INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY
Pols 3 (Section 1) – Sp r ing 2017
San Jose State University
I N S T R U C T O R : Professor Lawrence Quill
L E C T U R E T IM E S : 10:30 - 11:45 A M
L E C T U R E L O C A T I O N : HGH 116
COURSE WEBSITE: CANVAS
O F F I C E H O U R S : T/T H 7:30 A M - 8:45 A M , 1:30 P M - 2:30 P M
O F F I C E L O C A T I O N : C L A R K H A L L 4 55
T E L E P H O N E : (408) 924 - 5563
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will focus on four broad categories of political thought. W e begin with the
r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n i n d i v i d u a l c i t i z e n s a n d t h e s o c i e t i e s i n w h i c h t h e y l i v e . Is t h e r e a
fu n d a m e n ta l c o n fl i c t b e tw e e n b e i n g a g o o d p e rs o n a n d b e i n g a g o o d c i ti z e n ? T h e n w e w i l l
e x a m i n e p o l i t i c a l p o w e r . H o w s h o u l d w e d e a l w i t h t h e d a r k e r s i d e o f p o l i t i c s – th e v i o l e n c e
and coercion that lies behind the state? Then we will turn to the subject of justice and
equality. Would we really want societies that were perfectly equal? Finally, we will consider
revolution and change in political life. How have reformers sought to justify greater equality
in t h e h u m a n c o n d it io n , e s p e c ia lly f o r g r o u p s t h a t h a v e b e e n d e p r iv e d o f e q u a l s o c ia l a n d
political power?
PREREQUISITES
Students should be aware that this is a reading and writing intensive course. All students
need some background in the critical reading of original texts. Political Science 3 offers
a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o d e v e l o p t h e s k i l l s r e q u i r e d in r e a d in g o r ig in a l s o u r c e s . It is t h e
suggested prerequisite for other theory courses offered in the department.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Plato, The Trial and Death of Socrates/The Last Days of Socrates
Machiavelli, The Prince
Etienne de la Boétie, Discourse on Voluntary Servitude (PDF provided)
More, Utopia
Rousseau, Basic Political W ritings
Marx, The Communist Manifesto
Mill, On Liberty
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This course is a required “core” course for Political Science majors. For minors, this
course may be counted towards the 6 units of lower division courses required for the
minor, Majors may count this course both for their major and for the GE Core. For
1 General Education, this course satisfies the C2 “Letters” requirement of the GE core.
This course is designed both for political science students and those from other majors.
REQUIREMENTS
AND
GRADING
1 st E s s a y ( 2 5 % )
2 nd E s s a y ( 2 5 % )
Midterm (20%)
Final (20%)
Class Participation (10%)
Grading Scale
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DNP or F
97-100
93-96
90-93
86-89
83-85
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
66-69
63-65
60-62
59 or less
C O UR S E L E AR N I N G O U TC O M E S (CLOS )
B Y TH E E N D O F TH E C O U RS E S TU D E N TS S H O U L D BE A BLE T O :
C L O 1 : P RE S E N T I N W RI TI N G TH EO R ET I C A LLY / H I S T O R I C A L L Y I N F O R M E D O P I N I O N S C O N C E R N I N G T H E
AP P L I CAB I L I T Y O F D I F FE R E N T T H E O R E T I C A L S YS TE M S TO S E L E C TE D P U B L I C P O L I C Y A R E A S
C L O 2 : P RE S E N T I N W RI TI N G S O M E A C C O U N T O F T H E W A Y P O L I TI C A L S YS TE M S AN D PR O C ED U R ES EM PLO Y
TH E A P P L I C A TI O N O F C O M P E T I N G T H E O R E T I C A L AP P R O ACH E S I N M AT T E R S O F PU BLI C PO LI C Y A N D
N A T I O N A L / IN T E R N A T IO N A L A F F A IR S
C L O 3 : R EC O G N I Z E SO M E W I D ELY EM PLO Y ED T H EO R ET I C A L PR I N C I PLES W I T H I N T H E PO LI T I C A L H I ST O R Y O F
TH E U N I TE D S TA TE S A N D B E Y O N D , ACR O S S T H E P O L I T I CAL CU L T U R E M O R E B R O AD L Y , U N D E R S T A N D I N G T H E I R
LO G I C A N D T H EI R SC O P E O F A PPLI C A T I O N
CLO
CLO
1, 2, 3
ASSIGNMENT
ESSAYS
%
50
DUE DATE
3/21
5/16
CLO 3
CLO3
M ID T E R M
EXAM
20
20
3/23
5/19
PARTICIPATION
10
CLO
1,2,3
F IN A L
CLASS
2 CALENDAR
Date
1/26
1/31
2/2
2/7
2/9
2/14
2/16
2/21
2/23
2/28
3/2
3/7
3/9
3/14
3/16
3/21
3/23
3/28
3/30
4/4
4/6
4/11
4/13
4/18
4/20
4/25
4/27
5/2
5/4
5/9
5/11
5/16
5/19
Subject
Introduction
Socrates
Socrates
Socrates
Socrates
More
More
More
More
Machiavelli
Machiavelli
Machiavelli
Machiavelli
Boétie
Boétie
Rousseau
Rousseau
Rousseau
Marx
Marx
Marx
Mill
Mill
Mill
Final Exam
Apology
Apology
Crito
Crito
Utopia – Book One
Utopia – Book One
Utopia – Book Two
Utopia – Book Two
The Prince – Chapters 1-9
The Prince – Chapters 1-9
