POL 551/751PHI 551/ 751    Spring 2006
 Office: McCreary 114    Dr. Zeigler
Office Phone: 622-5931    Home: 264-1146
e-mail: Sara.Zeigler@eku.edu
www.people.eku.edu/zeiglers


"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With
our thoughts we make the world."
-Buddha

"Fine things are difficult."-
Socrates

As you struggle with the texts, bear the above quotations in mind. The first offers a glimpse into why we study ideas the second recognizes that the road to knowledge has much in common with Interstate 75. We will spend the semester engaging the political questions of the classical period. Through discussion and writing, students will acquire an understanding of the assigned texts, analyze the questions posed by the theorists and critically evaluate the answers provided. As such, the course will offer a foundation in key concepts and works of classical political thought. In keeping with sentiments expressed in the quotations above, students should be prepared to actively participate in class discussions that seek to enhance understanding through reading and interpretation of primary texts.

The following required text is available in the Bookstore.

Steinberger, Peter J., ed. Readings in Classical Political Thought (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2000).


If you find secondhand copies of different translations of the works we will discuss, you may use them, but should be aware that page numbers and actual text will differ. Required readings not
listed above will be provided by the instructor in the form of handouts.


Students will be divided into four groups, A, B, C, and D. Each day, one group will be responsible for explaining and defending the text, while the other class members pose questions and criticisms. Each class session will commence with a brief (5-10 minute) overview of the key arguments made in the assigned reading, which will be provided by the members of the group assigned to defend the text. The obligation to "defend the text" means that group members, regardless of their own views, must serve as the theorist for the day, attempting to reconcile contradictions and clarify themes and arguments as the theorist might, if alive and present. The role-playing need not include period costume, but should make every effort to be faithful to the spirit and letter of the (translated) original text.

On Fridays, class sessions will be conducted online.  The group responsible for the presentation that day will be responsible for posing discussion questions in the forum on Blackboard.  Each group member must pose at least one GOOD question.  Each class member must respond to at least two discussion questions, posting responses online.  The threaded discussions will begin on Friday – students will have until Monday to post responses.  Participation in online discussions will be graded. Responses must be at least 200 words in length (per response).

Students with Disabilities: If you are registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please make an appointment with the course instructor to discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you need academic accommodations and are not registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please contact the Office directly either in person on the in Room 315 of the Student Services Building or by telephone at (859) 622-1500 V/TTY. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in alternative forms.

Course Requirements:

1. 2 one-hour in-class examinations. (30 points each, 60 total)
2. One take-home final examination. (60 points)
3. Participation in class discussions, as described above. (30 points)
4. Participation in online discussions: There are 14 possible sessions.  You may miss two without penalty.  Each session is worth five points, for a total of 60 points.
5. One 8-10 page paper. 40 points.


All exams will be in essay format and will be open-book, open-note and administered on Blackboard. The take-home exam and the paper must be typewritten. Should you have questions regarding proper citation of sources, consult the instructor.

Graduate students will also prepare a research paper of approximately fifteen (15) pages in length, on a topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. This paper is worth 60 points and will be the major project for the semester.  Guidelines are available in Blackboard.  The paper requires significant use of secondary sources.  60 points.

Graduate students may opt to submit a longer paper (25 pages minimum) in lieu of the two shorter papers (the 10-page paper required of all students and the additional 15 page paper required of graduate students).  The longer paper will be worth 100 points.  

Graduate students will be expected to perform at a higher level in terms of quality of writing (clarity, structure and organization) as well as in their demonstrated mastery of the content.

Graduate student papers are due on Friday of final exam week, by noon.

Lucid, well-organized writing is essential to effective communication and will be considered in evaluating written work.


Policies, Procedures, Admonitions and Advice:

1. Attendance Policy: The course is designed as a conference and the success of that format depends upon the presence of well-prepared conferees. Students who neglect to attend class demonstrate contempt for their classmates, the instructor and themselves. This will not be tolerated. More than eight unexcused absences (approximately 20%) will result in automatic failure of the course. Because I regard failure to fulfill responsibilities to one's group as a particularly egregious dereliction of duty, each unexcused absence on a day when your group is "on" will count as two absences. For the purposes of this course, "excused absences" include verifiable medical or family emergencies, university approved activities(accompanied by a university excuse), documentable illness (yours or your child's) and other unforeseen circumstances that the instructor deems to be reasonable excuses for an absence.

2. Preparation: Students who have not read the assigned texts are not welcome in class.

3. Make-up Examinations: Students who have an excused absence on the day of an in-class examination may be permitted to take a make-up exam, to be scheduled by agreement of the student and instructor. The make-up exam may differ from the exam given to the class at the scheduled examination time.

4. Late Papers: A five-point per day penalty will be imposed on late papers. The take-home final may not be submitted after the deadline, except in emergencies (as defined by the instructor). If it is necessary for a student to submit a final exam after the deadline, the student may receive an Incomplete so that the submission of other students' grades will not be delayed.

