|
Prof. Ross J. Corbett Tue., Thu. 12:30–1:45pm DuSable Hall 246 |
815-753-7044 |
Office Hours: Tue. 11:00am–12:00pm Tue. 2:00–4:00pm Zulauf Hall 412 |
The
This course is proceeds for the most part in
reverse-chronological order. Its focus
is a peculiarity of American political discourse: by and large, political argument in the
Attentive students can expect to leave this course with a
deepened understanding of the questions which retain their salience in American
political life and an increased facility in speaking about the fundamental
principles of the
American Political
Rhetoric. 5th ed. Ed. Peter Lawler & Robert Schaefer.
Hamilton, Madison, & Jay.
The Federalist Papers. Ed. Clinton Rossiter.
The Anti-Federalist
Papers and Constitutional Convention Debates. Ed. Ralph Ketcham.
The Declaration of
Henry David Thoreau. Civil Disobedience and Other Essays.
Alexis de Tocqueville.
Democracy in
John Locke. Second Treatise of Government. Ed. Richard Cox.
———. A Letter Concerning Toleration. Ed. James Tully.
Course Packet
10% Weekly Papers, no more than 300 words in length, due by the beginning of each Thursday seminar on topics assigned in class. There will be no paper due when you turn in an essay or the last class. The lowest paper will be dropped (i.e., eleven papers, ten of which count).
20% Class Participation.
20% First Essay, due February 7 by 5:00pm. Essays should not exceed 1500 words.
20% Second Essay, due March 20 by 5:00pm. Essays should not exceed 1500 words.
30% Third Essay, due April 24 by 5:00pm. Essays should not exceed 2000 words.
While NIU does not allow for final grades that have plusses or minuses, work during the semester will be assessed with plusses and minuses. I will convert these grades to number scores, and convert them back at the end of the semester (stripping all plusses and minuses from the grade). I use the following scale:
|
A+ |
99–100 |
C+ |
79–80 |
|
A |
93–98 |
C |
73–78 |
|
A- |
91–92 |
C- |
71–72 |
|
B+ |
89–90 |
D+ |
69–70 |
|
B |
83–88 |
D |
65–68 |
|
B- |
81–82 |
F |
0–64 |
APPOINTMENTS: I can arrange to meet students by appointment if the above office hours are inconvenient. Students are encouraged to come to office hours to further discuss course material or any problems they might be having in the course. It is best to discuss incipient problems before they become large ones.
PREPARATION: This course centers around ideas that are found in classic texts of American government and politics. It is vital, therefore, that you read the assigned texts at least once before I discuss them in the lectures. We will focus on the arguments presented in these texts and, just as importantly, what arguments were not made and why. Some assumptions are left unquestioned, for example, because they are shared by all mainstream participants in the debate. At other times, something is not stated precisely because it would be controversial, or because it would reveal that the author is begging the question. Able readers will be on the lookout concerning questions such as these, without losing sight of what is more readily apparent on the surface of the arguments.
ATTENDANCE: It is expected that you attend every scheduled class and participate knowledgably. Attendance will be taken before the start of each class. Students not in their seats when attendance is taken will be considered absent. Students who leave class early without prior permission will also be considered absent for that class. Attendance will count for 1/2 of your class participation grade (10 of the 20 possible points).
CANCELLATIONS: If I am more than ten minutes late to class, you may assume that I have been delayed and that class is cancelled. Leaving earlier than this risks being marked absent.
PARTICIPATION: Classes will largely follow a lecture format, and will supplement (but not replace) what is in the text. I will interrupt my lectures to ask the class questions, and you are encouraged to interrupt me to ask questions of your own. Fruitful participation includes answering questions intelligently, probing and challenging what is said in a manner that shows knowledge and understanding of the text, and otherwise advancing the level of discourse in the class. Attendance will count for 1/2 of your class participation grade (10 of the 20 possible points).
DECORUM: Use your common sense. Turn off your cell phone. Do not insult or threaten anybody, or use abusive language. Do not eat — it only makes the rest of us hungry. Refrain from private discussions, interrupting people, texting, surfing the internet, sleeping, and in general anything that would disrupt or distract the class.
WEEKLY PAPERS: The weekly papers are intended to guide you in your reading, and will form the basis for discussion in the class. Topics will always be on what we will discuss in an upcoming session, never on what we have already gone over in the past.
WRITTEN WORK: Papers and Essays will be graded on the ideas they contain, but good organization and grammar are essential to getting those ideas across. All written work should conform to the rules of standard English, and students should also expect that better-written work will get a higher grade. Poorly-written work will suffer. All work must be submitted via Blackboard.
LATE ESSAYS: No weekly papers will be accepted if submitted
late. Late essays will be penalized 5%
per day (including holidays and weekends).
INCOMPLETES: Incompletes will only be given in rare circumstances, such as illness, death in the immediate family, or other unusual and unforeseeable circumstances. Incompletes are given at the discretion of the instructor and only when it is possible that the completion of the remaining work could result in a passing grade. An incomplete must be resolved within the appropriate time limit or it will automatically be changed to an F. The student is responsible for seeing that incompletes are made up before the expiration date.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: All work must be the produce of the student’s own original effort. It is the student’s responsibility to familiarize him- or herself with university policy regarding plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Students should take the university’s Academic Integrity tutorial (http://www.ai.niu.edu/ai/). All infractions will be severely punished, up to and including a failing grade for the course and disciplinary action by the university.
