Intro to American Politics · Political Science
In this course, I learned a great deal about the foundations of American democracy and the evolution of federalism within the United States. In addition, I learned key political strategies and tactics that are used and analyzed to champion elections.
I learned that politics needs to be examined with a variety of methods including polls, data analysis, historical context, and numerous others. It is not easy to come to straight conclusions in politics because it is a difficult study of complex humans. More than anything I learned that politics is not just a study of statistical data, but a study of psychology and sociology too.
We learned about the American political system including the three branches of government and elections as well as political theory regarding a range of topics from politician incentives to voting.
I'm sure it could be hefty, but I didn't do any of it and still got an A-. Oh, and no, you don't need to read any of it, not even the stuff the other reviewers told you to read. And you can skip recitation. Just put something on paper, and hope for the best.
15% Lecture Attendance (Random Pop Quizzes), 15% Seminar Attendance, 20% Midterm 1, 20% Midterm 2, 30% Final; Tests have super obscure questions that are graded really weirdly, based on a lot of memorization of McGrath's lecture notes, specific examples/studies McGrath either goes over or mentions in lecture, and assigned readings for the week.
A lot of readings that you don't have to do three exams (two short answers and one long essay)
2 midterms and 1 final, all in-person writing prompts. Gives the questions two weeks in advance but the questions are ultra-specific to what the professor thinks. Poli sci course so lots of reading, but you can skim and still do well.
Reasonable midterm/final, research assignment
Two presentations, a midterm that was two take home papers no more than 5 pages each and a standard in class final exam. Reading about 100-150 pages weekly (this was a summer course). Most readings went quickly and the presentations were not difficult or extensive. Not too bad at all.
Information about collective action and federalist papers were clearly explained.