POLS 1000, syllabus, autumn 2019 PDF

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UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR POLITICAL SCIENCE 1000-02 INTRODUCTION TO CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Autumn 2019 11:30am - 12:50pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays Toldo Building, Room 100

Stephen Brooks [email protected]

Introduction to the Course This course aims to introduce you to the fundamental issues, institutions and processes of Canadian politics and government. It begins with a discussion of some of the important concepts and ideas that you need to be familiar with in order to understand politics. Throughout the course we will often compare politics and government in Canada to those in other countries, particularly the United States but also to some European countries. The comparative perspective is one that helps you to better understand the nature and significance of features of the Canadian political scene, providing you with a broader context against which to make sense of politics and government in Canada. Although this course does not require that you have a background in Canadian history, society, culture or economics, some knowledge of Canada obviously is useful. If you do not have at least a bit of knowledge of the fundamentals of Canadian society I would recommend that you invest a few hours in reading entries on some of these topics at some online source such as the Canadian Encyclopedia. Readings and other Materials All of the readings for this course will be drawn from my book, Canadian Democracy, 8th edition (Oxford University Press, 2015). Copies are available at the university bookstore or may be published directly from the publisher at www.oupcanada.com. Do not use an earlier edition of the book. The 9th edition of this book is forthcoming and some of the material that I talk about in class may come from that edition. I may also make some of this material available at the Blackboard site for the course.

The website for this book may be found at, http://oupcanada.com/higher_education/companion/politics/9780199011155/student_resources.ht ml The companion website for the textbook is not the same as the Blackboard website for the course. If you are registered for this course you should have access to the Blackboard site for this course, where the lecture slides and syllabus may be found, and through which I will be posting announcements from time to time. We will be viewing some video material in class and frequently using information that is available online. All of this will count as testable material. This means, of course, that regular attendance is necessary, but only if you want to do well. If you cannot be in class on a regular basis then I would not recommend that you take this course.

Course Requirements First mid-term………October 3, 70 minutes Second mid-term…..November 7, 70 minutes Final exam……………Date and time to be announced later in the semester

Each of these requirements is worth one-third of your grade. The format for all of the exams will involve a combination of multiple-choice questions—probably 25-30 on each exam--and two essay-style questions. You will be required to answer one of the two essay questions. The multiple choice section of the each exam will be worth 50 percent of the exam grade and the essay section will be worth 50 percent. The University of Windsor grading scale may be found at the end of this syllabus. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has a formal policy on missed examinations which is attached to this syllabus. You should familiarize yourself with it because the policy will be strictly applied.

Contact Hours I am available every day of the semester via email. If you have questions concerning the material in the text or that I cover in class, I strongly encourage you to speak with one of the teaching assistants for this course during their office hours. Their names, email addresses and office hours will be posted at the Blackboard website for this course and sent to your UWindsor email by the second week of the semester. Your midterm exams will be available for pick up from the teaching assistants during their regular office hours.

The Answer to that Question You May Have Been Asking Yourself https://youtu.be/d081mkHI0xE Interesting graphs may be found here: http://www.epri.ca/esdc-tax-linkage-project-interactiveresults

A Study Abroad Opportunity that May Interest You at Some Point during Your Time Here http://www.uwindsor.ca/political-science/361/eu-study-abroad-program

Lecture Schedule N.B. The pace at which we cover the material and, indeed, the material that will be covered, may not be exactly as indicated below. In order to be certain about what has been covered and therefore what will be on each exam, you should attend class. Videos, websites and podcasts used on a week-to-week basis may be announced through the Blackboard website and sent to you as announcements as the semester unfolds. The podcasts may be found at the website for our book, Canadian Democracy, which is not the same website as the Blackboard website for this course.

