Introduction to Political Science

Course ID: PS 2304 Professor: Dr. Thomas F.X. Varacalli Section: 001 Office Hour: UAC 360, MTWR, 3:30-4:50 Time: MW 2:00-3:20 Phone: 512-245-6617 Place: UAC 308 E-Mail: [email protected]

Description from Course Catalog: This course is an introductory survey of the discipline of political science, focusing on the history, scope, and methods of the field and the substantive topics in the discipline. Prerequisite: POSI 2310 or POSI 2320.

Course Objectives: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to key concepts in political science and to prepare students for the job market. Students will be expected to analyze political ideas and institutions, compare and contrast subdisciplines, interpret key texts, prepare job training materials (e.g., resume, cover letter), review and master grammatical rules, attend department events, and compose a review of literature.

Book for Purchase at Texas State University Bookstore:

Thomas Varacalli and Sherri Mora, An Invitation to Political Science, Preliminary Edition (Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt). ISBN: 978-1-5249-8976-7 [textbook custom made for Texas State]

Grading Scale and Distribution: A: 90-100 B: 80-89 C: 70-79 D: 60-69 F: 59 or lower

Paper – Review of Literature: 20% Midterm Examination: 20% Grammar and Syntax Review: 20% Final Examination: 25% Cover Letter: 5% Resume: 5% Department Events: 5%

Review of Literature Term Paper: Students are to write a six-to-eight-page review of literature on a topic of their choosing. The purpose of this paper is to introduce students to academic journals and monographs. In their paper, they are to examine how different scholars interpret and analyze a specific research question. Students must draw out the implications of the differences in the literature. Students must use at least ten peer-reviewed sources. At least five of these sources should come from academic journals. The term paper is due Wednesday, December 4.

Grammar and Syntax Review: Almost every Wednesday, students are to complete grammatical exercises throughout the semester. Each grammar assignment will be weighted equally. Each assignment will be posted in TRACS. Students will have one week to do each assignment. Midterm Examination: Students will take a midterm examination that will cover the various themes of the first half of the semester. It will include multiple choice, true and false, and short answers. The midterm examination is on Wednesday, October 16.

Final Examination: Students will take a comprehensive final that will cover all the major themes of the course. It will include multiple choice, true and false, and short answers. The final examination is on Wednesday, December 11, 2PM – 4:30PM.

Cover Letter: Students will write a “practice” cover letter to a potential employer. The professor will give a prompt. Students will be submitting the cover letter only to the professor. The purpose of this exercise is to teach students how to market themselves and to tailor their letters to meet the needs of potential employers. The cover letter is due Wednesday, November 22 via e-mail.

Resume: Students will write a “practice” resume that will include their education, job history, list of achievements, and technical skills. Students will be submitting the resume only to the professor. The purpose of this exercise is to teach students how to market themselves and to tailor their resumes to meet the needs of potential employers. The resume is due on Friday, November 8 via e-mail.

Department Events: Students are expected to attend TWO department events throughout the course of the semester. More opportunities will be given throughout the semester, but here are some possible department events:

Tuesday, September 10, 2019, 5PM, UAC 105 – Meet Your Professors

Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 7:30PM, Alkek Theater – Dr. James Ceaser, University of Virginia, “James Madison: The Founder of the Modern Founding”

Monday, September 23, 2019, 6:00PM, UAC 310 – Holly Doyle and Dr. Dianne Rahm, Texas State University, “Redefining Environmental Racism: The Flint Example”

Tuesday, September 24, 2019, 7:00PM, UAC 310 – Scholarly Panel on “Echoes of Flint: Water Quality Threats to Texas Cities”

Monday, October 7, 2019, 7:30PM, Alkek Theater – Dr. H.W. Perry, University of Texas School of Law, “The Supreme Court of the United States”

Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 7:30PM, Alkek Theater – Thomas E. Ricks, Pulitzer-Prize Journalist, “Orwell on the English Language” Note: More opportunities will be given throughout the course of the semester. Class Policies: Absences: Students who have more than three unexcused absences will have their grade dropped by a letter. Excused absences (sickness, family emergencies, university-excused functions, unfortunate acts of nature, and other legitimate unforeseen events) will not be counted against the student.

