syllabus
 
 
       

         
  Page Last Updated: August 15, 2011 1:17 PM  
     
  Syllabus Contents  
   

Find your required and recommended texts.
Find the Political Science 2100 course objectives.
Find the campus policies link.
Find the attendance policy for this class.
Find the Student duties requirement
Find information for help if you have special needs.
Find the grading system for this class
Find a description of the course's Exam requirement
Find a description of the course's Test requirement
Find a description of the course's Debates Papers requirement

 
         

         
  American Institutions Requirement: This course satisfies the American Institutions category of the Dixie State College General Education requirements.  
         

           
  Texts    
   

Required Texts

  
      Karen Mingst and Ivan Arreguin-Toft, Essentials of International Relations, 5th Edition, ISBN 978-0-393-93529-5 mingst  
           
     

Bradley A. Thayer and Nuray V. Ibryamova, Debates in International Relations 978-0-205-56812-3

thayer  
    Companion Website    
     

 

  
           
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  Gifts: Gift from students to the teacher can be misinterpreted. While the thought will be appreciated, Mr. Green cannot accept gifts under any circumstances. I would be better for all concerned if they were not offered.  
         

         
  Class Interruptions: Please turn off your cell phones, radios, walkmans, and alarms such as watches and palm pilots during class. Electronic disturbances of this class will not be allowed.  
         

         
  Political Science 22 00 Course Objectives  
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2.


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4.		 Students will identify and understand the major topical divisions in International Relations including the nature of politics and political science, realism and idealism, the nature of the state, international law and institutions, and international security, economic, human rights and environmental issues.

Students will effectively analyze decisions and processes that effect International Relations. 

Students will argue and write analytically and coherently about significant issues and problems in International Relations.

Students will learn about the politics of International Relations by reading significant authors and authoritative texts.		  
         
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  Policies  
         
   

http://new.dixie.edu/reg/syllabus

Use the link to find the 1) the semester schedule, 2) information on student resources including the library, disability resource center, IT help, testing center etc., 3) policy statements including academic integrity,, disruptive behavior, absences for college functions and disability accommodation, and 4) D-Mail.

 
         
         
   

"An eminent mathematician once remarked that he was never satisfied with his knowledge of a mathematical theory until he could explain it to the next (person) he met in the street. This is hardly exaggerated; however, we must remember that a satisfactory explanation entails duties on both sides."

  
         
  Course Attendance Policy  
   

Missing class will involve costs.  There will is no such thing as an excused absence for any reason.  As a matter of policy, I will not to go over or in any other way make up lectures or other activities for students who miss class. I will make no adjustments nor will I allow exceptions to policies regarding missing papers, quizzes, tests, or exams when the reason is discretionary such as a vacation, the deer hunt, or a visit home. This said, consideration will be given for rescheduling class activities in the event 1) of school sponsored activities, illness, or accident and 2) if consultation if done privately [in Mr. Green’s office and not in front of the class] before the scheduled time of the activities.

  
         
  Student Duties  
   

You must commit to a fifteen week program of rigorous study. For the average C+ to B-) Dixie College student, this course will demand two hours out-of-class study for every hour we meet in class or 6 hours a week.  This means careful reading: in order to perform well on exams and class assignments you will have to  work with your textbook, as opposed to just reading it. It also means you will do college level writing.  Finally, you must be willing to consider viewpoints different from your own and  to express your opinion in class.

 
         
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  Grades  
   

The course grade will be assessed using the following formula:

 
   

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Written Exams (grades x 40%)
exam grade = (midterm exam grade x 40%) + (final exam grade x 60%)

Timed Tests (grade x 30%) 
test grade = total test points divided by the class’ high score

Debate  (grade x 30%) 
debate grade = ( average debate paper grade x 50%) + (debate attendance grade x 50%)		  
         
         
  Grade Creation  
   

All grades, except the journal, will be determined using one of the following two methods. First, the score on the will be divided by the high score in the class. If the score is within 95% of the high, the resulting grade will be an A. The breakdown will then descend by percentages of the high until the a score that is 60% of the high earns a D- (see the % of Grade conversion box). However, if the average grade for the class, calculated using the first method, is less than a C, at the instructor’s discretion a second method might be used in place the first. Under this second methodology, instead of dividing by the high score, the instructor will divide until the average grade for the class is set at or near C. Further adjustments will be made if there are several sections of the class and significantly differentiated denominators between the classes. If there are multiple sections of the class that use the same measuring instrument, as when all section take the same test, the average will calculated from all sections rather than each class individually.

