Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2021 - POL 121 D100

Political Engagement: From the Streets to the Ballot Box (3)

Class Number: 4808

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: TBA, TBA
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 23, 2021
    Fri, 11:59–11:59 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to political action and behaviour. Politics involves the struggle for power and influence. Nowhere is this more evident than when individuals mobilize and engage in political action, whether in a revolution to overthrow an authoritarian regime, protesting on the street against the government, or voting on Election Day. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

COURSE TIMES + LOCATION: Asynchronous, Online on Canvas and Blackboard Collaborate on Canvas

TUTORIALS: Tuesdays 4:30~5:20 or 5:30~6:20, starting in Week 2

VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS:

Monday ~Friday, 9:00~10:00 a.m. (Blackboard Collaborate)

COURSE DETAILS

Around the world we are witnessing an erosion of democracy – a democracy deficit – coming at the end of hundreds of years of struggles to win democratic rights and governance. In this introductory-level “breadth” course* we will explore the motivations, resources, tactics, strategies and theories of political engagement, political participation and political resistance to the powers that be. We will also investigate ways that citizens can get involved in their political process, both during and between voting in elections. With a focus on youth, and contemporary developments such as social media activism, we will investigate such questions as: What are the various forms of conventional and unconventional political engagement? Why should we care about political participation at all? Are youth slacktivists? Which factors influence or dissuade young people’s participation in the political process? How can we encourage youth, and all generations, to actively participate in order to preserve their own democracies in the face of systemic racism, populist authoritarianism, and state-imposed “states of emergencies” and lockdowns in the midst of a global pandemic? Collectively, we will strive to find solutions to the existing democracy deficit.  *See: https://www.sfu.ca/ugcr/for_students/wqb_requirements/breadth.html


COURSE ORGANIZATION

The course is organized based on asynchronous (on your own time) instruction. In addition to a weekly tutorial (starting at Week 2), students will engage with the instructor in virtual meetings and conduct group collaboration.

Grading

  • Tutorial Participation 15%
  • Op-Ed or Blog 5%
  • Group Project (Research Poster or Petition) 15%
  • Mid-term Assessment 15%
  • Research Essay (with Peer Review at 5%) 25%
  • Final Take-home Exam 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

The principal reading is the following textbook, available for purchase as an electronic book:

Russell J. Dalton. Citizen Politics: Public Opinion and Political Parties in Advanced Industrial Democracies. Seventh Edition. CQ Press: Washington DC, 2020. [ISBN-13: 978-1544351780 or ISBN: 978-1544351780]

See Sage Publishers: https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/citizen-politics/book249477

In addition, we will be reading an array of other references, including journal articles, book chapters, research institute reports and governmental statistical reports. These required readings will be available electronically on Canvas.

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 SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 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).