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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
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On-Line
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Course Title:
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American National Government
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Course Prefix & Number:
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GOVT2305
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Section Number:
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342
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Semester/Year:
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Fall 2017
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Semester Credit Hours:
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3
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Lecture Hours:
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3
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Lab Hours:
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0
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Course Description (NCTC Catalog):
Origin and development of the U.S. Constitution, structure and powers of the national government including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, federalism, political participation, the national election process, public policy, civil liberties, and civil rights.
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Course Prerequisite(s): None
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Required or Recommended Course Materials:
Patterson, Thomas E. We the People. 12th edition. McGraw Hill. (E-book with Connect Plus Access) - ISBN 9781260200607
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Kevin T Davis
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Campus/Office Location:
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Flower Mound Room #107 - Cubicle #4
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Telephone Number:
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972-899-8410
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E-mail Address:
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kdavis@nctc.edu
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OFFICE HOURS – On Campus
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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11am - 12:30pm
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9am - 9:30am
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11am - 12:30pm
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9am - 9:30am
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11am to Noon
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2pm - 3pm
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12:30pm - 2pm
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2pm - 3 pm
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12:30 - 2pm
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1pm to 3pm
On-Line
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I will check my e-mail daily, but will be checking more regularly during my office hours.
GRADING CRITERIA
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# of Graded Course Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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Percentage or Point Values
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16
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Learn Smart Chapters
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5 pts / 80 pts
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14
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Participation Assignments
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10 pts / 140 pts
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10
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Discussion questions
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15 pts / 150 pts
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2
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Research Papers / Survey Project
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50 pts / 100pts
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2
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Midterm Exams
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100 pts / 200 pts
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1
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Final Exam
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100 pts
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COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)
Completed Learn Smart Assignments will get full credit IF completed by due date. This is about 10% of your grade, so DON'T ignore it!
Weekly Participation Assignments will count as all or nothing.
There are ten discussions. 10 pts for your original thoughts and 5 pts for a response.
Two short research papers, or one Survey project to count for one paper. More info below.
Midterms and the Final Exam will be 100 points each and count for about half of your grade!
You will only get ONE Mulligan, if something happens during an exam, I can reset, but ONLY once. Be sure to find out why you lost your connection and fix it, or switch to a more secure location/computer/modem.
Plagiarism/Cheating/Collusion will NOT be tolerated and will result in a Zero for that assignment and a report to the Dean for Disciplinary Action.
Learn Smart is due by the Due Date and no late work is accepted, since it is hosted off site.
Discussion responses will NOT be accepted late. Participation Assignments can be accepted one time, but ONLY until 11:59pm on the day AFTER it is due.
Research papers can be accepted late through e-mail, but there will be a loss of 10 pts per day.
Since Exams are open for 2½ days, there will be no make-ups, except for some sort of technical malfunction.
E-mail your instructor IMMEDIATELY if there are any problems with anything. DO NOT send e-mails asking to turn in your work, attach it to your e-mail and send it ASAP. The longer you wait, the more I take off.
Grades will post within 48 hours of assignment closing, except for research papers and exams, which can take up to 5 days.
Grading Scale: 770 points possible
A = 687+ points B = 610 to 686 pts C = 533 to 609 pts D = 466 to 532 F = 531 or less
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This is a TENTATIVE Schedule which is subject to change W/O notice due to unforeseen events.
August 28th - Course Open
September 25th - Learn Smart Section #1 - Due by 11:59pm
September 29th - First Midterm Exam - Module #1 - Chapters 1-4 & 11 - Midterm Open at 6pm
October 1st - Midterm Closes at 11:59pm
October 6th - Research Paper #1 due through CANVAS by 11:59pm
October 30th - Learn Smart Section #2 - Due by 11:59pm
November 3rd - 2nd Midterm Exam - Module #2 - Chapters 5-8 & 12 - Midterm Open at 6pm
November 5th - Midterm Closes at 11:59pm
November 9th - Last Day to Withdraw from Course.
November 13th - Research Paper #2 due through CANVAS by 11:59pm
Hard copy Surveys due through mail to Flower Mound Campus.
November 22nd to 26th - Campus Closed – Thanksgiving Holiday
December 8th - Final Learn Smart - Due by 11:59pm
December 9th - Final Exam - Module #3 - Chapters 9-10 & 13-16 - Midterm Open at 6pm
December 12th - Final Exam Closes at 11:59pm
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If you cannot meet these dates/deadlines, then drop this course.
CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)
o Communication o Mathematics o Life and Physical Science o Language, Philosophy & Culture o Creative Arts
X Government/Political Science o Social and Behavioral Sciences o Component Area Option o American History
COURSE TYPE
o Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)
X Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course
o WECM Course
REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)
X Critical Thinking o Communication o Empirical and Quantitative
o Teamwork X Personal Responsibility X Social Responsibility
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion. Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty. See Student Handbook, Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor. It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam. Students will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent, or tardy, a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course's objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)
Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. Absence does not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Dropping a course is the student's responsibility, but you MAY be dropped for excessive absence. See Attendance Regulations in the North Central Texas College Catalog.
Last day to withdraw from a course with a W is November 9, 2017.
DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).
Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc. Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.
For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321. Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such as College 101, placement testing, academic advising and course registration, transfer assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much more. http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx
Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab and assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized support services.
