POLS 3380 - Interest Groups
& Political Parties
COURSE
REQUIREMENT: Access to communication between the instructor and students
will
require use of CSU email:
The instructor will only respond to CSU
email messages from students.
Go to: http://thehub.clayton.edu
and click "Service" for
information on configuring your laptop
computer to comply with CSU IT requirements. You MUST have your laptop computer
configured
to access CSU email. You will need to take your laptop computer to
The
HUB, located on the ground
level of the
University Center. You should have
your computer configured and set up for CSU email
BEFORE classes begin, or as
soon as
possible there after. The HUB is located in the University
Center, or contact the HUB at 678-466-4357.
This syllabus will be updated each semester the course is offered.
Prof. J. S. Trachtenberg
Clayton State University
Three Semester Credit Hours
Fall Semester 2005
Bring your CSU configured laptop computer to the course orientation.
Do NOT take this class if you do not have access to a laptop computer which is CSU configured, and which you will be able to bring to campus for all four on-campus sessions: the course orientation and the three essay examinations.
Attendance: Attendance will be taken each class session. This class will meet on the CSU campus only 4 times. It is essential that ALL students attend the course on-campus orientation and the three on-campus examinations. Please make an effort to be on time - once an examination begins you will have only the allotted examination time remaining. Examination make up opportunities are not generally available.
CSU Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend and participate in
every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to
absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through
the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course,
determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades
and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university
reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or
not are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.
In selecting an online course approach to learning the course material, you have decided that an independent study approach to this course will work well for you. This class meets on the CSU campus only four times. In an online course you will be learning outside of a traditional college classroom environment. Therefore, truly extraordinary discipline must be exercised. The instructor is available to advise and assist you, but you must watch ALL video lessons and study ALL assigned textbook chapters and other course materials in order to succeed. This approach gives you a lot of freedom to study when you choose. However, keep in mind that typically a student must devote approximately 12 hours a week to reading assignments in the course textbook, and studying for examinations to earn a C grade or better. Less time devoted to this course may result in an unsuccessful experience and a lower course grade than desired.
Course Description: Interest Groups and Political Parties examines the nature, structure and functions of interest groups and political parties in differing national cultural contexts with particular attention to electoral activity and their role in the policy making process.
Prerequisites:
POLS 1101
Teacher Education Program: The content of this course syllabus correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/ professional education associations. Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site: http://a-s.clayton.edu/teachered/Standards%20and%20Outcomes.htm
Course Computer Usage: Students will be required to bring a CSU configured laptop computer to campus for course orientation and each on-campus examination. Be sure your laptop computer is CSU configured, that you have a CSU email address, a wall plug, and an Ethernet cable. Students also will make regular remote site use of the Internet to access course related email, and course websites as they study for and write their examinations.
NOTE: This online course does not use GeorgiaVIEW software except to access the course chat rooms.
Students must abide by policies in the CSU Catalog & Student Handbook.
The instructor and students will treat each other with the proper respect at all times.
Children are NOT permitted in any CSU classroom under any circumstances, nor may they be left unattended anywhere on the campus.
PLEASE, NO SMOKING, EATING AND DRINKING, OR USE OF BEEPERS & CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM.
IF YOU MUST LEAVE EARLY, TELL ME BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION.
IF YOU COME INTO CLASS LATE, TAKE THE FIRST AVAILABLE SEAT AS YOU ENTER THE ROOM.
TALKING AMONG STUDENTS WHICH DISTURBS THE INSTRUCTOR OR OTHER STUDENTS IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR.
CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND WILL BE DEALT
WITH IN KEEPING WITH THE CSU STUDENT HANDBOOK.
CSU
Conduct Code and Judicial Procedures.
Withdrawals and Incompletes: Students may
wish to review college policy regarding course withdrawals and incompletes in
the CSU catalog. Do not hesitate to speak with me, or your advisor, if you need
information relating to a course withdrawal or an incomplete.
The Fall Semester 2005 deadline to withdraw from a course without possible academic accountability is Friday, October 14th.
Disabilities: For information about Disability Services or to obtain this document in an alternative format, contact Disability Services in the Student Center Building, Room 214 at 678-466-5445 or disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu .
