Religious & Political Controversies of the American Founding

PLSC 390 Section 001

Summer “D” Session 2016
(3 credit hours)

Instructor:         Dr. Scott Huffmon

Office:              344 Bancroft

Phone #:           ext. 4669 (323-4669 from off campus)

email:                huffmons@winthrop.edu

Web Page:       http://faculty.winthrop.edu/huffmons/

Office Hours: In person and online by appointment

Course Description and Objectives

This course will offer an in-depth look at some of the controversies that shaped our founding and nearly prevented the Constitution from being ratified.  In addition to reviewing founding documents such as The Declaration of Independence, the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, and the Constitution, we will probe the debates over religion, The Bill of Rights, slavery, trade, taxes, and tariffs.

There is a myth, prevalent among those who haven’t studied the history of the American founding, that the US Constitution was a document that reflected a unified set of beliefs among our founders about what the Revolution represented and how the new country should be governed.  This couldn’t be much further from the truth. In fact, for some, the Revolution was as much a religious war as it was a war for national independence.  Additionally, the constitution is not a document of unified principles, but a document produced by one political compromise after another.

By the end of this course, students will be able to place the American founding in a broader religious and political context and better understand the political and philosophical battles that helped created the compromises that make up the US Constitution

 Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate an understanding of the context of the American Revolution beyond the sentiment of “Taxation without Representation.” They will also demonstrate an understanding of the religious context in which the revolution and creation of the Constitution took place. Finally, they will demonstrate an understanding of the forces of compromise that produced the US Constitution

Prerequisites
None

Student Learning Activities

Grades will be calculated using the following formula: 

Online Interaction: Students will be required to interact on the Blackboard discussion board. Points will be distributed based on posing questions, answering questions, and interacting in discussion. A specific assignment sheet will be posted describing expectations.

Readings Questions: As we progress through the sections of the class, you will be given questions related to either a single reading or a group of readings. Points are distributed based on your answer to each question. Answers should be a paragraph or so in length (and will likely form the basis of your online interaction).

Essay 1: the first essay will be due no later than 11:59pm, Sunday, July 24, 2016.  It should be 3 to 5 pages in length.  No bibliography is necessary. You may cite a particular author in the text by last name. E.g.: “As Smith argues…..” or “….were a group that regularly faced religious persecution (see Smith).”  Only use a page number if you quote directly. The goal is to NOT make you worried about citation style at all. Imagine if you were doing an open text essay exam … I wouldn’t care about citation format.  This essay will cover the religious background to the revolution and constitution. Specific details will be included in the assignment.

Essay 2: the second essay will be due no later than 11:59 am, Wednesday, August 10, 2016.  The same length and “non-citation rules” apply as for essay 1. This essay will address non-religious controversies related to the Constitution itself. Specific details will be included in the assignment.

Withdrawal Date: The last day to withdraw from the course with an automatic grade of “N” is July 27, 2016

Students with Disabilities

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 323-3290.  Once you have your official notice of accommodations from the Office of Disability Services, please inform me as early as possible in the semester.

 Required Texts

All readings will be posted online.  

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct will not be tolerated.  Winthrop’s Conduct Code defines academic misconduct as: 

”Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to providing or receiving assistance in a manner not authorized by the professor in the creation of work to be submitted for academic evaluation including papers, projects, and examinations; presenting, as one's own, the ideas or words of another for academic evaluation without proper acknowledgment; doing unauthorized academic work for which another person will receive credit or be evaluated; and presenting the same or substantially the same papers or projects in two or more courses without the explicit permission of the professors involved. In addition, academic misconduct involves attempting to influence one's academic evaluation by means other than academic achievement or merit. More explicit definitions of academic misconduct specific to certain academic disciplines may be promulgated by academic departments and schools.”

I will prosecute cases of academic misconduct to the fullest extent of university policy, and that can mean expulsion from the university.  Obviously, any student caught cheating or plagiarizing, in any manner, on an exam or assignment will receive a zero for that assignment in addition to academic prosecution.  Additionally, I reserve the right to award the student an "F" in the course for ANY act of academic misconduct if I feel it is warranted.  This is in addition to academic prosecution by the Dean of Students.

**ADDITIONALLY, the Department of Political Science has it's own policies on plagiarism and academic misconduct: Poli Sci Statement on Plagiarism In the immortal words of Brad Hamilton: "Learn it; Know it; Live it!"**

University Level Competencies (ULCs): This course contributes to student mastery of the following ULCs: Competency 1: Winthrop graduates think critically and solve problems. and Competency 4: Winthrop graduates communicate effectively. 

Class Policies:

Please provide a respectful learning environment for your fellow students. Civil behavior is expected, just like it would be in a face-to-face class. This means no flaming, no snarking, no bashing, etc., in online discussions. That may be hard, especially if we’re talking about controversial topics, but please keep the online class space a safe space for people to express their opinions and to not feel bullied.

Grade Appeals: If you wish to dispute a grade on a particular assignment for any reason other than an obvious arithmetic error on my part, you will need to type a one-page explanation of your position and turn it in, along with the original graded assignment, at least one week after the assignment is returned to you. I will then consider your appeal and make a determination.

Appeals must be submitted in hard copy format; no appeals submitted via email will be considered.

For appeals regarding your final grade in the course, please consult the Student Handbook and Catalog for procedures.

This syllabus subject to change by the instructor throughout the course.