Read these requirements carefully. Please copy them and put them with your other printed materials.
READINGS
I love to read. We will do a lot of reading in this seminar.
Required Books
You must buy hard copies of the four books below. No kindles or other electronic formats. Sreens are distracting. You must bring these books to class on the days we discuss them.
Sophia Rosenfeld, Democracy and Truth: A Short History
Lee McIntyre, Post Truth
Václav Havel, Open Letters: Selected Writings, 1965-1990
Maria Ressa, How to Stand up to a Dictator
Don’t worry. We will read much more.
.
ASSIGNMENTS ON THIS SYLLABUS
One of my motivations in creating this web-based Syllabus is to save you $$$. You will find the majority of your readings here. I will also provide you with hand-outs. You must read everything. Rest assured, I can always tell in our discussions that you have done the readings. And, not wanting to disappoint you, I can also tell when you haven’t completed them.
Our class discussions will only work well if you have these readings physically in front of you. Therefore, please remember these rules:
1) Print all of the readings on this site that are marked PRINT. If they are only marked READ, take notes while you read them. For videos, you will need to take notes since it is easy to forget them.
2) Bring all of the required readings to class on the day we are scheduled to discuss them. Again: discussions will only work if you have the material right in front of you.
Please do not use Kindles, laptops, IPhones, or similar electronic devices in our seminar. They are distracting and do not facilitate learning.
OTHER MEDIA
I love pictures. We will watch at least one film. I have included other types of media on the Course Syllabus. I encourage you to use visual and audio media when you lead class discussions. Please send me the relevant photos and links at least one full day before the discussion, and I will post them on this Syllabus.
CLASS VISITS
We will have two class visitors this semester, both Notre Dame graduates in Political Science and both my former students. Robert (“Bob”) Costa (ND ’08) is an Emmy Award winning journalist and the coauthor, with Bob Woodward, of the best-seller Peril. He will meet with us to offer perspectives on Truthtelling in a time of Untruth. Bob is currently Chief Election and Campaign Correspondent for CBS News. Kaitlin Sullivan is Director of Content Policy for Meta (Facebook). You can learn about her advice for graduating political science majors here.
CLASS DISCUSSIONS
I am emphatically committed to vigorous discussions in my seminars. All of our class sessions will be based on conversing with each other. I will give no lectures. Each of you will have the honor of serving as a discussion leader several times during the semester. To the extent that I am able, I will resist the temptation to monopolize discussions. Your challenge, if you will accept it, is to restrain me when I fail to abide my maxim. By the end of the semester, you should not need me at all.
GRADING
It is a special privilege to take a seminar. You should treat our seminar with reverence and respect. Seminars are small and allow for intimate and lively discussions. They also provide me with the pleasant opportunity to work closely with each of you as individuals.
My aspirations are modest. If I can enhance your ability to speak, read, write, think critically, and persuade, I shall be pleased. These objectives are reflected in the breakdown of my grades.
Participation and Short Assignments (35%)
Two Reflective Essays (15% each)
Semester Essay (35%)
In the interest of being fair to all of your classmates, I will dock assignments 1/3 of a letter grade for each day they are late (unless you have a very persuasive , documented excuse).
All of the major assignments, such as essays, will be on the Syllabus. However, I will frequently make paragraph assignments. These assignments will not necessarily be on the Syllabus since I often develop them while I am listening to your class discussion. You must turn in these paragraph assignments on the Google documents I have provided for each of you.
If we have a debate or any other kind of class undertaking, you will be responsible for participating vigorously on the Google document I share with all of you. This will be a part of your discussion grade.
You must type and double-space all of the above assignments, and put your name on top. No exceptions. Unfortunately, I will not be able to read any assignment that is handwritten.
To receive a passing grade in this class, you must visit me during my office hours at least one time this semester.
ATTENDANCE
Class attendance is MANDATORY. If you are ill, please send me an email as well as a statement from the health clinic so that I do not worry about you. Unless you are ill, you must consult with me beforehand if you know you will miss a class and provide a very good reason for your absence. Of course, university-approved absences are fine. Please remind me beforehand if you will be gone.
If you cannot attend class for any reason, you are responsible for completing any assignments that I have given on the day you are not in class. If you do not know the assignment, all you have to do is ask a classmate or simply write to me. Again, this is your responsibility.
HONOR CODE
This seminar is based upon the collective exchange of ideas and insights. Therefore, I welcome all of the conversations you have with each other, inside or outside class. You are free to discuss your readings and writing assignments with each other (with the exception of your final essay). In fact, I encourage it. However, every writing assignment you turn in to me must be clearly, unmistakably, and unequivocally your own work!
The use of ChatGPT or any similar AI tool is prohibited in this class (unless I create an assignment built around it). If you use ChatGPT or any of its associates in completing your assignments, I will ask you to drop the course.
OFFICE HOURS
The most effective teaching is one-on-one. I particularly welcome the opportunity to get to know each of my students personally. When you visit, you do not need to have specific questions about the class. I view your education holistically, and I am interested in learning about–and following–your adventures.
My office hours are on Tuesdays 1:30-2:30 and Wednesdays 2:00-4:00, as well as by appointment. I am situated in room 2080 in Nanovic Hall, just a couple doors down from the Political Science department and next to the poster of American genius Frank Zappa.
Visit me soon!
AJM