Social and Behavioral Sciences Department

Comparative Politics Online

POL*E102 crn: 1522 sec: 01

spring semester 2009 01.26.09 to 05.10.09

www.hcc.commnet.edu

Welcome to POL102 at Housatonic Community College Distance Learning Division.  This course in comparative politics is a survey of the structures and functions of the national governments of selected industrialized and third world nations.  Topics to be discussed will include key institutions, political attitudes, patterns of interaction between nations, contemporary issues facing each nation, commonality of purpose, and the need for global cooperation.

The text's opening chapters outline key concepts in politics and government and show how theoretical frameworks describe and analyze the differences and the similarities among countries.  A balance of thematic chapters and country studies gives students the theory and country knowledge they need to study comparative politics and to explore the text’s theme of why governments exist, what functions they serve, and how they create problems and solutions.  Seven thematic chapters based on Gabriel Almond’s groundbreaking scholarship introduce key issues and methodology in comparative politics as well as the systems, process, and policy framework to show how governments and politics in different countries can be systematically compared.  We will be looking at eight of the twelve country studies found in the text.  These focus on countries that are leaders within their regions and the larger world.  Each country study includes the most current information and consistently applies the theoretical framework to explore broad issues like why some countries modernize more quickly or why some are more democratic.  These eight country studies by leading area experts provide standardized description and analysis of politics in each country and allow for commentary on their unique political characteristics.  To facilitate comparison, each chapter typically covers historical, social, and economic context, government institutions and structures, political culture and socialization, interest groups, political parties, policy processes and outcomes, and international relations.

This course is a three credit course and requires a prerequisite, English 101.  It consists of 15 weekly discussion board assignments and 15 quizzes which pertain to a chapter a week from the assigned text.  These weekly assignments consist of 60% of the course grade (30% discussion board & 30% quizzes), and close dates are posted with the assignment below.  The quizzes consist of an average of 20 multiple-choice questions (some weeks may vary) and are linked in the weekly lessons area and in a folder on the homepage.  The course is fairly self paced and I allow three full weeks after the week begins before it is closed.  I will not accept work on the weekly lessons nor open a quiz after the close date.  All assignments and discussion boards are open at the start of the course and you are welcome to work ahead on all lessons, so please plan accordingly, because there is no spring break.  There are also two ongoing discussions throughout the course where you will post and respond to an essay describing the role of international organizations in influencing policy making in countries, and what the "perfect government" would look like.  These essays will be worth 15% each and participation is required.  For the remaining 10% of your grade, you will be asked to keep a journal of the countries you see discussed on television, radio, or Internet news and why the countries were considered newsworthy.  You will then write a final course reflection essay in which you will summarize what you learned from your journal and how what you have learned in this course chances the way you perceive the news about other countries.  I will accept the two discussion essay assignments and the last reflection assignment late, however they will be downgraded.  All written assignments are informal essay based, however please be sure to post outside resources and websites at the bottom of your posts.  Please DO NOT post file attachments on the discussion board.  The course is based on a 1000 point grading criteria, which is found below along with assignment and grading details. 

General Education Objectives:

A thorough study of the course should enable the student to:

    1.2 Demonstrate a knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences and their methods.

2.2 Observe data accurately.

2.3 Analyze and organize facts and ideas.

2.4 Draw reasonable inferences from facts and ideas.

3.1 Write and speak clearly in standard English.

3.2 Receive and comprehend written and oral information.

4.1  Collect and organize information about a topic.

5.1  Recognize ethical issues, both personal and public.

A thorough study of the course should enable the student to:

1.     Develop a basic understanding of the workings of other political systems.

2.     Understand common global issues facing nations today.

3.     Understand  the impact of the past on the development of modern nations.                                                                                                                                  

4.     Develop active listening skills

    Specific chapter objectives can be found under each of the 15 weekly lessons. 

Course Grading:

College Grading Scale: 

On Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is a legal violation and schools will often fail, or expel students for this type of behavior.  Please be aware that plagiarism will not be tolerated and points will be deducted (under the research & knowledge learned area), or papers refused, if I find this does occur.  If you are unsure of using the proper writing format or have any uncertainty of what plagiarism is, please review the Enders Writing Lab link below.  Although there is no formal research paper due in this course, I will still be aware of the importance of this issue which shows poor academic behavior.  In-text notation does not mean you can cite exact wording, it means that you are citing the original authors "idea" not the wording.  You are to interpret the information and then paraphrase it "in your own words".  If you are taking information straight from an Internet site, please make sure you clearly let us know. 

