Approved by Faculty Senate October 20, 2003.
University Studies Flagged Course Proposal
1. Department or Program: Political Science and Public Administration
2. Course Number: 347
3. Semester Hours: 3
4. Frequency of Offering: Once every two years
5. Course Title: International Organizations
6. Catalog Description: An analysis of the background organization, aims, activities and accomplishments of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. A consideration of the factors affecting the success or failure of world organizations. Offered every 2 years. Prerequisite: Political Science 130 or instructor’s permission.
7. This is an existing course previously approved by A2C2: Yes
8. This is a new course proposal: No
9. University Studies Requirement this course would satisfy: Writing Flag
10. Department Contact Person for this course: Gaspare M. Genna
457-5379
11. General Course Outcomes: This course will introduce the forms and activities of international organizations (IOs) while explaining their existence, development, and decision-making through the use of theories found in international relations. The types of IOs considered include international intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations found in the areas of global governance, social and humanitarian activities, and the regulation of the global economy. Attention will also be given to the development of regional integration and its institutions in order to understand the full range of the dynamics involved in international cooperation and dispute settlement. In order to better understand the course materials, students are expected to write analysis papers. These assignments will utilize the tools found in political science research, namely the objective analysis of how IOs participate in the successful or unsuccessful resolution of international issues (Writing A-E). Since we cannot possibly cover all cases of IOs in the course, students will expected to conduct research on those IOs that are not covered in the course but are important in their analysis papers.
12. Course Outcomes
Please see attached syllabus. Each outcome is italicized in the text of the syllabus.
A) Practice the processes and procedures for creating and completing successful writing in their fields
The students are expected to write two analytical papers and then re-write one by incorporating comments for a final term paper. The papers will require an abstract on the cover page, which is the norm in the field. The process of review and resubmission is also the norm. I will judge the final paper’s new clarity and/or evidence by evaluating the inclusion of the comment from the previous paper. The important thing is not that they adopt all the comments, but that they address them. An important skill to learn is discerning valuable feedback from less-than-worthwhile feedback. In this process, students will learn how to address concerns in a professional manner.
B) Understand the main features and uses of writing in their fields;
The papers will employ an analytical framework, which is the main type of writing in our field. This involves a process of developing working definitions, hypothesis, and the systematic testing of the hypothesis. The conventional method in developing hypotheses is through the use of theory, which is a cornerstone of the course. The exams also fulfill this requirement because each essay written will need to follow the basic expository essay format. This includes clear introductions, arguments, a reasonably noted body of evidence, and a summary conclusion.
C) Adapt their writing to the general expectations of readers in their fields;
The writing is in an analytical format, which is the general expectation in the field (see B). An added component is the expectation of objectivity. Students will need to introduce and explain the international issues and the role of IOs in an unbiased manner so as to add credibility to their work. Students will note that coming in with a bias may automatically dissuade those in the field from reading their work. This will come out in the comments if biases are detected.
D) Make use of the technologies commonly used for research and writing in their fields; and
Part of the value of analytical writing is finding pieces of evidence to support argument rather than resorting to pure assertion. I will instruct students who have statistical skills to employ them in these papers. This will involve computer software. However, I suspect that the majority will not have confidence in such skills or may lack the skills altogether. I will encourage through preparation and comments the use of primary news accounts of the issues they are investigating. One excellent tool that I often use is LexisNexis®. This method is superior to the internet search engines in finding such accounts both in the quality news articles and in the time conducting the research. LexisNexis® also gives them the ability to find court cases and information on various MNCs and INGOs. The actual writing will use Microsoft® Word® because Bill Gates owns the world.
E) Learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation in their fields.
The papers, and to some extent the exams, will require the proper use of citation of evidence presented. The papers will need to be properly footnoted and include full citations in the bibliography. Exams will require the citation of the last names of individuals that developed theories and/or produced empirically substantiated hypotheses, as needed.
WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Political Science 347
Semester Year
Professor
Gaspare M. Genna, Ph. D.
Lecture Times: XXX
Office: Minné 138
Hours: XXX
Phone: 457-5379
E-mail:
Catalog Description
An analysis of the background organization, aims, activities and accomplishments of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. A consideration of the factors affecting the success or failure of world organizations. Offered every 2 years. Prerequisite: Political Science 130 or instructor’s permission.
Course Content
This course will introduce the forms and activities of international organizations (IOs) while explaining their existence, development, and decision-making through the use of theories found in international relations. The types of IOs considered include international intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations found in the areas of global governance, social and humanitarian activities, and the regulation of the global economy. Attention will also be given to the development of regional integration and its institutions in order to understand the full range of the dynamics involved in international cooperation and dispute settlement. In order to better understand the course materials, students are expected to write analysis papers. These assignments (more details below) will utilize the tools found in political science research, namely the objective analysis of how IOs participate in the successful or unsuccessful resolution of international issues (Writing A-E). Since we cannot possibly cover all cases of IOs in the course, students will be expected to conduct research on those IOs that are not covered in the course but are important in their analysis papers.
University Studies Course Designation
This course has a University Studies Writing Flag designation. The purpose of the Writing Flag requirement is to reinforce the outcomes specified for the basic skills area of writing. These courses are intended to provide contexts, opportunities, and feedback for students writing with discipline-specific texts, tools, and strategies. These courses should emphasize writing as essential to academic learning and intellectual development.