Regents Testing:
The
University System of Georgia requires that each student receiving a degree must
have successfully demonstrated competence in reading comprehension and writing
by passing two courses: Regents Writing Skills RGTE 0199 and Regents’
Reading Skills RGTE 0198. Students satisfy these course requirements
through examination. The University System of Georgia Regents Tests are
administered each semester by the
Political Science Degree Program Outcomes and Assessments:
Outcomes: Graduating political science majors should
· Apply concepts related to the structures and principles of the U.S. Constitution to historical and current politics.
· Explain and criticize U.S. political institutions and processes.
· Define and distinguish how aspects of the Georgia Constitution and government differ from the U.S. Constitution and government.
· Assess and compare how other national political systems and international political organizations differ from the U.S. political system and recognize the importance of political geography.
· Research and compose a project report in a subfield of political science.
· Successfully complete a political science related internship.
Assessments:
· POLS 1101 pre and post assessment surveys & geography tests
· POLS 4490/POLS 4491 Internship/Practicum Site Supervisor Evaluation
· POLS 4500 Senior Seminar research paper
· POLS 4500 Senior Political Science Program Exit Survey
· ETS Political Science Field Test taken by graduating seniors
Course Expectations:
1. Attend all four on-campus course meetings;
2. Complete all required textbook reading assignments;
3. Take all three course
examinations;
4. Earn a total number of points equal to a passing grade.
Required Textbooks: (available in the CSU Campus Store)
Nownes,
Pressure and Power: Organized Interests in American Politics, Houghton Mifflin, 2001
Bibby,
Politics, Parties, and Elections in
Grading: (450 possible course points.) Course grades will be determined on a straight scale with the total number of points you earn dictating the letter grade you receive. (Each time an examination is scored, subtract any points lost from the 450 total possible course points, and see the course grading scale to determine your letter grade at that point.).
The Course Grading Scale - 450 Possible Points
A = 450 - 406 (45 point range)
B = 405 -361 (45 point range)
C = 360 - 316 (45 point range)
D = 315 - 276 (45 point range)
F = 275 points or less
Note: Your grade will be determined by your performance on the three essay examinations discussed below. There are reading assignments, but no graded assignments to turn in to the instructor.
Also Note: At the end of the class if you are within 3 points of a higher letter grade I will assign you that higher grade for the course.
Midterm Grades: A course midterm grade will be posted on the DUCK by midterm each semester. The midterm grade will only reflect work completed to the middle of the semester. More than half of the scored work in this course is completed after the midterm date. If you have questions, please contact the instructor.
Essay Examinations: (450 possible points) Course grades will be determined by your performance on three essay examinations. The three examinations will be taken on-campus. The reading assignments and dates for these three examinations are provided in the syllabus. Each of the three essay examinations is worth a possible total of 150 points, and a total of 450 possible course points may be earned from all three essay examinations.
The Reading Assignments section of this syllabus lists the textbook chapters to be covered on each of the three examinations. You will be expected to study the assigned readings in preparation for each on-campus examination. Your essay question answers should exhibit proper grammar, syntax, spelling, successful application of critical thinking skills, your understanding of the assigned readings, and knowledge of relevant history and current political events.
Approximately a week prior to each examination I will email the class possible essay questions drawn from the assigned textbook chapters. When you arrive for an examination I will inform you which of these possible examination questions are on the examination. You will have two hours to answer the assigned essay questions, or the time remaining, if you arrive late for the exam.
You may use the textbook and your notes in answering the essay examination questions. I will expect you to bring a laptop computer to campus for each examination. When you have completed your essay examination, you will email your answers as attachments to the instructor: joetrachtenberg@mail.clayton.edu . All essays MUST be in WORD format. Be sure your computer is CSU configured, and that you have a CSU email address, a wall plug, and an Ethernet cable or wireless card. Additional details will be provided at the course orientation and by email.
NOTE: Sample essay examination questions from other similar courses are provided at the end of this syllabus.
Missed Examinations: You may not make up a missed examination. Instead, the lowest of the scores on the other two exams taken will be used as your score for the missed examination. I will substitute the lowest examination score, using the curve for the missed examination, because I do not want to reward people for missing an examination when everyone else took all three examinations. If you miss more than one examination, you will have a zero recorded as your score for that second missed examination. Please feel free to contact the instructor with any questions you may have regarding this policy.
