COLLIN COLLEGE SPRING 2011 COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE NUMBER: GOVT 2301.S73 COURSE TITLE: American Government I
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduction to politics and government in the United States. Includes the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States, emphasizing the constitutions of the State of Texas and the United States, federalism and intergovernmental relations, local government, and the political process. Must demonstrate, by assessment or prerequisite course, placement in READ 0310. 3 credit hours.
Note: Students transferring a government course from out-of-state must enroll in this course to complete the Texas legislative requirement.
COURSE CREDIT HRS: 3 LECTURE HRS: 3
PREREQUISITE: Placement levels: Reading Assessment at College Level. Writing Assessment: ENGL-1301
COURSE REPEAT POLICY: A student may repeat this course only once after receiving a grade, including “W.” Please also note that Texas law now restricts students from withdrawing from more than six classes during their college career from any Texas college or university.
COURSE DELIVERY METHOD: Lecture and Group Work
INSTRUCTOR: Sherri Sistrunk, Associate Professor
OFFICE: B103 PHONE: 972-516-5090 EMAIL:
WEBSITE: http://iws.collin.edu/ssistrunk/
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment only: I am available to make appointments and talk with students on the following day(s) of the week and at the following time(s):
- Tuesday 6-7pm
- Wednesday 6-7pm
CLASS INFORMATION: GOVT 2301.S73, Tues 7– 9:45pm Rm. B125
TEXTBOOK: Shea, et al. Living Democracy (Texas edition Volume 1 Package Collin College). Copyright Date: 2009. ISBN: 0-558-846130 Publisher: Pearson Longman.
SUPPLIES: Textbook that will be used in this class as listed above and approximately ten (10) scantrons.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following:
1. Describe and distinguish between theories of American Democracy including elitism and pluralism.
2. Describe a variety of views on classic democracy including the views of Aristotle, Hobbes, and Locke.
3. Describe the development of the American and Texas Constitutions
4. Define and distinguish between Federal, Confederal, and Unitary Systems
5. Outline the development of Federalism in the United States
6. Identify the agents and impact of political socialization--agents of, impact of
7. Describe the significance and controversies surrounding public opinion polling in American and Texas politics.
8. Describe the purpose, types, and tactics of interest groups in American and Texas politics.
9. Describe the purpose, development, characteristics, and organization of political parties in American and Texas politics.
10. Identify patterns of voting behavior.
11. Describe the relationship between the media and politicians.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Read and regularly review the Course Syllabus. The syllabus for this course contains dates, chapters to be discussed, due dates of assignments, scheduled tests, and the rules and regulations pertaining to this course/instructor. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP A COPY OF THE SYLLABUS, COURSE CALENDAR, AND ALL OTHER HANDOUTS.
2. Reading of assigned textbook materials.
3. Class participation.
4. Reading of supplemental materials.
5. Completion of experiential learning assignments which comprise between fifteen (15) and
twenty (20) percent of the semester grade. Assignments May Not Be Emailed To Instructor. Important Note: Please immediately copy/print each assignment from my website once it has been posted. Each assignment will be removed from the website the week that it is due.
6. Completion of an assigned number of tests and a final examination.
7. Completion of all assignments in the requested format.
8. Turn off all cell phones or at minimum put them on vibrate.
9. NO TEXTING.
10. Laptops should not be on.
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
Grading Scale:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
60-69 = D
0-59 = F
Grading Structure:
Tests (4) = 10% of final grade
Assignments (4)/Group Preso/
Current Event = 20% of final grade
Class Participation = 15% of final grade
Attendance = 20% of final grade
Special Project = 15% of final grade
Semester Final = 20% of final grade
Total = 100%
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are expected to arrive on time and attend class regularly, to notify the instructor if they will be absent, and to make arrangements to complete any work missed. Any student absences may adversely affect a student’s grade. Students are urged to discuss extenuating circumstances with their instructor. Please note the below policies in regards to absences, assignments, and tests:
1. Assignments are due in class on the specified date. ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED VIA EMAIL. Assignments that are one week late will be penalized 20 points. Assignments two or more weeks late will not be accepted.