Weeks 1-2

Introduction to the Course and to the Study of Canadian Politics Reading: Chapter 1 Podcast: "Happy Birthday Canada" (July 2017) Podcast: "It's Not as Bad as You Think: Political Corruption in Canada" (June 2013)

Weeks 2-3

Canadian Political Culture Reading: Chapter 2

Week 4

Diversity and Multiculturalism

Reading: Chapter 4 Video: Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity, http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/video/video-eto-eng.cfm

Oct.3

FIRST MID-TERM EXAM, 70 MINUTES, written during regular class time

Weeks 5-6

The Constitution and the Law-making Process Readings: Chapter 6 Podcast: "Canada's Senate" (March 2019) Website: Canadian Parliamentary Channel

Weeks 6-7

Rights and Freedoms Reading: Chapter 7

Week 8

Federalism Reading: Chapter 8

Nov.7

SECOND MID-TERM EXAM, 70 MINUTES, written during regular class time

Week 9

Parties and Elections Reading: Chapter 11 Podcast: "Economic Angst and Voting for Change in 2015" (November 2015) Websites: Canadian political parties’ websites

Week 10

Media and Politics Reading: Chapter 13 Websites: To be announced

Week 11

Language Politics and Quebec Reading: Chapter 14 Podcast: "Thoughts on the Future of Quebec Separatism" (March 2019)

Week 12

Indigenous Politics Reading: Chapter 16 Website: Statistics Canada, www.statcan.ca

FINAL EXAM, Date and time to be announced by the Office of the Registrar

CAVEAT EMPTOR! Students who attend class irregularly or who, when there, spend their time on their laptops, tablets and smart phones engaged in matters unrelated to the course should be warned that a good grade is unlikely. Regular attendance, paying attention in class and doing assigned readings are the not-so-secret ingredients in order to do well in this and most other university courses.

Learning Objectives in Political Science

The Political Science program learning objectives include 1) Data Collection: the ability to find and collect the appropriate data that allows for the analysis of political issues; 2) Quantitative Analysis Skills: the ability to use statistical and mathematical tools in interpreting and analyzing political indicators and trends; 3) Problem Solving Skills: the ability to identify, formulate, and propose solutions to political problems; 4) Critical Thinking and Evaluation Skills: the ability to analyze and evaluate political science proposals, their effect on the political situation and their effectiveness; 5) Citizenship Skills: the ability to act effectively and responsibly in the public sphere through the application of academic knowledge to public problems, in concert with

others; 6)Theoretical Analysis Skills: critical theoretical analysis of principles, problems, and solutions to the problems of politics and morality and of the historical and contemporary debates over those issues; 7) Reading Comprehension Skills (Special Field): significant grasp of aspects of the classic literature of political theory; 8) Understanding Government Institutions: knowledge of the functioning of key government institutions (executive, legislative, judicial) as they operate in Canada and other countries: 9) Understanding Political Organizations: knowledge of the functioning of key political organizations working outside of government, such as political parties, interest groups, and community activist groups.

GRADING POLICY – FACULTY OF ARTS, HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES GRADING

1 a)

Instructors in large enrolment lower level classes should grade so that the “average” grade of the expected performance of the average student is within the “60-69.9” range. As a guideline, in 100 and 200 level classes with initial enrolments of at least 50 students no more than 50% of the final grades should be in the range of “70 to 100”.

b)

This expectation should be communicated to students on the course outline.

2.

At any level and in any size undergraduate class, normally there should be fewer grades in the “80-100” range (“Excellent”) than in the “70-79.9” range (“Good”).

3.

The grading in all sections of multi-section courses should be consistent. The grade distributions should therefore be similar: differences in the percentage of “80-100” and “70-79.9” together normally should not exceed 10 percentage points. This should also be the case with “50 to 59.9” and “0-49”. (Instructors in multi-sectioned courses should be encouraged to plan consistent evaluation procedures.) Section grades should not be posted until they are reviewed by the Chair/Head/Director; in case of serious discrepancies section instructors should be encouraged to achieve grade consistency. Students should be notified of the possibility of grade adjustments in the course outlines.

SENATE GRADING POLICY

Policy M5: Marks/Grade Descriptors

Percentile (%)

Letter

University

Grade

Grade

Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Grade Descriptor (consistent with the University Grade Descriptors)

Grade Descriptors 90 – 100

A+

85 – 89.9

A

80 – 84.9

A-

77 – 79.9

B+

73 – 76.9

B

70 – 72.9

B-

67 – 69.9

C+

63 – 66.9

C

60 – 62.9

C-

57 – 59.9

D+

53 – 56.9

D

50 – 52.9

D-

0 – 49.9

F

IN

Incomplete*

NR No Report**

Excellent

Good

Fair

Pass

No Credit

IP

Consistent evidence that the student exceeds all of the performance expectations associated with each learning outcome in the course

Consistent evidence that the student meets, and in some cases exceeds the performance expectations associated with the learning outcomes in course Consistent evidence that the student meets the performance expectations associated with the learning outcomes in the course at a basic level

Some evidence that the student meets the performance expectations associated with the learning outcomes in the course at a minimally acceptable level There is clear evidence that the student does not meet the performance expectations associated with the learning outcomes in the course.

