GVPT: Global Terrorism (Course Documents)
Important Documents
The first document needs to be downloaded and read by each member of the class, as the
fundamental guidelines for the course are provided therein.
Syllabus
The course syllabus lists the general requirements and expectations for the course. All specifics for the course and for the assignments mentioned in the syllabus can be located on this website. Check both the syllabus and this website for instructions regarding assignments.
Each professor should make available to the students a syllabus of the course. This syllabus needs to include such information as an outline of the course topics, a listing of necessary assignments, a schedule of test dates, and the grading policy. Why? The syllabus serves as an ‘offer’ between the student and the professor. A syllabus does not remove the student’s responsibility for attending class sessions, nor does it constrain the professor from changing the specific elements of the syllabus.
References
This document explains and shows how to properly reference all of your works for this class. The APSA is the American Political Science Association. This document provides explanations how to properly cite and reference your sources. The easiest way to fail this class is to fail to cite and reference your sources. The easiest way to lose points in this class is to fail to cite and reference properly.
What information must be cited? There is no need to cite facts deemed ‘common’ knowledge. How do we define common knowledge? If the ‘common’ person knows it as a fact, then it is common knowledge. However, there are two exceptions to this rule: if your entire argument centers on a fact, or if the fact is contentious in the discipline (though not contentious to the common person). In both of these cases, cite the fact. It is better to over-cite than under-cite.
Wikipedia is a wonderful encyclopedia, and Dictionary.com is a fantastic dictionary—both are available online 24/7/365. However, neither are acceptable sources for any work you do in this course. The reason Wikipedia is not acceptable is identical to the reasons encyclopedias are not, in general, acceptable: they are excellent tertiary sources. A primary source is a first-hand account of an event. A secondary source is an analysis using primary sources. A tertiary source is summary or compilation of primary and/or secondary sources. Each level we move out introduces inaccuracies and blurring of the differences between terms and theories within the discipline. Encyclopedias are tertiary sources. As such, they give good, general, broad background on items, but do not successfully distinguish the finer shades of meaning so necessary in understanding the material. This is also the reason general dictionaries are not acceptable in research: the audiences are the general public, not students like you. As such, words are used in different ways than we use them in the discipline.
Weekly Class Assignments
Online Question(s)
Each week, you will have one or more questions to answer on the WebTycho site. You must have those answered online before 21:00 on Thursday.
Weekly Summary
The weekly summary is a summary of how the other students answered the online question(s). This needs to be less than two pages in length for the week. Pull in threads of thought. Comment on the similarity (difference) of answers given.
Weekly Questions
You also need to turn in three thoughtful questions each week. These questions are to come from the reading(s). They need to be open ended and deep enough to stimulate discussion during the class. If you succeed, there will be a great discussion for the 180 minutes.
Weekly Answer
Finally, you need to turn in an answer to one of the Weekly Questions you wrote. This needs to be less than three pages in length (but not too much less). It will be graded on depth of thought and correctness. Make sure you cite your sources of information. Failure to cite legitimate sources will result in a failing grade.
MyUMUC
WebTycho