5. Academic Honesty (from the EKU Faculty Handbook):

“Eastern Kentucky University faculty and students are bonded by principles of truth and honesty which are recognized as fundamental for a community of teachers and scholars. The University expects that students will honor and that faculty will honor and enforce these principles which contribute to a foundation upon which a quality education can be built. With this premise, the University affirms that it will not tolerate academic dishonesty.”

Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism, cheating, and co-responsibility (“Anyone who knowingly assists in any form of academic dishonesty shall be considered as guilty as the student who accepts such assistance”).

The instructors reserve the right to examine any source used by the student before giving a grade on a paper and to give an “incomplete” in the course if necessary, to allow time to obtain sources.  Students should be prepared to show source material to the instructor for the purpose of verifying information.  Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following offenses:

∑ Claiming as your own work a paper written by another person
∑ Turning in a paper that contains paraphrases of someone else’s ideas but does not give proper credit to that person for those ideas
∑ Turning in a paper that is largely a restatement in your own words of a paper written by someone else, even if you give credit to that person for those ideas.  The thesis and organizing principles of a paper must be your own.
∑ Turning in a paper that uses the exact words of another author without using quotation marks, even if proper credit is given in a citation, or that changes the words only slightly and claims them to be paraphrases
∑ Turning in the same paper, even in a different version, for two different courses without the permission of both professors involved
∑ Using any external source (notes, books, other students, etc) for assistance during an exam, unless given permission to do so by the professor

If a student is found to have committed any of the above offenses, s/he will receive a failing grade on the assignment or in the course, depending upon the seriousness of the offense.  The case may also be referred to departmental committees or to Student Judicial Affairs.  


6. Use of Books and Notes during Examinations: All examinations are open-book, open-note. "Cliff Notes" or anything in the same genre shall darken neither your door nor that of the classroom. Ever.

Student Learning Objectives  and Assessment Methods:

This course addresses the following Political Science Student Learning Objectives:

Critical Thinking: Students will become more discerning critical thinkers and observers of political events, personalities, messages and processes by applying theories and methodologies of political science and through effective oral and written communication.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of major modern political thinkers through successful completion of a term paper and examinations focusing on the works of major theorists and the applicability of those theories to contemporary political problems.  Students will demonstrate communication skills through competent and skillful writing on all essay assignments.

Substantive Knowledge: Students will acquire political literacy and will understand the institutions process and values that underpin political behavior and events.  By successfully responding to essay questions on examinations, students will demonstrate a substantive understanding of the theoretical works of modern political theorists, thus exhibiting knowledge of political institutions and values, as analyzed in theoretical works.



TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Jan.18: Introduction
Jan.20: Excerpt from the Iliad, pp. 4-9. ONLINE (Discussion questions pre-posted by instructor)
Jan.23: Plato's Protagorus, Gorgias, pp. 21-26. (Group A).
Jan. 25: Antiphon, Anonymus Iamblichi, pp. 26-28. (Group B)
Jan 27: Euthyphro, pp. 139-147.(Group C) ONLINE
Jan 30: Reading Day
Feb 1:Apology, pp. 147-159. (Group D)
Feb 3: Crito, pp. 159-165. (A) ONLINE
Feb 6: The Republic, Book I to 336d.(B)
Feb 8: Republic, 336d to end of Book I. (C)
Feb 10: Republic, Book II. (D) ONLINE
Feb 13: Online Examination
Feb 15: Republic, Book III to 412c. (A)
Feb 17: Republic, 412c to 427d. (B) ONLINE
Feb 20: Republic, 427d to end of Book IV. (C)
Feb. 22: Book V to 471c. (D)
Feb 24: Republic, 471c to 495a. (A) ONLINE
Feb. 27: Republic, 495a to 521c. (B)
March 1: Republic, 521c to end of Book VII. (C)
March 3: Republic, Book VIII. (D) ONLINE
March 6: Republic, Book IX to 588b. (A)
March 8: Finish Republic. (B)
March 10: Aristophanes, The Clouds pp.78-117. (C) ONLINE
March 13-17: Spring Break
March 20: Aristotle, Ethics(D)
March 22: The Politics, pp. 377-384. (A)
March 24 Politics, 384-402.(B) ONLINE
March 27: Politics, 402-421. (C)
March 29: Politics, 421-442. (D)
March 31: Cicero, 443-456. (A) ONLINE
April 3: Cicero, 456-460. (B)
April 5: Online Examination
April 7: Augustine, pp. 463-474.(C) ONLINE
April 10: Augustine pp. 474-489 (D)
April 12: Augustine, pp. 489-504. (A)
April 14: Paper work day
April 17: Papers due.  
April 19: Aquinas, pp. 505-516 (B)  
April 21: Aquinas pp. 516-529 (C) ONLINE
April 24: Aquinas,  pp. 529-539. (D)
April 26: Aquinas,  pp. 539-546. (A)
April 28: Machiavelli, The Prince (B) ONLINE
May 1: Machiavelli, Discourses, pp. 592-614. (C)
May 3: Machiavelli, Discourses pp. 614-622 (D)
May 5: Distribution of take-home final exam passwords, administration of field test.  IN CLASS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS FRIDAY.