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INTRODUCTION

The goal of this course is for students to learn the fundamentals of political science research methodology and, thereby, develop a general understanding of the process of scholarly inquiry in the discipline. To reach our goal, students will study the following: (1) the elements of research design; (2) the development of theory and hypotheses; (3) the collection of data; (4) techniques of quantitative analysis, with peripheral focus on qualitative methods. Learning outcomes to be obtained: Social Scientific Knowledge (SS), Inquiry and Analysis (IA), and Quantitative Literacy (QL).

REQUIREMENTS

See "GRADEBOOK" for weights, grading scale and grades on all assessed work. Also, check it for your continuously updated course grade.

I. Daily Work (70%).

Your daily, graded coursework consists mostly of timed quizzes: 1) reading-assignment quizzes due before class; 2) classroom-session quizzes due after class; 3) teamwork quizzes due during class. Take thorough notes on the reading assignments and in the classroom in order to perform well on quizzes. Quizzes ARE open-note/open-reading. Occasionally, I will ask you to submit daily work other than quizzes.

Extra credit for daily work is awarded to students for posting their notes on the class session. (See "Class Session Notes" page.) These posted notes are a good for studying for class session quizzes, especially for absent students. Other opportunities for extra credit will be made available to you by the instructor but may not be requested by students.

II. Hypotheses Tests and Oral Presentations (20%).

There will be two assignments in which you will develop hypotheses, test them, and then orally present your test to the class. ("Post it note": Possibility of New Hampshire Primary survey of student body.)


III. Final exam (10%).

The final exam is comprehensive, with questions drawn from the semester's quizzes, including extra-credit quizzes, and class labs. It is NOT open-note/open-reading. It will be taken 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Sunday, December 13 in OUR CLASSROOM.

GENERAL ITEMS OF IMPORTANCE

1. Ignorance and absence are not excuses for incomplete, late or non-submitted work. All required work, extra-credit work, and deadlines are made absolutely, crystal clear in the CampusWeb course pages and calendar. All coursework is completed online. With the exception of a sudden, medically-documented ailment that truly impairs one's ability to do work, there is no excuse of not knowing what is expected and when it is expected.
2. Assume that something is required of you every class day.
3. Use office hours, email and phone to address individual concerns. Do not use class time or the five minutes before and after to do so. 
4. Computer/tablet use in the classroom is welcomed and encouraged, but proper, academic and scholarly use of technology is expected.
5. Cell phones must be silent and invisible.
6. Remember, you all have Microsoft Office365, which is the whole Office suite online. IT makes downloadable copies of MS Office available for $35.
7. Academic dishonesty (Plagiarism, Cheating). Ignorance is no excuse for plagiarism and cheating. It’s either academic dishonesty or it’s not. A single instance of academic dishonesty will result in a FAILURE for the entire course. In addition, a report will be immediately forwarded to the Office of Academic Affairs so that the University may take action. The Franklin Pierce Academic Catalogue provides a precise definition of plagiarism.
 
Plagiarism is the act of stealing or passing as one’s own the ideas or words of another. Diana Hacker identifies three specific acts that constitute plagiarism: “(1) failing to cite quotations and borrowed ideas, (2) failing to enclose borrowed language in quotation marks and(3) failing to put summaries and paraphrases in your own words” (359 and 418). Specifically, this includes: copying the words of another student from examinations, themes, term papers, or theses; copying the printed words or ideas of a writer without giving credit to the author; using, borrowing, stealing, presenting or downloading another student’s ideas or writing and submitting such material as one’s own work; or resubmitting work in whole or in part that has previously been submitted in another course, without permission of the current instructor. (Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s Press.)
 
8. Bottom line, expect to work HARD, HARD, HARD!

LEARNING DIFFERENCES

If you have a documented learning disability, it is important that you work with the Academic Services Center to be sure you maximize the benefit of your efforts in this course.  It is imperative that you be proactive and a self-advocate.  Please talk to me. I can help! Additional information can be found at the  Center for Academic Excellence.

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FINAL EXAM

High priority

The final exam is comprehensive, with questions drawn from the semester's quizzes, including extra-credit quizzes, and class labs. It is NOT open-note/open-reading. It will be taken 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Sunday, December 13 in OUR CLASSROOM. Your first tas...

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PLEASE BRING ALL MATERIALS, ELECTRONIC OR NOT, TO CLASS EVERYDAY