Pol. Sci.
422/522
CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS
T,TH 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm
PROFESSOR
Dr.
Joe Kunkel Phone:
389-6930
109 C Morris Hall FAX:
389-6377 joseph.kunkel@mnsu.edu
http:krypton.mnsu.edu/~jak3
OFFICE
HOURS
|
Mon 9:00-10:00 am |
Tue 10:30-11:30 am 3:30-4:30 pm |
Wed 9:00-10:00 am 1:30-2:30 pm |
Thurs 10:30-11:30 am 3:30-4:30 pm |
Fri 9:00-10:00 am 1:30-3:30 pm |
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students in this class should
1.
become familiar with major political science findings on U.S. presidential and
congressional campaigns & elections.
2.
Become interested and informed observers of the 2008 elections.
REQUIRED
READING
Stephen
J. Wayne, The Road to the White House 2008: The Politics of Presidential
Elections.
8th Edition.
Bedford/St. Martins. Boston.
Herrnson,
Paul S. 2008. Congressional Elections: Campaigning at Home and in Washington. 5th
Edition.
Congressional
Quarterly Press.
REQUIREMENTS
|
422 (undergraduates) |
|
522 (graduate students) |
|
|
Midterm
Exam |
120 |
Midterm
Exam |
120 |
|
Final
Exam |
120 |
Final
Exam |
120 |
|
Chapter
Outlines (10 X 5 points each) |
50 |
Chapter
Outlines (14 X 5 points each) |
50 |
|
Election
Predictions |
30 |
Election
Predictions |
30 |
|
20 |
Campaign
Event/participation |
20 |
|
|
|
|
Paper |
85 |
|
TOTAL
|
340 |
|
398 |
EXTRA
CREDIT
|
422 (undergraduates) |
|
522 (graduate students) |
|
|
Chapter
Outlines more than 10 (5
points each). You may do up to four extra. Outlines 1-6 not accepted after
midterm exam. |
20 |
Chapter
Outlines more than 10 (5
points each). You may do up to four extra. Outlines 1-6 not accepted after
midterm exam. |
20 |
|
Campaign
participation |
10 |
Campaign
Event/participation |
10 |
|
Election
Predictions |
10 |
Election
Predictions |
10 |
PENALTIES
|
482 (Undergraduates) and 582 (graduate students) |
|
|
Late
exams for each school day (MTWRF). |
-5% |
|
Chapter
Outlines Any
time after they are collected in class. Outlines 1-6 not accepted after
midterm exam. Via email on due date 4 points (-1) |
-2.5 |
|
Election
Predictions – Not accepted after Oct. 20 |
0 |
|
Campaign
Event/participation |
15 |
|
Graduate
Student Paper Stages For
each day after due date |
-5% |
|
TOTAL
|
365 |
GRADING
Grades
will be based on your percent of the total points:
Undergraduates:
A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60 - 69 F = below 60
Graduate
Students: A = 93-100 B = 83-92 C = 70-82 D = 60 - 69 F = below 60
EXAMS
A
midterm and final exam will test your learning from books and class sessions.
The final will not be comprehensive. The exams will be composed of a
combination of essay, short answer and multiple choice. The exact format and
content of the exams will be discussed in class.
CHAPTER OUTLINES
Read each chapter or set of chapters by the date
indicated on the calendar. Type a two to three page outline of at least 10 of
the reading assignments and turn it in on that day. If you choose to do all
required outlines you can earn extra points. The professor will prepare a
sample outline of chapter 1.
ELECTION PREDICTIONS
Follow the most important campaigns of 2008. Predict
who will win each of the following contests. The minimum indicates the base
points; what you might guess randomly and contests which are not very
competitive. Above the minimum you can earn extra points. (Details of this prediction contest
will probably be revised.)
|
Predict who will win |
Points for Each |
Minimum |
Maximum |
|
|
Predict who will win |
Points for Each |
Minimum |
Maximum |
|
|
President: States¹ Electoral Votes |
0.3 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
35 U.S. Senate Races |
0.3 |
8 |
10 |
|
|
Minnesota U.S. Senate Race |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Party to win control of U.S. Senate |
1 |
0.5 |
1 |
|
|
8 U.S. House Races from Minnesota |
1 |
6 |
8 |
|
|
Party to win control of U.S. House |
1 |
0.5 |
1 |
|
|
Party to win control Minnesota House |
1 |
0.5 |
1 |
|
|
Minnesota House District 23 A |
1 |
.5 |
1 |
|
|
Minnesota House District 23 B |
1 |
0.5 |
1 |
|
|
Other Contest may be added |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
30 |
40 |
|
Invest
at least 60 minutes attending some campaign event or events. This could be a
talk or speech by a candidate or other political person, the activity of a
political club, the meeting of a government body such as a city council or
county board, or campaign activity. If your
"event" involves your active participation you will earn 10 extra
points. Involvement in a campaign activity such as door knocking, literature
dropping, telephoning, organizing an event are examples of active
participation. Check with the professor to confirm that an event or action
qualifies for this assignment. Turn in the campaign event form to verify your
political event(s).
The graduate student paper is described on a separate
handout.
SYLLABUS
CHANGES
The
syllabus may be changed to correct errors, adjust the schedule, or fine tune
course details. Such changes will not affect the structure or requirements of
the course in a major way. Any changes will be announced in class and the
professor will consider student advice.
ASSISTANCE
and ACCOMODATIONS
The
professor is employed by the university to help students learn. Too often
students wait until they are in academic trouble before seeking assistance. You
are encouraged to visit with the professor as soon as you need help. This goes
for everyone. Students with disabilities are particularly invited to meet with
the professor to discuss any special instructional needs they may have or
accommodations they may need. I generally permit extra time on examinations for
those for whom English is their second language.
ACADEMIC
HONESTY
The
presentation of someone else's ideas or words as your own constitutes
plagiarism. To avoid this you must identify your sources when quoting or
paraphrasing someone else's words or presenting information from another
source. Remember your reader will want to know the answer the question, "How
do you know this?"
CALENDAR
|
Tuesday |
Thursday |
|
August 26 Course Introduction
Sample
Outline Distributed |
August 28 Historical Overview Read:
Wayne preface, ch. 1 No outline
required |
|
September 2 Historical Overview |
September 4 Strategic Context Outline #1 Due on Herrnson
ch. 1 |
|
September 9 Political Environment Outline #2 Due on
Wayne ch. 3 (all) and Herrnson pp. 196-202 (in
ch. 7) |
September 11 Political Environment |
|
September 16 Nominations Outline
#3 Due on Wayne chs. 4 and 5 |
September 18 Nominations |
|
September 23 Nominations |
September 25 Candidates
and Nominations Read
Herrnson ch. 2 No outline required |
|
September 30 |
October 2 Candidate Organizations Outline #5 Due on Herrnson
Ch. 3. to pg. 83 |
|
October 7 Party Organizations Outline #6 Due on Herrnson
Ch. 4 |
October 9 Interest Groups Read Herrnson Ch. 5 No
outline required Last Material for Mid Term
Exam |
|
October 14 Campaign Finance Read
Wayne ch. 2 No
Outline Required This
material will be on the final Exam. Oct. 14 Deadline for Mn.Voter Pre-Registration |
October 16 Campaign Finance Read
Herrnson chs. 6 (all) and 3 (pp.
82 – 85) No
outline required This
material will be on the final Exam. |
|
October 21 MIDTERM EXAM |
October 23
Campaign Media Outline
#8 Due on Wayne ch. 8 |
|
October 28 Campaign Media Outline #7 Due on Herrnson
ch. 8 Grad Student Paper Proposal
Due |
October 30 Predictions Due |
|
|
November 4 No Class
Election Day
|
November 6 No Class |
|
|
November 11 Organization, Strategy,
Tactics Outline
#8 Due on Wayne Ch. 7 and Herrnson
Ch. 7 pp. 205-20 Post-Election Discussion Campaign Event Forms due |
November 13
|
|
|
November 18 Polling Interpreting
Elections Read Wayne ch. 9 pp.
312-325 Herrnson ch. 9 No Outline Due |
November 20 Elections and Governing Outline #10 Due on Wayne ch. 9 pp. 325-336
Herrnson ch. 10 |
|
|
November 25 Election Reform Outline
#11 Due on Wayne ch. 10 Grad Student Paper 1st
Draft Due |
November 27 No Classes – Give
Thanks |
|
|
December 2 Election Reform |
December 4 Election Reform Outline #12 Due on Herrnson
ch. 11 |
|
|
MONDAY 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Final Exam |
|
|