Discussing and assessing the definition of politics

Assigned topic: discussing and assessing the definition of politics as seen in the last slide of the lecture notes for Week 1 (posted on the Blackboard); this is the definition by Rand Dyck, one of the editors of our textbook,

Discussing and assessing the definition of politics

Assigned topic: discussing and assessing the definition of politics as seen in the last slide of the lecture notes for Week 1 (posted on the Blackboard); this is the definition by Rand Dyck, one of the editors of our textbook, that appeared in the 4th edition of the book, but not in the 5th edition—the edition we are using for this term. For information about how to cite the source of this definition, see below.  Your discussions and assessments of the definition should be combine with discussions of the recent politics regarding the Trans-mountain (Kinder Morgan) Pipeline.

Assigned material:

Chapter 1 of the text (the 5th edition, the one we are using for this fall term). Key points to be aware: many perspectives on what politics is or definition of politics.  Dyck’s definition in the last slide of the Week 1 lecture notes is one of the many perspectives on what politics is. In the term essay, it is your job to illustrate and analyze the perspectives taken by Dyck’s definition, and assess the merits and problems of the definition in comparison to one or more other perspectives or definitions on politics as discussed in Chapter 1.

Though not assign for the term essay, you may refer to the lecture and text information assign for other weeks that may be relevant and helpful to the discussions in your term essay.

Research:

Your own research: A minimum of three research sources are required (the assigned materials/information listed above, i.e., the text materials and the lecture information, should not be seen as part of these research materials).  At least one of these research materials should be academic (an academic book or a chapter from an academic book, or an article from an academic journal). The rest of the research materials can be of quality publications on the internet (such as those available on the CBC website), reputable magazines or newspapers (such as the Globe and Mail, the MacLean’s, or the Edmonton Journal).