Courses can merit the Writing Flag by demonstrating that section enrollment will allow for clear guidance, criteria, and feedback for the writing assignments; that the course will require a significant amount of writing to be distributed throughout the semester; that writing will comprise a significant portion of the students' final course grade; and that students will have opportunities to incorporate readers’ critiques of their writing.
These courses must include requirements and learning activities that promote students' abilities to...
A) practice the processes and procedures for creating and completing successful writing in their fields;
B) understand the main features and uses of writing in their fields;
C) adapt their writing to the general expectations of readers in their fields;
D) make use of the technologies commonly used for research and writing in their fields; and
E) learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation in their fields.
To accomplish these objectives, students will write two analysis papers and then incorporate comments of one paper into a final term paper. More detail found in the sections that outline these assignments. (Italicized letters throughout the syllabus help designate where these occur)
Course Texts
Diehl, Paul F. (ed). 2001. The Politics of Global Governance: International Organizations in an Interdependent World (2nd edition). Lynne Rienner: Boulder, CO.
Dijkzeul, Dennis and Yves Beigbeder (eds). 2003. Rethinking International Organizations: Pathology and Promise. Berghahn Books: New York.
Love, Maryann Cusimano (ed). 2003. Beyon Sovereignty: Issues for a Global Agenda (2nd edition). Thomson Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.
McCormick John. 1999. Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction. Palgrave: London.
A selection of articles will be available on reserve at the library.
Course Obligations
There is a mix of obligations the student must meet to fulfill the requirements of the course. This includes 1) study and discussion of assigned reading materials (Writing B), 2) one midterm (Writing E), 3) two analysis papers (Writing B-E), 4) a final paper (Writing A), and 5) a final exam (Writing E).
All assignments that are completed outside the classroom are to be typed using the following format:
1) double spaced,
2) new times roman font (12 point),
3) 1.25 inch margins,
4) title page (title, course, name, date, and abstract),
5) page numbers (page one is the first page of text),
6) stapled with no plastic cover of any type, and
7) citations and a bibliography (Writing E).
Assignments will be accepted no later than two weeks after they are due. Students cannot receive full credit on late assignments. Being one week late will result in obtaining 80% of the possible points earned and two weeks late will result in obtaining 70% of the possible points earned.
The Academic Integrity Policy (pages 28-29 of the University Catalog) will be in full force in this course. Any violations of the policy will result in a failing grade for the assignment, quiz, or exam and a possible failing grade in the course (Writing C). If you do not understand of the meaning of the word “plagiarism,” please see me or someone at the Academic Skills Center.
Class Discussion of Reading Assignments:
The principal reading obligation is to keep up with the assigned chapters within the course study outline contained in this syllabus. To maximize the learning experience, the reading should be done before the beginning of class. Class attendance is expected and participation will be evaluated on its contribution to the learning process.
In addition, students are expected to follow all international issues as they develop during the semester in the media. Some suggested periodicals include the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, or Christian Science Monitor. Students with knowledge of foreign languages are strongly encouraged to maintain these skills by reading foreign newspapers on the internet. This reading will be important for developing ideas for your oral presentations.
Analysis Paper and Final Paper
Students are required to write two papers that analyze the resolution or lack of resolution on an issue (a different issue per paper) of international importance that involved at least one IO (Writing B-E). The papers are to incorporate one theory presented in the beginning of the course (Writing B), to be written from an objective prospective (Writing C), include research of news accounts or quantitative data (Writing D), and include full citations and a bibliography (Writing E). Students are also expected to follow the formatting instructions found in the beginning of this section. Each paper must be 10 pages (± one page) in length. The papers are due XXX and XXX.
The final paper will continue the work already performed in one of your analysis papers. Students are expected to incorporate all comments into your final paper in order to demonstrate that you have considered these comments (Writing A). The final paper is due XXX.
For those students who are interested in making the most of your writing in political science, I suggest the following book:
Michaels Edwards, Anne. 2001. Writing to Learn in Political Science. McGraw-Hill: Boston, MA.
Exams
There are two exams for the course (a midterm and a final), both of which are closed book. The midterm will have two essay questions that cover the course material up to that point. The final is comprehensive and will also require you to answer two essay questions. The professor will provide a list of possible questions one week before the final. However, he will choose which question will be answered by the students. Each exam will require that students follow the basic expository essay format in answering the questions (Writing B & E). The midterm will be given on XXX and the final is on XXX
Grade Weights
Each assignment and examination will be given a score out of a total 100 points and will be given the following weights in determining students’ final grades for the course:
Course Requirement /Due
/Weight
Midterm(Writing Requirement) / XXX / 10 percent
(Writing Requirement)
Analysis Papers
(Writing Requirement) / XXX / 40 percent (20 percent each)
(Writing Requirement)
Final Paper
(Writing Requirement) / XXX / 20 percent
(Writing Requirement)
Final Examination
(Writing Requirement) / XXX / 20 percent
(Writing Requirement)
Class Participation / All Meetings / 10 percent
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All assignments and exams must be completed in order to pass the course. I cannot pass someone that has not completed the obligations of this course (Writing requirement).
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Outline of Lecture Topics
Detailed outline will be included here.
Readings
Full detailed readings and lectures are described in this section. This will also include critical questions for each lecture. Important dates for course obligations are also included.