Keep Informed: You
should incorporate relevant history and current political events into your essay
question answers. Read a major daily newspaper, and/or NEWSWEEK,
TIME or U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT on a regular basis. Watch a daily national
news program or monitor a news website such as those maintained by ABC, CBS,
CNN, MSN/NBC and/or PBS (I highly recommend the THE NEWS HOUR With Jim Leher on
Channel 8 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Channel 30 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.,
M-F.); and the CNN, and Headline NEWS channels. Listen to National Public
Radio's "Morning Edition" and "All Things Considered" on
WABE, FM 90.1, M-F.. at 6:00 to 9:00 a.m., and 4:00 to 6:30 p.m.
NOTE: This syllabus is subject to revision where
necessary to achieve course goals. If you have any questions regarding
assignments, class sessions, tests or grading please speak with me, or Dr. Randy
Rosenburg, Chair, Department of Social Sciences, A&S Bldg., G-110, 678-466-4808.
Reading Assignments
Link to
Supplementary Information on Interest Groups & Political Parties
Some useful websites:
Democratic
National Committee (Many related links are accessible from this website.)
Republican National Committee (Many related links
are accessible from this website.)
Links to federal institutions,
departments, agencies, and many related websites
For opinion poll information and survey
results:
Polling Report: A compilation of surveys from a variety of sources on
politics and public affairs.
Roper Center: Access to the main repository in the United States of public
opinion polls.
Pew Research Center for the People and
the Press: Highly regarded, non-partisan opinion polls.
Reading Assignments:
First Examination Reading Assignments:
Readings: Pressure and Power: Organized Interests in American Politics: Chapters One through Six and Eight through Ten for the first examination;
First Essay Examination - 150 possible points
Second Examination Reading Assignments:
Readings: Politics, Parties and Elections in America: Chapters One through Four for the second examination;
Second Essay Examination - 150
possible points
Third (Final) Examination Reading Assignments:
Readings: Politics Parties and Elections: Chapters
Five through Ten,
and
Pressure and Power: Chapter Seven;
(Review all assigned readings from the first and second examinations for the final examination.)
Third/Final Essay Examination - 150
possible points
Note: Final examination essay questions may draw on assigned material
studied for Exams One, Two, and Three .
NOTE: This syllabus is subject to revision where necessary to
achieve course goals. If you have any questions regarding assignments, class
sessions, tests or grading please speak with me, or Dr. Gene Hatfield, Head,
Department of Social Sciences, A&S-210, 678-466-4805.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Dr. Joseph S. Trachtenberg, Professor of Political Science
Telephone (voice mail): (678) 466-4810
E-Mail address: joetrachtenberg@clayton.edu
(Private email intended only for the instructor.)
I
prefer email to voice mail as you may provide me with a more detailed message;
I check my email regularly Monday through Friday.
Generally, I will respond to your message within 24 hours.
Course email list serve:
CRN 84140: pols3380-90fall05@lists.clayton.edu
Class Meeting Room: Arts & Sciences Building,
G-229
OFFICE HOURS
Office: Arts &Sciences Bldg., Room 105-E
Fall
Semester 2005:
MTWR:
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Online course meeting dates: Sat: 8:30 to 9:00
a.m. and immediately following class;
By prior appointment at other mutually convenient times.
For
campus closing information due to weather or an electrical outage - tune to WSB
AM 750.
CHAT
ROOM ACCESS
Go to http://.usg.edu
and select
Clayton
Login using your five digit CSU e-mail number as the user ID and their DUCK pin
as the password.
If you are having trouble logging in, please check with the Hub.
*On-Campus Meeting Dates and Location*
Fall Semester 2005
IMPORTANT REQUIRED COURSE MEETING DATES
Bring your CSU configured
laptop computer to ALL four on-campus class sessions.
Plan ahead and adjust your personal
schedule to be in class on all of these on-campus meeting dates!
MANDATORY
ON-CAMPUS ORIENTATION SESSION
STUDENTS
NOT PRESENT FOR ORIENTATION MAY BE DROPPED FROM THIS CLASS BY THE REGISTRAR'S
OFFICE!
(Please email the instructor
if you have questions regarding this CSU policy.)
