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East Georgia College
A unit of the University System of Georgia
131 College Circle
Swainsboro, Georgia 30401-2699
912-486-7072
SUMMER 2011
POLS 2401- Global Issues
Sections:
#50067& #50164; on-line web-based
*MANDATORY ON-LINE ORIENTATION*
There will be a mandatory on-line Orientation. No
exceptions! I will post on VISTA all the online
Orientation as it pertains to the Orientation in the
“Announcements” area. You must respond by 10:00pm, June
7th, 2011 (which is the last day of schedule
adjustment), or you will be asked to withdraw from the
course to protect the integrity of your academic
records. There are no exceptions!!
I. Instructor:
Dr. Tom Caiazzo. Associate Professor of Political
Science
II. Office Information:
East Georgia College - Statesboro Center
Office Hours: online via e-mail; and, any other time by appointment
Office Phone: 912-486-7072 E-mail: tcaiazzo@ega.edu
III. Course Description:
1.
This course is designed to acquaint the student
with institutions and issues surrounding the
international political system including but not limited
to diverse topics such as theories of war, industrial
development, international political economy, trade,
national security, terrorism, and international law.
Students should exit the course with a basic
understanding
of the international political system and the role
played by the United States within the system. Current
Global Issues will also be explored. Students will learn
to think both descriptively and normatively. Likewise,
all students will be afforded a cursory introduction to
the discipline and approaches of political science.
IV. Prerequisite:
Students must satisfactorily complete POLS 1101
(American Government)
V. Textbook:
Robert Jackson, Annual Editions: Global Issues, 11/12,
ISBN-0078050847, Mc-Graw Hill Publishers.
-And-
- A World Map: (you can get one anywhere and/or download
one from the Internet)
VI. Course Learning Outcomes with linkages to General
Education Student Learning Outcomes:
The course is dynamic meaning that it is event driven as
well as topic driven. Students should stay abreast of
world affairs
and be prepared to discuss current events. Students are
expected to integrate the required readings with class
lectures and discussions, Internet assignments, current
events, and other presentations and tasks. The research
paper is designed to foster
pathways of critical thinking by enhancing writing
skills.
The college assesses student learning based upon the
achievement of eleven general education outcomes
electives. A list of
the outcomes is attached to the syllabus and linked
through the consideration of the following philosophical
questions:
1. Should U.S. foreign policy be geared toward a Realist
or Idealist view of International Relations? (1,3,5,10)
2. What are U.S. obligations toward the world in the
Unipolar world? (1,2,3,6,9,10)
3. What are the biggest challenges and dangers facing
the United States over the course of the next fifty
years? (1,3,6,9,10)
4. When is the use of military power an appropriate
policy in a dynamic world of global interdependence and
constant change? (1,3,6,9,10)
5. How do the structures of the new world order threaten
traditional structures in the study of
International Relations I such as sovereignty of the
nation state? (1,3,6,8,9,10)
6. How have the events of 9/11/2001 changed the answers
to the first five questions? (1,2,3,5,6,8,9,10)
VII. Evaluation:
In most semesters, you will formally evaluate the course
and the instructor (me) near the end of the semester
(not applicable for summer classes).
VIII. Exam and Grading Policy:
1. EXAMINATIONS: There will be two (2) exams this
semester as it pertains to the readings and other
international global
issues. ONLY the FINAL EXAM (Exam #2) will be taken ON
CAMPUS in Statesboro (at either GSU or the EGC
Statesboro
Center) unless stated otherwise. Exam #1 will be completed online. (*It
should be noted that I will ONLY need to see you on
campus ONE TIME this summer semester: 1) Final
Exam/Research Paper* (July 19th or July 20th).
The room locations and times
are forthcoming but you MUST be available to come to the
EGC Statesboro Center or GSU campus and take the Exam. I
am ONLY asking for you to be on campus once, so this is
more than reasonable. NO exceptions so plan your
schedule accordingly and
keep open both July 19th and 20th.) Unless an
emergency situation (see below), there are ABSOLUTELY no
make-ups. Each exam
is worth a total of one hundred (100) points, for a
total of two hundred (200) points.
2. INTERNATIONAL CURRENT EVENTS & READINGS DISCUSSION
JOURNAL: Via Georgia VISTA VIEW (Web CT), you
will be required to engage in bi-weekly international
current event discussions and readings from your
textbook. I will post in GA VISTA View the discussions,
which will be accompanied by web links and your Text.
You will read the web links/Text and post a two
paragraph synopsis - one paragraph summarizing the
article and one paragraph stating your opinion. You will
also read your classmates' input and challenge
them accordingly. The weekly discussion board questions
will combine to equal (100) points.
3. UNITED NATIONS RESEARCH PAPER: You will be
required to write major descriptive paper on an
organization within the United Nations. This paper will
be discussed at Orientation and it will be due when you
take the Final Exam. Please clock here for more
information and a Handout to print:
United Nations Research Project Handout
This assignment is worth
(one-hundred) 100 points in total.
