Course Syllabus

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Fall 2020 Political Science 100G

How to Win (or lose) an Election

Professor Nathan Fletcher

SUMMARY

Do you have what it takes to win an election?  Do you even know what it takes?  This course will focus on the components of a political campaign with a particular focus on the practical realities that lead to winning or losing.  Topics include; campaign organization; vote targeting, role of political parties, social media and the Internet, fundraising, the role of the press, how to handle a crisis, debates and much more.  All of these areas will be explaining citing specific examples from federal, state, and local races.   The course will examine research about what makes and effective campaign strategy and focus on how technology has affected the way campaigns contact voters.  Taught by someone who has both won and lost elections, this course will give you a historical understanding of the basic principles of elections and political campaigns.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Professor Nathan Fletcher

Email:  nfletcher@ucsd.edu

Office:  Remote

Office Hours:  Monday 4:00pm to 6:00pm

 (This time is subject to change – watch course announcements)

(To reserve times please access reservation via canvas)

Teaching Assistants:

Sergio Guedes-reis                Laura Uribe                                        Theodore Dounias

sguedesr@ucsd.edu              uribe@ucsd.edu                                tdounias@ucsd.edu

Office hours:                             Office Hours:                                      Office Hours:

Monday 11AM-12PM        Thursday 9AM-10AM                   Tuesday 2PM-3PM

Wednesday 2PM-3PM       by appointment                                 by appointment                                

Via Zoom                              Email for zoom link                        Via Zoom

(by appointment)

           

CLASS INFORMATION

Lecture:          Mondays 6pm - 8:50 pm

Location:        RCLAS (Remote Class)

Zoom link:       https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/99819738051

This is the first time this course has been conducted remotely. Please be patient as we work through the adjustment. All lectures will be recorded and made available to all enrolled students.

 

READING

Required:

Campaigns & Elections: Rules, Reality, Strategy, Choice

John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, Keena Lipsitz

The Politics of Congressional Elections*

Gary Jacobson

*This text is not required. It will be put on reserve in the library and provides some extra content if you are interested.

Additionally, Professor Fletcher may post relevant articles or supplements on the course site.  Please monitor it weekly for course announcements or additional readings. 

Suggested:

The Last Campaign:  Robert Kennedy and 82 days that inspired America

Thurston Clarke

 

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

›   6%             Assignment #1         Documentary Analysis           Due Sunday, October 11th at 5:00 PM

› 55%              Assignment #2        Campaign Plan                           Due, Thursday, Dec 3rd at 5:00 PM*

›   6%               Assignment #3        Campaign Speech Review    Due, Sunday, Nov 22nd at 5:00PM

› 33%              Final                                Final Exam                      Monday, December 14th 7:00pm to 10:00pm

*Assignment #2 will be posted on canvas before Assignment #3, but is due after assignment #3.

(Assignments #1 and #2 and #3 and Final Exam will all be submitted via Turn It In) 

 

Assignment #1 Documentary Evaluation

In class, we will watch a documentary on political campaigns.  You will write a two-page evaluation of the film we screen.  (More detailed instructions for this assignment will be posted on course CANVAS). 

Please note you need to use original citations.  So if you get the information from an aggregator of sources like Wikipedia you MUST track down the original, credible source.  The paper will be graded on both substance and style.  Each student must do his or her own work, adhering to university regulations prohibiting plagiarism and cheating.

Assignment #2 Campaign Plan

For the campaign plan, you will write a comprehensive campaign plan for a Congressional candidate. 

Campaign Plan Sections:

  1. Information on your candidate
  2. Information on your district
  3. Overall strategy
  4. Vote Goals/Targeting
  5. Earned Media/Press Plan
  6. Finance/Fundraising Plan
  7. Anticipated role of political parties and outside groups
  8. Field/GOTV/Volunteer Plan
  9. Paid Media Plan
  10. Social Media/Internet Plan
  11. Overall Budget
  12. Campaign Speech

Please note you need to use original citations.  So if you get the information from an aggregator of sources like Wikipedia you MUST track down the original, credible source.  The paper will be graded on both substance and style.  Each student must do his or her own work, adhering to university regulations prohibiting plagiarism and cheating.

Assignment #3 Campaign Speech Evaluation

In class we will review the elements of a campaign speech. We will then review a few campaign speeches together. Assignment #3 will have students find a campaign speech and conduct a review given the factors outlined in course.

Students will be required to use Turnitin to submit all written assignments.  Turnitin is an Internet-based plagiarism prevention service, which will be used to ensure academic integrity.  The portal can be accessed directly through the course website.  Hard copies of assignments will not be accepted.  Professor Fletcher and the Teaching Assistants will provide additional information on the proper way to upload these assignments in subsequent class meetings.

Final Exam

The final exam will be a timed 3-hour exercise. The final will be open source, but students must complete their own work and complete the assignment in allotted time.  The final will be comprehensive of all materials from throughout the course. We will work to facilitate students in various time zones and with conflicting finals. 

Extra Credit

During the course, opportunities to intern or volunteer with a government office or political campaign* will be made available to students.  Any student who does eight hours of documented work for an elected official, government office, political candidate or organization that advocates for public policy/political change will have one point added to the final course score.  (If your midterm, writing project, class participation, and final give you 89, your final score for the course will be 90). 

While opportunities will be provided in class, students are not bound to only those presented through the course. Students should feel free to contact officials or organizations and request volunteer opportunities.  However, the hours worked must be documented by date and time, along with a signed letter by a representative from that organization. Additionally, a written explanation of the work done and what was learned must be submitted.  This summary and signed hours form MUST be submitted before the final exam begins to be eligible for extra credit. 

Again, for the extra point to be counted, students must submit a written memo that includes:

--Name of official or organization

--Total hours worked (minimum of 8, but no maximum)

--Nature of work performed

--Signature and title by verifying person at office of official or organization

--Students take on volunteer/internship.  This can be attached separately or below the signature of person verifying if student would rather them not see overall comments.  But this section should include what was learned, observed, overall feelings and anything that relates back to the class.

NO SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONCE THE FINAL EXAM BEGINS. 

*Professor Fletcher is currently an elected official in San Diego. Current students are NOT permitted to volunteer or work on his campaign or official office in any capacity.

CLASS MEETINGS

Each class meeting will consist of a lecture and then often a discussion section where a question related to the lecture will be addressed in a group discussion.  Sometimes there might be two lectures and two discussion sections back to back.

Occasionally, we will have guest speakers.  You may be tested on the content covered in their lectures and question and answers.  While their content may or may not be on the test, you should learn from their presentation and work in specific examples cited by guests in your short answer, essays and class assignments to demonstrate an understanding of the practical realities of topics presented.  Also use guest speakers as your chance to ask relevant questions about Campaigns and Elections.  Any guest speaker has the option of podcasting their discussion. Please note that most opt not to participate in the podcast component.

OFFICE HOURS

Office hours can vary week by week. An online schedule will be posted on the course canvas site each week.  Please reserve a 15-minute block on this schedule block during the weekly office hours.  If you schedule a time and cannot attend, then please go back into the schedule and free up the time so another student can use it.  The TAs will also conduct weekly office hours and make those times and location available.  It is suggested you email TAs if you plan to attend their office hours so they can best be prepared to answer your questions. 

GRADE CHANGES AND EXTENSIONS

All requests for grade changes must be made in writing, to Professor Fletcher, within a week of receiving the graded assignment. Requests more than a week from assignment being provided to the student will NOT be considered.  Requests must be typed and double-spaced and provide an explanation for the request and justification.  Please note that a Professor review of a grade assigned by a TA may result in either a higher or lower grade (or grade could stay the same). 

There are no re-grades for the final. 

Extensions on assignments and make-up exams will only be granted in cases of documented illness or family medical emergencies.  Please contact Professor Fletcher as soon as possible if you need to request one.  Appropriate contact for Professor is an email—not a tweet, Facebook message, or note slipped under his office door. 

Note: We will NOT grant any extensions because of stolen or damaged computers.  This does happen, so you should be in the habit of using the free DropBox program to automatically back up all of your work on the cloud whenever you save it so that you never lose it.        

LATE ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments submitted after the assigned deadline will be assessed the following penalties:

--5% reduction per day.  The penalty will be assessed at 5pm each day.  So if the assignment is due on Thursday at 5pm, the student will lose 5% points if submitted anytime until Friday at 5pm.  After Friday at 5pm it will go to 10% points until Saturday at 5pm when it will go to 15% points, etc.

--The penalty will max out at a 20% reduction.

--The reduction is a percentage of the final grade for the assignment.  So if you scored a 84% on the paper but were assessed a 10% reduction your final grade for the assignment would be a 74%.

--No papers will be accepted once the final exam begins!

*I have never seen a paper improve at a rate greater than the one at which you lose points

ACCOMODATIONS:

Students requesting accommodations for this course due to a disability must provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the Office for Students with Disabilities (https://osd.ucsd.edu/). Students are required to discuss accommodation arrangements with instructors and OSD liaisons in the department well in advance of any exams or assignments. The OSD Liaison for the Department of Political Science is Joanna Peralta; please connect with her via in-person advising (SSB 301) or the Virtual Advising Center as soon as possible. My class will always fully support any needed accommodations.

Class Schedule

 

  1. Monday, October 5th  

Course Introduction and Overview

Campaign Documentary Viewing and Discussion

 

Assignment #1:  Campaign Documentary Analysis due Sunday, October 11th at 5:00 PM

 

  1. Monday, October 12th  

Lecture:  Course Introduction: The Basics of Congressional Campaigns and Course Overview

Campaign Plan Assignment Presentation

Campaign Plan Section 1:  Picking your candidate

Campaign Plan Section 2:  Understanding your district

Reading:

  1. Gary Jacobson, Chapter 2: The Context in The Politics of Congressional Elections
  2. Gary Jacobson, Chapter 3: Congressional Candidates in The Politics of Congressional Elections
    1. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 9:  “Congressional Campaigns” in Campaigns and Elections
    2. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 1:  “Introduction” in Campaigns and Elections
    3. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 2:  “The American Electoral Process” in Campaigns and Elections

 

Assignment #2 prompt provided

 

  1. Monday, October 19th

Lecture:  The Presidential Nominating Process plus other types of elections

Campaign Plan Section 3:  Developing a Campaign Strategy and Message

Campaign Plan Section 4:  Voter Targeting, Voter ID

Discussion: Electoral college? Time to go?

Reading:

  1. Gary Jacobson, Chapter 5: Congressional Voters in The Politics of Congressional Elections
  2. Gary Jacobson, Chapter 6: National Politics and Congressional Elections in The Politics of Congressional Elections
    1. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 5:  “Modern Campaign Strategies” in Campaigns and Elections
    2. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 8:  “Presidential Campaigns” in Campaigns and Elections
  1. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2015/12/18/the-argument-should-president-chosen-popular-vote/GMwcc7tfsGMMP2FGiw2DjJ/story.html
  2. http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-the-electoral-college-be-abolished
    1. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 12:  “Voter Choice” in Campaigns and Elections

 

  1. Monday, October 26th

Lecture: Vote Goals, Targeting, Campaign Plan

Campaign Plan Section 4:  Voter Targeting, Voter ID

Campaign Plan Section 4:  Vote Goals

 

  1. Monday, November 2nd   

Lecture:  The Role and Evolution of the Press, Internet and Social Media

Campaign Plan Section 5:  Earned Media/Press Plan

Discussion:  What is the future role of the press?

Reading:

    1. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz,  Chapter 7: “Media” in Campaigns and Elections

 

  1. Monday, November 9th  

Lecture:  The History of Campaign Finance in America including the role of Political Parties and outside groups

Campaign Plan Section 6: Fundraising and Finance Plan

Campaign Plan Section 7:  Political Parties and outside groups

Discussion:  Public financing of campaign?  Solution or stupid?

Reading:

  1. Gary Jacobson, Chapter 4: Congressional Campaigns in The Politics of Congressional Elections
    1. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 4:  “Financing Campaigns” in Campaigns and Elections
    2. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 6:  “Political Parties and Interest Groups” in Campaigns and Elections
    3. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 13:  “Democracy in Action or a Broken System?” in Campaigns and Elections

 

  1. Monday, November 16th

Lecture:  Political Ads plus How the Internet Changed Everything and GOTV /Field

Campaign Plan Section 8:  Field/Grassroots Operations

Campaign Plan Section 9:  Paid Media Plan

Campaign Plan Section 10:  Social Media/Internet Plan

 

Reading:

    1. Gerber, Alan S., Donald P. Green, and Christopher W. Larimer. "Social pressure and vote turnout: Evidence from a large-scale field experiment." American Political Science Review 102.1 (2008): 33.
    2. Bond, Robert M., et al. "A 61-million-person experiment in social influence and political mobilization." Nature 489.7415 (2012): 295-298.
    3. John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 11:  “Voter Participation” in Campaigns and Elections

 

  1. Monday, November 23rd   

Lecture:  The Debate, Convention, and Campaign Speech

Campaign Plan Section 12:  Campaign Speech

In class exercise: review campaign speeches

 

Assignment #3: Campaign Speech Evaluation posted

Assignment #3: Campaign Speech Evaluation due on Sunday, November 29th by 5:00pm.

 

  1. Monday, November 30th

In class campaign speeches (sign up link to be provided)

 

Assignment #2:  Campaign Plan due, Thursday, December 3rd at 5:00 PM

 

  1. Monday, December 7th

Special Panel Discussion:  Election 2018 Preview

 

Lecture:  Voting Rights, Recounts and recalls

Discussion:  Reforms – debate and discussion

Reading:

John Sides, Daron Shaw, Matt Grossman, and Keena Lipsitz, Chapter 11:  “Voter Participation” in Campaigns and Elections

 

  1. FINAL EXAM: Monday, December 14th 7:00pm to 10:00pm

 

 

 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due