Has anybody taken this, I am not very good at it and I am already having a hard time with it. I would appreciate it if anybody could or would try to help. thanks

nope, but im sure if you post some specific questions about things we can try to help you out >>

It's all common sense. I went to class only on test days, just read the book and still got a C, in a 300 lvl pol. sci. class. I guess it depends on your professor too though.

well, when you have to write papers, it would be kinda hard jsut to go to test days. and on top of that, 20% of my final grade is showing up and participating

Reporter and polisci/econ student, so I know what you're going through.

Try to remember, politics is all about priorities. The idea is to balance competing priorities because there's never enough to satisfy everybody. We live in a finite world.

Intro polisci texts are usually very good for explaining things. I suggest you read ahead of the class, so when a discussion comes up and there's something you had trouble understanding, you can ask then instead of hearing the lecture and hoping it will come clear when you read the book. Plus, every question you ask = participation.

Also, read the papers. They're written for people with only a moderate education, so the expectation is that things need to be explained in clear terms. Skip the tabloids and go for a broadsheet. They'll give you a better picture of the politics.

Lucky for you, the U.S. system is relatively simple. The parties are good for general political leanings -- conservative/right and liberal/left -- but individual candidates are answerable to their constituents more than the party. Parliamentary systems tend to be much more party-oriented, where the individual candidate matters a lot less than the banner they carry.