Citations: You must use a proper citation style. Chicago is preferred, but you are free to use any citation style, so long as it is correctly and consistently applied. For questions concerning grammar and sentence structure, consult the classic Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White.

Classroom Conduct: Disruptive actions, including talking out of turn, texting, passing notes (even if flattering of my teaching ability), sleeping, listening to music, having headphones on, not paying attention, etc. will not be tolerated. Be attentive and courteous to your professor and fellow classmates. Do not arrive late or leave class early, unless there is a pressing or urgent matter.

Electronics: Laptops, phones, I-Pads, e-readers, and other electronics, however ancient, may not be used unless they are for either the purpose of taking notes or using these devices to download and view the assigned books.

Food and Drink: Do not eat in class. A discrete drink is fine. No slurpees.

Late Work: Failure to hand in work by the due date may result in your grade being dropped by a full letter. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to hand in a paper on time, contact your professor immediately.

Plagiarism and Collusion: This class has a zero-tolerance plagiarism and collusion policy. Plagiarism and collusion will lead to an automatic “F” on the assignment and, quite possibly, the course. Students guilty of plagiarism and collusion will face the proper authorities. In order to avoid either of these heinous academic sins, please make sure to cite your work carefully. For more information about plagiarism and collusion, please visit: http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-07-10-01.html

Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability who will require an accommodation(s) to participate in this course, please contact me as soon as possible. You will be asked to provide documentation from the Office of Disability Services. Failure to contact me in a timely manner may delay your accommodations.

TRACS: It is expected that you will check regularly both your e-mail and TRACS course home page. Some reading assignments will only be available through TRACS. If you cannot log in, please contact your professor immediately.

Bobcat Honor Code: http://www.txstate.edu/honorcodecouncil/Academic-Integrity.html All students are expected to uphold and cherish the Honor Code of Texas State University! As members of a community dedicated to learning, inquiry, and creation, the students, faculty, and administration of our university live by the principles in this Honor Code. These principles require all members of this community to be conscientious, respectful, and honest.

WE ARE CONSCIENTIOUS. We complete our work on time and make every effort to do it right. We come to class and meetings prepared and are willing to demonstrate it. We hold ourselves to doing what is required, embrace rigor, and shun mediocrity, special requests, and excuses.

WE ARE RESPECTFUL. We act civilly toward one another and we cooperate with each other. We will strive to create an environment in which people respect and listen to one another, speaking when appropriate, and permitting other people to participate and express their views.

WE ARE HONEST. We do our own work and are honest with one another in all matters. We understand how various acts of dishonesty, like plagiarizing, falsifying data, and giving or receiving assistance to which one is not entitled, conflict as much with academic achievement as with the values of honesty and integrity.

THE PLEDGE FOR STUDENTS Students at our university recognize that, to ensure honest conduct, more is needed than an expectation of academic honesty, and we therefore adopt the practice of affixing the following pledge of honesty to the work we submit for evaluation: I pledge to uphold the principles of honesty and responsibility at our university.

THE PLEDGE FOR FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION Faculty at our university recognize that the students have rights when accused of academic dishonesty and will inform the accused of their rights of appeal laid out in the student handbook and inform them of the process that will take place. The statement is as follows: I recognize students’ rights and pledge to uphold the principles of honesty and responsibility at our university.

ADDRESSING ACTS OF DISHONESTY Students accused of dishonest conduct may have their cases heard by the faculty member. The student may also appeal the faculty member’s decision to the Honor Code Council. Students and faculty will have the option of having an advocate present to insure their rights. Possible actions that may be taken range from exoneration to expulsion.