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
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Name of Chair/Coordinator:
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Crystal R.M. Wright
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Office Location:
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Gainesville Campus, Room 824
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-7731, ext. 4320
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E-mail Address:
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cwright@nctc.edu
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Name of Instructional Dean:
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Dr. Larry Gilbert
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Office Location:
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Corinth 305
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Telephone Number:
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940-498-6216
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E-mail Address:
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lgilbert@nctc.edu
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Rumsfeld's Unknown Speech
As we know, there are known knowns. These are things we know. These are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know, we don't know. - Donald Rumsfeld
Discussions:
Every student is expected to participate in the weekly Discussions. We will only have 10 Discussions in between exams, but NOT the week of an exam. Dates are set to allow you at least 4 days of study without assignments before your exams.
Your original response will be made and be at least 300 words long. It can be more if you wish. Make sure to reference your source material in some fashion, as you need facts to form opinions. Everyone should have at least 2 sources for their original response. Your original response is worth 10 pts. An additional 5 pts will be added for your response to another poster. Your response should be at least 100 words and be something more than agreement or disagreement. In other words, WHY do you agree, or disagree, with the person's post?
Although there is no real wrong answer to these questions, I will NOT be giving points for fluff, opinions without facts, or extremely biased "just because" pieces. I will take off points for derogatory language, answers that are too short, poorly worded, or use little to no research.
Students who wish to respond to more than one student can get an extra point or two depending upon the quality of your additional post. This extra credit is ONLY available one time for each discussion question, but will ONLY be given for thoughtful responses.
GOVT 2305 – Research Paper / Survey Project - Fall, 2017
Research Paper will consist of two 800 to 1000 word essays from the assigned topics listed below. Please choose your words carefully and make sure your paper is no longer than 1200 words with your citations. Put your name at the top, skip a line and then start writing. Be sure to focus on relevant information and not extraneous personal information like exact birth dates, siblings, pets, mother's/father's occupation, etc. Make sure your discussion is significant to the topic at hand and researches/discusses both sides of each issue. In your conclusion, discuss your own opinions on the subject; for or against, etc. and justify that conclusion!
Make sure to cite ALL your quotes, and use APA or MLA format for citations/sources. Failure to cite your quotes is plagiarism, and you will be counted off for that. Also, do not cite more than 10%, or 100 words, of your paper. Using encyclopedias and encyclopedic websites (wikipedia.com or about.com), or grade school websites, will count against you! Do NOT quote your instructor or textbook. This is supposed to be OUTSIDE research, so make good use of the books, magazines, journals, reports, and government/education websites.
Each paper is worth 50 points towards your final grade, and points are assigned as follows:
5 point - Is the length correct?
15 points - Covered subject matter w/o grammatical, spelling, or sentence errors?
10 points - Is there a conclusion? Was it a high, quality conclusion?
5 point - 4 or more "good" sources? (You will lose points for using wikipedia.com, about.com, or any encyclopedic site, as a source. You also lose points for using your textbook or instructor as a source.)
15 points - Quality of your paper. (Answers the questions, sticks to subject, no excessive quoting, no awkward spots, and has good flow?)
Papers will be submitted through Canvas by 11:59pm on the day it is due. If you miss the deadline, you can e-mail it to me, but I will deduct 10 points for EVERY day that it is late. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure YOUR paper is submitted by the deadline.
Paper #1 Due October 6th - The US Constitution gives everyone the right to Due Process. What does that mean and where does it stop? Some people want us to prohibit gun sales to those on the "No Fly" list, but there is currently no due process for those who are put on the list. What Due Process should they get? The Dallas Shooter recently was killed by a robot carried bomb, and received no Due Process. Several Americans have been killed by drones in foreign countries without Due Process. Where was the Due Process? What kind of society would we be without Due Process? Look at the Philippines, where you can kill a drug dealer without any Due Process. Conclude with your opinion of how much, or little, Due Process a person should receive in America.
Two Options for 2nd half of Research Grade – Due November 13th:
Write and Submit a Second Paper – What is your opinion of President Donald Trump so far? Although he has only been in office for 6 months, what has he accomplished? Does he seem to be making progress on his promises to Make America Great Again? Are his Cabinet picks working out okay? What major legislation has been passed? How are Foreign Relations working out? Has the economy improved substantially, or not? What successes/problems do you see so far? What kind of impact has this had on America? How has been doing compared to other Presidents? Conclude with your opinion of what you think/hope he will do by the end of his first term.
Or Conduct 50 or more surveys with Eligible Texas Voters. Surveys will be provided by your instructor, but you have to get 50 or more individuals to complete them before the deadline. These will be non-partisan surveys about people's political habits. Any one is eligible to complete the survey as long as they are a US Citizen 18 years of age or better. It is vital that they complete the entire survey and NOT leave out any information. There are no wrong answers and we are NOT here to judge, but just to collect data. Incomplete surveys will NOT be counted. Let your instructor know if you wish to choose this option and he will provide you with the survey materials. (I will email you the survey questions so you can print your own, or I can mail you some, if you provide me an address.) You will need to mail in your cards for credit.
If you have any questions, please ask!
Helpful Phone #'s for Flower Mound:
Admissions: 972-899-8430
Business Office: 972-899-8403
Counseling/Testing: 972-899-8412
Financial Aid: 972-899-8400
FM Director: 972-899-8402
Library: 972-899-8413
Kevin Davis: 972-899-8410
Email: kdavis@nctc.edu
Address:
1200 Parker Square
Flower Mound, Texas 75028