Course PS 566: Contemporary American Political Thought Course Learning Objectives
Students in PS 566 will:
(CLO1) KNOW key ideas and arguments in contemporary American political thought. (CLO2) ANALYZE the relationship between contemporary American political thought and the American founding. (CLO3) EVALUATE recent political rhetoric in the context of contemporary American political thought. (CLO4) CREATE a rigorous account of their own political thinking in the context of key ideas and arguments in contemporary American political thought.
Unit Week 9: Pluralism and Power Elite Theory Unit Learning Objectives
LO1: Know key concepts and arguments of pluralism and power elite theory LO2: Analyze relationship of pluralism and power elite theory to previous course material
LO3: Evaluate applicability of pluralism and power elite theory to contemporary U.S.
Pre-‐Class Activity 1 Introduction Description Locates idea of “end of ideology” in context of post-‐WWII “consensus;” Identifies pluralism and power elite theory as
alternative accounts of distribution of power in post-‐WWII United States; poses specific questions for students to consider as they do readings
Delivery Modailty Online (html file on Learn@UW) Assessment Online Quiz Learning Objectives LO1, LO2 Time on Task 15 minutes Required knowledge Knowledge of previous course readings and themes
Pre-‐Class Activity 2 Readings Description Students will read excerpts from Daniel Bell, “End of Ideology;” Robert Dahl, “Who Governs?;” and C. Wright Mills, “The
Power Elite” Delivery Modailty Norton Anthology of American Political Thought; PDFs (on Learn@UW) Assessment Online Quiz Learning Objectives LO1 Time on Task 120 minutes Required knowledge Knowledge of introduction (pre-‐class activity 1)
Pre-‐Class Activity 3 Critical Reader Description Students will access critical reader (CR). CR provides further context for readings, including Madison’s FP # 10; links
readings to previous course material, especially Frank Meyer readings; uses interactive tools to encourage analysis of readings
Delivery Modailty Online (published on Learn@UW) Assessment Embedded informal self-‐assessments; Online Quiz Learning Objectives LO1, LO2 Time on Task 40 minutes Required knowledge Knowledge of introduction, readings and previous course themes Pre-‐Class Activity 4 View “Obama’s Deal” Description Students will view Frontline documentary “Obama’s Deal,” which tells story of legislative process that produced the
Affordable Care Act. Delivery Modailty Online; video embedded in Critical Reader, with full transcript provided Assessment Formative during in-‐class activities Learning Objectives LO3 Time on Task 60 minutes Required knowledge Knowledge of introduction, readings, critical reader
Pre-‐Class Activity 5 Online Team Discussion ** New teams forming, so no online team discussion this week; time for team discussion replaced by time spent
watching “Obama’s Deal **
In-‐Class Activity 1 Team Discussion Description Students will meet in teams. Teams 1, 3, 5 take on perspective of pluralism. Teams 2, 4, 6 take on perspective of
power elite theory. Each team 1) reviews main points of their assigned theory; 2) locates 3 pieces of evidence from “Obama’s Deal” that support their theory; and 3) identifies another issue in contemporary politics that confirms their theory.
Delivery Modailty Face-‐to-‐face in teams; Instructor and T.A. drop-‐ins Assessment Formative through drop-‐ins and during full class discussion; Team Project 2; Individual Project 2 Learning Objectives LO1, L03 Time on Task 25 Required knowledge Knowledge of introduction, readings, critical reader, “Obama’s Deal”
In-‐Class Activity 2 Combined Team Discussion Description Teams combine: 1 & 2; 3 & 4; 5 & 6. Each pair of teams works towards consensus on whether pluralism or power elite
theory best explains process and politics of health care reform Delivery Modailty Face-‐to-‐face in teams; Instructor and T.A. drop-‐ins Assessment Formative through drop-‐ins and during full class discussion; Team Project 2; Individual Project 2 Learning Objectives LO1, L03 Time on Task 20 Required knowledge Knowledge of introduction, readings, critical reader, “Obama’s Deal”
In-‐Class Activity 3 Full Class Discussion Description Teams share results of In-‐class activities 1 and 2; Instructor probes for knowledge, analysis, evaluation of week’s
material and themes. Delivery Modailty Face-‐to-‐face, full class discussion moderated by instructor Assessment Formative during full class discussion; Team Project 2; Individual Project 2 Learning Objectives LO1, LO2, L03 Time on Task 30 Required knowledge Knowledge of introduction, readings, critical reader, “Obama’s Deal”