FS 100-23: Politics and Policy in the 2016 Elections

Fall Semester 2016

Room: Hall of Letters 317

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00am–12:20pm

Class Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1763377087278219/

Professor Greg Thorson Office: Hall of Letters 306

Phone: (909)748-8636 (Office) (909)647-7455 (Cell) Office Hours: Mondays 2:00pm –Email: Greg_Thorson@redlands.edu 3:00pm, Fridays 10:00am – 11:00am,

Web Page: http://bulldog2.redlands.edu/fac/Greg_Thorson/ and by appointment

Peer Advisors	Email	Cell Numbers
Ben Harrison	benjamin_harrison@redlands.edu	(714)913-7539
Alex Heins	alexandria_heins@redlands.edu	(760)680-0992

Course Description

Welcome to the University of Redlands! You’re in for an incredible journey!

This first-year seminar is designed to help you acclimate to college life. You’ll get to know a group of outstanding peers, share your early accomplishments and challenges, learn about a wide variety of resources available to help you, receive encouragement to try new things, talk about key college issues with two exceptional peer advisors, and get many other tips for being successful here at the University of Redlands.

Along the way, you’ll also learn quite a bit about the 2016 campaigns and elections. We’ll spend time each day talking about the latest news and offering analysis of the ongoing campaigns. We’ll also read one of the best textbooks on presidential elections.

My goal is to make your transition to college as easy and comfortable as possible while also learning about campaigns and elections!

Course Learning Outcomes Course Outcomes

Students who complete the class should demonstrate:

a) a better understanding of the sometimes challenging transition to college and tips for how to be successful in that transition,

b) an understanding of the presidential selection process, including the campaign finance system and strategies for winning both the party nomination and general election, and

c) knowledge of the wide variety of resources available at the University of Redlands.

Course Delivery Model

Students are responsible for their own learning and growth in the class. To assist students, I have selected outstanding articles from the field. It is the responsibility of the student to come to class each day fully prepared to discuss the content of the articles as well as to share critiques and/or opinions about each article. I see my primary role as a facilitator. While I will have some questions prepared for each class session, discussion will primarily be led by students.

Required Texts

Cohen, Harlan. 2015. The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into

In College (6^th Edition). Naperville, IL: Sourcesbooks, Inc.

Paul, Richard and Linda Elder. 2014. Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools (7^th Edition).

Tomales, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking.

Wayne, Stephen. 2015. The Road to the White House 2016 (10^th Edition). Washington:

Cengage Learning.

Grades

Final grades for the course will be based on your performance in the following areas:

Class Quizzes/Participation 40%

Midterm Exam 25%

Final Exam 25%

Writing Summaries 10%

Course grades will be assigned using the following guidelines:

Course Percent	Grade
93%-100%	4.0
88%-93%	3.7
83%-88%	3.3
79%-83%	3.0
75%-79%	2.7
71%-75%	2.3
67%-71%	2.0
63%-67%	1.7
60%-63%	1.3
57%-60%	1.0
54%-57%	0.7
Below 54%	0.0

Grading Scales

Check System (Writing Summaries)

Grade	Points
Check Plus	10/10
Check	8/10
Check Minus	6/10
Zero	0/10

Class Participation/Quizzes:

Students will be graded on their physical presence in class as well as their participation in class discussion. Students are required to have read the assigned material before coming to class. Your participation grade will be based on your physical presence in class, the quantity and quality of your contributions to the class discussion, and the extent and quality of your preparation for class as measured by your participation in class and daily class quizzes.

Class attendance, as well as taking the quizzes, is required for completion of the course. On the first day of class I will distribute “clickers” from Turning Technologies Audience Response System. Please note both the number of your clicker and the Device ID printed on the back of the clicker. You will be responsible for picking it up before and returning it after each class session.

You will take daily quizzes that ask you about a) the main points from the previous class discussion, and b) the major points addressed in the new readings to be discussed in class that day. This use of the clickers will reward you for both attending class and for being prepared for class each day.

I will provide you with a clicker (normally priced at $51) at no charge to you that you will use to take your quizzes daily. However, you will be responsible for both creating a Turning Account and paying the mandatory subscription fee (see below).

To create your mandatory Turning Account, go to:

https://account.turningtechnologies.com/account/

Please note that you will need to buy a license to use the software. Buying a bundle or clicker is NOT necessary. There are several options for purchasing a license (pricing subject to change):

One Year: $20.99

Two Years: $31.50

Three Years: $35.00

Four Years: $37.00

I am currently the only professor using TurningPoint Cloud at the University of Redlands. I currently use the clickers in all of my on-campus classes. If you anticipate taking additional classes from me in the future, you may want to buy an extended license.

You may pay for your license with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.

After you have registered a license, go ahead and register your assigned device. Simply add the Device ID that is printed on back of the clicker that you were assigned in class. Please complete this registration prior to the second day of class.

Finally, while I don’t formally ban the use of laptops, tables, and cell phones in class, I strongly encourage you to turn these devices off during class and use paper and pen/pencil for note-taking. There is strong evidence that this method of note-taking is far superior to that of note-taking on a screen.