  
         
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Grading Percentages Breakdown

 
         
     

Above 95%

= A  
      90% to 94.9% = A-  
     

87% to 89.9%

= B+  
      83% to 86.9% = B  
      80% to 82.9%

= B-

 
      77% to 79.9%

= C+

 
      73% to 76.9%

= C

 
      70% to 72.9%

= C-

 
      67% to 69.9%

= D+

 
      63% to 66.9%

= D

 
      60% to 62.9%

= D-

 
      Below 60%

= F

 
           
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  Written Exams  
   

Two major written exams will be given during the semester accounting for 40% of the grade.grade is a composite of a midterm exam grade, worth 40% of the exam grade, and a final exam, worth 60% of the exam grade. 

Students must take both exam to pass the class.

Nature of the Exams
Each exam is a take-home essay composed of one question.  That question will be chosen from the options below:

Possible Midterm Exam Questions

  • Compare and Contrast Essay:  Identify the similarities and differences between Realism and Liberalism.
  • Persuasive Essay:  Is Realism or Liberalism the superior approach for understanding International Relations?  Why?
  • Definition Essay: Write an encyclopedia style essay in which defines Realism and Liberalism.

Possible Final Exam Questions

  • Compare and Contrast Essay:  Identify the similarities and differences between Realism and Liberalism that have been presented since the midterm and add Constructivism to the list.  Refer to or copy and paste material from the midterm essay if it is helpful.
  • Persuasive Essay:  Is Realism,  Liberalism, or  Constructivism the superior approach for understanding International Relations?  Show why relying on material presented since the midterm.  Refer to or copy and paste material from the midterm essay if it is helpful.

Exam Grading
The exam will be graded based on 1) structure, 2) understanding of the material presented in the class slides, lectures, and discussion, 3) creativity, and, 4) formatting, grammar, and mechanics.

  • Structure: the paper must have a recognizable purpose statement which includes a thesis and key ideas that support the thesis.  It will use good transitions and repeated key terms throughout the paper.  In other words, the paper must be unified and coherent.
  • Content:  The paper must demonstrate and clear and deep understanding of the slides and  lectures including 1) the basic theory and 2) the relevance of the historical examples. Quotes from the lectures, slides, notes based on class discussions, and the Mingst textbook are acceptable and expected.  Using material from Wikipedia or any other on line or hard copy encyclopedia, book, or other source, on the other hand, will hurt the grade. For the final exam, rely all the material presented during the semester.
  • Creativity: Essays that go beyond the obvious by showing new insights, unique organization, or other demonstrations of creative thinking, while still meeting the structure and content requirements, will receive the highest grades.
  • Exam Formatting: Use the following formatting guidelines:
  • Type the paper
  • Use either an Arial or a Times Roman font
  • Use double spacing
  • 1" margins all around.
  • Use a 12 point font.
  • Use simple referencing. To cite a passage from the Mingst text, put the paraphrase or quotation's page number after the quote in brackets ( ex. [307] ).  To paraphrase or quote a slide, just put the word slide in brackets (ex. [Slide quote]). 

Mechanics: Use correct grammar and spelling. For your information, a chart showing Mr. Green’s Writing Mechanics and Punctuation Codes is included on page 9.

Once each exam is scored, its grade will be determined using the procedure described in the grade creation section on page 2 above.
 
Exam Length
There will be no minimum or maximum page or word requirement on either the midterm or final exam.

Exam Grade Options
Most students in the class will not have been exposed to a written exam.  Because of this, many will be disappointed by their performance on the midterm exam.  They will not really have understood what to expect.  To manage this weakness in the course structure, each student will be given a choice as to how the exam grade is calculated.

Option  One:  the midterm will count as 40% of the exam grade while the final exam will count as 60% of the exam grade. 

Option  Two:The midterm grade will be thrown out and the final exam grade alone will be the exam grade.
The default grade will be option one.  To be eligible for option two, students must comply with all five of the following requirements:

  • take the midterm exam. Those who fail to take the midterm will automatically fail the class; choosing not to take the midterm makes option two meaningless.
  • retrieve the midterm exam within one week of when the exam is turned back. [Most will receive their exams during the class period when the exam is returned. Those not in attendance on that day will have one week to pick up their graded exams from the end of that class period.]
  • go over the midterm (posted on the exams and quizzes page) and become familiar with the issues raised by the grader markings to see what areas need improvement .
  • by option one week (see the semester schedule) bring the midterm to Mr. Green’s office and go over the midterm exam with Mr. Green in his office during his office hours. At this time the procedures need to improve the exam score on the final exam will be revealed and assignments for the option two meeting agreed.
  • by option week two (see the semester schedule) bring the assignments made in the first meeting to Mr. Green in his office during his office hours for critique. 

