POLITICAL SCIENCE 1050.101
Spring Semester 2017
Instructor: Dr. Gloria Cox, Wooten Hall 163
Class Time: MWF 11-11:50, BLB 250
Office Hours:Mon 2-3 p.m., Tues 8:30-10:30, Wed 2-3 p.m., and other times by appointment
Telephone: 940-565-2601(Instructor’s Office) and 940-565-2276 (Department Office)
E-Mail:
WHAT WILL THIS CLASS BE LIKE?
Welcome to this class. I am looking forward to a good class—one in which there is much to learn as well as much to enjoy. Thank you for signing up for this class with me.
Three good reasons to take this course:
1) The content of this course is really important and interesting, as our lives are always affected by the actions of government whether the subject is curbside recycling or going to war;
2) A democratic nation like this one needs an informed citizenry; and
3) Credit for this class is required for graduation in Texas.
I promise to do my best to convince you that learning about American Government is both interesting and worthwhile.
Specific Learning Outcomes: In this class, you will have the opportunity to:
- Become well-informed about the electoral process, including how we develop our political opinions, as well as how campaigns and elections work.
- Learn about political parties, interest groups, and the media, and their many contributions to the electoral process.
- Become knowledgeable about public policy, not only in a general sense, but also with regard to specific types of domestic policies including poverty and other economic issues, as well as foreign policies such as defense and war.
WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ME TO DO IN THIS CLASS?
Your grade in this class will be based on the following components:
- Your grades on four tests, each worth 100 points for a total of 400 points
- Eight workbook chapters, each worth 20 points, for a total of 160 points
- Reading and Participation credit: a total of 40 points. One point awarded for each class attended in its entirety up to a total of 40 points. You will receive points only for classes actually attended. No points will be awarded for any kind of absence.
You will have the opportunity to earn 600 points over the course of the semester. To determine your course grade, I will follow the scale below, based on the total points you earn over the term. I will not compute an average for you. Instead, I will just total up the points you earn. There will be a few opportunities for everyone in the class to earn extra credit. Those points will not change the grading scale in any way, but just let you make up a few points you may have missed along the way.
Two additional points:
- First, please do not ask me to give you a higher grade than the one you earn. I will change grades only in the case of a computational error. You will be able to see your grades on Blackboard at all times, and if you see an error of some sort, please make sure to let me know about it.
- Second, please do not ask for an individual extra credit assignment to help you out. I do not offer individual extra credit, as I believe doing so is unfair to other students.
In other words, your grade will be what you earn during the term. My policy is to let students know my expectations and offer opportunities for you to do your best.
600-540 = Grade of A (Equivalent to 90-100 average)
539-480 = Grade of B (Equivalent to 80-89 average)
479-420 = Grade of C (Equivalent to 70-79 average)
419-360 = Grade of D (Equivalent to 60-69 average)
359 or fewer points = Grade of F (Equivalent to 59 or lower average)
Blackboard:
We will use Blackboard to support our efforts in this class. You can access Blackboard by going to learn.unt.edu. This syllabus is already posted on Blackboard, along with other items. As the course moves along, I will post various things for you, including slides related to each chapter when we have completed it, review questions for each chapter, announcements, and grades. Blackboard is the only way to access the PSCI 1040 Workbook and complete the assignments for the workbook.
Textbook Required:
The textbook is American Government: Roots and Reform by O’Connor, Sabato, and Yanus. There is a reading assignment for each topic. Please try to read the assigned material before we cover the topic in class. We will use eight chapters (ten through sixteen, and eighteen) in the O’Connor et al. text. (I use the first part of the book in my PSCI 1040 classes.) For those who do not wish to purchase the book, I have several copies on reserve at the Eagle Commons Library. Additionally, I do not object to your using an older edition as long as it is recent.
