Course Title: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Course Prefix & Number: GOVT 2305

Section Number:  401

Semester:  Fall 2018

Semester Credit Hours: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: N/A

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. 48 lecture hours.      

Course Prerequisite(s): None

Required Materials:

• We the People (ebook with Connect Plus Access Card) by Thomas E. Patterson, McGraw Hill, 12th edition, ISBN: 978-1-259-43918-6
• Students can order a full color loose leaf book from McGraw Hill when registering Connect Access

Name of Instructor:

Richard Huckaby

Campus/Office Location:

Corinth Campus, Room 313

Telephone Number:

940-498-6204

E-mail Address:

rhuckaby@nctc.edu

M/W

11:00 am - 2:00 pm Room 313 (Corinth) or other times by appointment.

T/TH

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Room 313 (Corinth) or other times by appointment.

9:00 – 11:30 am @ PPHS (before /after class)

Online

Anytime using the message utility in your Canvas account.

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 knowledge of the 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.

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.

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Points Values

6

Exams

60%

4

Graded Written Assignments (GAs)

20%

17

Discussion Boards (DBs)

10%

17

Learn Smart (Connect)

10%

There will be a total of six (6) exams. Exams will be a combination of objective multiple-choice and True/False questions (primarily multiple choice). Each exam will cover only material covered in class activities, reading assignments, and exercises covered or assigned since the last exam. Each exam will be graded on the basis of 100 points. Your instructor, at his discretion, may change the format of the exam. Exams not taken are assigned a grade of zero and are included in the exam average. The exam average represents 60% of the consolidated course grade.

Testing will be online. Online exams are interactive timed exams. Students will be given a window of time to open the exam, but once open -- the exam will be timed. Once the exam is started you must finish -- you cannot start, stop, and restart the exam.

There are four (4) written graded assignments. They may involve the use of the Internet, the textbook and/or other resources. Graded assignments are a course requirement and not a student option. Written graded assignments not submitted are assigned a grade of zero and are included in the graded assignment average. The graded assignment average represents 20% of the consolidated course grade.

There are 17 discussion boards (one for each chapter). Every student is expected to actively participate in all Discussion Board assignments.

Active participation is posting to the appropriate chapter discussion board forum and responding to questions and/or comments. You meet the participation requirement when you post your original comments to the designated discussion board and make at least one comment on another student's original post. A single entry receives half credit. Students will lose 6 points out of 100 for each unexcused absence from an assigned Discussion Board assignment. Posting to the discussion board within the prescribed times is particularly important because it is intended to be a student exchange. There is no credit for posting after the assigned deadlines.

All posts should address the assigned topic and students should respect the opinion of others even though different from their own. Improper postings by a student are grounds for removal from the course. The discussion board average represents 10% of the consolidated course grade.

There are 17 exercises (one for each chapter) plus a Pre and Post Test included in McGraw/Hill Connect. Every student is expected to actively participate in all Connect assignments.

Active participation is completing appropriate LearnSmart chapter exercises and the Pre/Post tests.  Completing the LearnSmart chapter exercises is particularly important because it is intended to aid the student in mastering the course content and preparing for course exams. The Connect (LearnSmart) assignment average represents 10% of the consolidated course grade.

The Connect Pre-test is intended to statistically measure what students know about government before actually studying the course material. Later, there will be a Post-test to statistically measure how much students have learned during the course. These tests are intended to provide a “statistical” measure of improvement for the class.

Your exam average constitutes 60% of your consolidated course grade. Your written graded assignment average constitutes 20% of your consolidated course grade. The discussion board average represents 10% of the consolidated course grade and the remaining 10% of the overall course grade is based on active participation in Connect (LearnSmart) assignments.

Tentative Course  Schedule

Other Pertinent Information

Student Rights & Responsibilities

NCTC Board policy FLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that each student shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and regulations concerning student conduct.   These rules and regulations are published in the Student Handbook published in conjunction with the College Catalog. 

Scholastic Integrity

Scholastic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Board policies. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. 

Cheating on exams or the other graded assignments is not tolerated. The instructor has the authority to give a student an "F" in the course when there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that cheating occurred. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.  Plagiarism is defined as any of the following: 

• Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
• Copying words, ideas, or images from someone else without giving credit;
• Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks;
• Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation or image;
• Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
• Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not.
• Students will receive an F on the first documented instance of plagiarism and a warning from NCTC. A second instance of plagiarism will result in the student's suspension from all classes for the remainder of the semester. 

Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course.  You are not to give any person (which includes parents, spouses, friends, etc.) access to your Canvas account at any time during the semester.  If you do, you are putting the integrity of the course work completed in question.  Do not ask someone to email me on your behalf in Canvas.  If you have an emergency and cannot contact me yourself, it is best to have an alternative person contact me on my office phone 940-498-6295 or my NCTC email address: rhuckaby@nctc.edu. 

Again, do not give anyone access to your Canvas account.  Any student who cheats on any course material (exams, assignment, pre/post tests) may immediately fail the course and academic dishonesty papers will be filed with the Dean and VP of Instruction. 

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Thursday, November 8, 2018.

McGraw-Hill Campus Connect

This course is enhanced using the McGraw-Hill (text publisher) Campus Connect feature. Students are expected to fully participate in assigned Connect activities. These activities are useful in mastering the course content and preparing for exams. 

Online Classes

Students are expected to login to their Canvas account frequently and meet all assigned deadlines. It is a good idea to check for announcements and emails daily -- that is how you can stay advised and/or reminded of course activity and deadlines.

Traditional Classroom Courses

Students receive a bonus of 5 points for perfect attendance (no unexcused absences). One point is deducted from the bonus for each unexcused absence. Unexcused absences in excess of five will result in a one point (-1) penalty for each additional absence up to a maximum of minus (-) 5 points.

All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to sickness or emergencies which are approved by the instructor, or due to participation in an approved college-sponsored activity authorized in writing by the appropriate instructional Dean.

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 involuntarily dropped for excessive absence.   

Persistent, unjustified absences from class will be considered sufficient cause to involuntarily drop a student from the class roll. Students may be dropped by the Registrar from a class upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been unjustifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course objectives.  Four or more unexcused absences will normally be considered excessive and may result in involuntary drop from the class. These rules and regulations are published in conjunction with the College Catalog.