Syllabus: Honors 100, section 44, fall 2012

Budgets, Pensions, Trade Unions, and ObamaCare: Do the Issues Even Matter in 2012?

Instructor: Craig Curtis, Dept. of Political Science, Bradley Hall, room 486,
Phone: 677-2492,
E-mail:  rcc@bradley.edu
Home Page:  http://hilltop.bradley.edu/~rcc/

Text: Benenson, Bob. 2012. Winning in 2012: CQ’s Guide to the Elections. Washington: CQ Press.

Meeting Information: Tuesday, 7:30 to 9:00 (until Election Day, 10 total meetings – see course outline below), in Bradley Hall 320.

Instructor Office Hours: Monday, 10 to 11:30 am, Tues 2 to 4 pm, Wed. 9 to 11 am, Thursday, 2 to 3 pm

Course Description:  The course will focus on the 2012 election from the perspective of the issues that matter the most for the long term future of the nation and the state of Illinois. As the class examines public opinion on the major issues along side of the polls as they are reported, the question of whether the voters base their decisions on likely policy outcomes will arise. Additionally, the question of the role that rational policy debates play in America will be examined.

There are numerous web sites devoted to coverage of the fall elections. The two that I like the best are Congressional Quarterly’s site and the Washington Post’s site. This does not mean that you shouldn’t visit other sites. CNN’s Election Center site is serviceable as well. In addition, dedicated Republicans should visit the Republican National Congressional Committee web site or the Peoria County Republican web site. Dedicated Democrats should visit the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee web site or the Peoria County Democrats web site.

Grading: 1) Class attendance and participation -- 20%
  2) A prediction of the outcome of the election, with explanation of why it will go the way you say, to be turned in on Monday, November 5 -- 40%
  3) An analysis of the outcome, due December 4, -- 40%

Class schedule: We will only meet for 10 formal class sessions. Each class will include an update on the latest developments in the election as well as a discussion of the readings and topic for the day. I will assume that you are keeping up with the news and suggest that you read a newspaper every day. I like newspapers because you have an editor who chooses the stories that he or she thinks are newsworthy, and who attempts to be politically neutral in doing so, which you do not have with far too many online or broadcast news sources. Additionally, online news sources allow you to browse only those things that interest you in a narrow way. You miss too much that way.

Because class participation is such a large portion of the grade, I will take attendance at each class session. Attendance at the election night dinner at my house is not compulsory, but all are invited to come, even for just a little while.

Day I (8-28-12) Introduction, administrative matters, and the nature of this election

Day II (9-4-12) The economy, Benenson – yes the whole 50 pages, but that’s not that much!

Day III (9-11-12) Campaign finance rules and regulations

Day IV (9-18-12) SuperPacs (please try to read the Citizens United decision, posted in Sakai.)

Day V (9-25-12) Negative advertising

Day VI (10-2-12) Distinguishing Republicans and Democrats on fundamental issues of the proper size and scope of government. 

FALL BREAK

Day VII (10-16-12) Redistricting

Day VIII (10-23-12) Control of Congress

Day IX (10-30-12) Last minute rush – Prediction paper due on 11-5-12 by 5 pm.

Election Day (11-6-12) – All are invited to dinner at the Curtis’s at 6, watching election returns to follow.

Final election analysis due on December 4 by 5 pm.

Guidelines for Written Work to be Turned In

The Prediction Paper

On November 5, you are expected to turn in a 3 to 5 page paper containing predictions for who will win the presidency, who will win each house of Congress, and why you think the outcome will be as you predict. You should cite your sources of information using some standard citation format. MLA is okay, but I prefer APA or APSA style. As always, I expect that you will take the time to produce a polished document. I will reduce the grade on those papers containing numerous errors of usage and punctuation.

I will gladly consult with you about these papers and will read rough drafts if they are turned in to me with enough time to read them (By Friday, October 20). No partial papers will be read, and I will not function as your proofreader for errors of usage and grammar. I would prefer that all papers be turned in as a single Microsoft word file (Please do not turn in a separate file with the references) using the drop box function in Sakai. 

The Final Analysis Paper

By December 4, I expect to receive a 3 to 5 page analysis of the outcome of the election. Not only will these essays include an analysis of why the winners won, but also an explanation of whether the outcome hinged on issues or image. You should also include some predictions for what kinds of policy changes that we can expect in the next two years. As before, I expect a polished essay, free from obvious errors of usage and punctuation. I will gladly consult with you about these essays and will read rough drafts if they are relatively complete and polished and if they are turned to me no later than November 17.

Once again, I want all papers to be turned in as a single Word file using the drop box function in Sakai.