POLI 5000 - Great Political
Thinkers
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
Spring Semester 2007
Course Description: Emphasis
on major ancient, medieval, Renaissance, Enlightenment, and modern
political philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau,
Hume, Smith, Marx and Engels, and Mill. Students will examination the original writing and related historical
documents, placed in
contemporary historical and political perspective. Discussion will focus on
political philosophy's impact on the development of Western political ideologies
and institutions.
Prerequisites:
Admission to the Masters in Liberal Studies Degree Program.
Attendance: Attendance will be taken each class session. Class will meet one evening each week of the semester. Because the success of a graduate level course depends on a relatively high level of participation on the part of ALL students, you may have one excused absence - each additional absence may result in the deduction of 20 points from your total points earned for the course; Exceptions will be made where there are acceptable extenuating circumstances presented to the instructor. To comply with University requirements, attendance will be taken each class session. Please make it a point of being present on an evening when you are to introduce a philosopher's assigned writings.
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.
Course Computer Usage: A CSU configures lap top computer is required for this course. Students will use their laptop computers to write all three in-class essay examinations. They will make regular of their computers to access email from the instructor, send their examinations as Word formatted attachments to the instructor, receive scored examinations from the instructor, and visit various websites as they study assigned materials and prepare for each examination.
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 USE OF PAGERS & 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 2006 deadline to withdraw from a course without possible academic penalty is Friday, October 13th.
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 .
Degree
Program Outcomes: (Program outcomes will be assessed in all
examinations and scored assignments.)
TBA
Course Expectations:
1. Attend class on a regular basis;
2. Complete all reading assignments by the due date;
3. Introduce a philosopher's assigned writings;
4. Complete all three essay examinations;
5. Participate fully in class discussions of assigned materials;
6. Earn a total number of points equal to a passing grade.
Grading:
The Course Grading Scale - 500 Possible Points
A = 500 - 451 (50 point range)
B = 450 -401 (50 point range)
C = 400 - 351 (50 point range)
D = 350 - 301 (50 point range)
F = 300 points or less
NOTE: 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 a presentation, report, quiz or exam is scored, subtract any points lost from the 500 total possible course points, and see the course grading scale to determine your letter grade at that point. For example, if your score on the first examination is 135 out of 150, you have lost 15 points; you remain in the A grade range; if you have lost 50 points on exams, you will be in the B grade range, etc. Examinations will not be curved. If you are within 3 points of a higher letter grade I will assign you that higher grade for the course. There are no bonus or extra credit assignments. Grading will be further explained in class.
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.
Required Textbook: (available in the CSU University Store)
Great Political Thinkers: Plato to the Present, Sixth Edition, Alan Ebenstein and William Ebenstein. Thomson-Wadsworth, 2000.
Course Outline:
Part I
Roots of the West
The Greek Discovery of Reason in Nature
Plato:
The Republic
Aristotle:
Politics
Thomas Aquinas:
Summa Theologiae
First Essay Examination - 150 possible points
Part II
Niccolo Machiavelli
The Prince
Thomas Hobbes:
Leviathan
John Locke:
Second Treatise of Government
Declaration of Independence (online syllabus)
Bill of Rights (online syllabus)
David Hume:
Of the Original Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau:
Of the Social Contract
Adam Smith:
The Wealth of Nations
Edmund Burke:
Reflections on the Revolution in France
Second Essay Examination - 150 possible points
Part III
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels:
Manifesto of the Communist Party
Benito Mussolini:
The Doctrine of Fascism
John Stuart Mill:
On Liberty
Abraham Lincoln:
Second
Inaugural Address (online syllabus)
Mahatma Gandhi:
Selected Writings
Martin Luther King, Jr.:
Letter from a Birmingham City Jail (online syllabus)
Third/Final Essay Examination/Final - 150 possible points
Introduction of Assigned Readings: (50 possible points) Each student will be assigned responsibility to provide a verbal introduction of one or more philosopher's assigned writings (depending on class enrollment) on the date/s that material will be discussed in class. The student introducing the readings will provide the instructor with a typed version of the introduction at the beginning of class on the date the assigned materials will be discussed by the class; the typed summary will be double-space in 12 point Times Roman, providing the students name, the course name and number, date and a title.
