First 10 weeks only.
	Political controversies are all around us.  From organized
protests on TV to impromptu dining hall discussions, few people can
escape them.  Whether a prevalence of such personal encounters makes
you feel as though you’ve “chosen your side” on most issues, or an
unfamiliarity with “what they’re all talking about” has you a little
anxious about taking this course, it is essential that we each gain a
greater understanding of the issues that affect ourselves and our
nation.  That is one goal of this course. Perhaps more important;
however, we will endeavor to learn how to take an active role in
determining how these issues are resolved in our community.
Realize that while contemporary political controversies will provide
helpful illustrations of what we will be studying, this is not
STRICTLY a course in current events.  Arguments and facts without
theory and perspective are often of little value. Moreover,
conventional wisdom can be gravely mistaken.  Accordingly, through
political science the aim of the course is for the past and present
to inform the future and for the present to shed light on the past.
You will be expected, therefore, to develop a further understanding
of (1) what politics is, (2) how a Constitution now in its third
century continues to affect our lives, (3) how our political
institutions work, and (4) how we can work through political
institutions to affect change regarding the issues confronted in
class, as well as the issues that will confront us in the future.