Political Science 260, Section 4,
Spring 2008
M, W, F 12:00-12:50, DU 459
Instructor: Michael Cook, mcook3@niu.edu
Office: DuSable 476
Office hours: M 1:50-3:20, W
12:50-1:35, F 12:50-1:35, and by appointment
Introduction to Comparative Politics
This course aims to introduce
students to the comparative study of politics.
Furthermore, students will become familiar with the terms, concepts, and
factual content necessary to engage in comparative analysis of several major
players in the international system. The
major players that will be the focus of in depth study are: the
In order to understand better the
countries, concepts, and terms we will use for this course, students will read
a contemporary comparative politics text authored by Michael G. Roskin whose
title is Countries and Concepts:
Politics, Geography, Culture. In
order to participate actively and to understand better the material discussed
in class, it behooves students read the assigned chapters and articles (if
applicable) before each session.
In addition, I will make an effort
to solicit information about current affairs.
Typically, I will ask students at the beginning of class to volunteer
what they have heard about goings-on in our world. By keeping abreast of current events around
the globe and by learning about others with whom we share the globe, we are
able to construct a basis for comparison that allows us to analyze and
understand better our own politics.
Required
Text
-Michael G. Roskin, Countries and
Concepts, Politics, Geography, Culture, Ninth Edition, Prentice Hall
-if there are any reading
assignments in addition to the Roskin text, I will either announce in class
where they can be found or I will distribute hard copies directly to the
students.
Course
Requirements
Participation and Attendance 10%
(regular attendance and active participation are assessed)[1]
Essay (comparative analysis) 25%
Mid-term Exam #1 20%
Mid-term Exam #2 20%
Final Exam 25%
I will distribute more information
about the essay a little later in the course.
Essentially, the students will have to choose two of the countries we
will have discussed in class, and they must compare them. For example, a student may wish to compare
the political cultures of
Statement Concerning Students with Disabilities
Under Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, NIU is committed to making reasonable
accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Those students with
disabilities that 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
Department of Political Science Web
Site
Undergraduates are strongly
encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science web site on a regular
basis. This up-to-date, central source of information will assist students in
contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi,
exploring graduate study, researching career options, tracking department
events, and accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and
activities. To reach the site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu.
The Department of Political Science
Statement on Academic Integrity
Cheating will not be tolerated in class.
There are many types of cheating. The NIU Undergraduate Catalog states that:
"Students are considered to have cheated if they copy the work of another
during an examination or turn in a paper or an assignment written whole or in
part by someone else….If any student aids another student in either cheating or
engaging in plagiarism, both students will be held responsible for their
behavior."
Undergraduate
Writing Awards
The Political Science Department
recognizes annually 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.
It is expected that winners will attend the department’s Spring
graduation ceremony, where they will receive a certificate and $50.00. Papers, which can be submitted by faculty or
students, must be supplied in triplicate to a department secretary by February
28th. 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 year can be considered for the award.
Papers completed in the Spring semester are eligible for the following
year’s competition, even if the student has graduated.
Late
Work and Make-up Exams
As a general rule, I do not permit
the submission of late work or the make-up of missed exams. In extraordinary cases—and only with the
presentation of a doctor’s note or the like—I will allow students to take exams
outside of the scheduled sessions. Since
you are given the due date of the paper in advance, you must plan accordingly,
if you know that you are going to miss class.
It is imperative that you, as soon as possible, make me aware of days
you intend to miss. If an emergency
situation arises, please send me a notification via email at your earliest
convenience. Keep me posted!
NOTE:
I do not accept electronic copies of
papers. If you are going to miss class,
send your paper along with someone you trust to submit it on your behalf. Otherwise, you have the choice of submitting it
to the undergraduate secretary, Karen Schweitzer, or you may stick the paper in
my mail slot on the 4th floor of Zulauf hall. If you submit the paper after the beginning
of class on the day it is due (or any time subsequent to that), then I will not
grade it, and you should expect to receive a failing grade. If you have a cogent excuse (i.e. doctor’s
note), then you are safe.
Tentative
Schedule of Lectures, Readings, and Exams
***I reserve the right to modify the schedule as I deem it
necessary.***
Introduction
to Terms and Concepts in Comparative Politics
January 14th,
introduction to course
January 16th, Ch. 1,
introduction to terms and concepts
January 18th, Ch. 1
continued, introduction to term and concepts
January 21st, class and office
hours cancelled (King’s birthday)
January 23rd, Ch. 2 (this
the first chapter for the
January 25th, Ch. 3
January 28th, Ch. 4
January 30th, Ch. 5
February 1st, Ch. 6
February 4th, Ch. 7
February 6th, Ch. 8
February 8th, class and
office hours cancelled (out of town)
February 11th, catch-up
day; review for exam #1
February 13th, mid-term
exam #1
February 15th, discussion
of exam #1
February 18th, Ch. 10
February 20th, Ch. 11
February 22nd, Ch. 12
February 25th, Ch. 13
February 27th, Ch. 14
February 29th, Ch. 15
March 3rd, Ch. 16
European
Union
March 5th, Ch. 17,
distribution and discussion of comparative analysis essay assignment (DUE APRIL 14TH)
March 7th, Ch. 17
continued
March 10th-March 14th,
class and office hours cancelled (Spring break)
March 17th, Ch. 23
March 19th, Ch. 24,
review for exam #2
March 21st, mid-term exam
#2
March 24th, Ch. 25 and
discussion of exam #2 (not as extensive as the discussion of exam #1, since the
students should be familiar with the format and should be better equipped to
anticipate what will appear on the exam)
March 26th, Ch. 26
March 28th, Ch. 27
March 31st, Ch. 28
April 2nd, Ch. 29
April 4th, Ch. 30
April 7th, Ch. 31
April 9th, Ch. 32
April 11th, catch-up day;
review of the first five units
April 14th, submission of
papers
Russia
(somewhat more tentative than the material covered to this point—both in terms
of material to be covered from this point on and the schedule itself)
April 16th, Ch. 18
April 18th, Ch. 19
April 21st, Ch. 20
April 23rd, Ch. 21
April 25th, Ch. 22
April 28th, review for
final exam and probably evaluations
April 30th, review for
final and loose ends
May 2nd, class and office
hours cancelled (reading day)
Final
Exam
Monday, May 5th in
DuSable 459 at 12:00
[1] Do not assume that participation and attendance are weighted equally. Even, for example, if you attend every session--but you do not contribute to class discussions—it would be unwise and erroneous to expect to receive half of the available points for the composite participation/attendance component of the course grade.