Course Information
Course title
 Seminar on Political Campaigns and Communication 
Semester
 111-2 
Designated for
 COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES  DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE  
Instructor
 KAI-PING HUANG 
Curriculum Number
 PS5716 
Curriculum Identity Number
 322EU2520 
Class
  
Credits
 2.0 
Full/Half
Yr.
 Half 
Required/
Elective
 Elective 
Time
 Friday 3,4(10:20~12:10) 
Remarks
 Restriction: juniors and beyond
The upper limit of the number of students: 30.
The upper limit of the number of non-majors: 15. 
  
Course introduction video
 
Table of Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning
 Association has not been established
Course Syllabus
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Course Description

All democratic societies conduct competitive elections on a regular basis. For many people, the rise of democracy around the world means that even when government actions are disagreeable or contrary to their personal preferences, they are generally viewed as legitimate, provided that the leaders taking the actions were elected in an electoral system widely considered fair. However, the practice of democracy is often messy and imperfect.
This course considers the degree to which political campaigns and communication affect electoral outcomes in particular and the quality of democracy at large. Topics to be covered include the history of political campaigns, recent trends in the media, theories of media effects, the implications for politics of changes in media (e.g., the rise of the Internet, social media and partisan media), the ways in which the news shapes the public's perceptions of the political world, and the general role of campaigns and communication in the democratic process.

****For those who didn't get the enrollment but would like to sign up for the course, please fill out the information here. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1byGFH1NG_2ny-iwQNyryQ3wWZURp1aP8JxOx_QcLNFo/edit?usp=sharing 

Course Objective
 By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. identify and analyze communication concepts used during campaigns in contexts such as candidate image formation, campaign strategies, candidate debates, and media coverage;
2. describe and contrast the communication encounters among campaigners, reporters/media, and citizens in the context of political campaigns;
3. articulate and demonstrate how politicians use communication tools, tactics, and strategies to recruit electoral support;
4. illustrate, hypothesize, and appraise candidates’ discussions of various issue topics. 
Course Requirement
 In-class discussion 20%
Mid-term exam 30%
Group presentation 20%
Final term paper 30% 
Student Workload (expected study time outside of class per week)
 1-2 hours 
Office Hours
 Fri. 12:30~13:30 Note: Or by appointment  
Designated reading
 See material list 
References
 (1) Craig, S. C., & Hill, D. B. (2010). The Electoral Challenge: Theory Meets Practice. SAGE.
(2) Denton (Jr. ), R., & Kuypers, J. A. (2008). Politics and Communication in America: Campaigns, Media, and Governing in the 21st Century. Waveland Press.
(3) Denton, R. E., Jr, Trent, J. S., & Friedenberg, R. V. (2019). Political Campaign Communication: Principles and Practices. Rowman & Littlefield. 
Grading
  
No.
Item
%
Explanations for the conditions
1. 
 In-class discussion 
20% 
 This course is premised on active discussion and students are expected to come to class having watched lecture videos and completed the readings ready to discuss them. Students must have at least 8 records of in-class discussion. Extra records are a bonus, but the final score shouldn't exceed 22. 
2. 
 Mid-term exam 
30% 
 The mid-term exam will include multiple choice and short answer questions. Application and identification are stressed more than memorization of material. The test will be conducted online and will last two hours.  
3. 
 Group presentation 
20% 
 Students should form groups with 3 members at the beginning of the semester. It is up to each group to choose the date of presentation; first come, first served. We will analyze the campaign strategies of a candidate in the last year's mayoral election (2022) and their relationship to the results.  
4. 
 Final term paper 
30% 
 Your op-ed (not more than 5 pages) will demonstrate your ability to develop a critical perspective and demonstrate an understanding of political communication theories, processes, and concepts as they relate to Taiwan's presidential elections. Upon completion of the assignment, you may submit your editorial to the media outlet. 
 
Adjustment methods for students
  
Teaching methods
 Assisted by video
Assignment submission methods
 Mutual agreement to present in other ways between students and instructors
Exam methods
 Final exam date postponement, Written (oral) reports replace exams
Others
 Negotiated by both teachers and students
Progress
Week
Date
Topic
Week 1
 2/24  Introduction 
Week 2
 3/3  Phases of Political Campaigns 
Week 3
 3/10  Campaign Strategies-Incumbents 
Week 4
 3/17  Campaign Strategies-Challengers 
Week 5
 3/24  The Role of Media I 
Week 6
 3/31  The Role of Media II 
Week 7
 4/7  The Role of the Internet 
Week 8
 4/14  Mid-term exam 
Week 9
 4/21  The Role of Consultants 
Week 10
 4/28  Political Speeches and Debates 
Week 11
 5/5  Scandals and Campaign Ethics 
Week 12
 5/12  The Role of Citizens 
Week 13
 5/19  Impacts on Democracy 
Week 14
 5/26  Group Presentations I 
Week 15
 6/2  Group Presentations II 
Week 16
 6/9  Final term paper due