| Home | CV | Publications | Courses | Works in Progress |
|
Political Science 130 (Section 2), Spring 2006 Course Record Number 88836 Introduction to American Politics
OBJECTIVE The objective of this
course is to explore the political conditions under which the United States
government was able to come into existence and sustain itself to date. We will
cover the development of American political history and governance through
sources that have helped construct a conventional American foundational and
ideological narrative providing us with a uniquely American form of governance. Methodology
Each
week we will cover a chapter in "American Government and Politics Today." We
will normally have a lecture, based on the reading materials, on Monday of each
week; Wednesday sessions of the class will generally be used for video viewing;
and Friday sessions will generally be devoted toward critical analysis on a
particular topic. Course Requirements Attendance: (100 points) Attendance
is mandatory and will count as part of grade. You will start with 100
attendance points as a part of your total points for the course, each unexcused
absence will subtract 5 points from your total toward the calculation of your
final grade. Exams: (200 points) There
will be Four (4) exams each worth 50 points based on what we have read,
discussed and covered in class Required Course Book: Schmidt,
Shelley, Bardes, American Government and Politics Today (2004-2005) (Available
in the UH Manoa bookstore) Grading: Grading
works based on points you earn from your exams, assignments and attendance and
breaks down as follows. There is no curve, and you do not compete with each
other head on. A range = 300
– 260pts B
range = 259
– 220 C
range =
219
– 180 D
range = 179
– 140 F = 139
and below Course
Schedule
*The Fourth Exam will be
given during scheduled time of exam week and cover chapters 12-14 and classroom
notes. |