2. In the event a student is unable to attend a class when an assignment is due, the completed assignment must then be time-stamped by 5pm the next day and placed in my mailbox (see Office section for office location). Because assignments are available weeks in advance, 10 pts. will also be deducted from the late assignment; regardless of the situation/circumstance.
3. Current Events are presentations. These presentations are carefully scheduled on specific dates/times to accomadate the overall learning experience as planned by the instructor. Unlike homework assignments and tests, current event presentations cannot be “made up”. If a student is absent on his/her scheduled presentation day (for whatever reason), a zero will be given for the scheduled current event presentation.
4. If a student misses a test, the student has one week from the original test date to take the test. The following procedure must be followed to schedule and take a make-up test:
F The student must contact the instructor by email no more than 24 hours after the original test was taken (i.e., the day after the scheduled test). NO EXCEPTIONS.
F The student will then be allowed to take the test either before or during classtime during the next scheduled class period.
F After the specified timeframe has elapsed (as described above), students will not be allowed to schedule and/or take the missed test.
Students are responsible for officially withdrawing themselves from the course; failure to do so will result in a performance grade of "F". Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” is MARCH 11, 2011.
Religious Holy Days: Please refer to current Collin Student Handbook.
ADA STATEMENT:
It is the policy of Collin County Community College to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals who are students with disabilities. This College will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to contact the ACCESS office, SCC-G-200 or 972-881-5898 (V/TTD: 972-881-5950) in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
ACADEMIC ETHICS:
Every member of the Collin College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Collin College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, use of information about exams posted on the Internet or electronic medium, and/or falsifying academic records. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list and scholastic dishonesty may encompass other conduct, including any conduct through electronic or computerized means:
Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.
Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination; collaborating with another student during an examination without authority; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing, or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance; copying computer or Internet files; using someone else’s work for assignments as if it were one’s own; or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.
Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, failing to secure academic work; providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or any other course assignment; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site; and allowing a classmate to copy answers.
In cases where an incident report has been filed for alleged violation of scholastic dishonesty, faculty are requested to delay posting a grade, for the academic work in question, until the Dean of Student’s Office renders an administrative decision of the case. Students found responsible for scholastic dishonesty offenses will receive an authorized disciplinary penalty from the Dean of Students Office. The student may also receive an academic penalty in the course where the scholastic dishonesty took place. The professor will determine the appropriate academic penalty.
TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR: (Tuesday class only)
Date Scheduled Activities /1/18 / Introduction; Discuss Syllabus
Chapters 1 & 19 Discussion
Assignments #1 and #2 Available
1/25 / Chapter 2 Discussion
Current Events Assigned
2/1 / INCLEMENT WEATHER
2/8 / Assignment #1 Due
Current Events
Group Assignments (Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, & 25)
2/15 / Chapter 3 Discussion
Chapter 20 Extra Credit Assigned
Assignment #2 Due
Assignment #3 Available
2/22 / Chapter 25 Presentation
Current Events
Chapter 20 Extra Credit Due
Review for Test #1 & Test # 2
3/1 / Chapter 10 Discussion
Assignment #3 Due
Assignment #4 Available
Test #1 (Chapters 1-3 & 19) &
Test # 2 (Chapters 10, 20 & 25 )
3/8 / Chapter 11 Presentation
Special Project Assigned
Review for Test #3
3/15 / *SPRING BREAK**
3/22 / Chapter 12 & 13 Presentations
Assignment #4 Due
Test #3 (Chapters 11-13)
3/29 / Chapter 15 Discussion; Ch. 14 Presentation
Current Events
Review for Test #4
4/5 / Ch. 21 Presentation
Test # 4 (Chapters 14-15 & 21)
4/12 / *Special Project Preparation Period*
4/19 / Special Project Due/ Presentations
4/26 / Current Events
Essay Part of Semester Final Assigned
5/3 / Review for Semester Final
Essay Part of Semester Final Due
5/10 / Semester Final
The instructor has the right to add, delete, or revise segments of this course outline and/or syllabus.
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