Hi class,
I have posted our new module for the coming week: Module 4
I will be reading through your posts for Module 3, while you work on Module 4.
Discussion Board 4.2
- What is the distinction that Reading 4.3 makes between owners and employees? Give an example of each.
- How do you understand the quote by Adam Smith on pg. 28? What is it saying about labor?
- What are your thoughts on the main argument of Reading 4.4 that class is NOT an identity?
- How do you understand the argument Reading 4.4. makes when stating that “class structures are built around a close form of dependency”? What is this close form of dependency, and can you think of an example?
Please double check your POL 100 section…
Hi class,
As I was reading through the Discussion Board 1 posts, I noticed that 3 or 4 students are actually registered for my other POL 100 class on the OpenLab: Section 0502.
If you are registered for POL 100 – 0502, please join that other class website and repost your first discussion board there.
POL 100-0502 can be found here: https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/pol-100-0502-fall-2024-introduction-to-american-government/
This is to avoid problems with missing work, etc., later on in the semester.
Prof. Artinian
Regarding Annotations …
Hi class,
Please ignore any assignments related to making annotations in our readings.
The plugin we were testing for entering annotations didn’t work reliably, so we turned it off in the last moment.
Thanks.
Prof. Artinian
A new module has been posted!
Hi class,
This coming week we’re beginning our study of American government with Module 3: Ideology in Politics
You can also access this module from our Course Guide and Schedule page.
Please note that starting with Discussion Board 3.1, there’s a specific way of writing this post. For instructions on how to create a post, please watch the video on the bottom of Discussion Board 3.1
The deadline for completing all readings and discussion boards for Module 3 is next Sunday, midnight, 9/8/24. You have the entire week so please don’t rush with the material. Remember, your responses to the discussion board questions prepare you for the upcoming exam.
If you encounter any technical issues, and/or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me.
Discussion Board 3.2
Okay, let ‘s go to the questions, consider the following:
- What is a Repressive State Apparatus? Why does Althusser call it “repressive”? Can we explain his choice of words here. Give an example.
2. Let’s do the same for the Ideological State Apparatuses. What are they, how do they seem to work?
3. Important: this question will appear on our exam: How are the Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses different from each other? What is the difference between the two?
4. Post an example of ideology. This could be a piece of writing, an image, video, pdf document, visual art, or music, clip from a movie. Next to your example, specify if this is an example of repressive or ideological apparatuses at work. I’ll start us of off by giving an example.
NOTE: Once you’ve scheduled your post to be published on at midnight on Sunday, you can still go back and edit your post until then, if you want to rewrite and/or add to your post.
As a review, follow the following steps to submit your response:
- Click on the “+” button in the black bar at the top of the screen
- Type a title for the post (it should include your full name)
- Type your response
- On the right side, click on Categories: and check “Discussion 3.2”
- Important: On the right side, at the top: click on the date next to Publish, and enter your post date, which is this coming Sunday, at 11:59pm.
- Click Publish and you’re done.
What will happen next is your post will automatically be published by the OpenLab system on Sunday at midnight. The goal here is for all student posts to be published at the same deadline. After that point, you can begin reading each others’ posts, and you have to comment on at least one other student’s post.
Note: please make sure that you schedule your post to be published on Sunday, midnight, not before.
Discussion Board 3.1
So, we’ve encountered three different overviews of what ideology is, but let’s organize our own thinking about it. In this discussion board, think about and comment on the following questions:
1. Keeping in mind the material covered in this lesson, describe how you understand ideology in your own words.
Hint: One way to approach this is as follows
a) Describe what ideology is in a brief paragraph (in your own words).
b) Give an example illustrating what you wrote in (a).
c) Write another paragraph (or two), explaining to your reader with additional details, how you understand ideology.
2. How do you understand the difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics? What seem to be the big differences, the dividing line? Given an example to backup your arguments.
Hint: try to identify key words (concepts) that play a big role in making someone consider themselves to be liberal or conservative. Then, explain in your own words what those keywords (concepts) mean.
3. How do you understand Althusser’s definition of ideology? Paraphrase it in your own words. Given an example. Hint: you may have to watch the second video again, and find the few places where Althusser’s position is presented.
Hint: Remember, the discussion boards are crucial for us this semester, because they reproduce our in-class conversations. Try to be thorough and write more, rather than less. I will do the same, and make sure by the time we end our discussion, we have covered the key ideas on the module.
To organize things better, I have broken up our conversation into two parts. After finishing here, head over to Discussion Board 3 – part 2 .
Before posting, watch this video, which will show you how to post your answer to this discussion board:
NOTE: Once you’ve scheduled your post to be published on at midnight on Sunday, you can still go back and edit your post until then, if you want to rewrite and/or add to your post.
As a review, follow the following steps to submit your response:
- Click on the “+” button in the black bar at the top of the screen
- Type a title for the post (it should include your full name)
- Type your response
- On the right side, click on Categories: and check “Discussion 3.1”
- Important: On the right side, at the top: click on the date next to Publish, and enter your post date, which is this coming Sunday, at 11:59pm.
- Click Publish and you’re done.
What will happen next is your post will automatically be published by the OpenLab system on Sunday at midnight. The goal here is for all student posts to be published at the same deadline. After that point, you can begin reading each others’ posts, and you have to comment on at least one other student’s post.
Note: please make sure that you schedule your post to be published on Sunday, midnight, not before.
Discussion Board 1: Class Introductions
INSTRUCTIONS ON DEADLINES
Welcome to POL 100! In this first discussion board of our course, let’s introduce ourselves to each other, by doing the following:
- Create your introduction by entering text in the comments box below. When you finish writing your introduction, click the “POST COMMENT” button. In your introduction, tell us your name, what is your major (if you have chosen one), as well as a bit about yourself. Things you might consider sharing include: what are you interested in studying at BMCC, what are your plans after BMCC, interests that you have, etc.
- After entering your own post, respond to at least one classmate by elaborating on something that they wrote that resonated and connected with you.
Approaches for Successfully Completing This Online Class
Online students need structure, and a study calendar is a great way to create it. Check your syllabus before your course kicks off, and commit to due dates on your calendar. Then, designate study times for each class, and stick to them. Set aside a specific block of time every day, maybe after the kids’ bedtime, or before you go to work. Sticking to her plan will help you juggle work, family, and multiple online courses without falling behind. If you can’t set aside a whole block of time, then think about periods of the day when you can take at least 15 minutes for uninterrupted study time.
Our colleagues over at Arizona State University made a great video on time management. Take a look:
Another video on time management tips:
Look Ahead
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to look ahead when taking online courses. Check your time management plan (you will be making one shortly!) for assignments that will be due, double-check for live events or in-person sessions for hybrid classes. Make plans to meet with your classmates online or to attend your instructor’s virtual office hours. Always know when an assignment is due, and don’t wait until the last minute to complete it.
Set aside at least one hour a day for each of your e-learning courses. Remember the videos you watched on the subway and the article you read while waiting for 20 minutes at the doctor’s office? That counts towards chipping away at that one hour a day!
Speak Up
If you struggle or fall behind, don’t stay silent. Remember your growth mindset; every problem is an opportunity to grow and improve. Think of it as a puzzle to solve. BMCC has instructors, counselors, tutors, and many other services here to help you get back on track. While your Instructors have deadlines for a reason and late work is not accepted, by speaking up, you will have an opportunity to refocus and improve your work moving forward. Extra credit assignments may be offered at the professor’s discretion. We help students with problems all of the time, that’s our job!
The worst thing you can do for yourself is to do ‘nothing.’