Essay Examinations: (450 possible points) There are three in-class essay examinations worth a possible total of 150 points each, and, therefore, there are a total of 150 possible course points to be earned from exams. The course outline lists the textbook chapters to be covered on each of these three exams. Essay examination dates are listed in the course assignment section at the end of this syllabus. Additional details will be provided in class before the first examination. A sample essay examination and additional sample essay questions from other courses are provided at the end of this syllabus. The examinations will be typed in class on your laptop computer, double-space in 12 point Times Roman, providing the student's name, the course name and number, the examination number, the date and a restatement of each answered examination question. Students arriving late for an examination, will have the time remaining in which to complete their answers.
Missed Examinations: Please feel free to contact the instructor for course policy regarding a missed examination. Generally, a missed examination may not be taken later.
Keep Informed: Current events will be discussed each class session and related directly to materials assigned in the course. 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, BBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, 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.
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 less than 24 hours.
Course email list serve:
pols5000-01fall06@lists.clayton.edu
(Course list serves are activated the first day of class each semester.)
Fall Semester 2006 CRN: 85431
Classroom Location: TBA
OFFICE HOURS:
Office: Arts & Sciences Bldg., Room 105-E
Fall Semester
MTWRF: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; W
7:00 to 7:30 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
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.
Course Due Dates For All Reading Assignments & Essay
Examinations:
(Reading
assignment, examination and other due dates may be revised as circumstances require.)
Course Reading Assignments and Examination Dates:
NOTE: For each reading assignment, please come to class prepared to discuss BOTH the assigned introduction and original writings.
Monday, August 21st to Wednesday, August 23rd: Drop/Add Period;
Wednesday, August 23rd: Class begins - review course syllabus: attendance, assignments, introductions, examinations, grading; Roots of the West; The Greek Discovery of Reason in Nature;
Wednesday, August 30th: Plato: The Republic;
Monday, September 4th and Tuesday, September 5th:
Labor Day Holiday Break - CSU is closed;
Wednesday, September 6th: Plato: The Republic concluded; Aristotle: Politics;
Wednesday, September 13th: Aristotle: Politics concluded;
Wednesday, September 20th: Aquinas: Summa Theologiae
Wednesday, September 27th: First Examination;
Wednesday, October 4th: Machiavelli: The Prince;
Wednesday, October 11th: Hobbes: The Leviathan;
Wednesday, October 18th: Locke: Second Treatise of Government; the
Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights;
Wednesday, October 25th: Hume: Of the Original Contract; Rousseau: Of the
Social Contract;
Wednesday, November 1st: Adam Smith: The Wealth of
Nations; Burke: Reflections on the Revolution in France;
Wednesday, November 8th: Second Examination;
Wednesday, November 15th: Marx and Engels: Manifesto of the Communist Party;
Mussolini: The Doctrine of Fascism;
Wednesday, November 22nd to Sunday, November
26th: Thanksgiving Holiday Break - CSU is closed;
Wednesday, November 29th: Mill: On Liberty; Abraham Lincoln: Second Inaugural Address
(online syllabus);
Gandhi: Selected Writings;
M. L. King, Jr.: Letter from a Birmingham City Jail
(online syllabus);
Wednesday, December 6th: Last day of class - Third/Final
Examination
________________________________________________________________________________________
A Sample Essay Examination and Additional Sample Essay Questions from Other Courses
INSTRUCTIONS: You
will prepare for this examination outside of class and write the examination in class. It is to be your
work, and yours alone. Your exam should be typed, double-space, using twelve-point
type. You will have the full class period in which to write your examination. If
you arrive late, you will have the time remaining in which to write your
examination. Email the examination to the instructor as a Word formatted
attachment before you leave the examination room; please check with the
instructor to determine that your exam has been received.
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 the reader knows very little or nothing specifically about your chosen issue or
problem; I will want evidence from the written essay of how well you understand the
topic and its complexities. A strong essay may include information from the textbook, but it will
rely principally on the use of outside primary and secondary resources, provide accurate in depth factual
information, the opinions of recognized scholars and other experts, developed
through an objective analysis of the material, resulting in 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
historical and recurrent
events will strengthen your essay.
Provide a “Resources” list of the online and hardcopy "Resources" 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). Please do not list the course textbook as a resource; I will assume you have made use of this required material.
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.
Part Two:
Whichever of the three processes you have described, critique the process to
identify its strengths and weaknesses, and finally, where you have found
weaknesses, suggest changes that would improve that policy making process.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Additional Sample Examination Essay Questions: