Grading Policy
The final course grade will be determined based on the following breakdown:
- Reading Guides: 20% (4% each)
- Democratic Timeline Project: 30%
- Democratic Risk Profile: 30%
- Final Exam: 10%
- Preparedness: 10%
The final numeric grade will map to the final letter grade according to SUU’s standard number to-letter grade conversion scheme. Final grades ending in .5 or higher are automatically rounded up to the nearest whole percentage point.
Exams
To partially complete course objectives 1-5, there will be one final exam. This will be in-class, and the date is scheduled in the syllabus and on the SUU Final Exam Schedule. The format of the exam will be multiple choice and may include short essays and will include any material covered in class. A review day will precede the exam. Exam material will cover concepts, theories, and results from the readings, as well as material from the lectures and reading guides.
Democratic Timeline Project
To partially complete course objectives 1-4, students will complete a timeline profile for a country of their choice. This project will involve the use of free-to-use data visualization software like Canva (tutorials will be given in class, no prior experience is necessary). Students choose a country and analyze key events leading up to a country’s liberalization. Students will identify major actors, institutions, and events that contributed to a democratic transition. Students will also focus on the liberalization period, highlighting constitutional construction, peace negotiations and concessions, and leadership. Submissions will take the form of a complete timeline and presentation. Additional guidance will be provided in class and on Canvas, and through posted rubrics.
Democratic Risk Profiles
To partially complete course objective 1-5, students will complete a risk profile for a country of their choice. This project simulates real risk profiles used by governments, private firms, and IGO/INGO’s around the world. This assignment replaces a traditional essay, giving students practical exposure to the roles of risk management and country profiling Students will make use of statistical visualization software like Tableau Public or Flourish (tutorials will be given in
class, no prior experience is necessary). This assignment will have students identify a country "at risk" of democratic backsliding, justifying their choice using risk indicators discussed in class. They then present indicators representative of democratic risk (e.g. expanding executive influence, weakening judiciaries, development and economic indicators, civil unrest, conflict, etc.). Additional guidance will be provided in class and on Canvas, and through posted rubrics.
Reading Guides
Students will complete several reading guides throughout the semester. These are guided questions designed to help students navigate the readings. Responses to each question will only need to be about 2 or 3 sentences in length. Responses will be due on the days marked in the course schedule. Each guide completed guide will be worth 4% of the final grade. A late penalty of 10% will be applied per day late.
Preparedness
Preparedness will be graded based on the students’ performance during daily “RNG of Destiny” questions. Daily questions will be pulled from the reading for that day, and a set of randomly-selected students will need to answer these questions. Students are guaranteed full preparedness points unless they are called upon during the daily questions and either a) fail to answer the question acceptably, or b) are absent without a university-approved excuse. Some students may never be called upon to answer a question, some students may be randomly-selected multiple times. Therefore, each student must come prepared, having done the reading, or risk losing preparedness points. Preparedness is worth 10% of the final grade. Additional instructions will be provided on the first day.