Thursday 11 September 2014

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 111: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON

POLI 111:      INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST: FIRST SEMESTER, 2014/2015

LECTURERS:
MR. KWESI JONAH                                   email: kwesijonah@gmail.com
DR. EVANS AGGREY-DARKOH              email: aggreydarkoh@ug.edu.gh
DR. SEIDU MAHAMA ALIDU                  email: smalidu@ug.edu.gh

COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS
COURSE TITLE
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
COURSE CODE
POLI 111
PURPOSE
AND
OBJECTIVES
Like any other human endeavour, the laying of a solid foundation in academic pursuit is crucial for the appreciation and understanding of the discipline. For this to be achieved, it is always important for beginners to get the basics right before building upon it subsequently. This explains why this course, Introduction to the Study of Political Science, is offered, particularly at this level, to introduce students to some basic ideas and concepts in the field of Political Science. Apart from the nature and scope of the subject matter of politics, the course will focus on traditional political concepts like nation, state, power, influence, authority and sovereignty. Other concepts to be considered include government, democracy and good governance due to their relevance in modern societies. The successful completion and understanding of this course are necessary for the preparation of students for a future in-depth study of other Political Science courses.
WEEK NO.
DATE
LECTURE TOPIC
TUTORIALS
VENUE
ASSESSMENT
1

Nature and Scope of Politics

JQB 09, 14 & 24

2

Nature and Scope of Politics

JQB 09, 14 & 24

3

Nature and Scope of Political Science

JQB 09, 14 & 24

4

Nature and Scope of Political Science

JQB 09, 14 & 24

5

The Concepts of Power, Authority and Influence

JQB 09, 14 & 24

6

The Concepts of Legitimacy and Sovereignty

JQB 09, 14 & 24

7

The Concepts of Legitimacy and Sovereignty

JQB 09, 14 & 24
Continuous Assessment
8

Ideology

JQB 09, 14 & 24

9

Ideology

JQB 09, 14 & 24

10

Government

JQB 09, 14 & 24

11

Government

JQB 09, 14 & 24

12

Democracy and Good Governance

JQB 09, 14 & 24

13

Democracy and Good Governance

JQB 09, 14 & 24

14
REVISION
15-17
EXAMINATION (70%)

READINGS
  • Heywood, A. Politics, 3ed. (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007)
  • Roskin et al. Political Science: An Introduction, 4ed. (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1991)
  • Bealey, F., et al. Elements in Political Science (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1999)
  • Magstadt, T.M. and Schotten, P.M. Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions and Issues, 4ed. (New York: St Martin’s Press, 1996)
  • Jackson, R.J. and Jackson, D. (eds.). An Introduction to Political Science: Comparative and World Politics, 4ed. (Toronto: Prentice-Hall, 2003)
  • Easton, D. The Political System (New York: A Knopf, 1965)
  • Nnoli, O. Introduction to Politics (Singapore: Longman Singapore Publishers Pte Ltd., 1986)
  • Bluwey, G.K. Political Science: An Introduction (Accra: Yamens Press Ltd., 2002)
  • Hague et al. Political Science: A Comparative Introduction (New York: St. Martin’s, 1992)
  • Godwin, K.R. and Wahlke, J. Introduction to Political Science: Reasons, Reflections and Analysis (New York: Harcourt Brace, 1997)
  • Appadorai, A. The Substance of Politics (India: Oxford University Press, 1968)
  • Skidmore, M. J. Ideologies: Politics in Action (Philadelphia: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1993)
  • Oakeshott, M. et al. Ideologies of Politics (Cape Town: Oxford University Press, 1975)
  • Dahl, R.A. Democracy and Its Critics (New Haven, C.T.: Yale University Press, 1989)
  • Good Governance and sustainable human development. Available at F:\ Good governance – and sustainable human development – UNDP accessed on 09/07/07
  • Governance: Sound Development Management. Available at F:\Governance Sound Development Management - Good Governance defined- ADB_org.htm.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
  • The course will last for thirteen weeks. 
  • Each class will have a two-hour lecture in addition to a one-hour tutorial per week.
  • To ensure effective teaching and learning, lectures will be organized in an interactive manner.   Students will be allowed to ask and answer questions in class.
  • There will be a Continuous Assessment (CA) test and end of semester examination. The test will take place at the end of the Seventh week. Students will be required to answer only one essay question. The CA test will carry 30 per cent of the final examination mark. The end of semester examination will carry 70 per cent. During this examination, students will be required to answer three essay questions.


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