Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 210-3"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Political Theory"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Annette Merle Bryson
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: MON/WED: 4.15 - 5.15 pm, by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to the history of political thought, from Ancient Greece to the 19th century. Through a close reading of selected canonical texts, students will examine the evolution of ideas about democracy, liberty, equality, justice, political authority, the social contract, different conceptions of human nature and the role of the individual in society. The theorists examined may include Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course seeks to introduce students to some of the fundamental questions of political life: What is the relationship of the individual to the political community? What is the purpose of political life? Virtue? Freedom? Glory? What is virtue? How does the classical understanding of virtue differ from the modern view? What is the significance of human nature for politics? What is the relationship of property to justice and liberty? Of religion and politics? How should we live and what may we hope for?

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Read ancient and modern political texts with care and insight
• Articulate the opposing theoretical positions and arguments contained in these texts
• Analyze issues in the light of these competing positions and arguments
• Develop your own reasoned views on the theoretical and political issues involved

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
REFLECTION PIECE (CLASS 8)	Two-pages reflection piece on an author/topic shared with you a week in advance (Format: Times New Roman, size 12, space 2). Reflections that cross the limit will be penalized. Your answers will elaborate on central aspects of the text and relate them to political experiences of the modern world. Excellent responses will understand/review correctly the text, will write interesting arguments, raise significant questions or provide thoughtful, non-commonplace critiques. Your answers will be marked according to the following criteria: (a) understanding of the material (35%), (b) logical structure of the argument (35%), and (c) depth and content of thought (30%). Further instructions in class.	15%
MIDTERM EXAM (CLASS 13)	The exam will comprise 1 to 3 questions of content and reflection that require a close reading experience of the covered texts. Further instructions in class.	30%
PRESENTATIONS (CLASSES 19 and 24)	The students will be required to respond to specific tasks on authors/texts shared with them a week in advance, and present their answers in front of the class. All presentations are to be submitted by email, by the due date. Presentations will be graded according to the following criteria: the documentation of material (25%), the capacity to communicate in a clear, engaging and thought provoking manner (25%), the logical structure of the theoretical argument (25%) and depth of content and research (25%). Further instructions in class.	15%
FINAL EXAM	The exam will comprise 1 to 3 questions of content and reflection that require a close reading experience of the covered texts. Further instructions in class.	30%
PARTICIPATION	Reading the texts, just as attendance and participation to discussions are mandatory for this class. The goal here is to learn how to ask good questions and provide thoughtful answers. You have 3 excused absences. Each extra absence will lower your final attendance grade by 10%. More than 10 unexcused absences may result in failure to pass the course.	10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

Class attendance is required. You are allowed two unexcused absences without penalty to your Attendance grade. Additional unexcused absences will lower your Attendance grade.

Each absence, excused or unexcused, will negatively affect your Class Engagement grade. Regardless of whether absences are excused, missing class discussions will hinder your understanding of the material and your ability to meet course objectives. To earn credit for missed Class Engagement, and to make up for the learning missed by not being in class, you can complete extra work assigned by me.

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Academic Dean’s Office. The Academic Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Academic Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.

Students seeking an Academic Dean's Office excuse should submit the Excused Absences form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=JjSgbcXUYUyLWwzRnlSs6eIgbYvYjK1IoctPI6J6xoFUOVo3S1BaVDJWTEdPMDE2OTdSMExJOEdaNC4u

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

NOTE: This syllabus is intended to give you guidance in what may be covered during the semester. I reserve the right to modify, supplement, and make changes as the course needs arise.

Week 1: Introduction to the course and to political philosophy

Week 2: Plato, Apology of Socrates & Martin Luther King, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”

Week 3: Plato, Crito & Plato, Republic (selections)

Week 4: Plato, Republic (selections)

Week 5: Aristotle, Ethics (selections) & Politics (selections)

Week 6: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae (selections) & Christine de Pizan, The Book of the City of Ladies & other works (selections)

Week 7: Gabrielle Suchon, Treatise on Ethics and Politics & Marie de Gournay, The Equality of Men and Women

Week 8: Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince

Week 9: Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (selections)

Week 10: John Locke, Second Treatise of Government (selections)

Week 11: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Second Discourse (selections)

Week 12: Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women & Olympe de Gouges, The Declaration of the Rights of Woman

Week 13: Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (selections) & Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto

Week 14: W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America & Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil (selections)