Political Science 490
Political Science 490
Capstone Course: Citizenship
Fall 2003
Class: Fayard 240Dr. Peter A. Petrakis
Meeting: MWF 1-1:50Office: 355D Fayard
Office Hours: MWF 10-10:50 & 12-12:50Phone: 549-3465
MW 2-3; T&Th 11-2e-mail
Course Description:
This is the capstone course for all Political Science majors. As such, the goal is to assess and extend student knowledge of political science. Rather than develop a seminar that surveys each of the sub-disciplines of political science—Political Theory, American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations—the focus has been tightened to a theme that is fundamental to all politics and political systems. This course examines citizenship. What are the costs, benefits, and responsibilities of citizens? Is citizenship more than instrumental participation? What are the greatest hazards or obstacles to citizenship? Is there such a thing as global citizenship?
Requirements and Goals:
This seminar is designed to foster reading, discussion, and analytical writing. Students are required to read various assignments and be prepared for class discussion. Throughout the semester, students will write “reaction” papers to foster class discussions. Such assignments, along with participation, comprises 12% of the grade. The bulk of student assessment, however, will be derived from four academic book reviews which are worth 19% each (total of 76%). A final take-home essay will serve as the final exam and is worth 12%.
The goals of the course are as follows: 1) reinforce and extend knowledge of political science majors or those interested in political science; 2) expose students to significant works within the discipline; 3) required students to write academic book reviews; 4) participate in class discussions relating to the scholarly works.
Required Readings: there is no rental text for this course. Four books are to be purchased from the SLU Bookstore. The titles, authors, and isbn # are as follows:
1) American Citizenship: Quest for Inclusion, Judith N. Shklar, Harvard University Press, ISBN: 0674022165
2) The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Samuel Huntington, Touchstone Books; ISBN: 0684844419
3) Nations and Nationalism since 1780: Programme, Myth, Reality, E.J. Hobsbawm, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0 521 43961 2.
4) The Plague, by Albert Camus, (note, this is a re-issue edition (May 1991)
Vintage Books; ISBN: 0679720219
In addition to the four mandatory books, students will be required to obtain articles from Blackboard.
Assignments and Grade Scale
Participation and Reaction Papers: 12% of a student’s grades are derived from student participation in class and writing of reaction papers (one to two page reactions to assigned readings).
Book Reviews: 76% of a student’s grade comes from four academic book reviews. The reviews will be 2-4 pages in length and worth 19 points each.
Final Essay: 12% of a student’s grade comes from the final exam essay. It will be a take-home assignment and is to be 2-5 pages in length.
The grade scale is a ten point scale and is as follows:
A =100-90% of possible points for the course
B=89-80% of possible points
C=79-70% of possible points
D=69-60% of possible points
F=59-50% possible points
Course Policies
Grading and Exams: Students must take all exams and complete all majfor writing assignments in order to pass this class. No one will be allowed to retake, drop, or count any exam twice. No one will be exempt from the final examination, which will be given in the regular classroom and at the time listed in the Schedule Bulletin and in this syllabus. All final exams will be taken during final exam week and no one will be allowed to reschedule final exams except for graduating seniors whose exams fall on Thursday or Friday of exam week. In such instances, graduating seniors will be required to take their finals earlier in the exam week. Students are expected to keep up with the reading assignments. All course grades are final and will not be changed unless there is an error in calculation. There will be no individual extra credit assignments so do not ask.
The grading scale is as follows:
100-90 = A
89-80 = B
79-70 = C
69-60 = D
59 and below = F
Incomplete Grades: University policy requires that “I” or incomplete grades are to be given only to students whose work is of passing quality and for reasons and/or circumstances that are beyond student’s control. Incompletes will not be given for facile reasons, unexecused absences, or to student’s whose class average is below 60%. For those rare instances where “I” grades can be given, instructors are authorized to give incompletes only if the proper paperwork is completed. Students must complete an “I” Contract form, available in the History and Political Science Departmental office, which must subsequently be signed by the instructor and the Head of the Department. Incompletes are not final grades and students must follow the procedures described in the SLU catalogue or the “I” will become an “F. Grades will not be given out by phone or e-mial but may be accessible on Blackboard. Do not call the Department of History and Political Science for grades!
