Introduction to Political Thought, Spring 2012

 Course Description: This course is intended to provide a broad overview of Western political thought. The focus each class is on specific authors and their ideas, and one of the core learning objectives is to gain proficiency reading primary texts from a range of different cultural and political backgrounds. Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of key political and ethical philosophies, including contractarianism, utilitarianism, deontology, liberalism, socialism, libertarianism, and anarchism.

Grading

• Three reading responses (15% each)

• Final Exam (30%)

• Attendance (variable, as much as -20%)

• I will take attendance each class. Two unexcused absences throughout the semester will be permitted, but each additional unexcused absence will lower your grade by a third of a letter.

• Participation (25%)

• 5% of this grade will be based on in-class participation

• 20% of this grade will be based on student uploads to the pbworks website (10 of 12 uploads required, worth 2% each, due most Tuesdays)
  

Reading Response Guidelines: For each of the three modules, select one or more work/authors on which to write a reading response. Each reading response can be turned in anytime up to the end of the module in question, and should demonstrate both an understanding of the thinker’s key ideas and some critiques of their potential shortcomings. Each reading response should be 3-4 pages long; clarity is valued over length. Ideally, I would like you to compare and contrast the views of two of the authors discussed to date. If you choose to focus on only one author, I expect a greater level of detail and scrutiny. You are expected to learn from the comments and suggestions I provide on previous reading responses: in essence, what I am looking for is a balance between demonstrating that you've thoroughly read the works in question (and aren't just regurgitating the class notes) and an engagement with your critical views on those works--too much of your opinion and I can't tell that you've done the reading, and too much outlining the text and I don't get any sense that you've grappled critically with the text at all.

Student Upload Guidelines: (Due most Tuesdays) You are expected to upload a relevant link, video, or other media source with a comment relating the ideas of the thinkers we are discussing to a pertinent current issue. The mechanism for logging on to the pbworks site will be explained in class, and are available in the syllabus. If in doubt, look at the course archives at the bottom of the main page to see how previous classes have done the uploads.

Relevant Assignment Dates 

Pbworks Upload Assignments (Due Most Tuesdays - 10 of 12 required)