Proseminar: American Politics Domestic and Foreign: Culture, Institutions and Leadership 4219-ZP033
This proseminar is meant for the students who wish to write their thesis in the broadly defined "domestic politics" area (but not only). You may
sign up for this proseminar if you are interested in any of the following issues:
1. institutions of American democracy (the Presidency, Congress, the Supreme Court)
2. the policy process (making public policy, relations of power in the public sphere, bureaucratic dynamics, implementation)
3. political behavior (elections, lobbying, interest groups, political parties, social movements, minorities and politics of identity);
4. political culture (values, attitudes, political consciousness, legitimacy, collective identity, political symbols and rituals, political heroes and
myths);
5. political marketing: language of politics, political communication: verbal and symbolic;
6. political leadership (role of individuals in the system, presidents, great politicians, African-American leaders);
7. political psychology (presidential character and style);
8. ideologies (classic and post-New Deal liberalism, republicanism; political extremism)
9. foreign policy (foreign policy decision-making, foreign policy rhetoric, crisis rhetoric, foreign policy lobbying, American role in the world)
If you are not sure if your interests and current state of mind (and knowledge) fall within any of the areas mentioned above please get in touch with me before registration.
For communication please use email (Bohdan.Szklarski@uw.edu.pl ) and text message or in extra special cases a telephone. My number is: 606839856. Please use it judiciously. In communication with me please always identify yourself. We can always find a time to meet that suits both of us.
Type of course
obligatory courses
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student:
Knowledge:
- Understands theories of political science, advanced terminology in this discipline, and qualitative research methods.
- Understands complex relationships between political and social phenomena, interdependencies of culture and politics in the USA.
- Understands the importance of academic integrity.
Skills:
- Can prepare research projects in political science using previously acquired knowledge under the supervision of an academic advisor.
- Can interpret qualitative research results.
- Can pose research questions, construct research projects, search for source materials and studies, formulate research hypotheses.
- Can interpret scientific texts and maintain a critical approach towards them.
- Can prepare written and oral research reports in English; write longer scientific texts.
- Uses English to convey advanced scientific content.
Social Competencies:
- Is ready to utilize interdisciplinary knowledge relevant to political science to formulate personal opinions.
Assessment criteria
GRADING:
Requirements for a passing grade (ZAL): regular attendance and participation in class discussions. Homeworks. you will be asked to prepare several small (1-2 pages) homework projects that will be a reflection of your familiarity with methodological matters. Class readings and lectures will be devoted mainly to issues of methodology in order to find the best approach for your research. The bulk of your grade will come from my evaluation of your diploma work plan research design. The plan is due no later than the last regular class of the semester.
Bibliography
różnorodne teksty poświęcone metodologii nauk społecznych:
Wayne Booth, Gregory Colomb, Joseph Williams, The Craft of Research
James Lester, James Lester jr Writing Research Papers - A Complete Guide
Earl Babbie The Practice of Social Research. 9th Edition.
http://csr-d.pl/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Earl-Babbie-Badania-Spo%C5%82eczne-w-Praktyce.pdf
Phillips Shively, The Craft of Political Research any edition
https://edisciplinas.usp.br/pluginfile.php/4250035/mod_folder/content/0/Textos/Shively%2C%20The%20Craft%20of%20Political
%20Research.pdf?forcedownload=1
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: