Hi, everyone! Welcome to the Fall 2014 POLS 220 blog. In order to comment below, you will need to follow the simple directions for setting up a name/account on blogger.com (it's free). And you need to comment to get the easy 4 points that each blog assignment can be worth. You get half a point for anything, and grades increase in .5 point increments based on the criteria I list below.
For this first assignment, you should address a simple question: should departments (let's say journalism, but if you're in another major, you're welcome to use that) require students to take POLS 220? Be sure to consider the benefits of studying state and local government, but also the tradeoff between this requirement and some other course that you might not take because you have to take POLS 220. Is there another course outside your major that your major should require instead of POLS 220? If so, why? In answering the question, feel free to use lecture material, your own considered views, and, especially, any outside sources you wish to bring in. You get half a point simply for signing in to the comments section. You can earn up to 4 points (pretty rare) for this week's assignment by providing more substance. Better answers will be well-developed (though they need not be long), will consider the comments of your colleagues (it's OK to disagree with one another; just don't be disagreeable!; and it's OK to respond to comments after others make them. Better answers may also bring up outside sources (feel free to leave a link).
Good luck on this assignment; it's due by 2:00 pm on Wednesday September 3. If you have problems with it, please email at berchnorto@msn.com Good luck!--Neil Berch
