[A note to any visitors - this wiki is no longer in operation, as I am no longer an adjunct at UML. I am leaving it up as a resource for any and all who might benefit from access to the links, outlines, and reading notes compiled herein.]

Introduction to Political Thought (Spring 2012)

• Syllabus here
• Paper formatting guidelines here
• Archive of links here
• Readings to date here
• Class notes also available here...
• Course links to date here
  

Tues. May 1 - Student Choice: Electoral Systems & Reform

• Read chapter one of David Farrell's Electoral Systems on Google Books here
• Electoral reform in British Columbia
• "Making Every Vote Count: the Case for Electoral Reform in British Columbia", available at http://www.citizensassembly.bc.ca/public (download and read the 20-page 'final report')
• also available as a pdf here: final_report.pdf 
• Class notes: Political Thought Spring 2011, Electoral Reform.pdf

Thur. May 3 - Last Day of Class: Focus on Final Study Guide

• Study guide available here: Political Thought, final exam study guide, Spring 2012.pdf
• Come to class prepared to discuss any questions you have about definitions and terms - the better prepared you are to ask me questions, the more informative this session will be...

Thur. May 10, at 11:30 - Final Exam (in our regular room)

Links on Electoral Systems & Reform

• Wikipedia site on STV in BC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC-STV
• Wikipedia site on the (second) referendum on STV, in 2009: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_electoral_reform_referendum,_2009
• The Single Transferable Vote system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_transferable_vote
• Electoral Systems (more generally): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_system
• And for some current context: Iceland to rewrite its constitution by a similar measure: http://www.newser.com/story/106275/iceland-gets-average-joes-to-rewrite-constitution.html 
• proposed British Columbia superdistricts: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/BC-STV_Boundaries.jpg 
• Should we introduce more randomness to our electoral system?: http://news.discovery.com/human/politicians-randomly-selected-elections-2012-110325.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1
• BC Citizen's Assembly short explanatory documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoPgLsSvV8g&feature=related 
• STV explained, with gummy bears: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=887sGavI9kY&feature=related
• Pro and con debate on STV in British Columbia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjKZ2stLCDc&feature=related
• An example of how STV could work in the US: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBih8cL0XF8&feature=related
• If we think STV is too complicated...let's look again at our own system for presidential elections!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkqEdlRDKfo
• MMP explained: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSiAUZoDvks&feature=PlayList&p=5968F56A25A47A41&index=0

 One of the more well-documented vote-seat discrepancies - more here

The Politics of Food (Spring 2012)

• Revised syllabus here
• Link archive here
• Links to date here
• Readings to date here

Thur. Apr. 26 – Pollan and the Food Movement: Reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, day 1

• Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: read the first half (chapters 1-10), focusing on your chapter of choice - but do read more than just that one chapter. This really is a book that should be read as a whole, and not just in snippets.

• Between 30-60 minutes of this class will be set aside to discuss research methods. Please come prepared to discuss any research questions—whether methodological or topical—you might have. 
• And if you get a chance, do at least browse this piece, which is critical of both Pollan and Salatin: http://www.upc-online.org/thinking/green_eggs.html 
• Research paper guidelines (to be distributed in class): Food Politics, Spring 2012, Research Paper Guidelines.pdf

• Eleventh pbworks upload: Spring 2012 Food Politics, Eleventh Pbworks Upload

• Focus on the chapter you signed up for (email me if you forgot which one...)

 Thur. May 3 – The Omnivore's Dilemma, day 2

• Read the rest of Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma
• And if you didn't do so last week, read this piece which is critical of both Pollan and Salatin: http://www.upc-online.org/thinking/green_eggs.html 
• Last pbworks upload here: Spring 2012 Food Politics, Twelfth Pbworks Upload 
• You're welcome to post either on a chapter of the second half of Omnivore's Dilemma or on a specific issue that you feel the class hasn't addressed.

No later than (but preferably before!) May 15 - final deadline to hand in research papers (by email)

Instead of providing links and course notes for the last two weeks, I'd like to focus on your uploads, and particularly on the text itself. Do bring The Omnivore's Dilemma to class, and come prepared to discuss some specific passages in detail.

In the news

• A map of the food system: http://www.convergencealimentaire.info/map.jpg  
• USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Farm Bill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owOpS0kcoxE&feature=player_embedded 

Archives 

Introduction to Political Thought (Fall 2011)

Introduction to International Relations (Fall 2011)

Animal Rights and Animal Welfare (Summer 2011)

Introduction to Political Thought (Spring 2011)

Introduction to Environmental Studies (Spring 2011)

Animal Rights and Animal Welfare (Fall 2010) 

Introduction to Comparative Politics (Fall 2010)

Animal Rights and Animal Welfare (Summer II 2010)

Introduction to Environmental Studies (Spring 2010)

Introduction to Political Thought (Spring 2010)

Introduction to Environmental Studies (Fall 2009)

Introduction to Comparative Politics (Fall 2009)   

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