Syllabus - PAF 1250 - Fall 2019 - De Sena PDF

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Attached is a PDF document of the syllabus for PAF 1250. ...

Description

Course #: Course: Term: Schedule: Classroom:

PAF 1250 Citizenship & Public Affairs Fall 2019 Mon/Wed 10:45am – 12:00pm VC 5-150

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Instructor: Contact:

Office Hours:

Marco DeSena 135 E. 22nd St. (btwn Lex & 3rd) 9th Floor, Room 905 (718) 288-0541 (cell) [email protected] https://profmd.acuityscheduling.com

Summary Welcome to PAF 1250! Here’s the official course description: “The course is an examination of the historical, institutional, political, and social context of civic life in the United States. The place of the individual in a democratic society is explored. The course will examine government structures and how businesses and advocacy groups interact with public officials. Constitutional principles are identified and applied to civil liberties, civil rights, and property rights.” Essentially, this course is an introduction to our unique American system of government, and the sometimes-amazing, sometimestroubling, always-fascinating politics that arises as individuals and groups vie for power and control. This course is divided into three parts, with an exam at the end of each. The first few weeks will focus on key concepts and events that led to our nation’s founding; next, we’ll explore the US Constitution and dissect the three branches of our government with an eye on structure and powers; for the last 1/3rd, we’ll look at how external actors and their actions influence the internal policy-making process. This course also acts as an introduction to the undergraduate Public Affairs major at Baruch College, in the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs (MSPIA). “Public Affairs” looks at how governments and non-profits address society’s problems—from global challenges of terrorism, immigration, and the changing climate, all the way to more local concerns like traffic or homelessness. It’s my sincere wish that this class helps to simplify and demystify the political and governmental processes of the United States, allowing you to be more aware of the challenges and more knowledgeable about the solutions—and the ways you can be involved. At the very least, I hope it sparks in you the curiosity to want to know more about why things are as they are in your community. Welcome! +++ Rules & Expectations ฀฀ Office hours are by appointment beginning in Week 3 (see my Acuity calendar link at the top). I try to be as available as possible, but my schedule changes weekly. You can see me for a very quick chat before/after class, or you can email me if appropriate (or call or text if urgent). Regardless, get in touch if you need and we’ll find the time. Include your name AND our class (PAF 1250) in your message. ฀฀ Attendance for every class is critical because of the amount of material packed into each lecture. I will take attendance 5 times throughout the semester, unannounced and (seemingly) at random. Your attendance grade will be based on these five instances. For each absence, 2 points will be deducted from your final grade. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR BEING IN CLASS FOR LECTURES. ฀฀ You are responsible for everything we do in class—period. If you are late, or absent, or your attention is elsewhere, you must speak to multiple classmates to get all notes or announcements. Right now, exchange contact information with multiple classmates so you can be in touch to get what you missed. I cannot, and will not, reply to emails/texts asking about what you missed. However, if you have questions after you’ve talked with a classmate, then definitely get in touch with me to discuss it. That’s my job, to teach you! ฀฀ DON’T BE LATE. Once or twice happens, but no more. It’s disruptive and selfish—and it will impact your grade. If you are late, even one second past 10:45 A.M., enter through the open REAR RIGHT DOOR on the 5th floor. Never, ever knock or in any way disturb those who were on time. Never try to find your friends or move down to another seat. If late, come in quickly, quietly, and sit in the first seat you see in the back. Better yet, just be on time. ฀฀ All work must be submitted complete, as instructed, and on time to receive full credit. Five points will be deducted for each day an assignment is late. Exams must be taken with the entire class only, no exceptions. For serious, unforeseen circumstance, you must contact me in advance or as soon as possible to make arrangements for a make-up essay exam or research paper. ฀฀ No cell phones in class, period. If you look at your cell phone during class, or if you get a call and leave the room to take it, you forego the right to ask me a clarifying question for the entire semester. Never, ever ask me to repeat something that you missed because you were on the phone. That is selfish and wastes everyone’s time. I hate repeating myself because you were on your phone. ฀฀ The same goes for laptops/tablets. They are ONLY for note-taking—not emailing or watching videos or other nonsense. If you want to do that stuff, sit in the back. My policy: Do not do anything that steals the attention of any one around you, and never, ever ask me to repeat something that you missed because you were on your laptop. Pay attention to me and the lectures—don’t try to multitask. ฀฀ Recording lectures is NOT allowed—neither audio nor video. If you have a unique, pre-approved reason, please see me for my approval. I do this so that everyone—you, your classmates, and me, too—are comfortable participating and sharing. ฀฀ All announcements, such as canceled classes, will be via Blackboard or Baruchmail. Check them every morning we have class.