University Resources: Political Science Office: 355 Undergraduate Advising Center Phone: (512) 245-2143 Fax: (512) 245-7815 Liberal Arts Computer Lab: 440 Undergraduate Advising Center Computer Lab Website: http://www.polisci.txtstate.edu/resources/computer-lab.html Writing Center: http://www.writingcenter.txstate.edu/ Office of Disability Services: http://www.ods.txstate.edu/

Departmental Outcomes: The Department of Political Science has adopted student learning outcomes for general education courses (POSI 2310 and POSI 2320) and for all undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered in the Department of Political Science. These outcomes are available for your review at http://www.polisci.txstate.edu. Pull down the Student Resources menu and go to “Learning Outcomes.”

Reading Schedule:

M., August 26: Syllabus Day

PART I: INTRODUCTION TO THE DISCIPLINE

W., August 28: The Dignity of Politics James Stoner, Jr. “Why We Respect the Dignity of Politics” in The Thriving Society: On the Social Conditions of Human Flourishing (on TRACS) Online Lecture available in “Learning Modules” on TRACS *Professor will be at a university-approved conference in Washington DC.

M., September 2: No Class – Labor Day

W., September 4: The Means of Politics Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 1, pgs. 1 – 9 Charles Krauthammer, “Are We Alone in the Universe?”(TRACS) Charles Krauthammer, “Winston Churchill” (TRACS)

Grammar Review: Diagraming Sentences Homework

Professional Development: Special Guest Presentation: Dr. Sherri Mora, Associate Chair and Undergraduate Advisor

Special Guest Presentation: Ms. Samantha Martinez, International City/County Management Association (student club) M., September 9: The Ends of Politics Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 1, pgs. 9 – 19 The Declaration of Independence (TRACS) Abraham Lincoln, “Gettysburg Address” (TRACS) Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” (TRACS) Martin Luther King Jr., “Ethical Demands of Integration”(TRACS)

Professional Development: Special Guest Presentation: Dr. Jennifer Lamm, Discourse in Democracy

W., September 11: Subdiscipline #1: Political Philosophy Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 1, pgs. 25-27 Dante Germino, “The Nature of Political Theory” in Beyond Ideology: The Revival of Political Theory (New York: Harper & Row, 1967) (on TRACS)

Grammar Review: Capitalization & Apostrophes Homework

M., September 16: Subdiscipline #2: American Government and Politics Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 1, pgs. 27-29 Martin Diamond, “The Electoral College and the American Idea of Democracy” (Washington DC: American Enterprise Institute) (on TRACS)

Professional Development: Special Guest Presentation: Margaret Vaverek, Alkek Library

W., September 18: Subdiscipline #3: Comparative Politics Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 1, pgs. 29-30 Arend Lijphart, “Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method” American Political Science Review 65 no. 3 (Sep., 1971) (on TRACS)

Grammar Review: Subject-Verb Agreement Homework

Professional Development: Applying to Federal, State, and Local Government Jobs M., September 23: Subdiscipline #4: International Relations Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 1, pgs. 30-32 Jack Snyder, “One World, Rival Theories” Foreign Policy Nov/Dec 2004 (on TRACS)

Professional Development: Special Guest Presentation: Dr. Thomas Doyle, Political Science

W., September 25: Subdiscipline #5: Public Administration Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 1, pg. 32 Donald F. Kettl, “Public Administration at the Millennium: The State of the Field” Journal of Public Administration and Theory 10 (2000) (on TRACS)

Grammar Review: Sentence Structure

Professional Development: Special Guest Presentation: Dr. Marc Wallace, Public Administration

M., September 30: History of the Discipline of Political Science Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 1, pgs. 22-25 Gabriel Almond, “The History of Political Science: An Essay” in Ventures in Political Science: Narratives and Reflections (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 2002) (On TRACS)

