Link to FLU INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

My policies: You will NOT be penalized for missing class due to the flu. If you are sick, for Pete's sake, stay home and avoid contact with other people. If you have the flu, email me immediately. I will expect that you will miss a week's worth of classes, and we will make sure that you are excused from exam questions that cover that week.

Course syllabus with powerpoints

For each class, I will post the powerpoints that accompany my lectures on the "powerpoints" website. Do NOT assume that the powerpoints themselves are a substitute for attending lecture or taking notes. They are intended as an outline only. In the past, students have found it very useful to print out the powerpoint slides before coming to class, so that they can take notes on what we discuss, and not try to write down the outline as we go through it.

Syllabus (PDF)

Online Syllabus with Daily Powerpoint Slides

Course Assignments

The following is an overview of the assignments for this class.

Exams. Your first exam will be on the nuts and bolts of the political system. Questions about current events and questions from readings and lecture will all be fair game. The final exam will build on that knowledge, but will ask questions about material covered since the midterm.

Readings. You will be expected to come to class every day having done the assigned reading, taken notes on its main points, and reflected upon what you have learned from it.

Short Papers. You will write three short papers. The major papers will be a 3-5 page comparison between public media and commercial media and a 5-7 page paper analyzing a public policy issue and arguing for a particular solution or set of solutions. Based on your research on this paper, you will stage a debate on that issue for the class. I will be happy to go over a draft of your essay with you in office hours, but I will not give drafts a thorough pre-grading reading. You will also write one 1-2 page reflection on a campus event that you attend (see assignment, attached, for details).

Media paper

Issues Paper and Debate

I require that all papers submitted in my classes also be uploaded to turnitin.com. For instructions on how to use turnitin.com, follow this link.

Research paper advice

Extra Credit

How to Guard Against Plagiarism

Grade distribution and grading rubrics

Your grade will be composed as follows:

Final exam (20%)
Midterm (15%)
Media paper 3-5 pages (15%)
Issues paper 5-7 pages (15%)
Campus participation reflection paper 1-2 pages (10%)
Class attendance and active participation (10%)
Quizzes (10%)
Debate (5%)

Other resources

Writing center. I strongly advise all students to visit the writing center in Founders 190B and meet with a tutor for advice on paper drafts. The Writing center website also has some helpful advice about writing a strong thesis and citing sources.

For other resources at USD and on the internet, click here.