Lesson Report:
**Class Summary Report**
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**Title: Midterm Review and Introduction to Electoral Systems & Political Parties**
**Synopsis:**
This class session focused on two key segments: a detailed review and discussion of the midterm exam (specifically the multiple-choice section), followed by an introduction to the concept of electoral systems and political parties. The aim was to help students understand the rationale behind correct answers from the midterm and to dive into foundational concepts of political organization, specifically how power distribution works in democratic systems through elections and political parties.
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**Attendance:**
– **Students with Cameras On (marked present):**
1. Barfya
2. Anush
3. Anara
4. Imad
5. Sindat
6. Erasil
7. Adia
8. Khadija
9. Madina
10. Garib Sultan
11. Nahida
12. Adelia
13. Aruke
14. Birke
15. Azamat
16. Kanake
17. Aydana
18. Margarita
19. Jibak
20. Aliyah
21. Nilufar
22. Eldar
23. Mariam
24. Samira
25. Salma
26. Albina
27. Birmet
28. Datskayim
29. Madina
30. Izirek
31. Khalil
32. Dastan
**Mentioned as absent/not seen on camera:**
– Aruke was mentioned specifically as the sole student whose midterm essay was pending grading.
– Early in the session, only 9 cameras were visible, which led to a transition from Google Meet to Zoom for better attendance management.
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**Topics Covered:**
1. **Midterm Review (Multiple Choice Segment):**
– **Technical Difficulties:** Instructor struggled with Google Meet functionalities, especially managing screen sharing and attendance tracking. This led to the decision of switching to Zoom mid-lesson.
– **Midterm Recap:**
– The instructor conducted a question-by-question review of the multiple-choice section of the midterm.
– Common mistakes, the intricacies behind correct answers, and some general tips for test-taking (e.g., avoiding extreme answers like “always” or “never”) were provided.
– **Sample Questions Reviewed:**
– *Question 1*: Definition of the state’s monopoly on violence → Explained the importance of understanding that states hold the governing power to authorize force.
– *Question 2*: Differences between stable vs unstable regimes → Discussed internal conflict presence in both types of regimes.
– *Question 5*: Role of bureaucracy → Clarified that the bureaucracy enforces laws and implements policy, rather than elects officials or drafts laws.
– *Question 7*: Laws vs norms → Explained that norms, like laws, also change over time, using past norms regarding women’s workforce participation as an example.
– Additional questions delved into political ideologies (liberalism, socialism), rule of law, and legitimacy in politics.
– Some students had questions regarding the multiple-choice grading system and feedback for the midterm essays, which the instructor promised to provide by the end of the week.
2. **Introduction to Electoral Systems & Political Parties:**
– **Power Distribution Overview:**
– Clarified separation and distribution of powers horizontally (across government institutions) and vertically (between government and citizens).
– Elections were framed as a democratic solution for distributing power between citizens and government.
– **Political Parties vs Interest Groups:**
– Definition: Political parties are formal organizations that aim to place leaders in government through elections, while interest groups aim to influence government policy without seeking political office.
– **Key Characteristics of Political Parties:**
– **Formal Membership:** Requires citizens to formally join.
– **Shared Ideology:** United by a common set of beliefs (e.g., Democrats in the U.S. generally align with liberal ideology).
– **Issue Focus:** Concentrates on specific issues pertinent to their constituents (e.g., Republicans prioritizing free market policies).
– **Organizational Structure:** Exist with a formal hierarchy and organizational system for leadership.
– **Interests and Political Platforms:**
– **Interests:** Defined as priorities that individuals or groups want the government to address.
– **Political Platform:** A set of principles or policies that a political party uses to outline its goals. For example, the Republican platform might prioritize free-market approaches, while the Democratic platform focuses on social justice issues.
3. **Technical Solutions:**
– Due to visibility problems on Google Meets, the class transitioned to Zoom where the instructor could view everyone and manage attendance better. The class dynamics improved following the platform switch.
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**Actionable Items:**
1. **Midterm Completion:**
– **Grading:**
– Still need to complete short answer/essay grading. The instructor committed to having midterm grades fully returned by the end of the week.
– Aruke still awaiting short answer evaluation.
2. **Attendance/Platform Issues:**
– **Google Meets Issue:** Earlier in the class, several students struggled with camera visibility (both to and from the instructor). The switch to Zoom resolved this, but associated learning time was lost.
– **Attendance Process Improvement:** Instructor needs a better platform for attendance tracking in future online sessions.
3. **Assignment:**
– **Next Week’s Reading:** Introduction to media and democracy. Essential for next week’s discussion, which will cover how media influences democratic processes.
– No class on Thursday due to the holiday.
Homework Instructions:
NO HOMEWORK
Justification: Throughout the entire transcript, the professor mainly discussed the midterm exam, electoral systems, political parties, and other in-class activities but mentioned no specific homework assignments that students must complete.