Political Science 5 Ethnicity in the American Political Process El Camino College, Spring 2016 Karl N. Striepe, Instructor kstriepe@elcamino.edu Office Hours (ARTB 320): Mondays and Wednesdays 12:00 1:00 pm, or by appointment. Course Time & Location: Section 2770: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00 3:25 pm (SOCS 122) Course Description: In this course students will analyze racial and ethnic group relations in the context of the American political system and process. The relationship of racial and ethnic groups in American society to local, state, and national government will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on problems of assimilation and integration into the American political system. Course Methodology: This course will consist of two in-class lectures per week running for an hour and twenty-five minutes. Each lecture will focus on a selected reading. Students will be expected to complete the readings before lecture. The first lecture of the week will focus on a particular branch of study within race, ethnicity and politics (REP), for example, voting rights. The second lecture of the week will focus on a particular controversial topic concerning that branch of study, for example, relating to the topic of voting rights we will examine the question of the need for a permanent voting rights act. In addition to the readings, students will be expected to attend all lectures and participate. Course assignments will include a midterm and final exam as well as a 5-6 page research paper on a topic provided by the instructor. Also, there will be weekly discussion questions and weekly quizzes on the Key Concepts from the course textbook. Expected Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and Course Objectives: By the end of the semester, students should (1) demonstrate knowledge and analyze the inclusion strategies used by minority groups within the democratic system as applicable to urban politics; (2) critically analyze the major theories regarding race within the policymaking process; and (3) demonstrate knowledge of and compare and contrast the different government public policies that have influenced race and ethnic relations in America. Specifically, students will be able to: 1. Assess the role of cultural identity in shaping norms and values related to the political process in the United States with emphasis on the role of racial and ethnic identities. Page 1 of 7
2. Describe and evaluate formal government actions, legislation, court decisions, and executive orders as they relate to race and ethnicity in the political process. 3. Critically examine theories of Assimilation, Pluralism, and Pluralist Nationalism within the policy making process. 4. Assess the impact of media portrayal of various racial/ethnic groups on political policies and processes in American society. 5. Describe and analyze the impact of current and past immigration policies on different ethnic groups in the United States. 6. Assess the impact of different forms of discrimination experienced by various ethnic groups in the political process. 7. Compare and contrast public policies that influence race and ethnic relations in America. 8. Evaluate the struggle for inclusion by minority groups in the United States democracy within the dynamics of urban politics. Course Requirements and Assignments: GRADING BREAKDOWN: Class participation and attendance 20% Quizzes 20% Midterm Exam 20% Research Paper (5-6 pages) 20% Final Exam 20% CLASS PARTICIPATION The second lecture of each week will be devoted to discussion of a controversial topic in race and politics related to the political concepts and institutions as introduced in the first lecture of the week. Participation grades will be based on the completion of discussion questions DUE THAT DAY in class. Responses to the discussion questions MUST BE TYPED. Late submissions will not be accepted unless as a result of an excused absence (e.g. doctor s appointment, work or job interview you must provide a note from your doctor or employer). QUIZZES There will be 12 in-class quizzes during the course on the Key Concepts for that week. Quizzes will be given at the end of class on the first lecture of the week. You will NOT be able to make up quizzes unless you miss the quiz as a result of an excused absence. MIDTERM & FINAL EXAMS The course exams will consist of three sections: (1) a set of multiple choice questions pertaining to the key themes and concepts of the course; (2) a set of short-answer questions requiring students to briefly elaborate on the major issues, answers should be roughly a paragraph long; (3) two essay questions of which the students will select one to respond to, answers should be roughly 3 to 5 paragraphs long (students will receive Page 2 of 7
the possible essay questions before the exam). Exams require a bluebook and will be closed book and no notes. RESEARCH PAPER Students will write one 5-6 page (double spaced) paper addressing a question concerning the themes and issues introduced during the course. Students will be assigned the paper topic on Tuesday, March 1. Papers will be due at the start of class on Tuesday, April 5. Papers will be evaluated on the degree to which they respond to the assigned question, the accuracy and force of their arguments, and the clarity of their writing. Late papers will lose three points per day late. EXTRA CREDIT Various extra credit assignments and projects may be given throughout the course at the instructor s discretion. Course Texts: All texts are available at the campus bookstore. Both texts are required. REQUIRED: Todd Shaw et. al. (2015) Uneven Roads: An Introduction to U.S. Racial and Ethnic Politics (Los Angeles: Sage/CQ Press). Listed as UR in the Course Schedule. REQUIRED: Raymond D Angelo and Herbert Douglas, eds. (2014) Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Race and Ethnicity, tenth edition (US: McGraw-Hill Education). Listed as TS in the Course Schedule. Course Schedule: Please complete the assigned reading BEFORE each lecture. Week 1 Week 2 LECTURE 1: Tuesday, January 19 Course Introduction LECTURE 2: Thursday, January 21 Race as an Uneven Road Reading: UR, chapter 1. LECTURE 3: Tuesday, January 26 Native Americans Reading: UR, chapter 2. LECTURE 4: Thursday, January 28 Native American Sports Mascots Reading: TS, pp. 111-22. Page 3 of 7
Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 LECTURE 5: Tuesday, February 2 African Americans Reading: UR, chapter 3. LECTURE 6: Thursday, February 4 American Racism Reading: TS, pp. 71-81. LECTURE 7: Tuesday, February 9 Latino Americans Reading: UR, chapter 4. LECTURE 8: Thursday, February 11 Bilingual Education Reading: TS, pp. 193-204. LECTURE 9: Tuesday, February 16 Asian Americans Reading: UR, chapter 5. LECTURE 10: Thursday, February 18 Immigration and Racial Identity Reading: TS, pp. 178-192. LECTURE 11: Tuesday, February 23 Race and Immigration Reading: UR, chapter 6. LECTURE 12: Thursday, February 25 Improvement via Immigration Reading: TS, pp. 167-77. LECTURE 13: Tuesday, March 1 Paper Topics Assigned Documentary Viewing: Racism: A History Part 1 Thursday, March 3 Documentary Viewing: Racism: A History Part 2 Page 4 of 7
Week 8 Tuesday, March 8 Documentary Viewing: Racism: A History Part 3 Thursday, March 10 MIDTERM EXAM Monday, March 14 Friday, March 18 Spring Break Holidays Week 9 LECTURE 14: Tuesday, March 22 Voting Rights Reading: UR, chapter 7. LECTURE 15: Thursday, March 24 Permanent Voting Rights Act Reading: TS, pp. 215-28. Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 LECTURE 16: Tuesday, March 29 Group Identity Reading: UR, chapter 8. LECTURE 17: Thursday, March 31 Prejudice and Group Position Reading: TS, pp. 125-41. LECTURE 18: Tuesday, April 5 Political Behavior and Representation Reading: UR, chapter 9. Papers Due Today LECTURE 19: Thursday, April 7 Obama and a Post-Racial Society Reading: TS, pp. 60-68. LECTURE 20: Tuesday, April 12 Education and Criminal Justice Reading: UR, chapter 10. LECTURE 21: Thursday, April 14 Mass Incarceration Reading: TS, pp. 240-57. Page 5 of 7
Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 LECTURE 22: Tuesday, April 19 Immigration Policy Reading: UR, chapter 11. LECTURE 23: Thursday, April 21 Multiculturalism and Assimilation Reading: TS, pp. 38-49. LECTURE 24: Tuesday, April 26 Diasporic Politics Reading: UR, chapter 12. LECTURE 25: Thursday, April 28 Birthright Citizenship Reading: TS, 205-12. LECTURE 26: Tuesday, May 3 Beyond Race Reading: UR, chapter 13. LECTURE 27: Thursday, May 5 Common Identity Reading: TS, pp. 19-37. Tuesday, May 10 Documentary Viewing: American Denial Thursday, May 12 FINAL EXAM Course Policies and Suggestions: 1. You will do well on your exams if you read and re-read the texts carefully, attend class and participate, and ask for help if you feel yourself getting confused or behind. 2. Large classes are not ideal, but many studies have shown that students learn well in them if everybody works together carefully. To be specific: (a) please put away nonclass reading material during lecture; (b) please silence or preferably turn off all cellphones during lecture; (c) while taking notes on laptop computers or tablet devices is acceptable, please refrain from visiting websites unrelated to the course or lecture (e.g. Facebook, etc.); (d) finally, please do not talk in class unless called upon. This as well as the other rules are important. Please be considerate of your fellow students. Page 6 of 7
3. Please bring the readings to class each day. Frequent references will be made to the text and reading along will be immensely useful to you later when you are preparing for exams. 4. Please take advantage of office hours. Lecturers enjoying talking with and getting to know their students. It is especially important that you contact your instructor if you feel confused or if you are falling behind. Instructors are here to help. 5. Students are encouraged to ask questions in class. While the last portion of class will be set aside for this specific purpose, questions during the lecture are also welcome, even if they are only for clarification or repetition. Every question is useful, and if you feel confused it is likely that other people do as well. 6. Please arrive to class on time. Important announcements (deadlines, discussion of paper topics and exams and so on) frequently come in the first five to ten minutes of class. If you arrive late you risk missing important information. 7. The course paper is due at the beginning of class on the day stipulated in the course schedule. Late papers lose three marks per day (e.g. a 100% paper becomes a 97% paper) unless a verifiable doctor s note is provided. 8. Please bring pen or pencil and a bluebook for both the midterm and the final exams. 9. Make sure that your correct and current email address is registered with the college so that you can receive course emails. The instructor will occasionally send out class emails regarding additions or updates to the course readings as well as other matters relating to the course material. Check your email often. 10. If you have any questions about this course, its assignments, quizzes, exams, readings or other requirements, please feel free contact me by email or talk to me before or after class or during office hours: I am here to help. Accessibility (ADA) Statement: El Camino College is committed to providing educational accommodations for students with disabilities upon the timely request by the student to the instructor. Students with a disability who would like to request an academic accommodation are responsible for identifying themselves both to the instructor and to the Special Resources Center. For arrangements for academic accommodations, such as more time for course exams, please contact the Special Resources center at (310) 660-3295. Page 7 of 7