Y200 objectives

Y200

To become smarter and more effective citizens in understanding the electoral process in the United States.
To learn how campaigns are run, money is raised, and voters make decisions, and the role of the media in all of this.
To be able to understand how elections influence the way government works. How does the process of selecting leaders in the U.S. affect the kind of public policies they produce?
To express yourself effectively, both verbally and in writing. This includes integrating new concepts of campaigns and elections into how you analyze politics and voting.

Are you learning the important facts from lecture and the readings? To assess this we use a combination of short answer and essay questions. You should be looking for broad patterns of evidence, for central arguments and for key ideas in the readings and lectures. You will not be tested on specific facts and figures--unless they are central to the topic at hand. However, we will examine lots of data: know the general patterns and why these are important politically.
Are you integrating all the elements of the class and can you express this understanding? The class exercises offer the opportunity to bring together readings, materials from guests, the news and the Web to display an appreciation and critical understanding of elections in America.

This page was last updated 8/27/06
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~gwclass/y200
Contact: wright1@indiana.edu