Lesson Report:
**Title: Introduction to Political Science: Understanding Politics and Decision-Making**
**Synopsis:**
In the second session of Introduction to Political Science, the focus was on defining and understanding politics through the lens of the phrase “who gets what, when, and how.” With an emphasis on identifying political actors and the mechanics of political decision-making, the session included interactive activities involving concept mapping of political scenarios. Students explored various examples of politics in everyday life and expanded these concepts to larger entities such as countries, highlighting the elements of rules and reality in political negotiations.
**Attendance:**
– Students Absent: Abdul Wais Azizi, Barfiyah, Ayturgan, and Bakhtagul.
**Topics Covered:**
1. **Introduction and Attendance:**
– Explanation for rescheduling an activity not completed in the last session.
– Attendance challenges due to seminar splits; emphasis on joining the e-course with code “intro24.”
2. **Defining Politics:**
– Revisiting the definition: “who gets what, when, and how.”
– Exploration of the phrase using examples from personal and family settings, as well as group dynamics.
3. **Concept Mapping Activity:**
– Students partnered up (or worked in groups of three) to share personal experiences involving political decisions.
– Instructions for noting key components: who, what, when, and how in each story.
4. **Lecture on Political Concepts:**
– Introduction of “political actors” as individuals or institutions impacting collective outcomes.
– Explanation of timing and sequencing in decision-making.
– Examination of “how” in processes, including methods and strategies.
– Differentiation of “what” into tangible (money, goods) and intangible assets (rights, opportunities).
5. **Exploration of Rules and Reality:**
– Discussion on how rules (laws and norms) and reality (constraints, differences, uncertainty) impact political decisions.
– Examples demonstrating the constant flux in political scenarios due to these factors.
6. **Case Study: International Trade Agreement:**
– Examination of three imaginary countries (alpha, beta, gamma) with a trade agreement.
– Identification of rules (no tariffs) and challenges faced due to economic and political realities in each country.
– Group discussion to analyze rules and realities impacting these nations’ decisions.
**Actionable Items:**
– **Course System and Attendance:**
– Ensure all students join the e-course for efficient attendance management.
– Verify the course format regarding potential hybrid elements.
– **Homework Assignments:**
– Post the assigned reading chapters as PDFs on the e-course.
– **Class Communication:**
– Join the newly created Telegram group for unofficial class discussions and queries.
– **Follow-up:**
– Find an efficient system to manage attendance lists across different platforms.
– Address the academic pressures and needs of students who missed the first couple of sessions.
Homework Instructions:
ASSIGNMENT #1: Reading Assignment on Power and Politics
You are assigned two chapters from two different books to enhance your understanding of political theories and concepts, which will prepare you for our upcoming discussions about power in politics next week.
Instructions:
1. Log in to our eCourse platform and locate the two PDF files under the “Readings” section for this week.
2. Read Chapter 1 from Book A, which introduces you to foundational theories of political power.
3. As you read, take note of how these theories relate to the rules and realities we discussed in class, specifically considering who the political actors are and what resources they negotiate over.
4. Next, read Chapter 2 from Book B, which explores advanced concepts of political negotiation and power distribution.
5. Focus on how these concepts apply to real-world political situations, drawing parallels with the fictitious country example (alpha, beta, and gamma) we examined during class.
6. Prepare a one-page summary for each chapter, highlighting the key concepts and your reflections on how these readings relate to our class discussions.
7. Be ready to discuss these readings and your insights in our next class session.