Survey of Western Political Thought

PSCI 2004 - Recitation Syllabus

Survey of Western Political Thought

Spring 2006

Instructor: Heather Roff

Office: Ketchum 401

Office Hours: W 1-3 PM and by appointment

Recitation Description

This recitation is designed to further explain the course material and enable the students to think critically about concepts, problems and questions in political theory.

Recitation Requirements

Each student is required to write a short discussion paper every week on the previous week’s readings. I will collect these papers at random for grading purposes. The format of this discussion paper will be addressed in class and at the end of this syllabus. The format MUST be followed. Each student is also required to write three (3) longer papers (3-4 pages) during the semester. I will hand out paper topics about 10 days before the paper due dates. I require all papers submitted to me be done VIA EMAIL by NOON of the due date. I require an electronic document (in Word) for the purpose of checking for plagiarism.

Each student is also required to attend and participate in every recitation. This, therefore, presupposes that you have done the reading and are prepared for class. Remember, discussion is crucial to understanding the nature, depth and range of these issues.

Disabilities

If you qualify for disability accommodation, please let me know. I will require a letter from Disability Services (within the first couple weeks of class).

Decorum/Honor Code

I expect every student to treat every other student with dignity, understanding and respect. Classroom discussions must maintain an appropriate learning environment, and any student that disrupts this environment is subject to disciplinary action. Furthermore, I expect every student to do THEIR OWN WORK. In accordance with University policy, I will not tolerate any form of plagiarism. If you use an author’s words, sentences, ideas or arguments, I require that you cite them. I will not tolerate cheating or academic dishonesty. If I find any evidence of plagiarism you will be reported to the Academic Honor Committee and are subject to discipline.

Grading Scale PAPER DUE DATES:

Discussion Papers: 30% Paper 1: February 8

2 Extended (3-4 pages) Papers: 40% Paper 2: March 1

Pop Quizzes: 10% Paper 3: April 5

Attendance/Discussion: 20%

The extended papers will be graded on 4 separate components; each component is worth 2.5 points, for a total of 10 points:

1.)  Clarity of thought/argument. If I cannot understand what you are arguing for, you have not made a clear argument. This means you MUST have a clear thesis, and a structured first paragraph, so I know where you are going. You also must define terms if you use them, use transitions and provide a conclusion.

2.)  Use of text (citations). You must use textual evidence to support your claims. BUT! Do not over-use quotes. I strenuously encourage you to put an author’s argument or conclusion into your own words, and then cite that (footnotes are preferable). Over-use of quotations is distracting and shows me you have not thought about the text enough. If a paper is submitted to me with over 15% quotations, I will mark down 2.5 points.

3.)  Correct grammar. I will not look kindly upon grammar or spelling mistakes.

4.)  Logical consistency. I want each argument to follow a logically consistent path. I do not expect each student to have taken logic, or to be experts in theory/philosophy, but I do expect that your argument follows logically from your assumptions. This will be easy if you have already accomplished #1 above. For example: if all frogs are blue, and Bob is a frog, then Bob is blue. But, if you posit that Bob is green, you have committed a logical mistake.

Discussion Paper Format:

Paragraph 1

The first sentence (or first couple of sentences) needs to summarize the main point of the reading(s). Sentence 2 (or 3) needs to posit a question you have from that reading. Sentences 4-5 should answer this question with evidence from the text. (I do not want a overtly obvious question. If you ask a question that is so obvious or shows me you did not think critically about the text, you will not receive full credit.)

Paragraph 2

You must now pose a follow up question that needs further investigation. This should be something that might not be completely evident from the text and requires further thought or discussion. This exercise will help you to start thinking critically about the texts.

Further or Suggested Readings:

I may require further readings at some point during the semester. However, I will give these to you as hand-outs. Further or suggested readings will not be on any exam in lecture. They are purely for further explanation and argument.