Syllabus Gov 1010
CONTEMPORARY GOVERNMENT REVISED
SPRING SEMESTER 2012 FRANK PAUL LE VENESS, Ph.D.
GOVERNMENT 1010 PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Introduction to the nature and scope of politics. Approaches to the analysis of political behavior and thinking. Major political issues and conflicts in the contemporary world.
COURSE OUTLINE
I. Introduction, Chap. 1.
II. The Idea of the Public Good: Ideologies and Isms, Chaps. 2, 17, 18.
III. Comparative Political Systems: Models and Theories Chap. 3.
IV. Constitutional Democracy: Models of Representation, Chap. 4.
V. Authoritarian Model: Myth and Reality, Chap. 5.
VI. Totalitarian Model: False Utopia, Chap. 6.
VII. Parliamentary Democracy, Chap. 7.
VIII. States in Transition: Between Democracy and Authoritarian Regimes, Chap. 8.
IX. Developing Countries: Democracy or Dictatorship? Chap. 9.
X. Political Socialization: The Making of a Good Citizen, Chap. 10.
XI. Political Participation, Leadership, and Power, Chaps. 11, 12, 13.
XII. International Relations, War, Revolution, Terrorism, Chaps. 14, 15, 16.
Note that the class discussions may not cover these topics exactly in the order listed.
Nota bene: Students are expected to have read the assigned chapters in the book prior to the topics being discussed in class. They are also expected to have read any other assigned readings by the time discussed.
MISCELLANEOUS
Credit: three (3) undergraduate semester hours.
Instructor's Office: Room 234-H, St. John Hall
Instructor's Office Telephone: 1-718-990-5720
Instructor's Mobile Telephone: 1-212-729-0018
Instructor’ Fax: 1-718-990-2084
Instructor's University Address:
Department of Government and Politics
Instructor's Private Address:
Fresh Meadows,
Instructor's Tentative Office Hours:
Mondays: 1245-1345
Tuesdays: 1500-1700
Additional times may be made by appointment with the instructor.
Nota bene: It is NOT permitted to utilize computers or mobile phones, including text-messaging, during class as this is often quite distracting to other students. Students who engage in such activities will be asked to leave the class.
REQUIRED
BOOK:
Magstadt, Thomas M. Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions & Issues. 10th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth CENGAGE Learning, 2009. Paperbound.
Additional readings will be assigned during the course of the semester.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Requirements include the completion of all assigned readings, class participation, completing both a mid-term examination and a final examination, the submission of an Individual Research Project and participation in a Group Oral Project. Each of the examinations will be worth approximately twenty per cent (20%) of the final grade. The research projects are each worth approximately twenty per cent (20%) of the final grade. A class participation grade will be added in at the end of the semester. Additional assignments may be given during the course of the semester. Students are responsible to regularly check their St. John’s e-mail accounts, as messages are often sent via those accounts concerning assignments, announcements, and the like. These messages will not be sent through any other accounts. No course work of any kind, except for the make-up final, will be accepted after the commencement of the final examination. No work may be turned in with the make-up final examination.
EXAMINATIONS
The mid-term examination will consist of all materials covered in class and all assigned readings up to the date of that examination. Check the course calendar for the date of the administration of this examination. The final examination will be selectively cumulative, in that it will include all material covered in class considerations from the commencement of the semester, but only the readings assigned subsequent to the mid-term examination.
MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS
Students who fail to sit for the regularly scheduled mid-term examination may sit for a make-up first examination. Students who have taken the first examination but who wish to improve their grade, may also take a make-up examination. In this latter instance, the make-up examination grade replaces the grade of the mid-term examination even if the make-up examination grade is lower than that of the original first examination.
Nota bene: The instructor is not required to administer make-up examination ns. Therefore, the make-up first examination must be taken on the date and at the time indicated in the course calendar or otherwise announced. Excuses such as work schedules, other classes, and the like, are unacceptable. Normally, the make-up first examination will not be administered at any other time. Make your plans accordingly!
Failure to sit for a make-up examination for a missed first examination will lead to a grade of F (Zero) for that examination.
Rules for final examinations and make-up final examinations are established by
If an exception is made to the first make-up examination policy, except for matters of religious observance (see the instructor), and a student is granted permission to sit for a make-up first examination at any other time than the regularly scheduled make-up examination, a twenty-five percent (25%) penalty will be applied to the examination grade.
