ROANOKE COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS WESTERN POLITICAL THEORY (POLI 242A) FALL 2014
MWF 12-1 Dr. Justin D. Garrison West 325 West 121 Office Hours: MW 1-2, Th 2:45-3:45, and 540-375-5265 by appointment [email protected]
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A study of western political theory from Plato to Rawls, emphasizing the modern period.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The course objectives for POLI 242A are the following: Provide students with knowledge about the theoretical approach to studying politics. Enable students to develop a deeper understanding of selected thinkers and concepts. Provide students with an intellectual foundation from which to assess the theoretical dimensions of practical politics.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completing POLI 242A, each student should have: Demonstrated knowledge of major concepts and thinkers on exams. Improved writing and critical thinking skills through the completion of a film reaction paper and a research paper project. Enhanced oral communication skills through participating in class lectures and discussions.
COURSE GRADING
Your final grade will be determined on the following basis:
Exam 1: 15% Research Paper Conference: 5% Exam 2: 15% Research Paper: 20% Final Exam: 15% Participation: 20% Film Reaction Paper: 10%
GRADING SCALE
The course has a total of 100 points. The final grade scale is as follows: Below 60 = F, 60-62 = D-, 63-67 = D, 68-69 = D+, 70-72 = C-, 73-77 = C, 78-79 = C+, 80-82 = B-, 83-87 = B, 88-89 = B+, 90-92 = A-, 93-100 = A. REQUIRED TEXTS*
Plato. The Republic. Penguin Classics. ISBN: 0140455116 St. Augustine. The Political Writings. Regnery. ISBN: 0895267047 John Locke. Political Writings. Hackett. ISBN: 0872206769 Edward Bellamy. Looking Backward: 2000-1887. Penguin Classics. ISBN: 0140390189 Edmund Burke. Reflections on the Revolution in France. Hackett. ISBN: 0872200205 Diana Hacker. A Writer’s Reference. 7th Ed. Bedford/St. Martin’s ISBN: 0312601433
* All readings listed as “(Inquire)” will be available on Inquire in PDF format. * All in-class references to course readings will be from the required editions of these texts. All non-Inquire course readings referred to by author last name below.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS Examinations This course will have a total of three examinations. The first exam will be held on Monday, September 29th. The second exam will be held on Friday, November 7th. The final exam will be held on Friday, December 12th.
Exams may be taken on a date other than that which is stipulated on the syllabus only with the prior approval of the instructor under circumstances he determines to be compelling. The final exam date has been established by the College Registrar and is inflexible.
Film Reaction Paper This course will require a film reaction paper of between 650 and 900 words. The paper is based on a film that will be screened in class as well as course readings. No outside research is required or permitted. The paper is due on Wednesday, September 10th.
Research Paper Assignment This course will have a research project. The paper must be between 2,500 and 3,000 words, excluding notes and bibliography. Students are encouraged to think about the paper and to discuss it with the instructor as soon as possible. The research paper assignment has three components: a) an outline and bibliography, b) a research project conference, and c) a research paper.
Students must schedule time outside of class to meet with the instructor about their outlines and bibliographies during Week 9 (October 20th through 24th). The outline and bibliography are due at the time of the conference. The paper is due on Monday, December 1st.
The research paper must be submitted in Word format to Turnitin through Inquire no later than the beginning of class on the due date. No email submissions will be accepted. Failure to submit the paper by the beginning of class on the due date will result in a one-third of a letter grade deduction from the paper grade, which will be repeated for every day that the assignment is late. After three days, late papers become zeros. More information about this assignment will be distributed to the class via Inquire.
Class Attendance Attendance of all classes is mandatory and will be taken at the beginning of each class. If you are late to class, it is your responsibility to inform the instructor at the end of class. Otherwise, you will be considered absent. You are expected to be both mentally and physically present for every class. Distracting behavior will generate an absence for that class. 4 absences from class, excused or unexcused, are permitted during the semester. Absence 5 will incur a 3-percentage point deduction from the final grade. 6 absences will result in dismissal from the course with a failing grade (DF). A DF has a negative impact upon a student’s cumulative GPA. A formal written warning, given after the 5th absence, will precede such dismissal. With this in mind, please reserve your quantity of permitted absences for true emergencies.
