Argument in Political Science

4.0 credits

This course introduces students to the analytical approaches of political science and emphasizes careful reading and analytical writing. For its subject matter, this class focuses on the 250-year-old project of building and sustaining American democracy—beginning with the Founding (including debates over the Constitution, slavery, and the Bill of Rights) and culminating with the Trump presidency. Topics include tyranny of the majority, constitutional design, the development of a two-party system, congressional organization, racism and civil rights, women's rights, the politics of abortion and LGBTQ rights, partisan polarization, and democratic erosion. Assignments include short papers on the assigned readings, a midterm, and a final.