GOVT 2305 599 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT-HYBRID

Introduction

Syllabus

  

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title: 

American National Government

Course Prefix & Number:  

GOVT2305

Section Number:  

  599

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. 

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

Campus/Office Location:

  Online or Corinth by appt.

Telephone Number:

  214-326-0058

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:

If a student is absent during the face to face portion of this class two times or more, it is their responsibility to contact the instructor. If the absence is due to illness, doctor's visits, or anything related to hospital visits, student needs to procure evidence or proof of the visit. After the second absence the student will likely be dropped for the course and it is the STUDENT'S responsibility to turn in the paperwork. If the student hasn't filed appropriate paperwork then the resulting grade at the end of the semester will be an "F" unless specifically addressed via a conversation with the instructor. 

Cell Phone Policy: If student is using their cell phones for nonacademic reasons during class for extended periods of time, during lectures, during class discussions, during assessments, or any other academic classroom activity, they will be counted absent for that class period.  These absences do count toward the above instructor specific absense policy. 

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 14th.

 
 
 

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%

2

Graded Written Assignments– The two 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%

15

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

20%

15

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 NOTgraded.  They do not count in your overall grade, but can help you get ready for exams.

Campus Connect Assignments- These ARE NOTgraded, 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: 8 Week Course 

 

Unit I- January 24th to January 31st

  • Chapter 1
    • Read chapter 1
      • Chapter 1 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 1 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 1 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Chapter  2 
    • Read Chapter 2
      • Chapter 2 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 2 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 2 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Unit I Exam- Opens Tuesday January 29th closes Thursday by midnight January 31st

 

Unit II- January 31st to February 7th 

  • Chapter 3 
    • Read chapter 3
      • Chapter 3 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by midnight Sunday)
      • Chapter 3 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 3 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Chapter 4 
    • Read Chapter 4
      • Chapter 4 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 4 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 4 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Unit II Exam- Opens Tuesday February 5th closes Thursday by midnight February 7th

 

Unit III- February 7th to February 14th 

  • Chapter 5  
    • Read chapter 5
      • Chapter 5 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 5 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 5 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Chapter 6 
    • Read Chapter 6
      • Chapter 6 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 6 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 6 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Unit III Exam- Opens February 12th closes by midnight February 14th

 

Unit IV - February 14th to February 21st 

  • Chapter  7 
    • Read chapter 7
      • Chapter 7 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 7 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 7 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Chapter 8
    • Read Chapter 8
      • Chapter 8 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 8 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 8 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Unit IV Exam- Opens February 19th closes by midnight February 21st

 

Unit V - February 21st to February 28th 

  • Chapter 9 
    • Read chapter 9
      • Chapter 9 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 9 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 9 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Chapter 10 - 
    • Read Chapter 10
      • Chapter 10 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 10 Learn Smart - (due by midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 10 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Unit V Exam- Opens February 26th closes by midnight February 28th

 

Unit VI - February 28th to March 7th

  • Chapter 11 
    • Read chapter 11
      • Chapter 11 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 11 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 11 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Chapter 12 
    • Read Chapter 12
      • Chapter 12 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 12 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 12 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Unit VI Exam- Opens March 5th closes by midnight March 7th

 

Unit VII (Spring Break Splits This Unit) - March 7th to March 21st

  • Chapter 13 
    • Read chapter 13
      • Chapter 13 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 13 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Monday)
        • Graded Written Assignment #1 - Due March 7th
          • Details on assignment page
      • Chapter 13 Discussion Forum #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Chapter 14 
    • Read Chapter 14
      • Chapter 14 Discussion Forum post #1 (due by Sunday)
      • Chapter 14 Learn Smart - (due by Midnight Monday)
      • Chapter 14 Discussion Forum post #2 (due by Wednesday)
  • Unit VII Exam- Opens March 19th closes by midnight March 21st
    • Show up to class for brief feedback

Syllabus File(s)

There are no Handouts for this set.