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| SPOL2323-1 | Reading texts seminar : the classics of political science (English/French)
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| Duration : | 30h Th |
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| Number of credits : |
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| Lecturer : | Frédéric Claisse |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| French language |
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Organisation and examination :
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| Teaching in the second semester |
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Course contents :
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| Organized as a seminar, the course aims at training and familiarizing students with the reading of works considered as "classics" of political science. It is based on the conviction that grappling with classical texts represents a highlight in the academic training for a discipline, particularly in the domain of social and political sciences, which cultivate a sometimes problematic relationship with their own history (quest of the origins, myth of the "Founding Fathers", legitimacy and scientificity, etc.)
The criteria along which the texts have been selected reflect an integrative conception of political science, located at the crossroads of different disciplines and modes of construction of politics as an object of study (sociology, history, economy, political philosophy, law, etc.).
The course is conceived in articulation with the reading seminars in the 2nd and 3rd years of Bachelor in political science, in order to get the students to explore more and more complex works. |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| The objectives of the course are:
- to provide the students with a methodology that will allow them to approach the reading of texts (papers and books) in social and political sciences. The proposed grid of analysis includes internal (object, research question, problematics, development and argumenation) as well as external criteria (context of the work, legacy, contemporary relevance) that the students will have to be able to apply to the reading of other scientific texts;
- to become acquainted with the scientific method, through the direct contact with key works (in a learning process that will be continued with the supervised term paper, then the Master thesis);
- to acquire progressively a common conceptual and methodological culture, as well as a strong disciplinary identity.
At the end of the course, the student will have to be able to explain and comment the texts studied in class; to define and illustrate a concept; to compare authors or approaches; or to demonstrate the relevance and the contemporary character of a given work. |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| Students are expected to have a passive command of English, which will be the preferred language of part the texts composing the reading portfolio. Though French translations of these texts are available, the English version will be the reference for the course. |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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| The seminar combines collective reading (in class), reading in subgroups and individual reading.
The first courses will be dedicated to the collective reading and commenting of shorter texts (papers, book chapters, conference texts). The objective of these sessions is to build a reading methodology, to let a grid of analysis emerge and to raise awareness as to the collective dimension of the act of interpretation.
Four sessions will then be dedicated to the presentation of a book by a group of students, along a determined lesson format. The second part of each of these sessions will be conceived in an interactive way around chosen excerpts from the commented work.
Each work exemplifies either a key-moment in the construction of the discipline, or a concept, an approach, research results, a methodology or a mode of reasoning that keep relevance for today's political science.
Students will be supervised and framed for the preparation of their lesson. |
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| The course takes the form of a seminar. It implies the active participation of students at each session. |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| The following list covers the books that will be studied during the seminar:
Please be careful: some of these works being available in various versions and formats, the students will make sure to consult only the editions mentioned here:
- Max Weber, Le Savant et le Politique, trad. de l'allemand et présenté par Catherine Colliot-Thélène, La Découverte, coll. "Poche/Sciences humaines et sociales", 2003.
- Norbert Elias, La dynamique de l'Occident, Pocket, coll. "Agora", 2003.
- Albert O. Hirschman, Exit, Voice and Loyalty, Cambridge and London, Harvard University Press, 1970.
- C. Wright Mills, The Power Elite [New Edition], New York, Oxford University Press, 2000.
- Robert Dahl, Who Governs? Democracy and Power in an American City, New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 2005.
As far as the individual book summary is concerned, another list with suggested readings will be given to the students, who will be free to propose a work of their own choice (with the teacher's approval). |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| The assessment will be based on a weighted average between three marks:
1. group work : the oral presentation (in seminar) of a book from the required readings list, together with a written summary of the work and of the ensuing discussion in class;
2. individual work : the summary (following a definite structure) of a book either chosen from a list of suggested readings or proposed by the student.
3. the final exam, whose modalities will be discussed with the students |
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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| The course will take place during the second quadrimester.
However, in order for the students to make the best use of their time and be able to organise their reading programme, an information session will take place at the beginning of the first quadrimester, Friday October 4. The objective of this session will be to introduce the "required readings" list and to encourage the students to start their readings without delay as soon as the first quadrimester begins.
(Optional) practical work sessions may be organized. They will take place during the second quadrimester
Students will submit the title of the book (for their individual work) for the beginning of the second quadrimester. |
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Contacts :
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| Frédéric Claisse (fclaisse@ulg.ac.be), Assistant Professor. |
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