Here is textbook information I received from the bookstore:
American Government: 2014 Elections+Updates/Edition: 12th 16
Author: OCONNOR
ISBN: 9780133913309
Publication Date: 06/03/2015
Publisher: Pearson
Estimated Student Prices:
Print, New: $173.60
Print, Used: $130.00
Print, New Rental: $112.85
Print, Used Rental: $78.10
E-book, buy: $104.00
E-book, rent: $71.00
Workbook Required:
In addition to the textbook, a workbook is required: 1050 Workbook, Soomo 2014. Workbook ISBN: 978-0-9911355-7-8. The workbook is available only in electronic form. There are eight assignments in the workbook, each divided into four parts. You may purchase the workbook directly from Soomo by credit card or at the UNT Bookstore. If you purchase the workbook at the UNT Bookstore, you will receive a passkey (code) and you will then go to Blackboard (learn.unt.edu) to unlock the workbook.
To find the workbook, log on to Blackboard and click on PSCI 1050. You should see 1050 Workbook listed on the left side of the page. Click on 1050 Workbook. You should be able to do one of three things at that point: 1) Purchase the workbook using your credit card; 2) Access the workbook using the passkey you received when you purchased it at the UNT Bookstore; or 3) Use the trial period provided to give yourself a little more time to buy it. Please note that it is not possible to complete all the chapters during the trial period to avoid paying for the workbook. You will have limited access during that time, and you will have to pay for the workbook for your grades to be recorded.
The department created the workbook as an additional resource for our students so that we can be certain that we are meeting the learning objectives that the State of Texas has created for this course. Because there are four objectives set by the State, each workbook chapter is divided into four parts, each of which directly addresses one of the course learning objectives. Each workbook chapter is worth 20 points, for a total of 160 points this semester.
Eight chapters from the workbook are assigned, and your completion of chapter questions from the workbook will constitute your homework grade for the course. Please be sure to complete all four parts for each chapter for full credit. Questions can be reset so you may make multiple tries for each question. That creates a situation in which every student is able to get a perfect or nearly perfect grade on every workbook chapter. The grades you get on your workbook assignments are automatically recorded in Blackboard.
There is a suggested due date for each set of workbook exercises but you will actually have until April 28 to complete all the assignments. After that date, there will be no further opportunities to complete workbook assignments.
Tests Required: Please read this section carefully.
1.Four tests are required for successful completion of this class. Each test will be worth 100 points for a total of 400 points. Tests will cover material from class presentations and slides as well as questions taken from the assigned reading in the textbook, and there may be questions on material that was not discussed in class, including workbook assignments.
2.Four tests have been assigned on the syllabus. If you take all four tests and are happy with your grade, you do not need to take the final exam. If you miss one of the four regularly scheduled tests, you will need to take the cumulative final exam as a makeup.
3.I do not anticipate providing makeup tests except for students who miss a test because they are away from UNT representing the University in an official capacity, such as a University athlete or a member of the Green Brigade. For a student to qualify for a makeup test, the absence must be officially excused by the University. An official absence is one from the Office of the Dean of Students. Occasionally a student will schedule a conference, meeting, or event that is not a University-sanctioned event, or they will decide to do something with another class at the same time this class meets, and I would remind you that no makeup would be offered in those instances. In other words, it is not sufficient for a faculty member or club sponsor to write a note that you are needed at some event. Please remember that if you miss one of the tests, you must take the final exam or a grade of zero will be recorded for the test missed.
4.From time to time, unfortunately, a student will experience extraordinary circumstances, such as a serious accident or illness requiring hospitalization or even the death of a parent or other very close relative. Please let me know if something like this happens to you. I will want to talk with you so we can make plans for you to complete the class successfully.
5.Let’s suppose you have taken all four regularly scheduled tests, but are not completely happy with your grade. In that instance, you are welcome to take the final to see if you can make a grade higher than one of your regular tests. I will drop your lowest test grade, even if it is the final exam.
6.Your instructor is required to give final exams in accordance with the University’s exam schedule. Please do not ask to take the final exam at another time, as it is not within my authority to grant such requests. Please note the time of the final at the start of the semester and keep it in mind as you make plans for the end of the semester.
Testing Policies:
Test Format:
I recognize that tests can produce anxiety in many students, so I have built in a bit of flexibility that I hope will be helpful. Tests will typically be 50 multiple-choice questions, and you will have 45 minutes to take each test.
