Aug 26     Introduction and Organization of course

Suggested Reading:

Reading: Erikson & Tedin, Ch. 1 ; Model of Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior

Campaign 2008

 

Sept. 2  Public Opinion and Republican        Hegemony 

      Reading:  Hacker and Pierson, Off Center pp. 1-106, Part 1. Class will not meet on this date. You  are      responsible for reading the entire book by Sept. 9th

Sept. 9     Reading: Hacker and Pierson, Off Center, pp. 109-223, Part 2.

Sept. 16  A look back at 2004 and 2006 and before

              Reading: Abramson, Ch. 1,2,3,9,10, 11. 

Sept. 23    The US Electorate: Public Opinion Trends

       Readings: Erikson and Tedin, Ch. 3, 4,5,6;  Abramson, Ch. 8; Gary Jacobson, "Polarized Politics and the 2004 and 2006 Presidential and Congressional Elections"; 2008: The Year of the Single Woman Voter; "Why Women are  assumed to "fail to vote"

Party Identification Update

Gallup's Crosstab Trove

Sept. 30   Polling, Surveys and Methods

Readings: Erikson and Tedin, American  Public Opinion, Ch. 2 ; Read the FAQ    Pollster.com   and 20 Questions You Should Ask About Opinion Polls. "Margin of Error". How Pollsters Effect Polls. Additional readings TBA.

Oct. 7        Macro Public Opinion:  Terrorism, Iraq,   Defense

Reading:  Erikson and Tedin, Ch. 4; supplemental bibliography to be passed out to Discussants for the evening

Gary Jacobson, "The War, The President and the 2006 Congressional Elections

Iyengar, Chapter 4, 10

John Mueller. 2005. “The Iraq Syndrome.”

The Press and Public Misperceptions About the Iraq War

Alterman, "The Role of Public Opinion in Iraq and Vietnam

Oct.  14             Continuation of Presentations on Macro Opinion: Race, Obama and public opinion

Robert Smith, "Political Parties"

 

"Does Race Really Matter"

Racial Views and Democratic Voters

Oct. 21       Group Differences in Public Opinion: Race, Age, Gender, Religion, Class, Region

Required Reading: Erikson and Tedin,  Ch. 7; Abramson, Ch. 5; Age supplemental bibliography to be passed out to Discussants for the evening.

Suggested Reading on Race:

·        Carmine and Stimson, Issue Evolution: Race and Transformation of American Politics
·        Michael Dawson, Black Visions
·        Schuman, Steeh, and Bobo, Racial Attitudes in America

·        Donald R. Kinder and Lynn M. Sanders, Divided by Color
·      Smith and Seltzer, Race, Class and Culture, A Study of Afro-American Public Opinion

·       Hochchild, Facing Up To The American Dream

Oct. 28       Continued Presentations on Group Differences

Nov. 4    Election Eve at the Tabbs ; 272 Madrone Ave. , Larkspur.  

Nov. 11            Veterans Day --No Class

 Nov. 18 Theory of Mass Media
                              Reading:                  Read: John Zaller, A Theory of Media Politics, Ch.1,2 ,8. and New Chapter 1  for class; and then read the entire of Zaller over spring break in preparation for the paper  assignment. Click on Research and grading icon on the left panel of the website for paper instructions. 

Nov. 25        The Press Effect In the 2008 Election

               Reading:  Iyengar, Ch. 9; Erikson and Tedin, Ch. 8           

Dec. 2       Campaigning through the Media
                 Reading: Iyengar, Ch. 6, TBA

Rise of the New Media

             Iyenger, Ch. 4, 5;   Rise of the New Media

Dec. 9        Book Review due in my box in HSS 263. See "Research/Grading" for Instructions   

Dec. 15      Analytical Essay due (See "Research/Grading" for Instructions

Dec. 16               Final Exam due in my Box in Dept. Office.