Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:

Federal Government

Course Prefix & Number: 

GOVT2305

Section Number: 

402

Semester/Year:

Spring 2019

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. 48 lecture hours.  

Course Prerequisite(s): None

Required Course Materials:

Patterson, Thomas E.  We the People. 12th edition. McGraw Hill. (E-book with Connect Plus Access) ISBN 9781260442977

             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Richard Huckaby

Campus/Office Location:

Corinth campus, Room #335

Telephone Number:

940-498-6204

E-mail Address:

rhuckaby@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

11:00 am 2:00 pm, Rm#313, Corinth Campus

8:00am – 12:00pm (before/after class @ Ponder HS

 

 

11:00 am 2:00 pm, Rm#313, Corinth Campus

8:00am – 12:00pm (before/after class @ Ponder HS

 

 

 

 

1:00-3:00pm Rm#313 (Corinth Campus)

 

1:00-3:00pm Rm#313 (Corinth Campus)

 

Online – Anytime (Monday-Sunday) using message utility in your Canvas account

 

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.

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

6

Exams

60%

3

Graded Written Assignments (GAs)

20%

17

Discussion Boards (DBs)

10%

17

LearnSmart (Connect)

10%

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

 

GRADING POLICY

Examinations

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

 

Graded Assignments

There are three (3) 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.

Discussion Boards

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 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.

 

Connect (LearnSmart) Activities

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 Connect LearnSmart chapter exercises and the Pre/Post tests. Completing the Connect 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.

 

Grading Policy

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.

 

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.

  

Tentative

Course

Schedule

Government 2305.402 - American National Government

Mon/Wed – 9:30 to 10:50 am Corinth Campus Room #258/#260

 

Spring 2019  (Subject to Change w/o Notice)

  

  

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. 

 

 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 decision 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)

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.

 

 

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Thursday, April 4, 2019.

 

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.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).

Office for Students with Disabilities

 

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

X         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)]”. 

 

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 the instructor on your behalf in Canvas.  If you have an emergency and cannot contact the instructor yourself, it is best to have an alternative person contact the instructor on the office phone 940-498-6295 or the 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.

 

 

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

 

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