Professional Development: Using Online Databases

PART II: KEY POLITICAL IDEAS

W., October 2: Ancient Political Thought Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 2, pgs.37-52 Aristotle, Ethics, Book I (Selections on TRACS)

Professional Development Special Guest Presentation: Career Services M., October 7: Modern Political Thought Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 2, pgs. 52-72 Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, chaps. 13 & 14 (TRACS) Immanuel Kant, “What Is Enlightenment?” (TRACS)

Professional Development: Special Guest Presentation: Dr. Carol Dochen, SLAC

W., October 9: Liberalism Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 3, pgs. 83-93 John Locke, Second Treatise, Chapters 2 and 5

Grammar Review: Citation – Paraphrasing and Direct Quotes

M., October 14: Modern Ideologies Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 3, pgs. 93-109 Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, selections (TRACS) V.I. Lenin, What Is to Be Done?, selections (TRACS)

W., October 16: Midterm Examination

PART III: LAW, CONSTITUTIONALISM, AND STRUCTURES

M., October 21: Law Jeremy Waldron, “The Rule of Law,” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rule-of-law/

Professional Development: Composing a Review of Literature

W., October 23: Constitutionalism M.J.C. Vile, “The Doctrine of the Separation of Powers and Institutional Theory,” Constitutionalism and the Separation of Powers, Second Edition (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1998) (on TRACS)

Grammar Review: Footnotes and Endnotes M., October 28: The Emergence of the State Michael Oakeshott, “Interpretations of the Modern European State (1) and (2)” Lectures in the History of Political Thought (Luton: Andrews, 2011) (on TRACS)

Professional Development: Writing a Resume Workshop

W., October 30: Political Institutions Harvey C. Mansfield, “The Origins of Party Government,” in Statesmanship and Party Government: A Study of Burke and Bolingbroke (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1965) (on TRACS)

Yuval Levin, “Introduction” in The Great Debate (New York: Basic Books, 2014) (on TRACS)

Grammar Review: Commonly Misspelled and Confused Words

M., November 4: Political Economy: Capitalism Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 3, pgs. 76-80 Milton Friedman, “The Relation between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom” in Capitalism and Freedom (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002)

Professional Development: Law School

W., November 6: Political Economy: Socialism Varacalli and Mora, Chapter 3, pgs. 80-83 Karl Marx, “The Communist Manifesto” (TRACS) Students for a Democratic Society, “Port Huron Statement” (TRACS)

Grammar Review: Common Mistakes in Writing Papers

Resume Due on Friday, November 8 via e-mail

M., November 11: War and Peace David Corey and J. Daryl Charles, “Chapter 1: Tradition and the Just War” in The Just War Tradition: An Introduction (Wilmington: ISI, 2012) (on TRACS)

Professional Development: Writing a Cover Letter Workshop W., November 13: Public Opinion and Political Engagement Readings: TBA

Professional Development: Graduate School

PART IV: METHODOLOGY

M., November 18: The Methodology of the Discipline Max Weber, “Science as a Vocation” (on TRACS)

W., November 20: Qualitative Techniques Gary King, Robert Keohane, and Sidney Verba, “The Science in Social Science” in Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994) (on TRACS)

Cover Letter Due on Friday, November 22 via e-mail

M., November 25: Quantitative Techniques Frances Stokes Berry and William D. Berry, “State Lottery Adoptions as Policy Innovation: An Event History Analysis” American Political Science Review 84 (1990) (on TRACS)

W., November 27: No Class – Thanksgiving

M., December 2: Criticisms of Behavioral Revolution Leo Strauss, “Natural Right and the Distinction between Facts and Values” in Natural Right and History (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1965) (On TRACS)

Eric Voegelin, “Introduction,” in The New Science of Politics (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1952) (on TRACS)

W., December 4: Review of Class Material/Catch-Up Day

Review of Literature Term Paper Due Wednesday, December 4

Final Exam: Wednesday, December 11, 2PM – 4:30PM