readings and watch the lectures there is no reason for you not to be fully prepared to answer the essay questions.

 

The following two links provide helpful insights for writing essays. The information provided on these links will assist you in answering essay questions on the exams and in writing papers.

 

Essay Writing

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/01/

 

Writing Essays for Exams

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/737/01/


You must take the exams through Testing Services:
BE SURE TO CALL TESTING SERVICES AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE EXAM TO SCHEDULE YOUR EXAM OTHERWISE THERE MAY NOT BE A TIME SLOT AVAILABLE.

Call 260-481-6600 to schedule an appointment to take the test. See the Testing Services website:  http://www.ipfw.edu/testing/distance/ 

 

A Note on Academic Honesty:
Students should familiarize themselves with and abide by the IPFW Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.

Students who violate the Code through cheating, plagiarism or other misconduct, or who assist others in engaging in prohibited conduct, will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

 

COURSE READING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE: The reading schedule is meant to provide a guide assisting you in allocating the time necessary to complete the course. You may take Exam 1, Exam 2, or Exam 3 on the scheduled date or one week later than the suggested date. Exam 4 must be taken by 12/16.

Note that the reading schedule does not follow the order of the chapters established by the authors of the course text. Required readings are marked with an asterisk *.

1.   INTRODUCTION: THE TWO FOUNDINGS OF THE REPUBLIC

 

      Introductory lecture

January 12

 

 

2.   FROM PURITAN FOUNDING TO THE CONSITUTION

 

      Lecture 2

January 14

      *Ch. 1

      *Excerpts from Winthrop and Locke (see SAF)

      *The Declaration of Independence (Appendix A 3-5)

 

 

 

3.   THE CONSTITUTION AND THE AMERICAN FOUNDING

 

      Lecture 3 and Lecture 4

January 19, 21

      *Ch. 2

      *The Constitution (Appendix 7-27)

      *Federalist 10, 51 (Appendix 28-36)

 

 

 

4.   FEDERALISM & THE PROBLEM OF POLITICAL ORDER

 

      Lecture 5 and Lecture 6

January 26, 28

      *Ch. 3

      *Tocqueville (see SAF)

 

 

 

Exam 1: Scheduled February 2 (thru February 9) Chapters 1, 2, 3

 

 

 

5.   THE CONGRESS

 

      Lecture 8 and Lecture 9

February 4, 9

      *Ch. 5

 

 

 

6.   THE PRESIDENCY

 

      Lecture 10 and Lecture 11

February 11, 16

      *Ch. 6

 

 

 

7.   BUREAUCRACY AND DEMOCRACY

 

      Lecture 12 and Lecture 13

February 18, 23

      *Ch. 7

 

 

 

Exam 2: February 25 (thru March 4) Chapters 5, 6, 7

 

 

 

8.   POLITICAL PARTIES

 

      Lecture 15 and Lecture 16

March 2, 4

      *Ch. 11

 

 

 

9.   CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS

 

      Lecture 17 and Lecture 18

March 16, 18

      *Ch. 10

 

 

 

10. PUBLIC OPINION AND THE MEDIA

 

      Lecture 19

March 23

      *Ch. 9

 

 

 

11. INTEREST GROUPS

 

      Lecture 20 and Lecture  21           

March 25, 30

      *Ch. 12

 

 

 

Exam 3: April 1 (thru April 8) Chapters 11, 10, 9, 12

 

 

 

12. FEDERAL COURTS

 

      Lecture 23 and Lecture 24

April 6, 8

      *Ch. 8

 

      *Bill of Rights (Appendix A 16)

 

 

 

13. CITIZENSHIP, POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT & THE WELFARE STATE

 

      Lecture 25 and Lecture 26

April 13, 15

      *Ch. 4

 

 

 

14. GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY

 

      Lecture 27 and Lecture 28

April 20, 22

      *Ch. 13

 

 

 

15. FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY

 

      Lecture 29 and Lecture 30

April 27, 29

      *Ch. 14

 

 

 

Exam 4: May 3-5  Chapters 8, 4, 13, 14