Policy Analysis
Political Science 405
WF 11-12:15 S106

Winter 2005

Instructor: Peter Watkins                                                                                                                                             
Office: CEC 208                                                                                                                                                               
Office Phone: x6350                                                                                                                                                         
peterw@saintjoe.edu

Introduction

This class provides the student with a conceptual and substantive overview of the policy process. The first part of the semester, approximately weeks one-five,  will be devoted to the study of some of the most important concepts used in the analysis of policymaking. During weeks six-eight we will focus on an historical event that will allow us to consider one of the concepts considered earlier in the semester. The historical event we will consider is the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854. The last part of the semester will be devoted to a discussion of Steven M. Gillon's text "That's Not What We Meant To Do": Reform and Its Unintended Consequences in Twentieth Century America, and to research which focuses on policymaking on campus. 

The texts we will be using this semester are:

If you are unable to get copies of the texts for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

If you are a student with a disability, please meet with me at your earliest opportunity to discuss any accommodations you will need during class activity, examinations, and out of class assignments in order to participate fully in this class.

Class Schedule

The course calendar can be found below. On it you will find a weekly breakdown of reading assignments and due dates, noted in parentheses, for assigned work.

You will receive a zero if you absent yourself from either of the class presentations. Half a letter grade (e.g. C+ to C) will be deducted for each day a writing assignment is handed in late. I will discuss exceptions to these rules at our first class meeting.

January 10-14: Introduction (1/12), Kingdon Ch. 1 (1/14)
January 17-21: Kingdon Chs. 2-3 (1/19), Kingdon Chs. 4-6 (1/21)
January 24-28: Kingdon Chs. 7-8 (1/26), Kingdon Chs. 9-10 (1/28)
January 31-February 4: Pressman and Wildavsky Chs. 1-2 (2/2), Pressman and Wildavsky Chs. 3-4 (2/4)
February 7-11: Pressman and Wildavsky Chs. 5-6 (2/9), Pressman Wildavsky Ch. 7 (2/11)
February 14-18: Woodham-Smith Chs. 1-4 (2/16), Woodham-Smith Chs. 5-8 (2/18)
February 21-25: Woodham-Smith Chs. 9-12 (2/23), Woodham-Smith Chs. 13-14 (2/25)
February 28-March 4: Class presentations
March 14-18: Gillon "Introduction" (3/16), Gillon Chs. 1-2 (3/18)
March 21-25: Gillon Chs. 3-5 and "Conclusion" (3/23)
March 28-April 1: Meetings to discuss research paper
April 4-8: Meetings to discuss research paper
April 11-15: Meetings to discuss research paper
April 18-22: Meetings to discuss research paper
April 25-29: Meeting to discuss research paper (4/27) and class presentation (4/29)

Class Requirements

You are required to submit two papers during the course of the semester. The first paper, due March 2, will discuss policy implementation and the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854. Your paper should be written in the form of a memo to the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Hardinge, outlining the reason(s) why the disaster at Balaclava occurred. The paper should be a minimum of five pages in length.

In addition to the memo to Lord Hardinge, you are also required to complete an analysis of policymaking at Saint Joseph's College. This semester you will focus on the introduction, evolution, and implementation of the Core program at Saint Joseph's. The paper is to be a minimum of fifteen pages in length. Unlike the memo, this paper will be jointly written, researched, and presented by the class. It is due on April 27.

Papers must possess a cover page and must be stapled in the top left-hand corner. They must be typed and double-spaced. A font size no larger than 12 pt. must be used. The right and bottom margins are to be 1 inch wide. The left margin is to be 1.25 inches wide. The top margin, with the exception of the first page, must be 1 inch wide. The top margin on the first page must be 2 inches in width. Papers must be handed in during class on the date the assignment is due. You are responsible for keeping an extra copy of your paper. Failure to follow these requirements will lead to penalties being assigned.

I strongly urge you to take your papers to the Writing Clinic. The Writing Clinic is located in Core 212. I also urge you to consult The Everyday Writer as you begin the writing process. If you do not have a copy of this text, please let me know.

In addition to the papers outlined above, you are also required to present your research findings to the class.  The first presentation, an individual presentation outlining your memo to Lord Hardinge, will take place on March 2 or March 4. The presentation should last approximately twenty minutes. The second presentation on the introduction, evolution, and implementation of the Core program will be given jointly by the members of the class. It will be given on April 29 and is to last approximately fifty minutes.

Finally, a portion of your grade will be determined by the quality, and to a lesser extent the frequency, of your class participation. In order to effectively participate in class discussion you must keep up with the reading assignments.

I tend to enjoy lively argument and debate in my classroom. I will frequently call upon students by name to address an issue that we are considering. Please come prepared to express your views about the issues at hand.

Your grade will be computed in the following way:

Memo                                                      100 points
Core research paper                              200 points
Memo presentation                                50 points
Core research paper presentation         50 points
Class participation                                 100 points

                                                                               Total                                                         500 points  

No extra credit is available.

A=100%-94.5%, A-=94.4%-89.5%, B+=89.4%-86.5%, B=86.4%-83.5%, B-=83.4%-79.5%, C+=79.4%-76.5%, C=76.4%-73.5%, C-=73.4%-69.5%, D+= 69.4%-64.5%, D=64.4%-59.5, F=59.4% and below.

Writing Portfolio

All political science majors are required to keep a portfolio of their written work. This portfolio will be reviewed by members of the political science faculty prior to your enrollment in the capstone course, Seminar in Political Science. Your portfolio should be kept on a computer disk. The department will supply disks. The types of assignments that can, and should, be placed in the portfolio will be discussed during the semester.

Office Hours

I will be available for conferences MT 1-1:50 and W-F 8-8:50.  If you would like to meet me at another time, please make an appointment to do so. Appointments can be made by calling the number listed at the top of the syllabus, by calling me at home (866-8768), or by sending me an e-mail message.

I will often contact the class via e-mail. Please check your e-mail on a daily basis.

Attendance Policy

A discussion of the college's attendance policy can be found in the Saint Joseph's College 2004-2005 Catalog. See pp. 47-48.

While your class participation grade is largely based on the quality of your participation, failure to attend class will have an adverse impact on your class participation grade.

If you are a member of an athletic team, please identify yourself during the first class session. Professor Teresa Massoels, the Faculty Athletic Representative, has prepared an information sheet for members of the faculty, which addresses questions of athletic related absences.  I will distribute this sheet to those identified as members of athletic teams. You, not your coach, are responsible for informing me of any athletic related absences.

Academic Honesty

"Whenever you are to do a thing. though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly." - Thomas Jefferson

A discussion of academic honesty can be found in the college catalog. Please familiarize yourself with this policy. It can be found in the Saint Joseph's College 2004-2005 Catalog. Please reference pp. 52-54.