Syllabus | GOVT 2305 503 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

GOVT 2305 503 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Introduction

Syllabus Fall 2018

GOVERNMENT 2305 COURSE INFORMATION, SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE

Course name and number Federal Government 2305 sec 503 Semester and Year Fall 2018

Instructor Melinda Jobe-Polvado Campus Flower Mound Time MW 2-3:30 Classroom # 202

Email mjobe-polvado@nctc.edu Office hours MW 3-4:15 Rm. 107 or by appointment

Catalog Description 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 hrs.

Textbook and Materials We the People (ebook with Connect Plus Access Card)

Required Thomas Patterson, McGraw Hill, 12^th Ed, ISBN: 978-1-259-43918-6

Students can order a full color loose leaf book for an additional $40 directly from McGraw Hill when registering in Connect Access

Learning Outcomes

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 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.

Scholastic Integrity

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 The class meets 3 lecture hours per week and attendance is critical. Regular and punctual attendance is expected and failure to do so can put your grade in jeopardy. Anything discussed in class can potentially become an exam question. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what was missed and to ask for assignments, handouts, or get notes from a classmate. All students will be expected to sign the attendance sheet each class and any student who fails to do so will be counted absent. 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 drop with a W is Nov. 8, 2018.

Student Privacy The instructor cannot communicate with anyone other than the student who is enrolled in this course without the student’s authority. No personal information, including but not limited to grades, social security or phone numbers, enrollment status can be given to anyone other than the student without the student’s permission. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. (FERPA)

Canvas Access Canvas is the NCTC online forum used by students and faculty. 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 assignments. Students are not to give any other person access to his Canvas account. Students can be removed from the course immediately if found to be in violation of this rule. Once a student has given another person access to his canvas account, the credibility of completed work becomes questionable.

Connect Access The textbook We the People, Learn Smart and Connect activities are all maintained with 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 should be enrolled by the end of day 1 as assignments are made immediately. If there is a problem or confusion about how to access Connect,

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SERVICES

Office of 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

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 X Government/Political Science

o Mathematics o Social and Behavioral Sciences

o Life and Physical Science o Component Area Option

o Language, Philosophy & Culture o American History

o Creative Arts

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

X Critical Thinking o Teamwork

o Communication X Personal Responsibility

o Empirical and Quantitative 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 that is published online. Go to the NCTC website or Canvas to download a copy.

Grading Criteria for Government 2305 Sec 503 Jobe-Polvado

____________________________________________________________________________________

# of graded course elements	graded course elements	grade percentage
4	Exams	30%
2-3	Research Assignments	30%
3-4	Short essays Ex: Current Events, Political Cartoons, Interviews	20%
14 12-14	Connect Activities Ex. LearnSmart Readings Chapter Assignments and Quizzes	20%

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: 1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408

Telephone Number: 940-498-6464

E-mail Address: bking@nctc.edu

Jobe-Polvado Syllabus and Schedule

Gov 2305, Sec. 503

If you are having trouble registering in Canvas click here registrationDetails.pdf

Tentative Schedule (there may be changes)

All specific assignments/due dates are on Canvas under Modules

Unit 1 Aug 27-Sept 19 ch. 1,2,3 Unit One Exam Sept 19

No class Sept. 3

Unit 2 Sept 24-Oct 15 ch. 4,5,6,7 Unit Two Exam Oct 15

Unit 3 Oct 17-Nov 12 ch. 8,12,11,13 Unit Three Exam Nov 12

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

Unit 4 Nov 14 –Dec 5 ch. 14,9,10 Unit Four Exam Dec 10.

No class Nov 21

Chapter Quizzes/Learnsmart These assignments are related to the textbook. Each has a clear start and end date so none will be surprising. They are designed to help students study and understand the material. All will be completed within a specific time period and will not be reopened for any student. Students may use the book, notes or other assignments to complete but can only submit each one time. The required readings from each chapter (Learnsmart activities) and the embedded questions are part of your grade.

Late Work will NOT be accepted. All Quizzes, Class Assignments and Connect Activities will be submitted online so even if a student is not in class, the assignment can still be turned in on time. Students are expected to anticipate computer problems that may keep them from completing work that is required to be submitted during class or online.

Unit Exams Four 50-question multiple choice exams will be given for a total of 30% of your grade. No make-up or re-takes will be given. However, if a student misses a Unit 1, 2, or 3 exam, he may take a 100 question comprehensive final exam and that grade will count twice (once for Unit 4 and once for the missed exam). This is an option only if they have missed two or fewer classes (not tardy or leaving early). Any student who misses two or fewer classes (not tardy or leaving early) can also take the comprehensive final exam to replace a Unit 1, 2 or 3 Exam grade. Only one exam may be replaced.

Electronic Devices must be silenced and put away -not in your lap, pocket or on your desk- during class. If I see your phone out and in use, I will pause and watch you and wait for you to put it away. Then I will count you absent. The second time, I will count you absent and ask you to leave. If you would like to use your laptop to take notes you must first clear it with me the first time you use it and sit on either the first or second rows of class. Laptops or tablets may be used for note-taking only. If your actions are disturbing to another student or me during class, you will be asked to leave, counted absent and lose the privilege. If you anticipate an emergency situation is pending, let me know ahead of time and sit in a desk near the door.

I don’t play games with this policy. You are in college and I will expect you to pay attention during the entire class. Texting, surfing the web and gaming during class is disrespectful to me and other students. Having a cell phone out during an exam will be considered cheating. Exception – an instructor-designated break.

Communication Students are encouraged to ask questions anytime for clarity or additional help outside of class. There will be time right after class for students to communicate with the teacher. Additionally, use Canvas to email anytime. Please allow 24 hours for an answer and beware…I don’t answer emails after 9pm so keep that in mind when you need to communicate with me. If you can, see me right after class in room 107 at the Flower Mound campus.

Contact info for this class:

Instructor: Melinda Jobe-Polvado

Dept of Social Studies

Flower Mound Campus Classroom 202

Office hours MW 3:30-4:15 or by appointment

Campus contact # 940-453-44567

Email: mjobe-polvado@nctc.edu

Helpful websites

Check out this non-partisan polling group for a variety of topics concerning Texans

2018 Texas Lyceum Poll texaslyceum.org

MLA Citations for the research paper

https://mail.nctc.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=N163Ve5S0THn5NWk7wybNPPpMZF-vff3_4AUzc25JYOZ5wJTKwfUCA..&URL=https%3a%2f%2fnctclibraries.wordpress.com%2f2016%2f10%2f31%2fwhats-new-with-mla-citations%2f (Links to an external site.)