COMPUTATION OF COURSE GRADE:
Your grades will be computed in the following manner:
EXAMINATIONS: (2 exams at 100 points
each)…………………...............................= 200 points
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT EVENTS
JOURNAL............................................= 100
points
RESEARCH PAPER ………………………………………………………………………………………………...=
100points
Total =400 points
*It should be noted that I will ONLY need to see you on
campus ONE TIME this summer semester: 1) Final
Exam/Research Paper* (July 19th or July 20th).
The room locations and times are forthcoming but you
MUST be available to come to the EGC Statesboro Center
or GSU campus and take the Exam. I am ONLY asking for
you to be on campus once, so this is more than
reasonable. NO exceptions so plan your schedule
accordingly and keep open July 19th and 20th.
GRADING SCALE:
The grading scale for all assignments in the course and
for computing the final grade is based on the college's
grading schedule. With respect to the point system, the
grading scale is as follows:
400 – 360 (90-100%) = A
359 – 320 (80-89%) = B
319 - 280 (70-79%) = C
279 – 240 (60-69%) = D
239 - 0 (0-59%) = F
GRADE POLICY:
The grade you receive is based on your performance
without regard to how others score in the class. In
other words, grades in this course are not based on a
curve, and whatever the total number of points you earn,
then this is the grade you will receive. You will be
treated equally and fairly and there will be no
capricious grading on my behalf. Under no circumstances
are grades changed, except in cases of an error in
computation.
IX. Attendance Policy:
Per college policy, I will take on-line attendance. As
such:
1. You should make a conscious effort to attend all
scheduled on-line class meetings. Online meetings will
be devoted to lectures and discussion. I will ask you
to withdraw for excessive absences.
a) I also understand that maybe once or twice this
semester you just "won’t feel well." This has
a lot to do with the climate as well as other private
matters. Please be responsible enough, if
possible, and let me know via phone or e-mail that you
won’t be on-line that day.
b) I may also miss a few class on-line sessions
for professional development this semester. I will
advise via e-mail of any such changes. This is another
reason for regular on-line classroom attendance.
c) You should check your college e-mail account daily.
The same for Georgia Vista View (Web CT)
d) Likewise, there are absolutely no make-ups allowed
or partial credit points given.
X. Make-Up Policy:
You are required to be present and on time for all of
the
mentioned above assignments and Exams. If you fail to be
present you will receive zero (0) points. There are no
makeup’s whatsoever. Likewise, there are no early
examinations given and please do not try to haggle, or
negotiate with me regarding this academic policy.
Individual accountability, responsibility, decency, and
respect are implied.
XI. Plagiarism & Academic Dishonesty: please see
EGC Student Handbook
http://www.ega.edu/counseling-center/handbook2008.pdf
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XII. ADA Statement:
can be found at
http://www.ega.edu/counseling-center/disabilityaccomodations.htm
XIII. Course Withdrawal Policy Statement:
Students are responsible for their own academic
progress. Decisions regarding withdrawal from courses
should only be made after consultation with an academic
advisor. Before withdrawing from a course, students
should meet with a Financial Aid representative to
discuss their personal financial aid situation. More
information regarding withdrawal from
courses can be found in the EGC catalog at
http://www.ega.edu/registrar/catalog/Catalog0809.pdf
XIV. Campus Emergency Policy:
a. In the event the fire alarm is sounded, everyone must
evacuate the building at once and in a calm
and orderly fashion, using the nearest exit. In the
event of a severe
weather warning, which will be delivered verbally,
everyone must proceed immediately to
the nearest designated shelter area which are marked by
a small tornado symbol. All severe
weather shelter locations are posted on the EGC website.
Each student should, on the first
day of class, determine the location of the nearest exit
and the nearest designated
shelter area for each of his or her classrooms. If you
have difficulty locating either
ask you instructor to assist you.
b. The Connect-ED system is a communication service that
enables East Georgia College administrators and security
personnel to quickly contact all East Georgia College
students, faculty and staff with personalized voice and
text messages that
contain emergency-related campus information (e.g.,
campus closing, campus threat, health scare, etc.). With
Connect-ED, East Georgia College students can be reached
and provided with vital instructions anywhere, anytime,
through their cell phones, home phones, e-mail, TTY/TDD
receiving
devices, or other text-receiving devices
http://www.ega.educonnected.pdf
c. EGCS students should make themselves familiar with
Georgia Southern University’s Emergency
Response Plan,
http://services.georgiasouthern.edu/ess.Emergency%20Response%20Plan.pdf.
In the event of an emergency, EGCS students should
follow the instructions of EGCS faculty
and staff members and GSU campus officials.
XV. Additional Course Requirements:
1.
Please do not begin this course until you have
Participated in the Mandatory Online Orientation
meeting.
See above.
2. Have MS WORD and understand how to open, receive,
and send MS WORD attachments.
3. If you do not already have an account on VISTA, go to
www.ega.edu
and establish an account.
