POLITICAL SCIENCE 1

PasadenaCityCollege

S. Anderson

MTWTHC337, 12:00

INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

TEXT

James Morone and Rogan Kersh. By The People: Debating American Government, Brief Second Edition. (The book can be purchased from the PCC Book Store, the Bookmart located at 1535 E. Colorado Blvd. across from the college, or online. The text can also be rented)

GRADING AND ATTENDANCE

There will be a midterm and a final examination. In addition to these two tests, you will be required to turn in one paper – three to fivepages typed (the paper will be a critical analysis concerning the 2016 presidential elections – a handout will be given in class).

There will also be three short assignments (one-two pages) called “political shorts” (these assignments are explained on the final page of your syllabus). There will also be two in-class written exercises focusing on topics post-midterm that are not in your textbook.

PasadenaCityCollege policy will be followed regarding attendance. “Students are expected to attend all class meetings of the courses in which they are enrolled. Students have a responsibility to drop classes they no longer attend. Excessive absences after the drop or withdrawal deadlines will result in the assignment of F grade.”

Your final grade will be derived from the following:

POLITICAL SHORTS20%

WRITTEN EXERCISES10%

MIDTERM20%*

PAPER20%*

FINAL20%*

ATTENDANCE10%

*YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL THREE CORE ASSIGNMENTS OR YOU WILL NOT PASS THE COURSE!

*YOU MUST PASS EITHER THE MIDTERM OR THE FINAL WITH A “C” OR BETTER AND COMPLETE ALL OTHER CORE ASSIGNMENTS TO PASS THE COURSE!

PLAGIARISM, CHEATING, AND OTHER WAYS TO FAIL

You are responsible for your own work in this class. Each and every assignment must be posted on by the time the assignment is due. If you fail to submit a hard copy and a copy to turnitin.com, you will not receive credit for the class. There is a detailed explanation of how to use on my website. If you don’t pass either the midterm or final satisfactorily, you will not pass the course. Any student caught cheating on any core assignment will receive a failing grade and will be subject to further disciplinary action by the college.

Cell Phone use will not be tolerated in class. If you have an emergency, please use phone in the hallway. Three warnings will be given and if not heeded, you will be dropped from the class.

Laptop use in class is for taking notesonly. Social networking, e-mailing, etc. in class will result a drop from class.

OFFICE LOCATION & PHONE: C347, 626/585-7495

E-MAIL: , website:

OFFICE HOURS: THERE ARE NO OFFICE HOURS DURING THE SUMMER BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME BY E-MAIL! IN ADDITION YOU CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ANYTIME WITH ONE OF MY ASSISTANTS!

Throughout the SemesterEXTRA CREDIT will be announced. The difficulty of the assignment will determine the amount of extra credit you will receive. You will be given a separate handout explaining in greater detail the types of Extra Credit you can complete. ALL EXTRA CREDIT IS DUE JUNE 20THAT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS. I suggest, however, that you turn extra credit in as you complete for feedback.

NOTE: YOU MUST COMPLETE THE CORE ASSIGNMENTS – MIDTERM, PAPER, AND FINAL – WITH SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE IN ORDER TO PASS THIS COURSE. EXTRA CREDIT DOES NOT REPLACE MISSED POLITICAL SHORTS OR MISSED CLASSES. IN ADDITION,YOU MUST PASS EITHER THE MIDTERM OR FINAL WITH “C” OR BETTER IN ORDER TO PASS THE COURSE!

THE COURSE

This course if for beginning students of Political Science – for those who will be majoring in the field as well as for those who are majoring in other areas but wish to understand the subject matter of American Government. The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the structure of American Government and to illustrate how it affects our lives on a daily basis.

ASSIGNMENTS

May16-17Ideas That Shape American Politics

Assignment: M&K, pp. 2-41

May18-19The Constitution

Assignment:M&K, pp. 42-83

May 23-24Federalism and Nationalism

Assignment: M&K, pp. 24-111

May 25-26Civil Liberties

Assignment: M&K, pp. 112-145,PS #1 DUE MAY 26

May 31The Struggle for Civil Rights

Assignment: M&K, pp. 146-187

Jun. 1-2MIDTERM EXAMINATION, PS #2 DUE JUN. 1

Jun. 6-7Campaigns and Elections

Assignment: M&K, pp. 250-281

Jun. 8-9Interest Groups and Political Parties

Assignment: M&K, pp. 282-323, PS #3 DUE JUN. 9,Written Exercise #1, JUN. 9

Jun. 13-14Congress

Assignment: M&K, pp. 324-357

Jun. 15-16The Presidency

Assignment: M&K, pp. 358-397, Written Exercise #2, JUN. 16, PAPER DUE JUN. 16

Jun. 20-21The Judicial Branch

Assignment: M&K, pp. 430-467

Jun. 22-23FINAL EXAMINATION

TURNITIN.COM : CLASS ID AND PASSWORD: ID:12698889password: convention(instructions for setting up turnitin.com on posted on my website)

POLITICAL SHORTS

Political Shorts are due according to the above schedule. More detailed instructions for each assignment are posted on my website prior to the due date. They are short double-spaced typed assignments, one-two pages in length. Always cite your sources (follow MLA Format posted on-line). NO LATE POLITICAL SHORTS WILL BE ACCEPTED! We will discuss your political shorts in class.

Political Short #1 Due May26– Biography of elected or appointed official (WEBSITE POSTING WILL HAVE DIRECTIONS). You will select a name in class of an elected or appointed official and complete the following:

  1. Write a job description for their position.
  2. Outline the PUBLIC BACKGROUND ONLY! of your official. (what offices have they held, committees that are important, etc.).
  3. Find three areas of activity that this person has been involved in since they have been in office. Summarize these issuesin three separate paragraphs.Write one accountability question for this individual.

USE A MINIMUM OF TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES – ONE SOURCE MUST BE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE AND OTHER SOURCE MUST BE OBTAINED THROUGH EBSCO (SHATFORD LIBRARY DATABASE)

Political Short #2 Due Jun. 1 – Public Television or Public Radio (WEBSITE POSTING WILL HAVE DIRECTIONS). Watch or listen to one program on public television or radio regarding current issue. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ONLY STATIONS YOU MAY USE:

Public T.V. StationsKCET Channel 28 or 50, kcet.org or PBS.org

Public Radio StatesKPFK 90.7, 89.3, 106.9 FM, or .org

Political Short #3 Due Jun. 9 –Political Ideas. (WEBSITE POSTING WILL HAVE DIRECTIONS)Rebuttal to an opinion piece from a journal or newspaper in the form of a letter to the editor regarding the 2016 elections.

WRITTEN EXERCISES

There will be two written exercises in class this semester. Both written exercises will be completed in class after the midterm and will be worth 200 points each. We will be watching two DVDs regarding one domestic and one foreign policy. The dates of the written exercises are June 9 and June16.

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