Cheating and Plagiarism: Exams will be closely monitored. Anyone caught cheating and/or committing plagiarism will fail the course and will be reported to the appropriate university officials.
Official Communication: Begun in January 2003, Southeastern exclusively uses SLU student e-mail accounts to communicate information about curriculum, classes, assignments, and other important information. Student’s can access their e-mail accounts from Webmail on SLU’s home page. Instructors will not respond to student e-mail from any other e-mail addresses. Students should check e-mail accounts regularly. Announcements involving the entire class will be posted on the Blackboard website for this class.
Syllabus Receipt Form: By the end of the drop/add period, all students must sign a form acknowledging that they have received a copy of the syllabus or accessed it on the Blackboard website and that they have read and completely understood the requirements for this course. Failure to sign this form could result in a five point deduction from your final course average.
Attendance: Students are expected to follow the attendance policy as stated in the 2002-2003 General SLU Catalogue (p. 59): “Class attendance is regarded as an obligation as well as a privilege, and all students are expected to attend regularly and punctually all classes in which they are enrolled. Failure to do so may jeopardize a student scholastic standing and may lead to suspension from the college or university . . . . A student shall submit excuses for all class absences . . . within three class days after the student returns to his respective class . . . . When any student that receives unexcused absences (e.g., ten percent of the total classes) in any class, the instructor may withdraw the student with a grade of W.
Unfortunately, experience has taught that I must make additional comments. Although I seldom draw attention to students who attend late, habitual tardiness will not be tolerated. Furthermore, extreme tardiness defeats the purpose of attendance and is disruptive. If you are more than 10 minutes late, do not bother attending. Also, if you must leave the class prior to the scheduled time, you should contact me prior to class. If there is an emergency and you must excuse yourself please, by all means, do so. But when you return, contact me and explain the situation. In short, students will not be permitted to simply come and go at their pleasure.
It is the responsibility of the student to obtain class notes missed due to absences egitimate or otherwise rom other students in the class. Lectures will not be repeated. Warning: any student arriving late to an examination, especially if someone has completed the exam, will not be allowed to take that exam. Furthermore, such lapses will not be counted as a legitimate excuse for a make-up. This course is registered on Blackboard and as such students should access important information by going to The syllabus, announcements and grades will be posted on Blackboard.
Military Service: The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System has a policy governing students called up for military service during the course of a semester. SLU adheres to that policy.
Make-up exams: All make-up exams will be given during the final examination. There will be no exceptions. Do not expect make-up exams to be identical in form or content to original examinations. For example, make-ups may be fill in the blank, short answer, or essay exams. In addition, do not expect to automatically be granted a make-up, only acceptable excuses (medical, legitimate extra-curricular, etc.) are guaranteed.
Special Needs: Any student that requires special attention due to a real necessity, such as a learning, hearing, seeing, or movement impediment, should advise the instructor immediately. Appropriate measures will be taken. SLU is committed to compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, but students are required to self-identify with the Office of Student Life, Room 203, Student Union.
Attention: Students are responsible for reading, understanding, and keeping this syllabus. It is an important document that clearly details both students’ and instructor's responsibilities. If you lose this syllabus, come see me or access the syllabus on the Blackboard website and get another one. It is an important document. I will pass around a syllabus receipt form where you will sign that you indeed received a copy of your syllabus.
Additionally, do not burden the department with minor complaints! I am available to discuss tests, grades, or more specific problems. If I am not on campus, simply leave a message on my answer machine and I will contact you promptly. Repeat, do not complain to the department until you have exhausted your options with me—penalties will be imposed for inattention to this warning! Students can be penalized up to 5 points from their final average.
Important Dates and Information
Monday, January 19Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Tuesday, January 20First day of classes
Monday-Tuesday, February 23-24Mardi Gras Holiday
Wednesday, February 15classes resume at noon
Friday, March 19Last day to withdraw or resign
Friday-Friday, April 9-16Spring Break
Friday, May 7Last day of classes
Thursday, May 13Final Examination @ 2:45-4:45
Class rosters will be distributed very early in the term. All non-paying students will be omitted from class rolls on this date. These rolls are important in that no student will be allowed to remain in a class if their names do not appear on the official class roster.