One account serves all classes. (NOTE: Please contact
me once you have an account. You will not be able to
view the course site until classes begin).
4.
Understand that you will ONLY need to be on campus ONE
TIME this summer semester: 1) Final Exam/Research Paper*
(July 19th or July 20th). The room
locations and times are forthcoming but you MUST be
available to come to the EGC Statesboro Center or GSU
campus and take the Exam. I am ONLY asking for you to be
on campus once, so this is more than reasonable. NO
exceptions so plan your schedule accordingly and keep
open either July 19th or 20th.
XVI. Daily Course Schedule:
Will be issued online once the course begins
XVII. Optional Policies:
1. You will need access to a
typewriter/computer/word-processor, because all
out-of-class assignments and projects must be typed. The
campus computer laboratory provides open lab hours when
you can use the equipment. Please do not wait
for the last minute to complete your projects.
Diskettes/CDs can have errors, printers can break down,
computers may malfunction, BP corporate elites may eat
your assignment after dousing it with oil, etc., so
please plan ahead. I will not accept any late papers, so
be smart and be academically responsible.
2. The posting of your grades are prohibited by the:
a) Buckley Amendment and the Families in Education Right
to Privacy Act. FERPA (1974) is a federal law that
grants students the right to inspect, to obtain copies,
to challenge, and to a degree control the release of
information contained in his other education records. In
general, no personally identifiable information from a
student’s education record will be disclosed to
a third party without consent from the student. Several
exceptions may be made; therefore students are urged to
acquaint themselves with the guidelines. The act and
regulations are lengthy, and for that reason the college
has issued guidelines that are available from the
Registrar’s Office. Also, the Privacy Act of 1974 states
that agencies may not make their files on an
individual available to other agencies without that
individual's consent (exempted are law enforcement
agencies, the CIA, and the secret service, and certain
filed pertaining to federal employment – you should also
be familiar with the PATRIOT Act).
3. Since this course encourages and is designed for your
involvement, you should participate without rancor,
inappropriate behavior, or harassment of any type.
Rancor is defined as: deep hatred, intense ill will,
antagonism, animosity, antipathy, enmity, and hostility.
So please no rancor. This expression will not be
permitted, and if violated, you will be asked to leave
the online discussion and chats. I do support your
freedom of speech and crave your opinions and comments
in class but when it is rancorous, we must have respect
for the law. However, and I want you to be clear about
this fact, the discipline of political science deals
with controversial and opposing viewpoints which are
healthy to analytical classroom discussions. If you are
easily offended by
this constitutionally protected speech, it is highly
recommended that you reconsider taking this course.
Controversial ideas, which are framed in an academic and
appropriate manner, are coveted and needed to promote
thought and stimulate dialogue. It is imperative that
you are both tolerant and understanding of opposing
viewpoints. This policy is not intended to hinder
academic thought, but rather to respect the civil
liberties and rights of all students and the instructor.
4. Per policy, all academic and professional e-mail
correspondence must go to my college e-mail address. The
"yahoo" e-mail address located on the main page of my
website is only for informal inquiry. Likewise, per
policy, as a student I can’t add you as a friend to my
FACEBOOK. We can do this after the semester is over.
5. Consultation: You are encouraged to discuss with me
any academic concerns you have regarding the course.
Please visit with me during my office hours and/or make
an appointment to see me. My phone number and college
e-mail address is located above. If you have an inquiry
that requires some time, please do not approach me
before and/or after class. I don’t want us to be rushed
and I want to make sure that I thoroughly answer all
your questions – please see above for my office location
and hours. Once you arrive, I will log you in for
records and address all your academic concerns. I am
always here for you and want you to visit with me – so
never feel hesitant to ask me questions and/or make an
appointment to see me. Per my ethics and professionalism
policy, only academic (no personal) inquires can be
addressed.
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APPENDIX A
BLANK MAPS
(all in Adobe Acrobat
-PDF File)
-United States
-Africa/Asia
-Asia/Pacific
-Canada
-Central America
-Central/SW Asia
-Europe
-North America
-South America
-South Asia
-SE Asia/Pacific
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APPENDIX
B
International Studies
Links
NY Times
The Economist
The International Herald
Tribune
The London Times
The Guardian
(London)
The
Christian Science Monitor
One World
BBC World News
LA Times
National Public Radio
World News Network
Human Rights Watch
Amnesty International
Macleans (Canadian)
Africa Daily
Israeli
National News
China
National News
Asia Times
Al
Jazerra (Middle East)
Latin America - Drug
War
Voice of America
Foreign Affairs
The Globalist
Red Pepper
(Britain)
Toward
Freedom
World Press
US News
and World Report
TIME
Newsweek
United Nations
ABC News
- International
CNN International
CBC News (Canadian)
Euro News (Europe)
Reuters
Washington Post
USA Today
FOX News
Radio Free
Europe
U.S. State Department
CIA
National
Security Council
Caribbean
News
Zawya (Middle East -
Business)
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