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Course Description
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Dr. Steven Wolinetz
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Political Science 3300
Dr. Steven Wolinetz
Winter 2008
European Politics
In addition to assigned reading tasks students will be asked to serve as rapporteurs, ready to report in class on at least two occasions on developments in specific countries or on specific problems. Rapporteurial assignments will provide a basis for participation grades as well as a starting point for longer papers to be submitted at the end of the semester. In addition to rapporteurial assignments, and longer papers, there will be a midterm exam and a final exam covering material from the entire course.
Evaluation will be as follows:
Rapporteurial assignments & class participation 20%
Midterm Exam (February 14th) 20%
Longer paper (Due April 1st) 20%
Final Exam 40%
Please note that in order to receive a passing participation grade, you must attend class regularly.
The bookstore has been asked to order the following book:
Colin Hay and Anand Menon, eds., European Politics. Oxford University Press, 2007
Office hours and consultation:
I will be happy to answer questions and discuss course material. My office is SN2043. I will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00-3:15 p.m. You can also reach me via e-mail at swolin@mun.ca
European Studies website:
see http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~ceuep/ and especially the pages on contemporary Europe, http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~ceuep/contemporaryeurope.html for links on news media, the EU, and its member-states. This will be updated to include a course website, contemporary and historical links, and information on European Studies and study abroad programs at Memorial.
Following the news:
Part of your job as a student of European politics is to follow news about countries and problems which we are studying. In order to do this, you are expected to read both the British and European sections of a weekly newsmagazine, The Economist. Established in 1843, The Economist is a British newsmagazine noted for strong opinions, 'pontificating,' and clear and lucid writing. It is published weekly, on Thursdays and is available both in print and on-line. Current numbers of The Economist are available on www.economist.com. You can access restricted content and back editions, as well as Economist Intelligence Unit reports, through the QEII Library catalog. Please note that if you trying to access the later from off-campus, you will need to use an off-campus login.
Other useful sources include the Guardian (London) website, www.guardian.co.uk and The Financial Times (London) www.ft.com . Both the Guardian and The Financial are daily newspapers. You can search and access this material by going through the QEII Library's subscriptions and on-line databases. If you are off campus, be sure use the off-campus login. The New York Times (www.nytimes.com) is also useful. Student subscriptions to The Globe and Mailare available through the Political Science Department Office.
Rapporteurial assignments and longer papers:
You will be expected to present brief report on material you are reading in The Economist and other sources on at least two occasions. Your longer papers will can be an examination of an EU member-state and how it has changed over time, the impact EU membership has had on its politics, or an examination of a particular theme or policy area. Topics should flow from your rapporteurial assignments. Details will follow shortly.
Doing well in this course:
There are a number of ways to well in this course. The most important are to attend class, do the assigned readings on schedule, and to take an active approach to the material you are studying. This means not only reading and attending class, but also thinking and asking questions about what you read or hear. Good writing and clear thinking are important. Papers should be written according to standard conventions of the English language. Papers which are poorly written will receive a maximum grade of 60%.
Please note that your grade for your rapporteurial assignments includes a grade for class participation. You cannot be deemed to be participating if you do not attend class.
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Created by Erika Kirkpatrick January 21, 2008
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