CLASS GRADES
As noted above, a class participation grade is added to the final grade of each student. This grade is composed of two distinct elements:
(a) Oral class participation: The instructor wishes to emphasize the importance of oral class participation. Exchanges of ideas among the members of the class are a vital element in the learning process of this course. The instructor takes such exchanges extremely seriously. Students are urged to participate regularly and to share their concepts with the other members of the class. Normally such participation will serve to raise students’ grades, not to lower them. However, serious lack of participation may lead to the lowering of a grade.
(b) Oral Group Presentations: These may be assigned during the course of the semester and are taken very seriously by the instructor. They will be judged as to general quality, and obviously, based upon whether the assignments are submitted in a timely fashion and properly completed. All stu-dents are expected to participate in the oral group presentations.
(c) Additional Written Assignments: As presented in class.
Under normal circumstances, the class grade will affect the final grade by no more than 10%, higher or lower. However, exceptions are made in unusual cases (both raising and lowering grades).
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTS
All students are required to submit two (2) individual research papers. They must be from the subjects listed in the individual research topic titles distributed with this syllabus. Each project must be completed on the date specified in the class calendar. A one grade penalty per class (e.g., A to A- or C+ to C) will be applied to any paper submitted after the due date. Under normal circumstances, no paper will be accepted after the regularly scheduled final examination (even if the student takes a make-up final examination). If the individual research paper is submitted on time, it will be returned and any student may resubmit it for a grade improvement up to the final examination.
Submission must be by electronic mail (e-mail) by the commencement of the class period by which it is due. Any paper submitted after that time will be considered as received late, and the appropriate penalty will be applied. Individual research assignments must be handed directly to the instructor. A turnitin.com originality report must be received with the paper, and if either is missing, the assignment will not be accepted until both are sent, and late penalties will be appropriately applied. For details see regulation I. of the instruction for individual research papers.
Students who fail to submit an individual research assignment will receive a grade of F (Zero) for the assignment.
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS
- Discuss the British form of Parliamentary democracy. Note the roles of the Monarch, the Constitution, the two houses of parliament, the cabinet in this specific form of government.
- Discuss the government of Cuba as a Marxist government. What are the attributes that lead us to call it a “Marxist” form of government? How does it differ from the original Marxist model?
- Discuss what Leninism added to Marxism to lead to the creation of what is known as Marxist-Leninism.
- Dicusss fascism as an authoritarian form of government. Using the Italian, Spanish, or Argentine governments during fascist periods to describe the attributes of their government which lead them to be considered authoritarian.
- Discuss the United States as a republican, federal, and constitutional form of government complete with separation of powers. How does it differ from the British model?
- Discuss the elements which you would define in the creation of a good citizen. Cite philosophic sources as evidence to support your theories.
- Is there really a Just War? If not, why not, if so, why?
- Discuss the use of terrorism as a means of warfare. First offer an accepted definition of terrorism, then discuss its purposes, methods, and justifications. Submit your own views.
- Magstadt discuss “Political Participation: The Price of Influence.” What does he mean? Be certain to cite appropriate additional sources.
- Pick a country of your personal ancestry, other than the United States. Discuss its evolution over the last several centuries, perhaps from colonialism, perhaps as a totally independent nation the entire time, and its experience with the various forms of government discussed in this class.
COURSE CALENDAR
Thursday, 19 January…………………………….……………………………………….Course commences.
Tuesday, 24 January………………………...Last day to add classes. Last day to drop a class via the web.
Tuesday, 07 February……………...………………Last Day to Drop a Class (without a transcript notation).
Wednesday, 08 February……………………………………….…….Withdrawal (WD) period commences.
Monday, 20 February………………………………………………...Presidents’ Day. Holiday. No classes.
Thursday, 23 February……………………………………………………………………..First examination.
Monday, 27 February and Thursday, 01 March…………………………………...Spring Break. No classes.
Monday, 05 March…………………………………………………………………..First research paper due.
Thursday, 22 March……………………… …Make-up Examinations. Time and location to be announced.
Friday, 30 March…………………….…Last day to withdraw from a class or apply for a Pass/Fail Option.
Thursday, 05 April………………………………………………..……………….Holy Thursday. No class.
Monday, 09 April………………………………………………………………….Easter Monday. No class.
Wednesday, 11 April……………………………………….Monday classes meet. This class has a session.
Thursday, 12 April………………………………….Second research paper due at commencement of class.
Monday, 30 April…………………………………………………Ultimate class before examination period.