Exam Time Period
The midterm exam questions and the final exam question will be posted on the home page and handed out one week before they are due. The date and hour when each is due will be printed on the test form. Neither will be accepted after that hour has passed.

Early or Late Final Exam
The date and time of the final exam are listed in the schedule bulletin and on Mr. Green’s web site.  The final exam must be taken with in the correct class on the correct day at the correct time.  Student’s missing finals for any reason without written permission from Mr. Green and the Dean of the School of Arts and Letters will not be allowed to make up the exam.

 
         
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  Timed Tests  
   

The grade on four tests, based on the reading of Karen Mingst and Ivan Arreguin-Toft, Essentials of International Relationswill constitute 30% of the final grade.

The Timed Tests
Number of Tests: Three timed tests will be held during the semester.  Each will be available using  Blackboard’s “Assessment Tool” on the dates indicated in the semester schedule. (The dates also appear with the link in the “Assessment Tool” or using Blackboard’s “Calendar Tool.”)
Source of Questions: The purpose of these tests are to insure  a thorough reading and deep and broad understanding the material in the textbook.  All questions concerning material in the textbook are written by the publisher, not Mr. Green. The questions are chosen at random by a computer program with approximately the same number of questions from each chapter. Literally anything mentioned in the text could be the focus of a test question.  Students who thoroughly read and master the book usually to do well. 
Number of Questions: Each test will contain 60 questions, each worth one point, based on material in the text.

Test Rules
Each test will be conducted using the assessment tool in blackboard.  Each will begin on a Friday and run until Monday midnight on the scheduled weekend. 
                                               
Grading the Tests
The score on the test will be available on Blackboard as soon as the test in completed.  Once each exam is scored, its grade  will be determined using the procedure described in the grade creation section on page 2 above.  The final test grade will be created by averaging the three test grades.

The Practice Tests
Each timed test will cover 3 chapters in the textbook. To prepare for each timed test, three practice tests for each chapter are available on Blackboard using the “Assessment Tool.”  These tests are not timed, each can be taken only once, and the score does not count toward the test grade.

The practice test arsenal also includes is one practice timed test to correspond to each of the three timed tests.  Each contains 60 questions like the timed tests, is timed for 60 minutes like the timed tests, and  covers the same chapters as its corresponding  timed test, Unlike the timed test, its score does not count toward the test grade. These practice tests should allow each student to thoroughly test their knowledge of the material before taking the actual timed test.
  
No Late or Make-up Tests
No make up of the three timed test is allowed.  Refer to the semester schedule or Blackboard’s “Assessment Tool” or its “Calendar Tool” often to make none of the timed tests is missed.   Excuses such as forgetting to check the schedule, getting stuck in Salt Lake or Las Vegas, or going on an upcoming family vacation will not count as acceptable excuses and will not be accepted. (See the attendance policy above.)  Sometimes school sponsored activities or real emergencies will arise.  These must be dealt with privately by consultation with Mr. Green (in his office, not in the classroom) before the test begins.

  
   


 
         
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  Debates  
   

Debate will account for 30% of the grade.This grade come from two activities: the grades on the debate paper grade will account for 50% and the attendance grade counts for 50%

Debate Paper Assignment
There will be four debate paper assignments during the semester. Each paper will be based on a response to a set of assigned readings fromand Ibryamova,Debates in International Relations. The paper assignments will be posted on the website. The articles may also be assigned to others in the class.

The purpose of the paper is to create a summary and  response to the reading so that other members of the class will be understand the issues raised by readings they have not read.  This will be accomplish by a brief summary or both articles and a longer discussion of two reasons why one of the authors had the strongest argument.  The summaries should be about one paragraph each while the critique and opinion section should constitute the bulk of the paper.

One the day the paper is due bring two copies of the paper. The due dates are on the schedule. (See the semester schedule that was passed out on the first day.) Give one copy to Mr. Green at the beginning of the class. The second is available when each student reads their paper to the class. Two class periods will be allocated for listening to each set of papers and debating the issues they raise.

Debate Paper Content Grade
The content grade will is the average grade on four papers to be turned during the semester. Each paper will be judged by five criteria

  • content quality: is it clear that both articles have been fully read, that the issues they raise are understood, and that the student opinion is based on careful thinking about those issues?
  • organization:is the essay unified, coherent, and clear(see the wring terms section and the graphic in the writing guide on Mr. Green’s Website).
  • correctness:dos the paper contain correct diction, punctuation, grammar, etc. (see the section on punctuation and usage in the writing guide on Mr. Green’s Website).
  • originality:is the paper the student’s own work.
  • formatting:does the paper meet all the formatting requirements in the next section.

