Time Schedule:
Bryan D. Jones
POL S 550
Seattle Campus
Core course in American government and politics. Systematic survey of the literature; focuses on national politics. Prerequisite: undergraduate courses in American government and politics.
Class description
Description. The core seminar in American Politics has two objectives. The first is to introduce students to the critical issues in the field. This includes review of the major issues that have been addressed, and the manner in which scholars in the field have addressed these themes. The second is to prepare students to teach courses through a brief survey of the major topics that would be covered in an introductory course in American Government.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Texts. Aldrich, John, Why Parties?; Arnold, Douglas, The Logic of Congressional Action; Ansolabehere, Stephen and Shanto Iyengar, Going Negative; Baumgartner, Frank and Beth Leech, Basic Interests; Baumgartner, Frank and Bryan D. Jones, Agendas and Instability in American Politics; Jones, C.O., The Presidency in a Separated System; Sniderman, Paul and Edward Carmines, Reaching Beyond Race; and a course pack.
Class assignments and grading
Assignments. Students will be required to prepare an annotated bibliography in an area of interest, prepare one or more short briefing papers on the literature for one or more topics, and complete a take-home examination. Each student will organize a critical overview of one week's material, providing a briefing paper at the time.
