West Valley College | Fall 2019 |
Tim Kelly, Ph.D. Office Hours: M/W/Th 2:00-2:45 and by appt. |
Office SS/LA
1E Ph: (408)741-2546 |
Don't know much about the political world you live in? Ever wonder what the difference is between a Parliament and a Congress? Or a Republic and a Communist state? Well, you've come to the right party! Political Science 2 explores the government and politics of some of the major world powers as well as developing nations. Structures, functions and policies are compared with each other and the U.S. government. Particular consideration is given to contemporary world problems. You will learn the major terms, types and functions of institutions, cultural patterns, economic systems and global interdependence issues. Political Science 2 may be used to meet Social Science Series I or II requirements in the General Education pattern for transfer to the California State University system.
You are responsible for having each of these readings completed by their assigned day on the syllabus.
For a better understanding of the topics covered in this class, you should read the San Jose Mercury News, the San Francisco Chronicle, or the New York Times daily, in addition to Time, Newsweek, Foreign Policy Magazine, or Current History. You can also learn a lot by watching news programs such as the Jim Lehrer News Hour and BBC (both broadcast on your local PBS stations), as well as CNN. Your success in this class depends on the initiative you put into it!
Course Objectives
Attendance Policy
Per the WVC Catalog (see Rights and Responsibilities), regular attendance is mandatory. Punctuality is also important; therefore roll will be taken at the beginning of the class. Students will receive a 1 point reduction from their total grade for each tardy. More than one absence will constitute a reduction of 2 points for each additional absence. Students missing more than 5 classes in a row before the final drop date may be dropped unless they notify the instructor.
A class web page can be found for Poli Sci 2 at Canvas. This page contains the syllabus, lecture outlines, PowerPoint lectures, on-line readings, and Study Guides for the Midterm and Final Exam. This web page serves as a supplement to the lectures and in-class discussions, not as a substitute. STUDENTS SHOULD PRINT OUT THE OUTLINES BEFORE LECTURE.
Your two quizzes this semester will be conducted on Canvas rather than in class. These quizzes cover the textbook, online readings, and lectures (Chapters 1,8,2,4 for Quiz 1, and Chapters 6,7,10,13 for Quiz 2) In addition to doing the assigned readings, you may find useful the companion web page for your textbook maintained by your book's publisher at http://www.cengage.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=9781285865331&token= . This companion web page has practice quiz questions. (Click HERE for more instructions, as well as how to log on to Canvas.)
Course Requirements | Grading Policy: Grades are awarded on a Standard Scale: |
1. Two
Online Quizzes 2. Mid-term exam in two parts (Take home) 3. Final examination (In class) 4. Class Participation |
(50 pts total) (500 pts) (400 pts) (50 pts) |
A B C D F |
900 - 1000 800 - 899 700 - 799 600 - 699 599 and below |
Dates to Remember
9/08: 9/26-9/28: 10/10: 10/24: |
Last Day to Drop w/out a "W" Quiz #1 Available (Chs 1, 8, 2, 4) Take Home Midterm Pt I Due Take Home Midterm Pt II Due |
11/07-11/09: 11/15: 11/28: 12/10: |
Quiz #2 Available (Chs 6,7,10,13) Last Day to Drop w/ a "W" Turkey Day Holiday FINAL EXAM (9:40-11:40) |
FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE: Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 9:40-11:40
Week 1
8/27 8/29 |
INTRODUCTION: What is Comparative Politics? UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
Readings: Text, Ch. 1 |
Week 2
9/03 9/05 |
USA (cont.) |
9/08 |
LAST DAY TO DROP W/OUT A "W" |
|
Week 3
9/10 9/12 |
GREAT BRITAIN |
Readings: Text, Ch 2; ONLINE: |
Week 4
9/17 9/19 |
GREAT BRITAIN |
Readings: ONLINE: Phillips, Gangland Culture Takes Over Where UK Society Leaves Off; Wheatcraft, A Spot of Tea Party?; Wheeler and Hunt, Brexit: All You Need to Know About the UK Leaving the EU; Cockburn, Brexit Unleashed an English Nationalism |
Week 5
9/24 9/26 |
GERMANY |
Readings: Text, Ch. 4; ONLINE: Der Spiegel, Is the Ugly German Back? Flames of Hate Haunt a Nation Photo Gallery: Germany's Ongoing Neo-Nazi Problem; The Economist, German Politics Has Become Much More Complicated; Khazan, Why Germany's Politics Are Much Saner... |
QUIZ #1 - Chs 1,8,2,4 (Available online at Canvas from 9/26-9/28 until 11:59 pm) |
Week 6
10/01 10/03 |
JAPAN |
|
Week 7
10/08 10/10 |
JAPAN (cont.) |
10/10 | TAKE-HOME MIDTERM #1 DUE |
Readings: ONLINE: Burakumin on Wikipedia; Richey, Why Japan Will Lose 20 Million People by 2050; |
Week 8
10/15 10/17 |
INDIA |
Readings: Text, Ch 7; ONLINE: India 2.0 (Parts 1-4); India and Pakistan: Border Disorder; Khan, What's really Behind India's Rape Culture?; Ward, India's Risky Kashmir Power Grab, Explained |
Week
9
|
Film: 2 Million Minutes (The educational divide between India, China,
and the U.S.)
|
|
10/24 | TAKE-HOME MIDTERM #2 DUE | |
|
Week 10
10/29 10/31 |
MEXICO (Cont.) |
Readings: Text, Ch 13; Imison, AMLO is Struggling to Meet High Expectations with Harsh Realities |
Week 11
11/05 11/07 |
RUSSIA |
QUIZ #2 - Chs 6,7,10,13 (Available online at Canvas from 11/07-11/09 until 11:59 pm) | |
Readings: ONLINE: Gessen, Dead Soul; other required Gessen articles on the Canvas Readings Page; Gude, How Putin Undermines Democracy in the West; Optional: Russia's Bitter Chill |
Week 12
11/12 11/14 |
CHINA |
Readings: Text, Ch. 15; ONLINE: WEF, 8 Things You Should Know About China's Economy; Larson, The End of the Chinese Dream; Komireddi, Tibet is a Ticking Time Bomb; Jacobs, Chinese Hit Back Against a Foreign Intrusion: Christmas |
11/15 - LAST DAY TO DROP w/a "W"
Week 13
11/19 11/22 |
CHINA |
Readings: |
Week 14
11/27 11/29 |
IRAN (cont.) |
Readings: Text, Ch. 14; ONLINE: Klebnikov, Millionaire Mullahs; Strochlic, Iran to Hang Abused Child Bride; Anonymous, What Will Happen to Those Arrested in Iran? I Can Tell You; Rezaian, An Uphill Battle for Iran's President |
Week 15
|
BUILD A COUNTRY GAME CATCH-UP AND REVIEW |
FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE: Tuesday, DECEMBER 10, 9:40-11:40