September 10, 2026

Course Introduction

Today’s Agenda

  1. Course Introduction
  2. Course Expectations / Assignments
  3. Course Policies
  4. Questions

Course Introduction

Exercise

  • With your neighbors, discuss: what is the most important political problem facing the world today?
  • Discuss with your neighbors: how would you find out what is true about this issue? (be honest with yourself… how would, not how should)
  • Does this get at the actual “truth”? Why or why not?
  • What role should “truth” play in forming your opinion on this issue?

Learning Objectives

  • Give reasons for why truth is important in politics.
  • Identify the types of claims made (implicitly or explicitly) in real-world political discourse.
  • Identify which of these claims can be subject to scientific scrutiny.
  • Explain what distinguishes scientific from unscientific forms of evidence.
  • Analyze real-world descriptive and causal claims about politics, identify specific errors in the use of evidence, and explain why these errors occurred.
  • Analyze real-world causal claims, identify the types of causal evidence provided, and explain the assumptions needed for this evidence to be valid.
  • Apply these tools of analysis to explain how engaging critically with claims and evidence changes your opinion on the issue at hand.

Thinking Practically

When you encounter media or a message, ask:

  • Is this attempting to persuade me or change my behavior?
  • What is this message attempting to get me to do or believe?
  • How does it attempt to persuade or motivate me?
  • Does the message employ claims and evidence?
  • What could go wrong with this evidence?
  • What would be better evidence?

The Goal of This Course

What is the ultimate goal of this course?

A Note on Examples

Examples used in class

We will likely use many examples that come from the US and the Trump Administration:

  • Why? (two reasons)
  • No need for agreement

Course Expectations

Your Grade

Item Number Points Fraction of Grade
Short Assignments 3 2.5 7.5%
Group Project 1 9 9%
Course Survey 1 1 1%
Midterm Study Guide 1 1 1%
Final Study Guide 1 1.5 1.5%
Midterm Exam 1 35 35%
Final Exam 1 45 45%

Reasoning

  • Thanks, OpenAI, etc.
  • Don’t train LLMs to take your (future) job.
  • LLMs are useful tools, but they won’t cultivate critical thinking.
  • AI tools (e.g. chatbots, Grammarly, etc.) are not permitted for any assignments, with one exception — welcome to use as a study aid.

Key Dates

Milestone Date
Assignment 1 September 28
Assignment 2 October 19
Midterm Exam October 29
Assignment 3 November 23
Assignment 4 December 4
Final Exam TBD

Short Assignments

  • Apply key concepts to your choice of current events
  • Available on Canvas 1 week prior to due date @ 9 AM
  • 1 week to complete and upload to Canvas

Practice your understanding of course material, before exams.

Group Project

  • Ask and answer a question about a real problem facing students
  • Develop, analyze, and interpret survey questions
  • Work in 5–6 person groups
  • Write a memo with incremental deadlines
  • Overall grade weighted by personal contribution

Work with others on your understanding of course material, before exams.

Midterm Exam

  • October 29, in class
  • Covers material from weeks 1 to 7 (to October 20th)
  • In-class / drop-in review session(s), plus a list of key terms and example questions

Final Exam

  • Date TBD
  • Cumulative over the entire course, but emphasizes weeks 8 to 14
  • Review session and key terms / example questions

Exam Study

  • Previous exams already available on Canvas
  • Piazza to draft answers to these questions — collectively produce a study guide (points for completion)
  • Piazza to ask any course-content related questions

Grading

  • TAs grade all assignments (except the group memo)
  • Rubrics are used for consistency
  • Grades undergo validation
  • There is no expected distribution

What You Need to Do

  • Attend Lecture (required)
    • Slides are not enough; reading is not enough — take thoughtful notes (not transcription)
    • Must attend 14 out of 21 lectures to take final; download iClicker.
  • Attend Drop-ins (recommended)
    • Starts in week 2
    • Participate in group activity (survey writing)
  • Read (helpful)
  • Check Canvas
  • Check Piazza

No Tutorials: Optional Drop-ins

  • Canvas survey: tell us your availability
  • 6 time slots per week, no grade. (M-Th at 5 pm, starting next week)
  • Sign-up to attend (b/c rules)
  • Review material, ask questions.
  • You may switch your tutorial time to new 5 pm drop-in to accommodate schedule

What I Will Do

  • Provide a list of concepts and review sessions
  • Give you old exams; practice exam questions in lecture
  • Post slides and deliver lectures
  • Manage the pace of the lecture
  • Encourage discussion, questions, and examples

Course Policies

Missed Exams / Late Assignments

  • Scheduling conflict
    • Only applies to exams — notify me in advance
  • Unforeseen events
    • Midterms/assignments in other courses are not “unforeseen”
    • Contact the professor — concessions can be prospective or retroactive
    • May direct you to Arts Advising for a concession
  • Lateness
    • Non-catastrophic deduction: 5% after every 24 hours
    • Max penalty of 30% (after 1 week); delayed grading

Late Policy: Reasons

  1. Responsibility
  2. Equity
  3. Learning

Grade Appeals

  • Submit a formal written letter
  • Direct it to grading TA
  • 48-hour waiting period required first
  • Grades can change ↑↓

Office Hours

Tuesdays, after lecture.

Questions?