Class Participation Students will be provided with reading guides via Inquire containing key terms and questions related to each reading. Students will be called upon to provide answers to these questions and descriptions of these terms during class lectures. Substantive class participation, expressing both familiarity with and contemplation of course readings, will be considered in the evaluation of final grades.
Quizzes Should it become necessary, the instructor reserves the right to give unannounced quizzes. Quiz grades will be incorporated into the participation grade for each student.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES POLICY
Students must turn off cell phones before the beginning of class. Electronic devices, including but not limited to laptops, tablets, and e-readers, are prohibited in the classroom. Use of any electronic devices on exams or in class is strictly prohibited. Use of such devices during lectures and class discussions will generate an absence on the grounds that the student is not mentally present in class.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
All Roanoke College students are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity in all classes and on all exams and assignments. Violations of the College’s Academic Integrity (AI) policy include but are not limited to plagiarism, cheating, lying, and unauthorized use of an electronic device.
As stated in the Academic Integrity Handbook: “Barring unusual circumstances, an F in the course is the minimum penalty for a student found to be in violation of academic integrity.” More severe penalties may also apply to violations of the AI policy. Ignorance of the AI policy is no defense against violations. Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the AI Handbook, which can be found at http://roanoke.edu/A- Z_Index/Academic_Affairs/Academic_Integrity/The_AI_Handbook.htm DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES
The Office of Disability Support Services, located in the Goode-Pasfield Center for Learning and Teaching in Fintel Library, provides reasonable accommodations to students with identified disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are provided based on the diagnosed disability and the recommendations of the professional evaluator. In order to be considered for disability services, students must identify themselves to the Office of Disability Support Services. Students are required to provide specific current documentation of their disabilities. Please contact Richard Robers, M.A. Ed., Coordinator of Disability Support Services, at 540-375-2247 or e-mail [email protected].
Students on record with the Disability Support Services are strongly encouraged to discuss accommodations with the instructor during the first two weeks of class. Please note that students with approved accommodations in need of testing accommodations must make arrangements with the instructor at least one week in advance of any exam.
SUBJECT TUTORING
Subject Tutoring is an internationally certified tutor training program through CRLA ITTPC (College Reading & Learning Association International Tutor Training Program Certification) and is coordinated by Shannon McNeal at The Center for Learning & Teaching. Tutoring sessions are held Sunday through Thursday, 4-9 p.m. For a list of tutorials or to make an appointment, go to www.roanoke.edu/tutoring.
WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center @ Roanoke College, located in Room 15 on the Lower Level of Fintel Library, offers writing tutorials for students working on writing assignments/projects in any field. Writers at all levels of competence may visit the Writing Center at any point in their process, from brainstorming to drafting to editing, and talk with trained peer writing tutors in informal, one-on-one sessions. The Writing Center is open Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 9 pm. We open for Spring Semester on Sunday, January 19th. Simply stop in, or schedule an appointment by going to www.roanoke.edu/writingcenter, where our schedule of writing workshops and creative writing playshops is also posted. Questions? Email [email protected] or call 375-4949. SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Week 1: What is Political Theory?
