Splash Biography

JOSEPH TOMCHAK, Yale Sophomore, Political Science Major

Major: Political Science

College/Employer: Yale

Year of Graduation: 2017

Brief Biographical Sketch:

My particular areas of interest within political science are foreign policy, comparative politics, and domestic education policy. I love to teach and hope to pursue education after graduation. I am particularly interested in Africa and the Middle East regionally as well as legacies of colonialism, authoritarianism, and democratization generally. I believe that students only learn when engaged and try to make each of my classes as interactive as possible.

Past Classes

(Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

X2364: Protest, Revolution and Repression in Splash Fall 16 (Nov. 05, 2016)

Do you know the difference between a revolution and a protest? How and when do governments decide to repress domestic unrest? What factors affect the outcome of repression? We will begin by exploring these questions, and then place ourselves in the shoes of the actors to explore how and why decisions to protest and repress are made.

C2194: Understanding the 2016 Election in Sprout Fall 16 (Oct. 01 - 15, 2016)

An examination of major policy issues in the 2016 election from the presidential race to the senate. Beyond email scandals and outrageous remarks, do you really know where the candidates stand on major issues? This class will discuss those issues and include interactive activities.

E2195: Is School Failing You? in Sprout Fall 16 (Oct. 01 - 15, 2016)

Educational issues are common political topics from local to state elections, but it often misses the fact that real students suffer consequences of bad policies and failing school. This class will examine some of the issues of educational policy, best practices, and personal experiences.

E2197: The Politics of Natural Resources in Sprout Fall 16 (Oct. 01 - 15, 2016)

How natural resources affect developing economies, public policy, and international interest in regions. A focus on authoritarian governments in Africa and the Middle East.

X1993: Trump and Bernie: Radical or Extremist? in Splash Spring 16 (Apr. 02, 2016)

What does it mean to be extreme and radical? Can you be one without the other or are the terms the same? Class will examine these questions through the lens of the presidential primary. It will end with deciding if quotes are extreme or not. Do you secretly support some of Trump's statements or find popular figures radical?

X2021: Foreign Policy in Splash Spring 16 (Apr. 02, 2016)

An examination of some of the complex decisions policy makers face with foreign affairs. The class will teach these issues through case studies of current issues such as ISIS and North Korea. Class will end with a simulation: have you learned enough to avert a crisis?

H2022: Is School Failing You? in Splash Spring 16 (Apr. 02, 2016)

C1900: Media and Conflict in Sprout Spring 16 (Feb. 13 - 27, 2016)

The class examines conflict and how it is portrayed through journalism and other media. It explores questions of bias, accuracy, and the complicated nature of covering issues when the truth is unclear. The class will end with an exercise designed to apply the skills and material covered in the class.

X1805: Diplomacy and War in Splash Fall 15 (Nov. 14, 2015)

When do countries sign agreements and when do they go to war? This class examines diplomatic decision making and how military force is used to achieve political goals. The class will end with an interactive game where you must decide the fate of your nation...

X1807: How to Stay in Power in Splash Fall 15 (Nov. 14, 2015)

So say you find yourself king, how do you prevent your rivals from taking your throne? From democratically elected leaders to absolute dictators, coming to power doesn't mean you stay there. This class examines some strategies used by leaders to keep power, comparing and contrasting leaders in different systems. It ends with a simulation game, will you learn enough to survive the struggle for power...?

C1664: The 2016 Primary and Why it Matters in Sprout Fall 15 (Oct. 03 - 17, 2015)

An early look at the Republican and Democratic primaries, the candidates, and the implications of the race. The class will use the primaries to discuss larger divisions and changes in politics and specifically why the race is important even for students still in high school.

X1559: The Arab Spring in Splash Spring 15 (Apr. 04, 2015)

An examination of the uprising and protests in the Arab World in 2011. The course takes a look at the decisions made by protesters, the regimes, and the international community. No prior knowledge needed.

X1562: The Politics of Natural Resources in Splash Spring 15 (Apr. 04, 2015)

How natural resources affect developing economies, public policy, and international interest in regions. A focus on authoritarian governments in Africa and the Middle East.

X1563: The Common Core in Splash Spring 15 (Apr. 04, 2015)

This course looks at new Common Core standards and their implications. What does it mean for students, teachers, and administrators? How does politics change its implications? What are its goals and will it succeed? This class will examine these questions in exploring the most recent national push for reform in public education.

H1587: Struggling Governments in Africa in Splash Spring 15 (Apr. 04, 2015)

An overview of the causes of difficulties faced by many African nations to develop their governments and economies since independence with a focus on how colonialism and other international interference has affected those countries.

C1397: Struggling Governments in Africa in Sprout Spring 15 (Feb. 14 - 28, 2015)

An overview of the causes of difficulties faced by many African nations to develop their governments and economies since independence with a focus on how colonialism and other outside influence has affected those countries. Course may be difficult to follow if all three weeks cannot be attended because the last week will primarily be an interactive activity based upon the previous two classes.

E1398: The Politics of Natural Resources in Sprout Spring 15 (Feb. 14 - 28, 2015)

How natural resources affect developing economies, public policy, and international interest in regions. A focus on authoritarian governments in Africa and the Middle East. This class takes a more detailed look at an issue that arises in Struggling Governments in Africa (a core class). A student looking to take both may find the overlap to be redundant if the issues are not of particular interest to them.

E1399: Political Messaging in Sprout Spring 15 (Feb. 14 - 28, 2015)

The class will consist of watching political advertisements and discussing what makes them effective or ineffective. In addition, elements of political psychology and its use will be discussed in the class (no prior knowledge of these strategies is expected).

E1401: The Common Core in Sprout Spring 15 (Feb. 14 - 28, 2015)

H1294: Political Messaging in Splash Fall 14 (Nov. 08, 2014)

A study of the psychological components at work in political advertisements and other psychological effects explored by the field of political psychology.

H1295: Struggling Governments in Africa in Splash Fall 14 (Nov. 08, 2014)

C1190: The Emergence of A Superpower in Sprout Fall 2014 (Oct. 04 - 18, 2014)

A study of how the United States has obtained its position of the dominant power in the world. We will look at the historical events as well as some political theory that has lead to the current power of the United States as well as future threats to that power.