INTRODUCTION

Our goal is to make this course the capstone of your studies in political science, i.e., of
your development as scholars and thinkers in the field. By now, you are capable of reading
sophisticated analysis in political science and of conducting serious inquiry into a subject of your
choosing. One objective is to closely review significant scholarly work/trends in the
longstanding subfields of political science, which also have comprised your studies during your
tenure here. Those areas are U.S. government, comparative politics, international relations and
political theory/philosophy. The other objective is to have you create a piece of your own
scholarship in a subject that you have developed an academic and career interest in as a result of your studies here.

The conduct of the course is highly collaborative, relying on you to be active, seminar
participants, presenting to, explaining to and fostering discussion among your colleagues, i.e.,
your classmates.

Political Science Learning Outcomes: SS (Social Science), QL (Quantitative Literacy) or IL (Information Literacy), CX (Career Exploration)

TEXTBOOKS/READINGS

CampusWeb posts all articles/selections from books and periodicals for you to save/print.

RULES/EXPECTATIONS

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. Office hours are when I engage you regarding individual concerns (not the five minutes before class; not during class; not the five minutes after class).
3. Assume that something is required of you every class day.
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. 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.)

GRADING: WEIGHTS AND SCALE

The composition of your grade is as follows:
I. 20%
II. 30%
III. 50% (6 2/3% to each of the first three stages, 20% to stage 5. The rough draft is required but
not given a mark. 10% divided between the peer review, student-constructed assignment; and
presentation)

CALENDAR

Handouts will always specify dates and times of all required work and in-class activity. The
following is a broad outline for how we will be spending our time. Most important is to pay
attention to CampusWeb for handouts as well as our course work schedule.

Jan 20 - Mar 15: Essays, readings, presentations.
Mar 19 – Mar 23: spring break
Mar 15 – May 7: Research project and related elements (See above).
May 7: Presentations, 3:15 PM, when we are scheduled for the final exam.
Disclaimer on time constraints: Due to unexpected constraints on time, I reserve the right to
adjust the requirements, grade-weight distribution of requirements, and the calendar.