POLS 150 – Current
World Issues
Instructor: Sean Marushia
January 3rd – March 22nd
Tues/Thurs, 2:45 – 5:15
Email: smarushia@rtc.edu
Course Description
This course will seek to explore the crises in the world
that most affect today’s citizens. This
exploration will take place in both a historical and a day-to-day context; it
will seek to give the relevant background information while staying up to speed
on the latest events as they unfold in the news. The course will simultaneously explore the
several perspectives surrounding each of major issues in order to understand
and account for bias and the interests of invested parties.
Course Objectives
Students will be able
to more effectively:
·
Read and understand news sources with the big
picture in mind
·
Make civic-minded decisions in that light
·
Consider information sources critically
·
Navigate the many sources of information
available
Grading
Participation
Much of the course is based around discussion, lecture,
in-class readings, debate, activities, and presentations. Attendance and active participation when
present are therefore a large part of your grade. If you are unable to express yourself in
class in a timely manner, or for some very good reason unwilling, you may
discuss participation alternatives with the instructor. You must initiate that conversation.
News
Each student will bring news and other nonfiction articles
to class. This article may be a print
article with your name on it, or it may be posted in the relevant week on the
class website. That site can be found at
http://professorseanworldissues.blogspot.com/,
and I suggest you subscribe to the posts there.
They will contain many of your homework assignments. You will click the “comments” link and add
your articles there.
Journaling
Students are required to journal daily. Topics will be posted; however, students may
write on another topic of their choice if they clear it with the instructor
first. Each student needs a bound (not
spiral) notebook – you will be turning this notebook in periodically.
Weekly reports
Each student will use their journals to write a Thursday
report summarizing what they learned that week.
You will also write an update on your status – what you are having
trouble with, what you liked, and where you would like to see the class
go.
Academic Dishonesty/Classroom Conduct (cf WAC
495E-120-080)
Any student who submits an assignment or other work to an
instructor and falsely represents it as his/her own is guilty of academic
dishonesty and is subject to discipline.
Cheating
Cheating involves doing something that can deceptively or
fraudulently misrepresent your knowledge or ability in an academic or training
exercise. It can also include your assisting of others during an
exercise. Cheating is not tolerated at this institution. If a
student is caught cheating, the student will be subject to discipline.
In my class, you will automatically get a zero on any minor
(homework or in-class) assignment you have cheated on. If it is a major assignment (a final project
or major quiz), you will fail the class entirely.
Plagiarism
In the United States, it is important to give credit to the
person or organization that originated an idea and requires you to make
appropriate citations. This means that if you like an idea that was
originated by someone else, you must give that person or organization credit
for having had that idea. Representing that idea as your own without
citing a reference is referred to as plagiarism. Plagiarism is not
tolerated at this institution.
In my class, you will automatically get a zero on any minor
(homework or in-class) assignment you have plagiarized. If it is a major assignment (a final project),
you will fail the class entirely.
Electronic Devices
Cell phones, iPods and other mp3 players, iTouch pads, and
other such electronic devices are banned in class. I will confiscate (until the end of class)
any such items if I see them.
Class conduct
This class very intentionally consists of controversy – the most
controversial topics, and the most relevant to your conduct as a US and world
citizen, in fact. Discussions in class
will be tense at points; you will disagree with your teacher and your
classmates, and that’s a good thing. Disrespect
of any kind, however, will be met with discipline, particularly if the
disrespect is based on on age, sex, race, religion, sexual preference, income,
political alignment, ethnicity, or ability.
Furthermore, the class itself will decide its rules and regulations,
and everyone in the class is expected to abide by that code.
Course Structure
This course is divided into four (4) special topics.
1. Economics
and Globalization
a. Capitalism
and trade
b. Income
inequality and poverty
c. Immigration
and capital flight
2. The
War on Drugs
a. Mexico
today
3. The
Environmental Crisis
a. Global
Warming
b. Fresh
water
4. The
War on Terror
a. 9/11
and the Afghanistan War
b. Iraq
c. Iran
d. North
Korea?
e. The
Arab Spring
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