August 27: Introduction and Syllabus
August 29: The Existential Experience of Order and Disorder Reading: Sophocles, “Antigone” (Inquire)
Week 2: Political Theory Interpreting the Concrete World
September 1: Film—“The Architecture of Doom”
September 3: Film—“The Architecture of Doom”
September 5: Discussion—“The Architecture of Doom” Reading: Peter Viereck, “Metapolitics” (Inquire)
Week 3: Plato and Political Theory
September 8: The Deterioration of Athens Reading: Plato, Republic, pp. 3-15 (327a-336a)
September 10: Conventional Views of Justice and Injustice Reading: Plato, Republic, pp. 15-40 (336b-354b) Film Reaction Paper Due
September 12: Conventional Views of Justice and Injustice Reading: Plato, Republic, pp. 40-52 (357a-367d)
Week 4: Plato and Political Theory
September 15: The Constitution of Political Order Reading: Plato, Republic, pp. 54-66, 113-129 (368a-376c, 412b-427c)
September 17: Research Paper Tutorial
September 19: The Just State and the Just Soul Reading: Plato, Republic, pp. 130-156 (427d-449a)
Week 5: Plato and Political Theory
September 22: Exam Tutorial
September 24: Democracy and the Democratic Soul Reading: Plato, Republic, pp. 240-248, 276-278, 290-298 (514a-521c, 543a-545c, 555b- 562a)
September 26: Tyranny and the Tyrannical Soul Reading: Plato, Republic, pp. 298-314 (562a-576b)
Week 6: Christianity and Political Theory
September 29: Exam 1
October 1: Sources of Christian Political Theory Reading: Genesis, 1-4, Matthew, 22:15-22, John 1:1-14, Romans 7:19, 13:1-8 (Inquire)
October 3: Human Nature and the Two Loves Reading: Augustine, Political Writings, pp. 1-43
Week 7: Christianity and Political Theory
October 6: Politics and the Two Cities Reading: Augustine, Political Writings, pp. 118-153
October 8: The Roman Empire Reading: Augustine, Political Writings, pp. 44-57
October 10: The Roman Empire Reading: Augustine, Political Writings, pp. 88-117
Week 8: Fall Break
October 13, 15, 17—Fall Break—No Classes
Week 9: Christianity and Political Theory (Research Paper Conferences; Proposals Due)
October 20: The Just War Reading: Augustine, Political Writings, pp. 162-183
October 22: Private Property Reading: Augustine, Political Writings, pp. 153-162
October 24: The State of Nature and Natural Rights Reading: Locke, Political Writings, pp. 261-273
Week 10: Liberalism and Political Theory
October 27: Private Property Reading: Locke, Political Writings, pp. 273-286 October 29: The Formation and Ends of Civil Society Reading: Locke, Political Writings, pp. 300-327
October 31: Forms of Government Reading: Locke, Political Writings, pp. 327-249
Week 11: Liberalism and Political Theory
November 3: Political Rebellion Reading: Locke, Political Writings, pp. 363-387
November 5: Religious Toleration Reading: Locke, Political Writings, pp. 391-436
November 7: Exam 2
Week 12: Liberalism and Political Theory
November 10: Liberalism, Progress, and the Future Reading: Bellamy, Looking Backward, pp. 35-134 (Preface-ch. XV)
November 12: Liberalism, Progress, and the Future Reading: Bellamy, Looking Backward, pp. 134-183 (chs. XVI-XXIV)
November 14: Liberalism, Progress, and the Future Reading: Bellamy, Looking Backward, pp. 183-234 (ch. XXV-Postscript)
Week 13: Conservatism and Political Theory
November 17: Liberty and the Historical Sense Reading: Burke, Reflections, pp. 3-30
November 19: Equality, Leadership, and Government Reading: Burke, Reflections, pp. 30-59
November 21: Revolution and Rebellion Reading: Burke, Reflections, pp. 59-70
Week 14: Conservatism and Political Theory
November 24: Prejudice and the Moral Imagination Reading: Burke, Reflections, pp. 70-79
November 26, 28—Thanksgiving—No Classes Week 15: Conservatism and Political Theory
December 1: The Social Contract Reading: Burke, Reflections, pp. 79-90 Research Paper Due
December 3: American Independence Reading: Burke, “Speeches on America” (Inquire)
December 5: Conclusion to the Course
Week 16: Final Exam
December 12—Block 4 Final Exam—2:00 p.m.