Course Calendar (PLS 105: Introduction to World Politics)
January 1 – January 31
Introduction to World Politics
8:30 – 9:20 MWF in Administration 331
Calendar last updated on March 25
8:30 – 9:20 MWF in Administration 331
Calendar last updated on March 25
January 2 (Wednesday)
Nothing for today.
January 4 (Friday)
Nothing for today.
January 7 (Monday)
Note: No Classes Today
January 9 (Wednesday)
Discussion Topic: Course Syllabus
Discussion Topic: Introduction to the Course
January 11 (Friday)
Discussion Topic: Hypotheses and Theories
Discussion Topic: The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Read for today: "What is Science?" Forsberg
Read for today: "Cargo Cult Science," Feynman
January 14 (Monday)
Discussion Topic: How to Use Wikipedia
Discussion Topic: Sources and Sourcing
Discussion Topic: The Three Levels of Sources
Read for today: "Primary Source," Wikipedia
Read for today: "Secondary Source," Wikipedia
Read for today: "Tertiary Source," Wikipedia
Major assignment due today:
Assignment One: Causal Hypotheses
Assignment One: Causal Hypotheses
January 16 (Wednesday)
Discussion Topic: Scientific Reading
Discussion Topic: The Dangers of Bias
Read for today: "Wikipedia:Neutral point of view," Wikipedia
Read for today: "Wikipedia:Verifiability," Wikipedia
January 18 (Friday)
Discussion Topic: Scientific Writing
Read for today: "Citation and Reference List Style Manual," Forsberg
Read for today: "Weasel word," Wikipedia
Assignment due today: Foreign News Happenings brief
Assignment due today: Email your destination to the professor by class today.
January 21 (Monday)
Discussion Topic: Democracy and Freedom Levels
Read for today: "Map of Freedom in the World," Freedom House
Read for today: "Polity IV Country Reports," CIDCM
Holiday: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 23 (Wednesday)
Discussion Topic: Bicameral and Unicameral Legislatures
Discussion Topic: Parliamentary and Presidential Systems
Discussion Topic: Unitary, Confederal, and Federal Systems
Read for today: "The World Factbook," CIA
January 25 (Friday)
Discussion Topic: Effective Number of Electoral Parties
Discussion Topic: Electoral Systems
Read for today: "Electoral System Design," IDEA
Read for today: "Table of Electoral Systems Worldwide," IDEA
Major assignment due today:
Assignment Two: Electoral System
Assignment Two: Electoral System
Assignment due today: Foreign News Happenings brief
January 28 (Monday)
Discussion Topic: Development
Discussion Topic: Infant Mortality Rate, Death Rate, Birth Rate, Life Expectancy
Read for today: "The World Factbook," CIA
January 30 (Wednesday)
Discussion Topic: Natural Resources
Read for today: Atlas
Quiz: Africa (Map Quiz)
Today:
Major Assignments:
Quizzes and Exams:
Africa (Map Quiz)
Southern and Southeastern Asia (Map Quiz)
Latin America (Map Quiz)
Middle East (Map Quiz)
Eastern Europe (Map Quiz)
World (Map Quiz)
Final Examination (8:00–9:40)