Ways to Take Your Tests:
1. Come to class as usual and take the test in paper and pencil form.
2. Come to class as usual, bring your laptop, and take the test online in our classroom.
3. Find another location with a secure computer connection to take the test online during the regular classroom period. A secure location is a desktop computer at a UNT testing center or computer lab. Using such a location will keep you from losing your connection, as Wi-Fi is notoriously unreliable and you might lose your connection at any time. If you choose Wi-Fi, you will be in danger of not being able to take the test at the appointed time, not being able to finish the test, or otherwise suffering the problems that happen when your connection is lost. Computer or internet issues during test taking will not result in an opportunity for a makeup test.
Full Disclosure:
In the interest of full disclosure: Blackboard allows your instructor and the teaching assistants to monitor tests during the testing period. Additionally, we have access to other information such as when the test was started and submitted, and even how long you spent on each question.
Accessing Your Test Online:
Your online test will be available on Blackboard. If you choose to take a test online, you will need to use a search engine such as Firefox or Chrome. Please do not use Internet Explorer or Safari, as we have discovered they do not work well with Blackboard.
Being Honest:
Online tests are just like other tests, in that you are required to provide answers from what you know. They are not open book tests, and you do not have permission to use your class notes, slides, review sheets, textbook, Internet sources, or any other material during the test. Please be prepared for each test and answer the questions from what you know. Thank you for honoring this request.
Attendance/Participation Credit:
You will be rewarded for attending class and participating. Forty points of your grade will be based on class attendance and participation. Attendance will be checked at each class period with a sign-in sheet. Should you leave class early, you will earn no credit for that class. Signing in for others is a violation of academic integrity rules and will be treated as such.
This system rewards you for attending class. I like this idea better than penalizing you for not attending or trying to figure out if your reason for not attending is valid. I hope you feel that it is a fair system, as it leaves decisions about attendance in your hands.
SOME THOUGHTS YOUR INSTRUCTOR WISHES TO SHARE WITH YOU
You are my student this semester, and I commit myself to doing a good job for you. My goal is for you to learn a great deal, enjoy the class, and make the grade you want in the class. Here are some thoughts I want to share:
- Please commit yourself to coming to class every day, as the single most important thing you can do to make sure you make a good grade in this class is to attend every day. As Woody Allen (an old movie director of whom you may have heard) put it, 85 percent of success is showing up. If you miss class, you miss what we covered that day and the discussion pertaining to it. You also lose track of what we are discussing and how ideas fit together.
- Beyond that, I encourage you to read the assignments and take notes in class. Most students don’t take notes these days and, as a result, students have become passive learners, expecting that the notes will be sent to them later. That is not my practice, however, as we know with certainty that we learn by writing things down. I invite you to bring a notebook and a pen, and take notes in class. You will be amazed what a big help this turns out to be.
- I know that government is not the most interesting subject to every student. (I have some theories on why that is true.) I also know that this course (PSCI 1050) has a fairly high number/percentage of students who disappear as the semester moves along, or drop the class, or request an Incomplete, or keep coming but do not submit assignments and/or do poorly on them. That fact is why I am going to share a secret with you at the outset: my goal is that every student taking this class with me this term will make a grade of C or higher. If it looks like that will tough for you, let’s talk so I can offer strategies for your success. Don’t wait until the last week of the semester to reach out to me about your grades. Grade concerns are best addressed earlier rather than later.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS
ADA Compliance: It is the policy of UNT, the Department of Political Science, and your instructor to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act and to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information, see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at
Please present your written request for accommodation as soon as possible after the start of the semester. A student who is not registered with UNT’s Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) cannot be accommodated. Additionally, your accommodation begins after you register with ODA and provide your instructor with the appropriate paperwork. Requests for accommodation cannot be made retroactive.
UNT Policy on Student Absences: Student absences due to participation in an official university function or activity must be approved in advance by the department chair and the academic dean. Athletic team member absences will be approved by the athletic director or designee. Excused students will be permitted to make up missed work when practicable or will be given special consideration so they are not penalized for their absence. The academic dean/athletic director or designee will notify the Dean of Students office regarding the excused absences and the student will pick up the approved absence card within 3 business days to present to all instructors.