The Prince – Chapters 10-26
The Prince – Chapters 10-26
Writing Workshop
Writing Workshop/Revision
REVISION
EXAMINATION
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
Section 1, 2
Section 3
Discourse on the Origins of Inequality Book 1
Discourse on the Origins of Inequality Book 2
Discourse on the Origins of Inequality
Communist Manifesto
Communist Manifesto
Communist Manifesto
On Liberty, Introduction and Chapter 1
On Liberty, Chapters 2, 3
On Liberty, Chapter 4, 5
Writing Workshop
Writing Workshop/REVISION
9:45am-12:00pm
3 Course Requirements
SJSU classes are designed such that in order to be successful, it is expected that student
s w i l l s p e n d a m i n i m u m o f f o r t y - fi v e h o u r s fo r e a c h u n i t o f c r e d i t ( n o r m a l l y t h r e e h o u r s
per unit per week), including preparing for class, participating in course activities,
completing assignments, and so on. More details about student workload can be found in
U ni v e r s i t y P o l i c y S 1 2 - 3 a t h tt p :/ / w w w . s j s u .e d u/ s e na t e /d oc s / S 1 2- 3 .p d f."
Because this is a 3-unit course, students can expect to spend a minimum of nine hours
per week preparing for and attending classes and completing course assignments. Careful
time management will be required to keep up with readings and assignments in an
in t e n s iv e c o u r s e s u c h a s t h is o n e .
F o r t h i s c l a s s , s t u d e n t s w i l l c o m p l e t e t w o i n - c l a s s e x a m in a t io n s , a n d t w o f u l l - le n g t h
research essays, which require detailed review of the primary source material and th
e application of at least two outside scholarly sources relevant to the research topic.
Assignments
Examinations (2 X 20%) You are required to take two exams that will test
r e a d i n g s a n d l e c t u r e s in a s h o r t a n s w e r r e s p o n s e f o r m a t . T h e r e a r e n o “ e x c u s e d ”
absences from exams except in dire emergencies with official documentation
. Makeup exams will only be scheduled for those who can provide adequate
documentation of a valid emergency.
Essays (2 X 25%) The essays will each be 1000 words in length. Students should mee
t with the professor at least once prior to beginning the essay in order to discuss thei
r outline, thesis, and secondary source materials.
P ol i t i c a l S ci e n ce P ro g r a m L e ar n in g O u tc o m e s
Upon completion of the Political Science major program, students should be able t
o demonstrate the following learning outcomes.
PSPLO1: Breadth
Students should possess a broad knowledge of the theory and methods of the various
branches of the discipline.
PSPLO2: Application
Students should be able to apply a variety of techniques to identify, understand, and
a n a l y z e d o m e s t i c a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o lit ic a l is s u e s a n d o r g a n iz a t io n s .
PSPLO3: Disciplinary methods
Student should be able to formulate research questions, engage in systematic literatur
e searches using primary and secondary sources, have competence in systematic data
gathering using library sources, government documents, and data available through
electronic sources, should be able to evaluate research studies, and should be able t
o critically analyze and interpret influential political texts.
PSPLO4: Communication Skills
Students should master basic competencies in oral and written communication skills and
be able to apply these skills in the context of political science. This means communicating
4 effectively about politics and/or public administration, public policy, and law.
PSPLO5: Citizenship
Students should acquire an understanding of the role of the citizen in local, state,
national, and global contexts and appreciate the importance of lifelong participation i
n political processes.ACAD EMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José
State University, and the University’s Academic Integrity Policy requires you to
be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to
report
all infractions to the Office of Stude nt Conduct and Ethical Development. The
policy on academic integrity can be found with the Office of Student Conduct and
Ethical Development at htt p://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct
University Policies
Per University Policy S16-9, university-wide policy information relevant to all courses, such as
academic integrity, accommodations, etc. will be available on Office of Graduate and
Undergraduate Programs’ Syllabus Information web page at http://www.sjsu.edu/gup/syllabusinfo
QUESTIONS?
Finally, if you get stuck, feel overwhelmed, or just want to clarify something from
the reading or lectures, ask m e. I am here to help.
5