POLS 211: Introduction to World Politics
MidTerm Examination (250 points 25% of overall grade)
Distributed 2/25/2013
Due Sunday, 3/10/2013 (11:59 p.m.)
Please read ALL of the following pages which include a great deal of accumulated FAQs, grading
rubric, and writing advice related to the midterm exam.
This is an open book, unproctored test. You have the entire class time between now and
including Session 8 to work on the midterm. Session 8 ends 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 10, 2013. You
may, of course, turn it in earlier if you desire. As it happens, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 AM on
this day, so you will spring forward one hour Saturday night/Sunday morning at 2 a.m. In deference to
this terrible loss of an hour of sleep right when your exam is due and at the beginning of DE Spring Break, I
will accept the midterm without penalty up until Tuesday morning, March 12. It is technically NOT DUE
that date because I cannot have any course content due during Spring Break
ESSAY QUESTIONS (2)
Thoroughly consider and respond to the following questions in essay/paper response. See
further directions on page 2. A good measure for length would be that each question is at least 4
pages. Your total midterm document should not exceed 14 pages (including cover, bibliography,
or Works Cited pages as applicable). If your total midterm is less than 8-9 pages, however, you
should reconsider if you have fully answered the questions, fully cited your sources within the
body of the paper (using parenthetical or in-text citations), and included a Works Cited page.
1) Some say that world politics is all about power. What do you think about this idea?
Are there elements of international relations that are not about power? What might
these be?
Instructor Clue-If you dont include some sort of discussion of timely current events here, I will automatically deduct 20-50 points.
(100 points)
****Choose 1 of the 2 Questions Below****
2) American foreign policy and the foreign policies of other nations are shaped by
many factors. What are some of these factors? Which ones are most important? What
are the drawbacks or benefits of these factors? (150 points)
Instructor Clue-If you dont include some sort of discussion of timely current events here, I will automatically deduct 20-50 points.
3) Some believe that we are eventually heading toward a new order with one world
government. Others think that this would be a terrible thing. What do you think about
the prospects of a unified world government? How do international organizations such
as the United Nations and other smaller alliances (NATO, EU, etc.) play into this?
(150 points)
Instructor Hint-If you cite (cutting and pasting without a citation will get you zero for plagiarism) some random conspiracy
website, I will AUTOMATICALLY give you a zero on this question. Someone seems to do this every semester as it is a top hit in
Google for one world government. Im telling you this up front solely because Im tired of reading random conspiracy theories as
if they were any sort of legitimate academic source. They are not.POLS 211: Introduction to World Politics
MidTerm Examination (250 points 25% of overall grade)
Distributed 2/25/2013
Due Sunday, 3/10/2013 (11:59 p.m.)
Please note that Question 1 is worth less than either Question 2 or 3*.
Question #1 = 100 Points will be distributed as follows:
Category Excellent Good Average Poor
Sentence
Structure,
Grammar, Spelling
(20 points)
There are no errors.
(17-19 points) There are
1-2 small errors that do
not detract from the
understanding of
content.
(12-16 points) Several
small errors begin to
detract from the
meaning of the content.
(0-11 points) Errors are
numerous and preclude
the reader from
understanding the
content of the answer.
Organization (20 points) The answer
is organized logically
and seamlessly. There
is an introduction and
conclusion. Paragraphs
flow from one to the
next. The reader is
given greater
understanding of the
answer because it is
clearly organized.
(17-19 points) Overall
the answer is well
organized. There may
be some organizational
problems that do not
detract from the
meaning of the content.
(12-16 points)
Several small problems
in organization begin to
detract from the
meaning of the content.
(0-11 points)
Organization is nonexistent. The reader
has trouble
understanding the
content of the answer
because of
organizational
problems.
Content (48-60 points)
The answer addresses
the entire question and
is correct. The answer
reflects readings from
the text, utilizes current
events and brings in
outside sources for
clarity. Outside sources
are correctly cited.
(40-49 points) The
answer may not fully
answer the question or
have small errors. The
answer may be lacking
in outside sources or
references to current
events. Outside sources
are correctly cited.
(30-38 points) The
answer is incomplete or
partially wrong. The
answer does not
include any outside
sources or references
to current events.
Outside sources are
correctly cited.
(0-29points)
The answer does not
reflect the question or
is wrong. The answer
does not include
outside sources or
references. Or outside
sources are incorrectly
cited.
Questions #2, 3 = 150 Points will be distributed as follows:
Category Excellent Good Average Poor
Sentence
Structure,
Grammar, Spelling
(25 points)
There are no errors.
(17-24 points) There are
1-2 small errors that do
not detract from the
understanding of
content.
(12-16 points) Several
small errors begin to
detract from the
meaning of the content.
(0-11 points) Errors are
numerous and preclude
the reader from
understanding the
content of the answer.
Organization (25 points) The answer
is organized logically
and seamlessly. There
is an introduction and
conclusion. Paragraphs
flow from one to the
next. The reader is
given greater
understanding of the
answer because it is
clearly organized.
(17-24 points) Overall
the answer is well
organized. There may
be some organizational
problems that do not
detract from the
meaning of the content.
(12-16 points)
Several small problems
in organization begin to
detract from the
meaning of the content.
(0-11 points)
Organization is nonexistent. The reader
has trouble
understanding the
content of the answer
because of
organizational
problems.
Content (89 100 points)
The answer addresses
the entire question and
is correct. The answer
reflects readings from
the text, utilizes current
events and brings in
outside sources for
clarity. Outside sources
are correctly cited.
(76 88 points) The
answer may not fully
answer the question or
have small errors. The
answer may be lacking
in outside sources or
references to current
events. Outside sources
are correctly cited.
(60 75 points) The
answer is incomplete or
partially wrong. The
answer does not
include any outside
sources or references
to current events.
Outside sources are
correctly cited.
(0 59 points)
The answer does not
reflect the question or
is wrong. The answer
does not include
outside sources or
references. Or outside
sources are incorrectly
cited.