Saturday,
August 20th 10:00 - 10:50 a.m.; Location: A&S Bldg., G-229;
ON-CAMPUS REVIEW and EXAMINATION
DATES:
First Examination - off-campus:
Saturday,
October 1st, Examination must be emailed as a Word formatted document to
instructor by Noon;
joetrachtenberg@clayton.edu
Examination One Study Questions
Second Review & Examination: Saturday, October 29th 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Location: A&S Bldg., G-229
Examination Two Study Questions
Third/Final Review & Examination: Saturday, December 3rd, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Location: A&S Bldg., G-229
Examination Three/Final Study Questions
Examination Three/Final (posted 11/28/05)
Sample Essay Examination Questions From Other
Upper Level POLS Courses
INSTRUCTIONS: You
will prepare for and write this examination outside of class. It is to be your
work, and yours alone. Your exam should be typed, double-space, using ten or
twelve-point type, and printed on 8 ˝ x 11” white paper.
While I will not specifically deduct points for grammar, syntax or
spelling mistakes, remember, common sense dictates that a well written (i.e.
correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, and clarity of meaning),
logically organized, detailed, analytical exam, providing an in-depth treatment
of a topic will earn more points than a short, poorly written, superficial
treatment of the same subject.
How long of an answer should you provide? If you have dealt clearly
and effectively with all aspects of the question asked, the answer should be
complete.
Assume I know very little specifically about your chosen issue or
problem. As the instructor, I will want to know how well you understand the
topic. A strong essay may include information from the textbook, but it will
rely principally on the use of outside resources, accurate in depth factual
information, the opinions of recognized experts, objective analysis, and logical
conclusions. Think about and explain the factual situation and concepts
involved. Do not simply quote from and paraphrase the source materials you
have identified in your research. Of course, the inclusion of relevant current
events will strengthen your essay.
Provide a “Resources” list of the online and hardcopy sources used in the research and composition of this essay examination on a separate page at the end of your exam. Each resource listed will include the name/s of the author/s, article title, publication or website name, date, and Internet address (if an online resource). Do not list the course textbooks as resources.
Examination Questions:
Part One: Regarding the three principle institutions of the federal
government: the Congress, the Presidency, or the Supreme Court, research and
then describe the policy making process that is employed to propose and/or
develop public policy in one
of the following circumstances:
One, annual
consideration by Congress of the federal budget;
Two, Executive Branch preparation of the federal budget for consideration by the
Congress;
Three, the U.S. Supreme Court procedures for accepting cases on appeal,
preparing for and conducting oral argument in a case, and development of the
majority opinion in a case.
If you find it
helpful, you may compose a diagram of the policy making process you are
describing.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional Sample Examination Questions:
1. Explain how power, influence, authority, legitimacy and linkage collectively provide the means to control the acts of others and achieve your own particular political objectives.
2. Compare and contrast liberalism, conservatism and socialism
3. How does a nation’s type of political system influence its choice of economic systems - Answer this question in terms of the U.S. and capitalism.
4. Define "socialization" a then explain the role of each of these five agents plays in the human learning process: family, school, peers, news media and political events.
5. In this unit of the course we have considered individual behavior,
interest groups, political parties, the legislative branch, the executive branch
and the judiciary. You are to apply what you have learned about these political
entities, in conjunction with what your internet research can provide, first, to
a succinct, chronological description, and, second, a detailed
analysis of the evolving political and legal developments of the past three or
more years relating to the Ms. Paula Jones - President Bill Clinton political
scandal, and sexual harassment civil case, which is scheduled to go to trial in
federal district court on May 29, 1998, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Be sure to
include in your response the specific roles played by these six political
entities at various points in the evolving scandal and case. While the
description is important, the quality and depth of analysis will indicate an
understanding of concepts. Keep in mind that you are expected to remain
politically objective. By this point in your political education you probably
understand that any political scandal, especially one focusing on the president,
takes on a life of its own, with various entities becoming involved primarily to
advance their own political objectives.
Make as strong a case as you can for the United Nations as an effective
keeper of World peace, and then as strong a case as you can against the United
Nations as an ineffective keeper of World peace. Use the UN’s handling of the
on going Iraqi – Security Council presidential site inspection controversy as
the basis for your analysis.
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