Make-up Quiz and Exam Policy

Make-up quizzes and exams are available only when a student has an instructor-approved reason for missing the regular quiz or exam (such as extra-curricular music or athletic events, doctor’s note, etc.). Whenever possible, both notification and arrangements for the make-up exam must be made either before the missed quiz or exam. If you miss a class period for an approved reason, you may submit a one-page summary of the reading for that day within seven days of the missed class period to earn the missed quiz participation points.

Exams

Both exams will be closed book and closed notes. Each exam will be composed entirely of essay questions. I will, however, provide you with a review sheet for each exam to assist you in your preparation. The midterm exam will last 80 minutes. The final exam will last two hours.

Writing Summaries

Over the course of the semester, students will write 3 separate one-page summaries of designated chapters of Wayne. Writing summaries are not to exceed one page in length. Summaries must be single-spaced with one inch margins and are to be written in Times New Roman 12-point font.

The introduction of the summary should be very concise and include a thesis statement. Including a conclusion is optional.

Limit the amount of personal opinion in your summary. In contrast, try to be unbiased and analytical in your writing. Focus on restating in your own words the major contributions of the author. Avoid quotations. Include the substantive findings and conclusions of the author. Don’t just superficially describe what topics the author addressed. Feel free to discuss methods, data, and/or evidence if necessary.

Writing summaries are graded on the check system described in the grading section above. Summaries are due at the beginning of class on the dates specified below. Late papers are docked one letter grade per calendar day.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

I am happy to provide accommodations to students with disabilities. Please contact the University of Redlands Disability Services office to set up these arrangements. Disability Services can be reached at 748-8108. Disability Services has a highly trained staff that has the experience and expertise to assist students with a wide range of disabilities.

Academic Honesty:

Academic honesty stands at the center of intellectual pursuits in the academic community. All students are expected to demonstrate integrity and honesty in completion of class assignments. Faculty and student scholarship in all forms, individual and collaborative, expresses our understanding and esteem for intellectual honesty. Nurturing and sustaining a climate of honesty are the responsibilities of every member of the community. The academic policy statement includes standards of academic honesty, obligations and responsibilities of the members of the academic community for cultivating a climate of academic honesty, violations of academic honesty, and procedures for addressing academic dishonesty.

Both the quizzes and exams are closed book and closed notes. You are not to consult with any materials during either. In addition, the exams are not collaborative. You are not allowed to talk with any of your peers or look at anyone else’s exam during the exam period. Papers are to be written solely by you. Proper citation must be used whenever you are utilizing someone else’s ideas.

Scholastic dishonesty means plagiarizing; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; acting alone or in cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement; altering forging, or misusing a University academic record; or fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis. In this course, a student responsible for scholastic dishonesty can be assigned a penalty up to and including an "F" or "N" for the course.

You are responsible for both understanding and obeying both these and other University policies on academic honesty. Academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.

For the complete text of student responsibility please see the University of Redlands Catalog under Academic Standards.

Withdrawal/Incomplete:

Students are responsible for voluntarily withdrawing from the class should they decide not to complete it. If your name appears on the registrar’s final grade sheet and I can find no work on which to base a grade, I must give you an “F”. I observe all University drop deadlines. In addition, no “incomplete” grades will be given except under extraordinary circumstances.

Meetings with Campus Resources (TBA) – Invitations Offered

Armacost Library – Bill Kennedy

Academic Success Center and Disability Services - Amy Wilms, Meigan Karraker, Sabrina Wilhelm

Campus Diversity and Inclusion – Leela MadhavaRau, Zack Ritter, Reggie Robles

Community Service Learning – Tony Mueller, Erin Sanborn

Counseling Services – Lorraine Young, Matt Gragg

Professional Development – Erik Larsen, Courtney Carter, Heather Luth

Religious Life – John Walsh, Peter Tupou

Student Health Services – Elizabeth Meade

Student Leadership and Involvement Center (SLIC) – Valerie Belliston-Sponheim, Mackenzie Dawes, Dan Burfiend, Andrew Hollis, Patrick Whalen, Brandi Veigh

Course Outline/Assignments (Please note this is a tentative schedule and may be adjusted at any time by the Professor):

New Student Week Sessions

Thursday (9am-11am) Introductions/Review Syllabus/Tips for Registration

Friday (All Day) Individual Registration Appointments with Peer Advisors

Group Session with Me at 3:00pm in HOL 317 (Optional)

Individual Meeting with Me Thereafter (On Demand)

Saturday (8am-6pm) Registration! – See Schedule on Page 20 of NSW Guide

Sunday (1pm-3:30pm) FYS Meeting with Peer Advisors/Study Skills/CIRP Survey

Sunday (5pm-7:30pm) Dinner Together - Let’s meet out on Peppers Lawn.

Bring your own blanket, ball, Frisbee, and/or

game!

Regular Sessions

September 6 Why Go to College at All?

“The Rising Cost of Not Going to College”. 2014.