DISABILITIES: Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, NIU is committed to making reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented disabilities. Students who believe that their disability may
have some impact on their coursework and for which they may require
accommodations should notify the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR) on
the fourth floor of the
AWARDS: The Department of Political Science will recognize, on an annual basis, outstanding papers written in conjunction with 300-400 level political science courses or directed studies. Authors do not have to be political science majors or have a particular class standing. Winners are expected to attend the Department’s spring graduation ceremony where they will receive a certificate of $50.00. Papers, which can be submitted by students or faculty, must be supplied in triplicate to the department secretary by the end of February. All copies should have two cover pages – one with the student’s name and one without the student’s name. Only papers written in the previous calendar can be considered for the award. However, papers completed in the current spring semester are eligible for the following year’s competition even if the student has graduated.
POLITICAL SCIENCE WEBSITE: Students are encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science website on a regular basis. This central source of information will assist students in contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring graduate study, and researching career options. Undergraduates may find this website especially useful in tracking down department events and for accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and activities. To reach this site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu.
AF = Anti-Federalist Papers
APR = American Political Rhetoric
CP = Course packet
DI = Declaration of
Griswold v.
Roe v. Wade. [APR, 142–7]
Michael H. v. Gerald D. [CP]
Weekly Paper Due
L. Johnson, “1964 State of the
L. Johnson, “1964 Commencement Address at the
F. Roosevelt, “Commonwealth Club Campaign Speech.” [APR, 188–97]
F. Roosevelt, “Address to the Young Democratic Clubs of
F. Roosevelt, “1944 State of the
W. Wilson, “Constitutional Government in the
Plessy v.
Brown v. Board of
Education of
M. L. King, “I Have a Dream.” [APR, 277–80]
M. L. King, “Letter from the
Weekly Paper Due
J. Addams, “Why Women Should Vote.” [APR, 323–6]
F. Douglass, “Women’s Suffrage Movement.” [APR, 320–3]
A. Adams, “Letter to John Adams.” [APR, 315–6]
J. Adams, “Letter Abigail Adams.” [APR, 316]
B. Friedan, “The Problem That Has No Name.” [CP]
S. Okin, “Introduction: Justice and Gender.” [CP]
Planned Parenthood v. Casey. [APR, 147–52]
Weekly Paper Due
M. L. King, “Letter from the
H. D. Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience.”
A. Lincoln, “Address to the Young Men’s Lyceum.” [APR, 176–83]
A. Lincoln, “Speech on the Dred Scott Decision.” [CP]
A. Lincoln, “Crisis of a House Divided.” [CP]
A. Lincoln, “Address at Cooper Institute.” [CP]
Dred Scott v. Sandford. [APR, 241–6]
First Essay Due
A. Lincoln, “First Inaugural Address.” [DI, not APR]
A. Lincoln, “Special Message to Congress of 1861.” [APR, 92–4]
A. Lincoln, “
A. Lincoln, “Second Inaugural Address.” [DI]
Federalist Papers, Preface & No. 1–2, 4, 6, 8–10, 12, 14.
“Speech of James Wilson.” [AF, 183–8]
“Federal Farmer,” No. 1 & 2. [AF, 256–69]
Weekly Paper Due
Articles of Confederation. [AF, 357–64]
J. Madison, “Vices of the Political System of the
Federalist Papers, No. 15–7, 21–2.
Federalist Papers, No. 23, 26–7, 30–1, 33, 35.
“John DeWitt,” No. 1 & 2. [AF, 189–98]
“Brutus,” No. 10. [AF, 287–92]
Weekly Paper Due
Federalist Papers, No. 37–9, 41–9, 51.
“Dissent of the
“Brutus,” No. 1. [AF, 270–80]
“Centinel,” No. 1. [AF, 227–37]
[No Class]
Weekly Paper Due
Federalist Papers, No. 52, 56–7, 62–6.
“Brutus,” No. 4 & 16 [AF, 324–35]
“John DeWitt,” No. 3. [AF, 311–6]
Federalist Papers, No. 67, 69–70, 73–5
“Cato,” No. 5. [AF, 317–21]
T. Jefferson, “Letter to James Madison.” [CP]
Weekly Paper Due
[No Class 03/11 — Spring Break]
[No Class 03/13 — Spring Break]
Federalist Papers, No. 78, 80–1, 84–5.
“Brutus,” No. 11, 12, & 15. [AF, 293–309]
Marbury v.
J. Madison, “Speech in Congress Proposing Constitutional Amendments” [CP]
“Declaration of
T. Jefferson’s Draft of the Declaration of Independence. [CP]
P. Henry, “Give Me
“Speeches of Patrick Henry.” [AF, 199–216]
Second Essay Due
J. Madison, “Memorial and Remonstrance.” [CP]
J. Madison, “On Property.” [APR, 41–3]
T. Jefferson, “Notes on the State of
A. Hamilton, “Report on the Subject of Manufactures.” [CP]
Locke, Preface to Two Treatises of Government. [CP]
Locke, Second Treatise, Chapters 1–10.
Weekly Paper Due
Locke, Second Treatise, Chapters 11–19.
Locke, A Letter Concerning Toleration.
Weekly Paper Due
Tocqueville, Volume I:
Introduction; and Part I:
chapters 1–5.
Tocqueville, Volume I: Part I: chapters 6–8.
Weekly Paper Due
Tocqueville, Volume I: Part II: chapters 1–6.
Tocqueville, Volume I: Part II: chapters 7–9; and chapter 10: pp. 348–396.
Weekly Paper Due
Tocqueville, Volume II: Notice and Part I.
Tocqueville, Volume II: Part II.
Third Essay Due
Tocqueville, Volume II: Part III.
Tocqueville, Volume II: Part IV.