Fall 2020 - POL 318 D100

Fake News and Alt-Facts: Navigating Post-Truths Politics (4)

Class Number: 7180

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Mon, 2:30–4:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 9, 2020
    Wed, 11:59–11:59 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Six lower division units in Political Science or permission of the department.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores the emergence of post-truth politics; the rejection of expert and scientific opinion; and the emergence of "alternative facts" and "fake news" in political discourse on current issues such as climate change, immigration and the economy. Also explores corresponding increase in the ideological polarization in the US, Canada, and the UK and other European nations. Students with credit for POL 339 Selected Topics in Comparative Government and Politics under the title Navigating the Post-Truth World may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

In this course we will cover what it means to say that we live in a post-truth world, and how to navigate the ocean of political information in that world. We will explore the rejection of expert opinion and statistics as fact. We will examine the concept of alternative facts and we will ask what distinguishes fake news from other (non-fake?) news. We will examine the increasing difficulty of engaging in civil discourse with those across the political divide. We will learn how to think critically under such circumstances and how to engage in constructive political disagreement. Throughout the course we will connect the discussion taking place in traditional and social media with research from a range of fields, such as political and social psychology, and political communication.

Course Format:

Each week will have 90 minutes of online synchronous meeting time and 140 minutes of asynchronous weekly exercises.

 

Grading

  • See NOTES below. 100%

NOTES:

There will be a flexible assessment for POL318 (students choose the first week):

Course Evaluation:

Option 1

Online discussion 15%
Weekly exercises 15%
Case study 20%
Recorded Presentation 10%
Final exam 40%  

Option 2

Online discussion 15%
Weekly exercises 25%
Case study 20%
Recorded Presentation 10%
Final exam 30%    

Option 3

Online discussion 15%
Weekly exercises 35%
Case study 20%
Recorded Presentation 10%
Final exam 20%    

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

CRITICAL THINKING 

BY CHATFIELD, TOM 

SAGE PUBLICATIONS, LIMITED

PUBLICATION DATE: NOV. 23, 2017


ISBN: 9781473947146

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The Department of Political Science strictly enforces a policy on plagiarism.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).