Debate Paper Formatting

  • The paper must have a recognizable purpose statement. (see the graphic in the writing guide on Mr. Green’s website)
  • The paper must be typed.
  • The paper must use either an Arial or a Times Roman font
  • The paper must be double spaced.
  • The paper must have 1" margins all around.
  • The paper must use a 12 point font.
  • The paper can use simple referencing. To cite a passage from the text, put the paraphrase or quotation's page number after the quote in brackets( ex. [307] ). Do not include the author or title since they can be assumed from the page number references.
  • The paper must be only two pages: It must be no less than 600 and not more than 650 words.
  • The paper must include a word count in parethesis following the last period in the paper. [ex. (635words)]
  • The heading of the  paper will be two lines.  The first line should include the student’s name and the class.  The second line should list the first assigned article (author’s name first followed by the article’s title) then the second article (author, title)

Unacceptable Papers
Papers will be turned back ungraded to be fixed and re-handed in if:

  • they have too few or too many words
  • they contain more than two physical pages
  • they have the wrong font or font size
  • they have incorrect margins
  • they do not have the word count at the end

An unacceptable paper can be fixed and resubmitted by the next class period after it is turned back.  If it is turned in any later, it will be treated as a late paper.

Debate Paper Grades
Each paper will receive a letter grade based on the structure, content, and mechanics. For your information, a chart showing Mr. Green’s Writing Mechanics and Punctuation Codes is included on page 9. The debate paper grade will be created by averaging the each of final (after rewrites) paper grades.

Debate Paper Rewrites
The initial paper grade can be revise if the paper is rewritten. The rewrite is due on or before the class period positioned one week before the next debate paper is due. Students are encouraged to bring graded papers to Mr. Green in his office and discuss ways of improve in the paper. The last rewrite paper must be turned in before the final exam begins.

Debate Paper Due Date and Late Papers
Debate Papers are due on the date listed in the schedule. Papers turned in after the class begins, that is those not available to be read in class when they are called, will lose one full grade step (A to B). Late papers will not be accepted after the conclusion of the class periods set aside for that debate topic.

Attendance and Participation Grade
The attendance and participation grade will be based on the points accumulated out of a possible 300 points using four criteria. First, 10 points are awarded for attendance at each scheduled Tuesday and Thursday debate session. Since there are four debates scheduled each lasting two day, this section is worth a possible 80 points. 5 points will be subtracted for showing up late for any of the Tuesday or Thursday sessions.  Finally, the syllabus quiz (20 possible points), the pre-test (20 possible points), and the post test (20 possible points) will be added to the attendance and participation grade.

Second, 25 points are awarded for coming on time with the debate paper for each Tuesday debate session each .  This section worth 100 points. 5 points will be subtracted for each and every failure to be prepared to read the paper when class starts.

Finally, 15 points will be awarded for reading the assigned paper to the class at the assigned time slot. (Time slots will be assigned for each session on the first day of debate) 5 points will be subtracted from this section for having to read the paper as a time other than the one assigned as the time slot. This adds another 60 possible points.

The Syllabus Quiz
A syllabus quiz is posted on the “Assessment Tool” in Blackboard. The quiz contains 20 questions based on this syllabus.  The quiz is worth 20 points which you will be allowed to take the quiz twice.  The highest score of the two tries will count toward the grade.

The Pre-Test and the Post Test
A pre-test and post test are also posted on the “Assessment Tool” in Blackboard.  The pre-test and the post test contain the same 20 questions which you will take twice — once at the beginning of the semester and one at the end. Each can be taken only once, but full credit of 20 points will be given when each is completed.

Calculating the Grade
The attendance and participation grade will be determined using the procedure described in the grade creation section on page 2 above.

  
             
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  Writing Aids  
   

The following set of writing guides were developed by Dr. Allan Payne of the Dixie College English faculty to help students compose papers that are unified, coherent, and correct. When Mr. Green grades your paper, he will assume that you have read and incorporated the standards these guides contain.

 
           
    Guide 1 A two page list of key writing terms with their definitions. Mr. Green uses most of these term when explaining his assignment.  
       
    Guide 2 A one page graphic example of a properly structured paper and a one page sample paper that follows the example.  
         
         
    Guide 3 A six page guide to basic grammar and punctuation rules.  
         
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