APLS 494I South Carolina Politics A Web Course -- Bob Botsch (bobb@usca.edu), C-7 HSS Building

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SYLLABUS APLS 494I South Carolina Politics --Summer I  2007-- Office Hours: by appointment 803-648-3222 (O) I. Text and Reading Materials: Tyer, Charlie B. (ed). 2002. South Carolina: An Introduction. Columbia, S.C.: The Institute for Public Service and Policy Research, The University of South Carolina.  Until only about 20 years ago, no general college level text existed on South Carolina politics. The single text we are using is is the first part of a two book series. The second book that we are not using is a very good one that focuses on policy areas, but reading it would be too much for a summer course. Since then there have been six texts, counting this one, and this one if the most comprehensive. As is true of many edited texts, the chapters are not all equal in length and detail, but the editor did an excellent job in making sure that most all chapters read well. What is particularly noteworthy is that the chapters are not just about South Carolina government. They set SC in the context of the nation and of other states. Therefore I really do not need a general text to make the comparisons I normally make in this course.  Course Objectives 1. To appreciate the importance of state and local government in South Carolina. The fact is that with efforts to shrink the federal deficit and with the dominant contemporary belief that problems are best solved on a state and local level, state and local government is where the action really is today, even though it gets much less press coverage than national politics. The policies pursued by President Bush in recent years have increased the pressure on and importance of state and local governments. State government seems to be the modern preferred training ground for presidents. Three of the past four presidents were governors! 2. To begin to understand the complexity of the relationships between all levels of government in our federal system. We have the most complex system of government in the world--a federal system--and South Carolina has one of the most complex systems of state government among the 50 states. I have been studying it for a quarter century now and I still do not fully understand it! 3. To learn proper terminology pertaining to state and local government in South Carolina so that you are able to carry on an informed conversation about the state. for example, you should know the difference between the Adjutant General and the Comptroller General and between a general purpose government and a special purpose government. 4. To develop the knowledge and skills to have an impact on state and local government in South Carolina, should you ever wish to do so. 4. To understand the problems and challenges facing South Carolina and how these problems came about. 5. To critically evaluate strategies for dealing with the problems and challenges we face. Formal Requirements 1. Tests (50%). There will be two tests given during the semester, a midterm and the final examination. Each will cover about half of the course. The format will be take-home essay in which you demonstrate that you can discuss issues facing the state in an informed way. I will try to give you essay questions that allow you to show you understand material covered and can apply it to important questions facing the state. 2. Blog contributions (50%). In the past I have used either Blackboard questions or open ended questions students answer and email to me to get people to do the readings in internet courses. This time I am trying something brand new! Drum roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have created a "blog" for the course in which I will pose a series of questions about each reading. I will have several students (depending on class size and the number of questions I think of) answer each question by posting a comment to questions posted on the blog. My guess at this point is that each of you will have to post answers to about 1-2 questions per chapter. I will then comment on your answers. When we get done with a chapter you will be able to look at the answers/comments to all questions on the blog. This will create a kind of overview for each chapter. On these answers I will post one of four grades, unsatisfactory (for a really poor job or for not getting it on on time or not doing it), satisfactory (for an adequate job that was on time), and satisfactory plus (for a really outstanding that shows not only understanding but also thought and creativity and originality and clear expression and correct grammar). Unsatisfactory is a 0, satisfactory is a 75, and satisfactory plus is a 100. At the end of the semester I will just average your grades on these for this half of the course. To give you some chance to make mistakes and take risks, I will drop your two lowest grades here before I compute your average. That is all there is to the course! I am not requiring a term paper because I will be asking you to write a lot of really short one or two paragraph essays on the blog. 3. Grading Scale: A: 90-100; B+: 85-89; B: 80-84; C+: 75-79; C: 70-74: D+: 65-69; D: 60-64;  F: <60 Other Matters and Policies Plagiarism Rules regarding PLAGIARISM apply to all written work. Plagiarism on the research paper will mean an F for the course and a letter will be filed with the Office of Student Affairs detailing the violation. Plagiarism on other written assignment will result in a zero for that assignment.  Honor Code The USCA Honor code is in effect in this course for all written assignments and for exams. I believe in it and I will enforce it. Disability Policy If you have a learning or physical disability which might affect your performance in this class, please inform me and the Coordinator for Disabled Students. You have certain rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That too is part of state and local politics! Junior Writing Portfolio Your instructor values good writing in this course. Please remember that the written work that you produce in this class can be included in your rising junior writing portfolio. For further information on the portfolio requirement, please contact your USCA Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Bulletin or visit Dr. Lynne Rhodes, Director of Writing Assignment, or Karl Fornes, Director of the Writing Room. Assessment We will assess how well we meet the course objectives in several ways. Understanding of course materials will be measured through the tests and written blog answers and comments. Ultimately, your skill as a state and local citizen can only be measured by the competency with which you participate in local and state civic affairs. I cannot measure that, but it is vital for the well being of our society.