Department of Political Science
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POL S 354: Elections and Voting in the U.S.Tuesday & Thursday, 1:30 - 3:20 pm, Parrington 108 Professor: Matt A. Barreto
Course Syllabus and Reading Assignments Week 1 INTRODUCTION / OVERVIEW March 28 First Day of Class March 30 Verba et. al. “Introduction” pp 1 – 34 Verba et. al. “Defining Political Participation,” pp 37 – 48 [ Powerpoint ] Week 2 POLITICAL PARTICIPATION April 4 Verba et. al. “Political Participation: How Much? About What?,” 49 – 96 [ Powerpoint ] April 6 Verba et. al. “Who Participates? Economic Circumstances...” pp 186 – 227 Verba et. al. “Who Participates? Race, Ethnicity and Gender,” pp 228 – 266 [ Powerpoint ] Week 3 POLITICAL DECISION MAKING – VOTING April 11 Popkin, “The Reasoning Voter,” pp 7 – 21 Popkin, “Acquiring Data: The Process of Becoming Informed,” pp 22 – 43 [ Powerpoint ] April 13 Popkin, “Going Without Data: Information Shortcuts,” pp 44 – 71 Lupia, “Shortcuts versus Encyclopedias,” pp 63 – 76 ONLINE Week 4 CIVIC VOLUNTEERISM MODEL April 18 Verba et. al. “Explaining Participation,” pp 269 – 287 Verba et. al. “Resources for Politics: Time and Money,” pp 288 – 303 Verba et. al. “Resources for Politics: Civic Skills,” pp 304 – 333 [ Powerpoint ] April 20 Short Paper #1 due by 10:30 AM Verba et. al. “Resources, Engagement and Political Activity,” pp 334 – 368 MIDWEST POLITICAL SCIENCE CONFERENCE - BARRETO OUT OF TOWN Week 5 SYMBOLIC POLITICS April 25 Popkin, “Attributable Benefits and Political Symbols,” pp 96 – 114 [ Powerpoint ] Midterm Review April 27 Midterm Exam – during class 1:30 – 3:20 PM Week 6 HANDS ON DATA ANALYSIS May 2 COMPUTER LAB – Mary Gates Hall 058 (basement) “Introduction to SPSS software,” - HANDOUT ONLINE May 3 Office Hours in Computer lab, 10:30a - 12:30p Mary Gates Hall 044 (basement) May 4 COMPUTER LAB – Mary Gates Hall 058 (basement) Week 7 THE STRUCTURE OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS May 9 Semiatin, “Introduction to Political Campaigns,” pp 1 - 11 Semiatin, “The Motivation to Run for Office,” pp 12 - 38 May 11 Semiatin, “The Decision to Run for Office,” pp 39 - 62 Semiatin, “The Campaign Organization,” pp 63 - 99 Week 8 RUNNING A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN May 16 Semiatin, “Polling,” pp 100 - 130 Semiatin, “Paid advertising,” pp 131 - 165 ELECTION DAY (local and school board) May 18 Semiatin, “Campaigning on the Internet,” pp 166 - 191 Semiatin, “Campaigning for Office,” pp 192 - 227 Week 9 ABSENTEE AND MAIL VOTING May 23 Karp & Banducci, “Absentee Voting, Participation...” pp 183 – 195 ONLINE Karp & Banducci, “Going Postal: How All Mail Elections...” pp 223 – 239 ONLINE May 25 Streb et. al. “Do Absentee Voters Differ from Polling Place Voters,” pp 1 - 23 ONLINE Oliver, “The Effects of Eligibility Restrictions and Party...” ONLINE Week 10 RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS May 30 5 minute presentation of research findings (partner with a classmate) Half of class (about 15 pairs) June 1 5 minute presentation of research findings (partner with a classmate) Half of class (remaining 15 pairs) Finals Week June 8 Final Paper is due by 5:00 PM |