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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
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Class in Room #202 from 11am to 12:20pm TR
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Course Title:
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American National Government
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Course Prefix & #:
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GOVT 2305
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Section Number:
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504
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Semester/Year:
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Spring 2018
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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
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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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8:30am – 9:30am
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8:30am – 9:30am
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8:30am – 9:30am
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8:30am – 9:30am
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Noon to 4pm
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12:30pm – 3pm
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2pm – 3:30pm
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12:30pm – 3pm
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2pm – 3:30pm
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(online)
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog
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At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
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Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.
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Demonstrate an understanding of our federal system.
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Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
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Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
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Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
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Analyze the election process.
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Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
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Analyze issues and policies in U.S. Politics.
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Research and compose an essay assignment/argument using proper grammar/English and basic computer skills.
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GRADING CRITERIA
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# of Graded Course Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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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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12
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Participation Assignments
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10 pts / 120 pts
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1
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Debate
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25 pts
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3
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Research Papers / Survey Project
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25 pts / 75pts
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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 12% of your grade, so DON'T ignore it!
Weekly Participation Assignments are assigned periodically, and will count as all or nothing.
Sign up for a Debate, and they will be scheduled after the first week of class. More info below.
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 half of your grade!
Make Up Exams will ONLY be made for medical reasons, which are accompanied by a doctor's note on letterhead or a Rx Pad. Make-Up exams will be essay in nature, but will only be worth up to 80 points. Make Up will be given 1 week after the missed exam, or result in an Incomplete if the Final Exam is missed. Students MUST call/email ASAP to arrange this delay.
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.
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This is a TENTATIVE Schedule which is subject to change W/O notice due to inclement weather or other unforeseen events.
January 15th – No Class – MLK Day Holiday
January 16th – First Day of Class
February 16th – Learn Smart Unit #1 - Due by 11:59pm
February 20th – First Midterm Exam - Module #1 - Chapters 1-4 & 11
February 27th – Research Paper #1 due through CANVAS by 11:59pm
March 12th to 17th - No Class – Spring Break
March 29th – Research Paper #2 due by 11:59pm OR Survey Cards due in class.
March 30th – Learn Smart Unit #2 - Due by 11:59pm
April 3rd – Second Midterm Exam - Module #2 - Chapters 5-8 & 12
April 5th – Last Day to Withdraw from Course.
April 26th – Research Paper #3 OR Survey Input Spreadsheets due by 11:59pm
May 4th - Final Learn Unit #3 - Due by 11:59pm
May 8th – Final Exam - Module #3 - Chapters 9-10 & 13-16
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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 this course with a “W” is April 5, 2018.
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
Completion Center 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. Bruce King
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Office Location:
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Gainesville
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-4287
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E-mail Address:
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bking@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
Debates:
Every student should participate in at least one debate. (Students may elect to participate in a second debate for extra points, but points will only be added if their side “wins” the debate.) We will register for debates the first week of classes, and each student can choose which side to represent on the debate; Pro or Con. (Debate slots are filled based on first-come, first-serve. Extra credit sign-ups will be available after everyone has had a chance.)
The debate is worth 25 points towards your final grade, and points are assigned as follows:
5 points – Argued your own side and gave at least three valid responses.
5 points – Cited facts/research during debate.
5 points – Did not “bait” or ask direct questions of your opponents.
5 points – Opened/Closed or was especially vocal.
5 points – Won debate according to secret ballot election results.
(At the end of each debate, the electorate (those in class) will vote on which team did the better job defending their topic. Winner of the secret ballot election gets 5 points, the losers do not. A tie will result in BOTH sides receiving 5 points.)
Students can sign up and participate in a second debate for extra credit. If you are on the winning side, you are awarded an extra 5 points. Those on the losing side, who try, get 1 to 3 points, depending upon your participation. Those who lose, and do not try, get no points.
GOVT 2305 – Research Paper / Survey Project – Spring, 2018
Research Paper will consist of three 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 or project is worth 25 points towards your final grade, and paper points are assigned as follows:
3 points – Is the length correct?
6 points – Covered subject matter w/o grammatical, spelling, or sentence errors?
4 points – Is there a conclusion? Was it a high quality conclusion?
4 points – 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.)
8 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 5 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 February 27th – 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 part of Research Grade – Due March 29th:
Write and Submit a Second Paper – What is your opinion of President Donald Trump so far? Although he has only been in office for a year, 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 has he done, specifically, to Make America Great Again? How has been doing compared to other Presidents? Conclude with your judgment/opinion of what you think/hope he will/will not 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 older, who are living in Texas. 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.
Two Options for 3rd part of Research Grade – Due April 26th:
Write and Submit a Third Paper – What is Tax Reform looking like, so far? Republicans passed their Tax Reform Measure, and President Trump signed it, back in December. What is this legislation supposed to do? What does it “seem” to be doing? Does the economy seem to be growing? Have you noticed more money in your “take home pay?” Has this made you more, or less, optimistic about the future?
Input 50 or more Surveys into the Excel Spreadsheet provided. Since you have completed gathering your surveys, now it is time to input your surveys into an Excel Spreadsheet. Look at the example of how to input the answers you got, and complete them for all 50+ surveys. We need to create numerical equivalents for your answers, so a “Yes” answer will be a 1 in the spreadsheet, and a “No” is a 2, etc… (see example). Once finished, submit them into a drop box in Canvas. Return the survey cards during your next class period. Grades will NOT be awarded until the survey cards are returned.
If you have any questions, please ask!
For those who would like 10 points of extra credit, input an additional 50 survey cards from a past semester. Talk with me about getting those cards for you…
Grading Scale: 600 total points possible
A = 536+ pts B = 535 – 475 pts C = 474 – 415 pts D = 414 – 355 pts F = 354 or less
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