GOVT 2305 370 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Introduction

 

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:

American National Government

Course Prefix & Number: 

GOVT2305

Section Number: 

 370

Semester/Year:

Spring 2018 

Semester Credit Hours:

3

Lecture Hours:

3

Lab Hours:

0

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. 

Course Prerequisite(s): None

Required or Recommended Course Materials:

Thomas E Patterson.  We the People (ebook with Connect Plus Access) 12th edition

McGraw Hill

ISBN 1259439186

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

  Charles Cooper - @Thrasymachus on twitter

Campus/Office Location:

  Online - Corinth by appt.

Telephone Number:

  214-621-5914

E-mail Address:

  Please use the CANVAS email system

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday
 8:00 - 10:00 Am        
         
 

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
 

Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.
 

Demonstrate an understanding of our federal system.
 

Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
 

Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
 

Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
 

Analyze the election process.
 

Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
 

Analyze issues and policies in U.S. Politics.
 

Research and compose an essay assignment/argument using proper grammar/English and basic computer skills.
   

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.  Student 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)

Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy:

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 5th.

 
 
 

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.

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

 

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

COURSE TYPE

o  Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o WECM Course

 

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)]”. 

Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.  Once a preponderance of evidence is obtained, the academically dishonest student will be dropped from the course and all necessary and pertinent paperwork will be filed.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Crystal R.M. Wright

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 824

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4320

E-mail Address:

cwright@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

1525 W. California St. Gainesville, Tx

Telephone Number:

940-668-4267

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

8

Exams *Any discussions, debates, or issues presented “in class” may be included in an exam.

40%

3

Graded Written Assignments – The three assignments will all be written and submitted into Canvas.  There will be at least one research paper.  Please take care to cite your sources.

25%

16

Learn Smart Assignments – One Learn Smart Assignment per chapter per week.  Questions are randomly chosen from large bank.

20%

16

Weekly Forum Discussions – Two posts due per chapter: one is your original reflection with citations from the textbook or a reputable online news source and the second is a response to another student’s reflection.

15%

 

 

Grading Policy & Procedures

Exams - All exams will be online through McGraw-Hill Connect via Canvas.  They will be multiple choice exams.  Your exam average will constitute 40% of your final course grade.  There will be no extra credit (on the exam or elsewhere) and no make-up test dates.  

GWAs - Your graded written assignment (gwa) average will constitute 25% of your final course grade.  Any graded written assignment not completed (ie. Not submitted in the appropriate manner) will be calculated as a zero.  Whether the assignment (any assignment) has been completed on your side does not matter if it is not submitted before the due date.  No make-up grades or extra credit grades will be offered for any missed GWA’s. 

Discussion Forums - Your discussion board participation grade average will constitute the remaining 15% of the final course grade. If you do not participate in the discussion boards a zero will be placed in the grade book for that particular “absence” for that particular assignment. No make-up grade or extra credit grades will be offered for these missed assignments.  To get full credit for discussion forums you will need to complete two tasks.  First, fully address the prompt at the top of the forum (this will be due by midnight each Wednesday).  You will need to either cite a page number in the textbook or add a link to a reputable online news site that supports your statement or comment.  Second, you will need to reply to another student’s initial post (this will be due by midnight each Sunday).  In your reply to another student (your second post), your reply will need to be as academically sound as your first post. In other words, you will need to build upon another students first post, not simply “agree” or “disagree” with them. Please email me with questions if this is unclear. I will also clarify further in my first video post to the class. Each of these tasks is worth 50% of the 100% possible points.  Posting only once will get you 50% of the total points.  All students are expected to participate in each discussion forum. Your first post will be due before midnight Wednesday of each week.   Your second post will be due before midnight Sunday of each week.

(Connect) Learn Smart and (Connect) Assignments - These resources are here to help you in this course.  They will be graded and count as 20% of your final grade.

Chapter Quizzes - These are available to take as calibration tools for the exam.  Chapter quizzes ARE NOT graded.  They do not count in your overall grade, but can help you get ready for exams.

Campus Connect Assignments - These ARE NOT graded, but can help you better understand the content.