Tuesday, 01 May………………………………………………..…………………………………Study Day.
Wednesday, 02 May to Tuesday, 08 May……………………………. Final examination period. All work for the course must be completed and submitted by the commencement of the final examination for this class. None, except a make-up final examination, will be accepted after that time.
During the course of the semester be certain to check with the instructor concerning the type of final examination.
This calendar is subject to change with notice.
CONSULTATION
Students should feel free to consult with the instructor concerning any aspect of this course or their individual performances therein. Such consultation is encouraged, and may be required by the instructor. Students may see the instructor in person during regular office hours, or may telephone the instructor during those office hours. Additional times for consultation, either in-person or by telephone, may be arranged at times of mutual convenience. Messages may be left at other times on the instructor’s telephones. If students leave their name and a return telephone number, the instructor will endeavor to return the telephone call (if requested or necessary) at the earliest convenient time. Students may also e-mail the instructor. Once again, the instructor will endeavor a return e-mail (if requested or necessary) at a time of convenience.
CHANGES IN REQUIREMENTS
The information offered in this syllabus and in any additional sheets distributed in class is as accurate as possible. However, given the nature of the academic semester, changes are quite possible. Be assured, any changes will be announced in class and may also be distributed in written form. Students are responsible for all such changes, and, therefore, are advised to attend class regularly to make themselves aware of any such revisions in topics to be discussed, requirements, procedures, the calendar, or the like.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTS
- The research projects must be original papers prepared by the student based upon the questions supplied by the instructor. Students may not utilize any paper previously or concurrently submitted in another class. The paper and any resubmission of the paper must be submitted to “turnitin.com”. The student must then submit both the paper and the “turnitin.com” report to the course instructor as a Word attachment to an e-mail sent to levenesf@stjohns.edu.
- Each paper must be a minimum of five (6) pages of text (excluding title page, if any, appendices if any, works cited page, and the like). It is most important that students remember that the paper must have a clear thesis, and that it must not be a mere compilation of facts.
- Sufficient numbers of sources should be utilized to indicate satisfactory research. These sources must include some or all of the following: (a) primary source materials or government or other documents; (b) scholarly books; (c) scholarly journals, (d) general readership books and magazines, (e) newspapers, and the like. Interviews of persons authoritative with regard to the subject is also a research technique which may prove valuable.
For this paper it is required that a total of at least eight (8) sources from some or all of categories (a), (b), and (c) and interviews, be utilized and cited in the body of the paper. Be certain that you utilize sufficient contemporary sources to be certain that your research is current. Some materials from category (a) must be utilized if the student wishes to compete for an A grade.
Materials may be researched via the internet. When these materials are listed in the works cited page, they must include author, title, source of original publication, date of publication, and any additional information establishing whether or not they are scholarly sources, government documents, or the like. The internet address must be shown. Unless they are books, articles, or dated documents, the access date should also be listed.
Nota bene: an extremely valuable website for both research information and format information
- Format: the format of this paper is to be based upon the American Political Science Association
style manual. This manual is the one utilized by the political science profession’s journal for the
submission of articles.
Nota bene: Papers which fail to utilize the A.P.S.A. style manual and its format rules will not be
Accepted, must be resubmitted and will be penalized as late.
- Factors taken into consideration in the grading of this individual research paper include, but are
not limited to, such items as the depth and breadth of analysis, quantity and quality of source
materials, accuracy of findings, originality of research, and similar factors.
- In addition to the content of the paper, students are also held responsible for spelling, grammatical
usage, neatness, and the like. Any paper with excessive misspellings, incorrect format, poor gram-
mar, or similar defects, will be returned ungraded and must be resubmitted. Remember, contrac-
tions must never be utilized.
Research Help
Our librarians are ready to assist our University Community with research 7 days a week. If you are on campus during library hours, stop by the reference desk. If you are not on campus, you can call us (see contact info at right). Need help on the road or during off-hours? Use our AskUs Service to submit a question by email or text (917-652-6936) and we’ll deliver an answer in same format.
In addition to services at the Reference Desk, you can also set up a one-on-one consultation with a reference librarian who will advise you on effective research strategies. Each of the subject specialist librarians -- in addition to an MLS or MLIS -- have subject masters and/or PhD in different disciplines. Consult a subject librarian for help in locating resources for your research paper, thesis, dissertation or professional research.
For group classes, stop by one of our common hour workshops, or work with a librarian to create a workshop for your club, thesis support group, class, fraternity, team, or department.
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