In Progress***

P or NP Pass or No Pass

*IN is given when students have not completed all class assignments due to illness, bereavement or extenuating circumstances as defined in Bylaw 51.1.18 and the student will complete the work at a later date (See also Aegrotat Standing).

An “Incomplete” is also given when a student is alleged to have committed an act of academic misconduct. The grade of “incomplete” will remain on the student’s transcript until the matter is adjudicated. **NR is given when a student did not attend class regularly and has completed none of the assignments for the course. It will be calculated as 22% in the student’s average. ***IP is given in senior classes when a major assignment or thesis is still in process when the grades are due.

GRADE APPEALS: (See Senate Bylaws 51: 1.17.1 and 1.17.2)

Informal and formal Appeal: An informal inquiry may be made to the instructor up to the official marks being submitted to the Registrar. The purpose of the inquiry is to review the work submitted and to allow for any adjustment of the grade in question where that change is found to be appropriate by the instructor. This informal inquiry must be done no later than ten working days after the release or publication by the instructor. This review does not preclude the student from appealing the final grade.

NOTE:Where the purpose of reviewing work for which a grade has been assigned is not to request a grade change, course work may be reviewed by students up to six months after the close of the term in which the course was taught, upon reasonable notice to the instructor.

Formal appeals may be made through the Office of the Registrar for a fee of $20. The Dean of the Faculty will inform the Registrar of the outcome of the appeal. If the appeal is successful the $20 will be refunded.

All appeals must be made in writing to the Associate Dean’s Office, no later than three (3) weeks after the final mark has been released by the Registrar.

1PLAGIARISM and EXAMINATION MAKE-UP POLICIES

1. Plagiarism Plagiarism is a very serious academic offense. Students who plagiarize are dishonestly and fraudulently using someone else’s work as their own. In the preparation of essays, papers, reports, and any other types of assignments, students must necessarily rely on the work of others. However, the source of any ideas, wording, or data obtained from others must be disclosed and properly acknowledged by citations, quotation marks, and bibliographic references in the proper format. Using the work of others without acknowledgement is plagiarism.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to: a) Copying material, for example, from the Internet, or purchasing material and submitting it as one’s own; b) Paraphrasing (changing some of the words) the ideas and concepts of others without proper referencing; c) Using a passage or passages of any length from published or unpublished work of others without placing the passage(s) in quotation marks (or using indentation for long quotation(s)) and acknowledging their source; d) Submitting work to more than one course, unless prior permission to do so has been given in writing; e) Submitting work completely or largely identical to that of other students, unless group work and joint submissions are explicitly permitted by the instructor.

Consequences:

If the instructor believes that plagiarism has occurred, s/he assigns a grade of IN (incomplete) to the work in question and reports the case to the Department Head, to the Associate Dean of the Faculty, and to the student(s) involved. Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated pursuant to Senate Bylaw 31, which could result in suspension or expulsion from the University in cases of repeated plagiarism. Students will be given the opportunity to address the matter of plagiarism to the Department Head or designate and/or to the Associate Dean of Student and Academic Affairs in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and ultimately to a Judicial Panel at the University. Students can appeal a finding of plagiarism to the Discipline Appeal Committee of the University.

2. Exam Makeup/Late Submission/Aegrotat/Incomplete Policy

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences requires students to provide acceptable and documented medical (or equivalent compassionate) reasons to allow make-ups for scheduled tests, midterms, and final exams; the submission of late assignments, or grades of Incomplete or Aegrotat.

Acceptable reasons include hospital stays, serious illness, family emergencies (such as serious accidents or illnesses, death) or similar circumstances outside the student’s control. Normally, written documentation is required stating specific reasons and dates. Arrangements for make-up exams must be made as soon as possible. The instructor sets the date and format for make-up exams. The make-up exam will usually be different from the original exam, but will be equivalent in terms of testing objectives, format, level of difficulty, material covered, length of examination, etc.

Considerations for Health, Bereavement, or Extenuating Circumstances Please see Senate Bylaw 51, clause 1.18.2. Students may print and use the FAHSS Medical form for illness.

Also see Senate Policy E2: Multiple Exams in One Calendar Day....