IMPORTANT NOTE – in response to student requests guest speakers will be added to the syllabus during some Monday meeting times beginning June 2^nd

 

^{WEEK ONE}

May 19^th:  Introductory Class to discuss format and scheduling and Civility in Democracy.  Class discussion assignments will be given at this time.  We will take a short survey at the beginning of class.

●Reading, A More Perfect Constitution, by Larry Sabato, Preamble and Chapter One

    

May 21^st :  Why Discuss Civility?  Did things begin to break-down after the demise of the Town Meeting?  How can lawmakers begin to “get things done?” 

 

 WEEK TWO

 Blackboard Assignment:  Watch Bob Graham lecture:  “Keep it Civil:  We CAN All Just Get Along;” then read and respond to questions on blackboard in summary paper

●Reading:  SAME

May 28^th:    Why Discuss Civility?  Did things begin to break-down after the demise of the Town Meeting?  How can lawmakers begin to “get things done?”   CONTINUED

 

WEEK THREE

Blackboard Assignment:  Watch Greg Huber’s lecture, “A Skeptic’s Guide to Election Media Coverage,” then read and respond to questions on blackboard in summary paper

●Reading, Sabato, Chapter 2; Carter, Chapters 1-3

June 4^th:  What effect does electioneering and media coverage have on the Presidential election process? 

 

WEEK FOUR

Blackboard Assignment:  Larry Sabato’s “Crystal Ball,” Lecture and panel discussions, then read and respond to questions on blackboard in summary paper

●Read Sabato, Chapters 4, 6, and 7

June 11^th:  What changes can we make to our Constitution to improve the political process?

 

WEEK FIVE

Blackboard Assignment:  Watch The Role of Civic Culture in the Maintenance of Political Stability:  Lessons from the 2007 Kenyan elections, then read and respond to questions on blackboard in summary paper

●Read “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” by Martin Luther King, Civil Disobedience, Thoreau

June 18th:  In class discussion, Is it ever acceptable to be “uncivilized?”  What is civil disobedience?

●Midterm (on blackboard) – 2 hour timed exam (all essay)

 

PART-2 FALL

WEEK SIX

Blackboard Assignment:  Watch Better Together: Civility Life and Politics in Florida, Carl Hiaasen lecture and panel discussions, and then read questions posted on blackboard and respond in summary paper

●Reading, Sabato, Chapter Five and “Bowling Alone, the Collapse and Revival of American Community,” and selected editorials from Paradise Screwed, by Carl Hiaasen (on blackboard)

September 19^th, Discuss Hiassen lecture and selected reading

 

WEEK SEVEN

Blackboard Assignment:  “Civility and Technology in Democracy” -- Watch lecture and panel discussions

●Reading selected articles regarding innovations in voting procedures from Electionline.org (on blackboard)

 

WEEK EIGHT

September 26^th:  Discuss Civility and Technology and selected readings

Blackboard Assignment:  Watch “Recount” and read Bush v. Gore

 

WEEK NINE

October 3^rd:  Discuss the film, “Recount”

Blackboard Assignment:  Civility and Media in Democracy, Watch lecture and panel discussions, then read questions posted on blackboard and respond in summary paper

●Read Carter, Chapter 4, 11, 12