Political Theory – GOVT 490
CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 02/01/2024
Course Description
A critical examination of a variety of philosophical and social science methods that seek to explain and evaluate: political systems, behavior, ideologies, and collective decision-making. Special attention will be given to the political heritage of western/American civilization and the internal and external challenges it faces.
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.
Rationale
GOVT 490 Political Theory attempts to provide the student with a framework for synthesizing the rudiments of political knowledge that he or she has gained in previous undergraduate government courses. By the end of the course, the student should be able to ask the questions that political theorists do and begin to formulate responses to those questions. Specifically, the student should be prepared to answer the “why” of politics.
Course Assignment
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.
Final Research Paper: Topic and Bibliography Assignment
The student will provide a few sentences describing a political theory topic for the Final Research Paper. A bibliography of at least 3 peer-reviewed sources, such as academic journal articles or books published by university presses, must be included. This initial proposal will serve as a basis for communication with the course instructor about the final topic, which must be approved before proceeding.
Quiz: Key Terms Matching
The student will match 50 political theory terms with their definitions. The terms will be drawn from the Lecture Note: Key Terms.
Discussions
Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 400–500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. The student must include at least 3 references to the course readings and at least 1 Scripture reference. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200–250 words. In each reply, the student must include at least 1 reference to the course readings and at least 1 Scripture reference. Threads and replies must be in current APA format. Each reply must be unique; merely posting the same reply in two places is not sufficient and may be treated as a form of academic misconduct.
Short Paper: Classical and Medieval Christian Bodies Politic Assignment
The student will submit a short paper on the Classical and Medieval Christian Bodies Politic, which will be covered in the course. The paper must be at least 2 double-spaced pages and must be written in current APA format. The student must utilize and cite at least 5 scholarly sources in this paper to justify the student’s position and/or conclusions, and must, in all other respects, be in accord with the standards of academic writing.
Short Paper: Reformed Christian and Early Modern Secular Bodies Politic Assignment
The student will submit a short paper on the Reformed Christian and Early Modern Bodies Politic, which will be covered in the course. The paper must be at least 2 double-spaced pages and must be written in current APA format. The student must utilize and cite at least 5 scholarly sources in this paper to justify the student’s position and/or conclusions, and must, in all other respects, be in accord with the standards of academic writing.
Final Research Paper Assignment
The student will write a research-based paper of 7–10 double-spaced pages on a political theory topic that must be approved by the instructor. The paper must be written in current APA format and include at least 7 scholarly sources to justify the student’s position and/or conclusions. It must, in all other respects, be in accord with the standards of academic writing.
Final Essay Assignment
This assignment will consist of 5 questions. Answers to each of these questions must be separate 400–500-word essays of approximately 3 paragraphs each (8–10 sentences per paragraph) that include at least 3 citations from the course readings per short essay. The entire assignment will contain around 15 paragraphs (120–150 total sentences) and at least 15 citations. All 5 separate essays must be included in one document.
