AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Bluefield State College

SOSC 340—FALL 2012

CRN: 10207

Colin S. Cavell, Ph.D. Course Room No.: B103

Class F: 15:00-16:40 (3:00-4:40 P.M.) INTERNET: ccavell@bluefieldstate.edu

Office Hours: MWF 11:00-13:00, 14:00-16:00 Office No.: B120

VOICE: 304.327.4034 (W) 512-924-2364 (M)

___________________________

Kevin A. Pruitt, M.A. PH: 304.466.6873

Email: kapruitt@hotmail.com Cell: 304.308.0925

Introduces students to the actual workings of the United Nations, offering insight into the difficulties involved in reaching consensus on a variety of international issues that might come before the body. PR SPCH 208.

Grading Policy: 25% for Class Attendance*; 25% for the One-Page Country Position Paper; 20% for participation in the international conference (those not attending must still contribute issue papers for the conference); and 20% for participation in the December BSC Model UN conference (participation of all students is mandatory). A Guidelines sheet will be distributed outlining the requirements for your One-Page Country Position Paper.

Grading Scale: 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; 0-59=F. These numerical scores correspond to the following evaluations: “A” = Excellent; “B” = Good; “C” = Satisfactory (NOTE: A grade of “C” or better is required in major courses); “D” = Poor (passing, except in major courses); “F” = Earned Failure (removed only by repeating the course; upon successfully passing the course, the first grade is “excluded” from grade point average. The second grade is “included” in the recalculation of the grade point average); and “I” = Incomplete.

Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of SOSC 340, students should be able to read and provide an immanent critique of texts; to articulate arguments and examine their flaws; be familiar with the basics of logical, ethical, and dialectical reasoning; be familiar with essays, both pro and con, regarding the 1945 United Nations Charter, reasons for an international organization of states and the need to actively participate in reinforcing the international community of nations, the relationship between the United States and the United Nations and the role it should play, the effect of federalism in the structure of the United Nations as well as the power relationships between the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly; be familiar with the historical struggle for the goals of world peace and comity amongst nations including struggles over rights and responsibilities of nations; be familiar with the horrendous tragedies as well as accomplishments of the United Nations experiment in world governance; empathize with the plight of oppressed peoples, women, children, ethnic minorities, et al. who struggled to overcome adversity in their quest for freedom; understand the effects of race, gender, class and other divisions on societies and the effect of UN resolutions, institutions, and international regimes to either enhance or dissipate such divisions; have some familiarity with the art of diplomacy and the role of leadership in advancing common goals; be able to articulate some conception of human freedom and adopt a stance towards it; and be able to envision a defensible future.

Academic Integrity Policy: Academic integrity is expected of all students. This means that all work for this class must be undertaken and completed by you alone without collaboration from others. Any dishonesty in the performance of course work, such as plagiarism or cheating in other forms, will be reported. In the event the student is charged with some form of dishonesty, the Student Discipline Policy will be followed. The full text of the BSC Academic Honesty Policy can be found at: http://www.bluefieldstate.edu/academics/academic-honesty-and-proctoring. In addition, students should be aware that research paper assignments may be submitted to Turnitin by the instructor for the purpose of checking for possible plagiarism. Submitted assignments will be included in the BSC dedicated database of assignments at Turnitin and will be used solely for the purpose of checking for possible plagiarism during the grading process during this term and in the future.

Attendance Policy*: Attendance in class is mandatory. It is the student’s responsibility to sign the attendance sheet each day of class; failure to sign the attendance sheet—even if in attendance—will be counted as an absence. “When the number of clock hours of willful absences exceeds the number of semester hours of credit, the instructor will notify the Registrar that the student has exceeded the permissible number of absences and should be withdrawn from class” (Bluefield State College Academic Catalog 2010-2012). As well, you are expected to follow the syllabus and accordingly be prepared for each day’s class. This means that you must read the pre-assigned readings before class so that you will be prepared to discuss and debate in class the subject matter scheduled for that day and answer questions related to the issues being covered. NOTE: TURN OFF all cell phones during class.

* Absence from class may be made up by preparing a two-page, typed (i.e. using maximum 12 point font size and maximum double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all sides), summary on the missed material scheduled to be covered the day(s) of your absence. The summary must be in your own words and must not be copied material from the text(s), the internet, or any other source(s). All summaries must be turned in to me by the last day of classes if you want credit for your absences.

Withdrawal Policy: Academic Withdrawal from the course prior to the deadline date for withdrawal as published within the academic calendar is accomplished by securing a change in schedule form and having it signed by appropriate persons. Blank copies of the change in schedule form are available in the offices of the Registrar, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean and the advisor. After obtaining the required signatures, the student must submit, prior to the deadline date, the change in schedule form to the Office of the Registrar.

Disability Services Statement: BSC is committed to full inclusion of all students. Students who, by nature of a documented disability, require classroom, equipment, testing or assignment accommodations should contact the Student Support Services at 304.327.4227 to request accommodations before the start of the semester. Your immediate attention to these arrangements is necessary to assure a positive learning experience.

Free Tutoring Services Available: BSC offers free online tutoring for all BSC students in the following subjects: Math; Accounting, Managerial; Accounting, Financial; Writing (all subjects); Grammar; Microeconomics; Macroeconomics; Statistics; Spanish. Chemistry, etc. This service is free and available 24 hours a day to all BSC students. Go to http://www.smarthinking.com/ and follow these instructions.

Required Text:

AMUN Rules & Procedures: Bringing Global Perspectives to Future Leaders. July 2012. Produced for the 23^rd Annual American Model United Nations International Conference in Chicago, Illinois from 17-20 November, 2012. Oak Park, IL: American Model United Nations International.

Issues At AMUN: Bringing Global Perspectives to Future Leaders. July 2012. Produced for the 23^rd Annual American Model United Nations International Conference in Chicago, Illinois from 17-20 November, 2012. Oak Park, IL: American Model United Nations International.

Sept. 21: Introduction to the Model UN