PLSC Comp Comps

General Thoughts:

Welcome!

Since we all have our own schedules over the break, and because it will be a continuing resource for our colleagues in different cohorts (and maybe, just maybe, will be a resource that we will return to in the future), I've decided to make a wiki to help organize and coordinate my studying for PLSC comparative comprehensive exams. You are invited to participate!

This works just like Wikipedia: you can add material, take material away, discuss topics, see who has edited the page, etc. If this is your first time using wiki software, please check out the Main Page for rules and regulations, as well as a tutorial for how to write wiki code. Consult the BU Open Mediawiki Policy Guide for information on using the wiki software. You can also try things out in the Sandbox.

To create an account, simply click on the "login/create account" link in the upper right corner of your screen and follow the instructions from there.

Now, on to some organizational matters.

One of the main tasks will be to figure out how best to organize the wiki. A few thoughts:

We might begin with a page that lists our material by type (book or article), then alphabetical by author. We should then try to provide a brief annotated bibliography for each. A suggestion: can someone go through the syllabi for each course we have taken within Comparative? This should give us a fairly comprehensive list and a solid foundation.

The second thought I have is to then make a parallel page that groups the articles by methodological perspective (and further broken down by subject. So we might have a Rat Cho page with subsections for voting, parties and party formation, constitutional design, etc.

I've started this format; but feel free to change it. In the sections below you'll find links to the pages.

GMcG

You may want to type your notes into a permament file first. I typed up a rather long summary of Lijphart 1971, ran into a website error, and lost it all. Don't let it happen to you. M^allen

Smokey McG says: Only you can prevent computer frustration.

M^allen says: I am using this wiki as an example of CAPs. Oh well, it was a good idea, probably needed access control and monitoring for it to be effective.

I was going to put up a picture of Bob Axelrod here to be eye candy for Geoff, but pictures seem like they require work to post.

= Bibliography = PLSC Comp Comp Bibliography, Alpha by Author

PLSC Comp Comp Bibliography, by Methodology

= Useful Things = PLSC Comp Comp Old Exam Questions

PLSC Comp Syllabi