Netiquette:

Netiquette is network or Internet etiquette, the proper manner to which you conduct your online communications.  Netiquette covers both common courtesy online and the informal rules of cyberspace.  Although the concept and its application by the nature of the Internet remain in a state of flux and vary from community to community, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) develops and promotes most of the standards.  The Enders Writing Lab also includes information on this topic.  Please briefly read through the link to familiarize yourself with what is available to you here.  Some of my own annoyances are using all caps or no caps at all.  I prefer using proper Standard English grammar in discussions rather than abbreviations in the classroom.  Please be conscious that the topic of the course often deals with issues that may be sensitive to some.  I will not tolerate derogatory remarks or bullying of your opinion. 

Enders Writing Lab

Weekly Chapter Lessons and Discussions: (300pts/20pts per wk)

You will see 15 lesson assignments which are linked to weekly discussion threads.  Each one includes chapter objectives, summaries and discussion questions.  The questions are based on the topic of the week and are worth 20pts each week toward your grade.  You are to choose TWO questions each week and answer them on the appropriate discussion thread which will be locked three weeks after the start date.  This assignment can be completed with the textbook or any outside resources available.  This is an informal writing assignment, but please make sure you include any outside resources at the end of your post and backup your opinions with cited facts.  You can have access to all discussions in advance and you are allowed to work in advance, but you will only have three weeks from the start date, and after that the thread will be locked.  Please see below for the discussion schedule dates.  Participation and interaction (at least two replies) with other students posts is highly recommended and is included in the grading criteria below.  This semester long assignment is worth 30% of the total grade!!!

      Weekly Chapter Discussion and Quiz Schedule:

Grading criteria for the weekly chapter discussion assignments:

Discussion Board Assignment: International Organizations Essay (150pts)

(duedate 03.22.09)

• Research the types of international non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and international governmental organizations (IGO's) that influence policy making in a specific country.  For this essay, you may choose the United States as the country you focus on.

• You may focus on a specific issue area, such as the environment, gun control, public health, etc.  

• Research the topic using multiple reliable sources (at least three sources).

• Write an informal essay (approximately 1000-1200 word) and post it to the appropriate discussion thread.

• Examine two other students essays and post responses to their essays (approximately 50-150 words).

   Grading criteria for the 15% US Legislation Essay:

(duedate 03.22.09)

Discussion Board Assignment: "Perfect Government" Essay (150pts)

(duedate 04.12.09)

• Describe what you would consider to be a perfect government.

• Compare and discuss specific elements according to input, structures, and institutions and performance. 

• Research the topic using multiple reliable sources (at least three sources).

• Write an informal essay (approximately 1000-1200 word) and post it to the appropriate discussion thread.

• Examine two other students essays and post responses to their essays (approximately 50-150 words).

Grading criteria for the 15% Perfect Government Essay:

(duedate 04.12.09)

Please visit my personal website, which I share with my wife who also teaches in the social and behavioral sciences at HCC.  It is a list of over 300 reliable research links.  Keep in mind many of them are think tanks or university sites and may be biased.  Remember almost everything on the Internet probably holds a bias of some kind, even government sites may tend to portray the current administration in a good light, however the sites listed at the link below all should have good strong current information. 

Social Sciences Research Links

Final Course Reflection Essay: due 05.10.09 (100 pts)

Keep a journal to write down when you see a foreign country mentioned in the news, whether on television, radio, newspapers, or even the Internet.  Write down what country was mentioned and why it was newsworthy. You will not turn in your journal, but you will find it useful in writing your final reflection essay. You will then write a final course reflection essay in which you will summarize what you learned from your journal and how what you have learned in this course chances the way you perceive the news about other countries. The essay is not due until the end of the course, but the sooner you start the journal, the more useful it will be. In your essay, describe what you learned from your journal and how what you learned in this course has changed your understanding of the news and about events in other countries.  This assignment will be submitted in a doc file attachment through the appropriate link found in the "assignments"  folder on the homepage.