POLI330 All Weeks Discussions Latest 2020 January

POLI330 Political Science

Week 1 Discussion

Why Study Political Science?

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 1, 2

Lesson

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

Identify why students should learn about political science. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 2 Discussion

DQ1 Political Systems

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 3, 4; review Chapter 2 (Section: Ideologies and Politics in the United States)

Lesson

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

What is the Marxist critique of capitalism?  Do you agree or disagree? Explain your reasoning and provide examples to support your argument.

DQ2 Utopian Ideas

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 3, 4; review Chapter 2 (Section: Ideologies and Politics in the United States)

Lesson

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

Explain one of the perfect political systems of Plato,  Bacon, Marx, or Skinner. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 3 Discussion

Stability and Governing

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 7, 8, 9

Lesson

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

"The US is a stable government." Develop an argument for why you think this is true or false. Use specific historical examples. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 4 Discussion

DQ1 Petition the Government for Redress of Grievances”

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 11, 12, 13

Lesson

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

Analyze why older, white adults vote in elections more than other groups while describing how each political party cultivates voters and the role an interest group plays in turning people out to the polls.

You can explore political voting data at the United States Census Bureau's website here: https://www.census.gov/topics/public-sector/voting.html (Links to an external site.)

Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

DQ2 US Supreme Court

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 11, 12, 13

Lesson

Minimum of 1 scholarly source

Initial Post Instructions

Using the Supreme Court's website, research one case that deals with a contentious issue of your choice. (These issues can be racial discrimination, right to bear arms, same-sex marriage, hate speech, suicide, etc.) After finding a case, describe the Constitutional issue at the heart of the case. Summarize the points, the opinion, and at least one dissent used to come up with their conclusions. Did you agree with the majority opinion or the dissent?

US Supreme Course Case Search Job Aid (Links to an external site.)

POLI330 Political Science

Week 5 Discussion

Learning Politics

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 6, 10

Lesson

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

Think about conversations around politics when you were in primary school (around age 10). What were some of the ways you learned about the political establishment through family members and friends? How were you politically socialized as a child? Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 6 Discussion

DQ1 Presidential Advisor

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Review Chapter 2, 3 (pp. 56-59), 13

Lesson

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

You are an advisor to the President tasked with cutting at least $300 billion from the budget. The president wants your recommendations to cut lines, not large categories. Explain why you chose those cuts.

Note: These are not true US budget numbers.

Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

DQ2 Political Theory and the Budget

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Review Chapter 2, 3 (pp. 56-59), 13

Lesson

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

Explain how a liberal and conservative would approach developing the US budget. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 7 Discussion

Our Global Neighborhood

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Textbook: Chapter 15, 16, 17

Lesson

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

Pick one international organization (UN, EU, ICC, etc.). Explain its mission and function. Assess how issues of state sovereignty are dealt with for member countries. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 8 Discussion

Political Compass Results

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Lesson

Political Compass Test Results

Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research

Initial Post Instructions

Go to the site: https://www.politicalcompass.org. (Links to an external site.)

Scroll to the end of the site where it says "take the test."

Answer all of the questions.

After you answer the questions, there will be a chart with your Economic and Social numbers.

After taking the political compass test, tell the class what your scores are and what they mean. Then, analyze why you believe the results or do not believe the scores. Finally, discuss how this course has been beneficial to your daily life and career choice. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.