U.S. Capitol Building

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Department of Political Science

PLS 201: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Spring 2008
http://www.csupomona.edu/~jlkorey/201/index.html

California state Capitol Building

"Citizenship is not a spectator sport."
- Robert D. Putnam [1]

CONTACT INFORMATION:


TEXTS:

Wilson, American Government: Brief Version, 8th ed. (Website: http://college.hmco.com/polisci/wilson/am_gov_brief/8e/student_home.html)
Korey, California Government, 4th ed.  (Website: http://college.hmco.com/polisci/korey/cal_gov/4e/students/)


COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADES:

Five tests (4/15, 4/29, 5/13, 5/27, 6/12 [11:30]); three papers (4/24, 5/15, 6/5).  The fifth test, and the best three of the first four will each count for 15 points.  The first paper will count for 10 points, and the second and third papers for 15 points each.  Posted after each test, grades are based on the following point totals:    

80.00-100.00 A

70.00-72.99 B

60.00-62.99 C

50.00-52.99 D

77.00-79.99 A-

67.00-69.99 B-

57.00-59.99 C-

47.00-49.99 D-

73.00-76.99 B+

63.00-66.99 C+

53.00-56.99 D+

00.00-46.99 F

Check your grades on Blackboard.  After logging in using your Cal Poly e-mail user name and password, click on "Tools," then on "My Grades."

If you do not complete all requirements (all three papers, the 5th test, plus at least three other tests), and have not received approval for an incomplete grade contract, you will receive a grade of  F or "WU," regardless of how well you have done on the work you have completed.  (You may, prior to the end of the Summer Quarter, complete the missing work and I will grade it (subject to applicable late penalties) and, if warranted, submit a change of grade [assuming that the Registrar's Office will accept it].)


TESTS:

There will be five multiple-choice tests (using Scantron Form 882), given at the end of each section of the course (see below).  Tests will cover lectures (which you are encouraged to record), and readings in the Wilson and Korey texts. The lowest score on the first four tests will be dropped.  If you miss any one of the first four tests, even for a good reason, it will be the one dropped. No exceptions!  If you miss more than one of the first four tests, or if you miss the fifth test, you must make special arrangements to make up the subsequent missed test(s).  No makeups will be scheduled prior to the regular test date and time.  Note: the first four tests will begin promptly at the start of class, and will end 30 minutes later.  The fifth test will be given during final exam week.  It is not a comprehensive test, counts no more than any of the others, and differs from the others only in that it may not be missed and may not be dropped from your score.


PAPERS:

There will be three papers.  Papers are to be typewritten and double-spaced.  Unless you obtain an extension for a serious reason, work that is late by a week or less will receive a 1 point penalty.  Work that is late by more than a week will be assessed a 2 point penalty. 


Paper #1: Vox Populi
Due Date: April 24

Go to http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html and take the "World's Smallest Political Quiz," courtesy of Advocates for Self Government, a libertarian organization. Look at the results and at the descriptions given of "Other Political Philosophies."  Now go to http://idealog.org/ (Macromedia Flash plug-in required), read the introduction and the tutorial, and take the "self-test."  Then write an essay of about 500 words answering and discussing the following questions:

Paper #2: The Facts Speak for Themselves.  Or Do They?
Due Date: May 15

Go to http://www.pollingreport.com/guns.htm on the Internet for a summary of findings from public opinion polls regarding attitudes toward gun control.  Be sure to examine the whole section on gun control, including the archive of earlier polls (scroll to bottom of page).

Do both of the following:

For purposes of this assignment, assume that all polls described are based on nationwide random samples.

 Paper #3: Balancing the Budget
Due Date: June 5

(As background preparation for this assignment, review the section on "Trade-Offs" on pages 102-103 of Korey.) 

Do both of the following:

 

SCHEDULE:

Week

Topic

Readings

 

 

Part 1: The Background of Politics

1

Public Opinion/Media

Wilson 1; Korey 3

2

Political Culture

Wilson 6; Korey 1

Test 1: Tuesday, April 15

 

 

Part 2: The Structure of Government

3

Constitutions

Wilson 2; Korey 2

4

Federalism

Wilson 5 and 15; Korey 9 and 10

Test 2: Tuesday, April 29

 

 

Part 3: Linkage Institutions

5

Parties & Interest Groups

Wilson 7; Korey 4

6

Campaigns & Elections

Wilson 8; Korey 5

Test 3: Tuesday, May 13

 

 

Part 4: The Process of Government

7

Legislative

Wilson 9; Korey 6

8

Executive

Wilson 10 and 11; Korey 7

Test 4: Tuesday, May 27

 

 

Part 5: The Process of Government (cont'd)

9

Judicial

Wilson 3, 4 and 12; Korey 8

10

Politics & Policy

Wilson 13 and 14

Test 5: Thursday, June 12 (11:30)

 
STUDY SKILLS:  Great on-campus resources include the College Reading Skills Program (http://www.csupomona.edu/~lrc/crsp/) and the University Writing Center (http://www.csupomona.edu/~uwc/).

Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, MP3 players, etc. before the start of class.  Recording of lectures, however, is OK.


[1] Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000), 341.