Political Science 473G POT
1653
TR 11:00 - 12:15, CB 212 Office Hours: TR
10:00-11:00
Fall 2005 Voice-mail: 257-7033
Email:
mpeffl@uky.edu
ROOM CHANGE!! Class meets
in CB 212 for the rest of the semester.
CLASS
WEB-PAGE
The syllabus is posted at my web-site (http://www.uky.edu/AS/PoliSci/Peffley/)
, where new material (e.g., lecture outlines, exam review questions, written
assignments) is posted and updated throughout the semester.
Several texts are assigned for this
course, all of which are available at the university bookstores.
In
addition, several required
readings are posted on the class web page.
STUDENT
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Graduate students should
see me about additional readings and a research paper.
2. Participation
Students are
expected to have read and considered the course readings in preparation for
each class. Students are also expected
to participate in class discussions and to be ready to do so on the subject of
the day. Class participation is 5% of
the grade and will definitely influence borderline grades.
Our class time will not be spent simply "going
over" the assigned readings.
Rather, the readings will serve as a foundation and point of departure for lectures and discussions. It is, therefore, imperative that students complete the assigned readings before
a particular topic is taken up in class.
Also, the assigned readings should not be viewed as absolute truth. Read the material thoughtfully, challenge the
conclusions of the authors, and voice your criticisms in class.
Students should feel free to raise questions concerning the readings,
the lectures, and the comments of other students. In other words, meaningful participation is
strongly encouraged and will, no doubt, enhance the quality of our class
sessions.
3. Written Assignments
There will be
several (1-3) short written assignments that require no outside reading beyond
that which has been assigned. These
short (2-3 page) papers are designed to help students organize and think more
reflectively about the material in the course, and to apply many of the issues
we discuss in class to the "real world." The written assignments
cannot be turned in late, except for university excused absences.
4. Examinations and Grades
Grades will be based on the following
criteria:
Midterm 40% of Grade
Final Exam 40% of Grade
Written Assignments 15% of Grade
Class Participation 5% of Grade
a.
While class
attendance is not mandatory, exam questions will be based approximately equally
on both the readings and class discussions. Also, attendance and participation will definitely influence borderline
grades. Also, if you aren't in class,
you obviously won't have the opportunity to write the short papers that will be
assigned.
b. If a student has a university-excused absence,
arrangements for a make-up exam may be made. (See Section 5.2.4.2, Part II of
the Student Rights
and Responsibilities handbook for a definition of university-excused
absences.) Note, however, that the format of a make-up will not be the same as
the regular exam.
Tentative
I. Normative Perspectives: What Role Should Public
Opinion Play in Democratic Government? (Aug 25)
·
Read: Erikson
and Tedin, Chs 1 (“Public Opinion in Democratic Societies”) and 6 (“Public
Opinion and Democratic Stability”)
· Lecture Outline on Normative Bases of Public Opinion
Sept. 1: Film, APSA
Conference
II.
Empirical Perspectives: Tools and Theories for Studying Public Opinion (Sept
8)
Theories of the Survey Response
·
Read: Erikson and Tedin, Chs 2 (“Polling: The Scientific
Assessment of Public Opinion”), 3 (“Microlevel Opinion: The Psychology of
Opinion-Holding”), and 6 (“Public Opinion and Democratic Stability”)
· Lecture Outline on Empirical Bases of Public Opinion
Further
Reading, Examples:
·
Lecture
Outline on Checklist of Problems with
Surveys
III. Why
Americans Hate Government and How They Think It Should Work (Sept 22)
·
Read:
·
Lecture Outline on Stealth Democracy
Review Questions for Midterm (available
1-2 weeks before the exam)
October 13:
MIDTERM EXAMINATION
October 21: Last day to
withdraw
Extra Credit Written Assignment:
Due Nov. 8th
THE EXTERNAL SOURCES AND POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF
PUBLIC OPINION
IV. The
Content of Public Opinion: What are the Individual Sources, as well as Group
Divisions in
·
Read: Erikson
and Tedin, Ch 7 (“Group Differences in Political Opinions”)
· Lecture Outline on The Sources and Content of Public Opinion
V. Political
Socialization and Attitude Change (Nov 3)
·
Read: Erikson
and Tedin, Ch 5 (“Political Socialization and Political Learning”)
· Lecture Outline on Persuasion and Propaganda (a form of adult socialization)
· View presidential ads as examples of persuasive appeals at these websites
·
http://pcl.stanford.edu/campaigns/campaign2004/archive.html
·
http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us/index.php
VI. Mass
Media and Public Opinion (Nov 10)
·
Read:
Jamieson and Waldman, The Press Effect, entire
·
Lecture
Outline: Public Opinion and the News Media
Further
·
Daily
Show Viewers More Knowledgeable About Presidential Campaign!
·
“Misperceptions,
the Media, and Iraq War” (The Program on International Policy Attitudes
(PIPA))
·
News Worth Watching! The
Daily Show with Jon Stewart
·
“Jessica
Lynch: Media Myth-Making in the Iraq War” (Journalism.org)
·
“The Media
and Iraq: An archive of stories on the wartime
press from January to May 2003” (Journalism.org)
·
New York Times
Admits Iraq Faults (BBC)
VII. Macro-Level Dynamics of Public Opinion and
Public
Trends in Aggregate Public Opinion, Manipulating Public Opinion, Explaining
Presidential Approval, Impact on Public Policy
·
Read: Erikson
and Tedin, Chs 4 (“Macrolevel Opinion: The Flow of Political Sentiment”), and
Chs 9-12.
· Lecture Outline: Public Opinion and Public Policy (to be added)
·
John Mueller: The Iraq
Syndrome
November 24: Thanksgiving
Dec 8: Last Day of Class
December 13: FINAL
EXAMINATION: TUESDAY, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM