Dr. Roland Stephen
 
This one-credit class is designed to prepare Political Science majors for their subsequent course of study, and to develop a sense of community and shared intellectual enterprise among them.  By investigating the connections that exist among current events, society's values and the challenge of research on political issues students will discover the relevance and purpose of the discipline.

Course Objectives

Learn the sources of politics, political behavior and the role of human values.

Identify political phenomena that intrigue students and that call for further investigation.

Use modes of inquiry into political questions.

Make connections between problems, policies, institutions and societal values.
 
Syllabus

Dr.  Roland Stephen
223 Caldwell
513-1768
stephen@social.chass.ncsu.edu  Office Hours: Monday, 4-5.30 p.m. and by appointment

Goals and objectives of the course

This course is aimed at matching the values and interests of students who are going to major in Political Science with important political questions of the day.  In doing so it will introduce them to the ways in which political scientists investigate such questions, provoke debate on political ideas and political programs and give them an understanding of the relationship between social science, public policy and society's values.

Requirements

All students must attend all classes.  Three absences without excuse are permitted: for each absence after
that the final grade will be reduced.  Attendance will be taken immediately at the beginning of every class.

Students will be required to complete two short written assignments (3 pages), one on politics and values and one on modes of political inquiry.  Each will be worth 20% of the final grade.  There will be a final exam aimed at material covered in the reading also worth 20% of the overall grade.  A premium will be placed on class discussion.  Participation, by asking and answering questions and adding to the level and quality of debate, will be worth 40% of the final grade.  The final letter grade will follow a plus/minus grading system. Grading will not be done on a curve.

Statement on academic integrity

Students are expected to complete their assignments with due regard to academic integrity.  In order to do so they should familiarize themselves with the relevant sections of the student code of conduct (Sections 7-13).  By signing all work submitted on paper, or by identifying themselves in work submitted electronically, students affirm that they neither gave nor received unauthorized aid.  In particular, collaboration on assignments among students may only occur when explicitly authorized by an instructor.

Statement on students with disabilities

Wherever possible modifications to tests and other assignments and special arrangements for attending and recording lectures and seminars will be made in order to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities.  Any student with such a need is encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor in order to obtain the necessary assistance.

Policy on late assignments and incomplete grades

Late assignments will be penalized at the rate of one sign (for example, B to B-) every 12 hours (or part thereof).  Incomplete grades will not be granted except under special circumstances by arrangement with the instructor before the final exam.

Topics

 Week 1:  Why politics?

 Locke, John. 1690.  "Of the beginning of political societies" and "Of the ends of political society" from  The Second Treatise of Government (New York: Bobbs-Merrill) pp 54-72
 Wright, Robert. 1994.  The Moral Animal: Evolutionary Psychology and Everyday Life (New York:  Vintage Books) pp 236-262.

 Week 2:  Political problems and political inquiry.

 Engels, Friedrich. selections from The Condition of the Working Class in England in 1844 (London: Allen and Unwin).
 Chong, Dennis. 1991. "All or nothing public goods" from Collective Action and the Civil Rights Movement (Chicago: Chicago University Press). pp13-30

   FIRST ASSIGNMENT DUE

 Week 3: Analyzing political interests and processes

 Madison, James.  1787.  The Federalist Papers 10
 Schelling, Thomas. 1978. "Sorting and mixing: Race and sex" from Micromotives and Macrobehavior
 (New York: W.W. Norton) pp.135-167

 Week 4: Analyzing political institutions

 Putnam, Robert. 1993. "Social capital and institutional success" from Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy (Princeton: Princeton University Press) pp 163-185.
 Beard, Charles A.  "Framing the Constitution" in Peter Woll ed. American Government: readings and Cases (New York: Little Brown) pp35-46

 SECOND ASSIGNMENT DUE

 Week 5: Analysis and evidence

 Cameron, David.  "The expansion of the public sector: A comparative analysis" American Political Science Review 72

 Week 6  What is to be done?

 No readings

Readings

All readings will be available on reserve and on-line in the D.H. Hill library.  In addition students will be given newspaper articles touching on salient political issues.