 

 

CANVAS/CONNECT ACCESS:  All students must have complete access to Canvas for the entire semester.  It is the student’s responsibility to have access to the internet at all times, as well as having all needed programs to complete an online course.  Students are not to give any other person access to his/her Canvas account.  Students can be removed from the online course immediately up violating this rule.  Once a student has given another person access to his/her canvas account, the credibility of any work completed becomes questionable.   

 Connect Access-  The textbook, Learn Smart, and Connect activities are all maintained within the McGraw Hill Connect System.  Students need to be enrolled immediately in Connect, which can be purchased at the bookstore, or online directly from McGraw Hill from Canvas.  Temporary access can be used directly from Connect McGraw Hill for 14 days from the first day of class.  Students must be enrolled by the end of day 1, as assignments are due immediately.

 

Course Schedule:

 

Unit I - January 16th to January 28th 

  • Week 1 - January 16 - January 21st
    • Read chapter 1
      • Chapter 1 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 1 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 4th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 1 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Week 2 - January 22nd - January 28th
    • Read Chapter 2
      • Chapter 2 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 2 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 4th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 2 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Unit I Exam - Opens Friday January 26th closes Sunday by midnight January 28th

 

Unit II - January 29th to February 11th 

  • Week 3 - January 29th - February 4th 
    • Read chapter 3
      • Chapter 3 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 3 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 4th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 3 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Week 4 - February 5th - February 11th
    • Read Chapter 4
      • Chapter 4 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 4 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 4th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 4 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Unit II Exam - Opens Friday February 9th closes Sunday by midnight February 11th

 

Unit III - February 12th to February 25th 

  • Week 5 - February 12th to February 18th
    • Read chapter 5
      • Chapter 5 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 5 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 4th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 5 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Week 6 - February 19th - February 25th
    • Read Chapter 6
      • Chapter 6 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 6 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 4th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 6 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Unit III Exam - Opens Friday February 23rd closes Sunday by midnight February 25th

 

Unit IV - February 26th to March 11th 

  • Week 7 - February 26th to March 4th
    • Read chapter 7
      • Chapter 7 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 7 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 4th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 7 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Week 8 - March 5th - March 11th
    • Read Chapter 8
      • Chapter 8 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 8 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 4th
        • Graded Written Assignment #2 - Due March 25th  
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 8 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Unit IV Exam - Opens Friday March 9th closes Sunday by midnight March 11th

 March 12th - 18th Spring Break! 

Unit V - March 19th to April 1st 

  • Week 9 - March 19th to March 25th
    • Read chapter 9
      • Chapter 9 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 9 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #2 - Due March 25th
        • Graded Written Assignment #3 - Due April 29th 
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 9 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Week 10 - March 26th - April 1st
    • Read Chapter 10
      • Chapter 10 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 10 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #3 - Due April 29th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 10 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Unit V Exam - Opens Friday March 30th closes Sunday by midnight April 1st

 

Unit VI - April 2nd to April 15th

  • Week 11 - April 2nd to April 8th
    • Read chapter 11
      • Chapter 11 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 11 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #3 - Due April 29th 
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 11 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Week 12 - April 9th - April 15th
    • Read Chapter 12
      • Chapter 12 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 12 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #3 - Due April 29th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 12 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Unit VI Exam - Opens Friday April 13th closes Sunday by midnight April 15th

 

 

Unit VII - April 16th to April 29th

  • Week 13 - April 16th to April 22nd
    • Read chapter 13
      • Chapter 13 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 13 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #3 - Due April 29th 
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 13 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Week 14 - April 23rd - April 29th
    • Read Chapter 14
      • Chapter 14 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 14 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Sunday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #3 - Due April 29th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 14 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Unit VII Exam - Opens Friday April 27th closes Sunday by midnight April 29th

 

Unit VIII - April 30th to May 9th

  • Week 13 - April 30th to May 6th
    • Read chapter 15
      • Chapter 15 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 15 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Sunday)
      • Chapter 15 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Week 14 - May 7th  to May 9th
    • Read Chapter 16
      • Chapter 16 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Weds.)
      • Chapter 16 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Sunday)
      • Chapter 16 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Sunday)
  • Unit VIII Exam - Opens All Week Due To The Short Week 

Syllabus File(s)

There are no Handouts for this set.