+++ “Zero Tolerance Policy” for Plagiarism and Cheating Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and will be dealt with accordingly. Any suspected plagiarized work will earn an “F”. Additionally, I’m required to report all “academic dishonesty” to the Dean of Students, which can become part of your permanent file. Cheating is the attempted or unauthorized use of materials, information, notes, study aids, devices, or communication during an academic exercise. This can include unauthorized collaboration or allowing others to complete your work (includes online research and writing services) or submitting portions of your work to more than one course without consulting the instructor. Plagiarism is presenting another person's ideas, research, or writing as your own. This includes copying someone’s actual words without using quotation marks and/or footnotes, presenting another person's ideas or theories in your own words without giving the original owner credit, or using information not considered “common knowledge” without acknowledging the source of the information. +++ Textbook and Readings Our core textbook, which we’ll use for most lessons, is “Public Affairs in the Nation and New York” 2nd EDITION by Jerry Mitchell; it’s in the bookstore and available online from the publisher here: https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/public-affairs-nation-and-new-york Additional required readings will be uploaded to Blackboard as necessary. Also, you should sign up for and regularly read The New York Times as often as you can, especially on class days. It’s free for all CUNY students. Sign up here: https://goo.gl/wbyn4x +++ Grade Calculation • • •

Attendance …………………….……………………………………….…………………..… 10% of overall grade Three (3) Short Assignments* …………………….……………………………………...… 30% of overall grade Three (3) Exams* …………………….…………………………………………………….… 60% of overall grade

*Each individual assignment is worth 10%. Similarly, each exam is worth 20%. (The final exam is simply the third of our three exams.) +++ Learning Goals Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

…be familiar with major historical documents and key concepts that helped form our American system of government. …be able to identify and discuss the functions of and relationships among the three branches of government at all levels. …understand the legislative process of how laws are made, and be able to identify key actors/roles in that process. …understand the relationship between the federal government and states. …be able to explain the differences between governing and campaigning, and identify activities of each. +++

My Advice on “How To Get An A+ In This Class” After many years and thousands of students, I’ve noticed that the successful ones—the A+ students—are the ones who… …attend every class, on-time, including the review sessions; …take good, complete notes throughout the entire lecture (not only when I write something on the board); …speak up to ask questions when they don’t understand something (whether in class, after class, or during my office hours); …organize their notes and re-write them weekly, refreshing their understanding of the material and creating a study-guide for the exam; …and they don’t wait until the day before the exam to read the textbook or their notes. They study (meaning, “read”) early and often. For many of you, this might be your first semester. This course might seem “easy” at first because of how it’s administered. It’s not. It’s very deceptive! The material, and my lectures, can make you feel that you don’t need to study as much, because you “get it” during class. It’s a college course and you should treat it as such. Don’t worry about your friends! Don’t talk during the lectures! Don’t fall asleep or get lost in this huge class! Simply show up, pay attention for the entire hour, and make sure you get it all. You’ll do great. This course includes a lot of information, a ton of definitions and terms, and there is simply a lot to remember for the exams. Please believe me now. Don’t be the student who fails the first exam or does poorly. No exam grade drops. Put in the work and take the time. But whatever happens, don’t hesitate to be in touch if you’re having trouble. Please email, come chat quickly, or make an appointment.

Schedule of Classes This schedule is tentative. It will change as we progress. Changes will be announced in class, and in the case of same-day or daybefore, will be emailed to your Baruchmail and/or posted to Blackboard, so check both of those every morning. All assigned readings and homework below are listed alongside classes in which they’re assigned—complete them for the next class. *Please note that, due to the quirks of the CUNY scheduling system, we will have class on Thursday, September 5th, as this day follows a “Monday Schedule”. So, even though this is a Thursday, this is actually a Monday to us, and we will have class. It’s not optional.

PAF 1250 – Fall 2019 – Schedule of Class Lessons, Readings, and Homework

#

Date

Class Lesson

W

Aug 28

Syllabus Review & Class Intro

M

Sept 2

NO CLASSES TODAY

2

W

Sept 4

Colonial History

3

Th

Sept 5

continued…

4

M

Sept 9

continued…

5

W

Sept 11

US Constitution: Constitutional Concepts

6

M

Sept 16

continued…

Mitchell Ch. 4

7

W

Sept 18

continued…

"Liberty's Blueprint" Ch. 6 (provided)

8

M

Sept 23

US Constitution II: Fight for Ratification

9

W

Sept 25

continued… NO CLASSES TODAY

1

Day

M

Sept 30

10

W

Oct 2

continued…

11

M

Oct 7

EXAM I

W

Oct 9

NO CLASSES TODAY

M

Oct 14

NO CLASSES TODAY

12

W

Oct 16

The Legislative Branch

13

M

Oct 21

continued…

14

W

Oct 23

continued…

Assigned Readings & HW (and due at the next class) Course Syllabus; Mitchell Ch.1

Declaration of Independence; Articles of Confederation United States Constitution

Federalist #10, #51, #84, Anti-Federalist #84 Homework Assignment #1

Mitchell Ch. 2

Homework Assignment #2

15

M

Oct 28

The Executive Branch

16

W

Oct 30

continued…

17

M

Nov 4

continued…

18

W

Nov 6

The Judicial Branch

19

M

Nov 11

continued…

20

W

Nov 13

EXAM II

21

M

Nov 18

Campaigns, Elections, and Parties

Mitchell Ch. 8

22

W

Nov 20

continued…

Mitchell Ch. 7

23

M

Nov 25

Public Opinion

24

W

Nov 27

continued…

25

M

Dec 2

Media

26

W

Dec 4

continued…

27

M

Dec 9

Interest Groups

28

W

Dec 11

Public Policy

Mitchell Ch. 3

Major SCOTUS Cases (packet provided)

Am Gov Ch. 9 (provided)

Mitchell Ch. 10

Mitchell Ch. 9 Mitchell Ch. 11

Final Exam TBA (Final Exam Period from Dec 14th to 20th )

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