GVPT 170 0101 0112 Fall 2008 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IN A GLOBAL ERA COURSE TEAM Dr Lois T Vietri Lead Professor lvietri umd edu office 3140 Tydings hours M 3 5pm T 5 6pm Summer Agan sagan umd edu sections 0101 0103 0106 Blessing Okoroafor bokoroafor umd edu sections 0102 0104 0108 Matthew Spino matthewspino gmail com sections 0105 0109 0110 Stephen Yoder syoder umd edu sections 0107 0111 0112 COURSE OVERVIEW Welcome to our American Government and Politics Learning Community GVPT 170 is a team taught course that meets twice in a large lecture setting on Mondays and Wednesdays 1 1 50pm and the third meeting is a 50 minute discussion session on Thursday or Friday Please consult your schedule for your discussion section that designates time and classroom location The course team works closely to coordinate the weekly lectures and discussion readings and assignments Be advised that the syllabi topics readings guest speakers and special activities may be subject to change Consequently you should regulary check for weekly updates on our course website at http www elms edu This course is interdisciplinary in nature and theoretically and current events driven The course texts daily reading of the newspaper required and suggested viewings and the synthesis provided in lecture and discussion will facilitate your learning in this course We invite each of you to engage this semester in a continuous dialogue about the state of American democracy comparatively and globally COURSE GOALS an appreciation for competing theoretical perspectives in the study of American government and politics an understanding of American political development from a comparative perspective the capacity to critically evaluate the news of the day especially the coverage of the race for the presidency and the Iraq war an understanding of the impacts of culture and media on American political behavior your maturation as a global citizen through a critical understanding of policy issues COURSE EXPECTATIONS We ask you in both lecture and discussion to help us create and sustain a learning community by respecting each other s points of views valuing collaborative learning in lecture discussion and with special projects events maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity www umd edu honorpledge acknowledging the special nature of the large lecture classroom attending lecture and discussions on a regular basis meeting all deadlines and requirements in a timely manner You can expect the following of the GVPT 170 course team to return your assignments and tests in a timely manner to be available for consultation to respect your involvement in the course COURSE TEXTS AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS William F Grover and Joseph G Peschek Voices of Dissent Critical Readings in American Politics 7th edition Chris Hedges War is a Force that Gives us Meaning free copies distributed in class Daily reading of an internationally respected newspapers and daily viewing of BBC news GVPT 170 0101 0112 page 2 GRADING AND EVALUATION Your grade in this course is based on the following 20 discussion group writing exercises and quizzes both announced and unannounced 20 discussion group participation 30 2 hourly examinations 10 first year book activities 20 comprehensive final examination ATTENDANCE POLICY A fully functioning learning community depends on the presence and contributions of every one of its members in the large lecture class as well as the Thursday and Friday discussion sections ACADEMIC INTEGRITY UMCP has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity administered by the Student Honor Council This Code sets standards for academic integrity at UMCP for all undergraduate and graduate students As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating fabrication facilitation or plagiarism For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council please visit http www studenthonorcouncil umd edu whatis html ACCOMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES We are happy to work with you if you need special arrangements Please note that a written request for accommodations is required Please have the appropriate paperwork for test taking at DSS given to Dr Vietri a week prior to all examinations Thank you If you have any questions or concerns regarding UMCP disability documentation please contact Disability Support Services at 314 7682 SCHEDULE OF LECTURE TOPICS READINGS VIDEOS AND OTHER ASSIGNMENTS Every effort will be made to have lectures posted before class on www elms umd edu September 3 Welcome Introductions and Course Expectations Reading skim texts and carefully review the syllabus September 4 5 Discussion group meetings bring reader to discussions September 8 Origins of American Political Principles and American Exceptionalism Reading www elms umd edu Grover and Peschek chapter 3 pp 77 83 View on your own Andrew Bacevich and the End of American Exceptionalism http www democracynow org 2008 8 20 the limits of power andrew bacevich September 10 The U S Constitution as an Eighteenth Century Document Reading www elms umd edu Grover and Peschek chapter 3 pp 84 104 298 302 and appendix September 11 12 Discussion group topic The American democracy and the American dream Reading Grover and Peschek pp 42 54 Hedges chapter 1 first year book Viewing http mefeedia com entry susan faludi interview 4770885 GVPT 170 page 3 September 15 American Federalism Reading www elms umd edu September 17 Political Culture Political Socialization and Public Opinion Reading www elms umd edu www gallop com Grover and Peschek chapter 2 September 18 19 Discussion group topic Federalism Citizenship and the 911 response Reading www elms umd edu Grover and Peschek pp 303 307 September 22 The Mass Media Reading www elms umd edu www poynter org Grover and Peschek pp 105 128 September 24 Interest Groups Reading www elms umd edu www influenceatwork com Grover and Peschek pp 8 18 September 25 26 Discussion group topic The Politics of Mass Media in America Reading Grover and Peschek pp 129 145 September 29 Social movements and political change Reading www elms umd edu Grover and Peschek pp pp 298 302 October 1 Political Parties in America Reading www elms umd edu October 2 3 Discussion group topic interest groups v political parties and the millenials Reading www elms umd edu October 6 First examination October 8 Election Process in America Reading