Pew Research Center. pp. 1-12 ONLY.

AND

Cohen, pp. 1-18

September 8 Thinking about Thinking

Paul and Elder, All

AND

Cohen, pp. 19-35

Guest Speakers: Amy Wilms, Meigan Karraker, and

Sabrina Wilhelm, Academic Success Center and

Disability Services (Confirmed)

September 13 History of Presidential Selection

Wayne, Preface and pp. 1-12

AND

Cohen, pp. 36-60

Guest Speakers: Elizabeth Meade, Student Health Services

(Confirmed)

September 15 Wayne, pp. 12-27

AND

Cohen, pp. 61-71

September 20 Campaign Finance 101

Wayne, pp. 28-40

AND

Cohen, pp. 71-79

Guest Speakers: Mackenzie Dawes, Dan Burfiend, Andrew Hollis,

Patrick Whalen, Student Leadership and Involvement Center (SLIC)

(Confirmed)

September 22 Wayne, pp. 40-56

AND

Cohen, pp. 80-104

September 27 Writing Summary #1 Due: Wayne, Chapter 2

The Political Context of Presidential Elections

Wayne, pp. 57-70

AND

Cohen, pp. 104-123

Guest Speaker: Reggie Robles, Campus Diversity and

Inclusion (Confirmed)

September 29 Wayne, pp. 71-93

AND

Cohen, pp. 125-135

October 4 Party Rules – Yes, They Matter!

Wayne, pp. 96-103

AND

Cohen, pp. 135-142

Guest Speaker: Heather Luth, Professional Development (Confirmed)

October 6 Midterm Exam Review Sheet Distributed

Wayne, pp. 103-115

AND

Cohen, pp. 143-156

October 11 Fall Break – No Class

October 13 Midterm Exam

October 18 Campaigning for the Nomination

Wayne, pp. 116-126

AND

Cohen, pp. 156-167

October 20 Wayne, pp. 126-141

AND

Cohen, pp. 169-180

October 25 College Persistence Questionnaire (Location TBA)

October 27 Guest Speaker – Matt Gragg, Counseling Services (Confirmed)

November 1 The Post-Primary Campaign

Wayne, pp. 142-152

AND

Cohen, pp. 181-225

November 3 Wayne, pp. 152-172

AND

Cohen, pp. 225-246

Guest Speaker: Bill Kennedy, Armacost Library (Invited)

November 8 Strategy, Tactics, and Operations in the General Election

Wayne, pp. 174-187

AND

Cohen, pp. 247-269

November 10 Wayne, pp. 188-207

AND

Cohen, pp. 269-291

November 15 Writing Summary #2 Due: Wayne, Chapter 7

The Media and Politics

Wayne, pp. 208-219

AND

Cohen, pp. 93-338

November 17 Wayne, pp. 219-241

AND

Cohen, pp. 339-378

November 22 Predicting and Explaining Presidential Election Results

Wayne, pp. 244-255

AND

Cohen, pp. 379-408

November 24 No Class – Thanksgiving Break

November 29 Wayne, pp. 255-278

AND

Cohen, pp. 409-446

December 1 Reforming the Electoral System

Wayne, pp. 279-289

AND

Cohen, pp. 447-502

December 6 Wayne, pp. 289-311

AND

Cohen, pp. 503-514

December 8 Writing Summary #3 Due: Wayne, Chapter 10

Course Wrap-Up/ Teaching Evaluations/

Final Exam Review Sheet Distributed

Final Examination

The final exam will be held on Thursday, December 15^th from 9am until 11am or as directed by the Dean’s Office. Please mark this final exam date on your calendar ASAP. Do not plan to depart Redlands for your holiday vacation until your finals are completed!

Professor Thorson’s List of

“Things to Do” in and Around Redlands

First: Check the University’s Events Calendar!

Second:

Redlands Bulldog Classics	Other Popular Food
Crepes of Wrath	The Gourmet Pizza Shoppe
a la Minute Ice Cream	Naan Café (Indian)
Auggie’s Coffee House	Pieology (Pizza)
In n Out (Harriman Place)	Cuca’s Mexican Food

Notable Chains	Just a Little More Expensive
Café Rio	Carolyn’s Café
Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill	Martha Green’s The Eating Room
Chick’ Fil’ A	Benjarong (Thai)
	Mu (Thai)
	Dhat Island (Caribbean)
	Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant

Outdoor Recreation	Beaches
Prospect Park – in Redlands!	Newport Beach (Warning: Parking!)
Jenks Lake (My Favorite - $5 cash only; Closed in winter)	Huntington Beach
Big Bear
Joshua Tree

Movie Theaters	Other
Harkins (Reserved Seating/Recliners – also Cine1)	Inland Empire Bowl (check website/specials)
Krikorian (The Classic Redlands Movie Theater)

Shopping	Other
Downtown on State Street (Cute and Local!)	Market Night (Downtown/Thursday Nights!)
Citrus Plaza (Target, B/N, Lots of other chains)	Lincoln Memorial Shrine