Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:

Federal Government

Course Prefix & Number: 

GOVT2305

Section Number: 

853

Sem/Year:

Spring 2019

Semester Credit Hours:

3

Lecture Hours:

48

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 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:

Paul Coraccio

Campus/Office Location:

Ponder High School, Room 227

Telephone Number:

940-280-1923

E-mail Address:

pcoraccio@nctc.edu (preferred contact method)

 

OFFICE HOURS**

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

 

7:30 – 8:30 PM

 

7:30 – 8:30 PM

 

**Office hours for this course signify the times that the Instructor is available via official school email/online; however, meetings can be scheduled outside of these times. 

 

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:

LO-1.

Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.

LO-2.

Demonstrate an understanding of our federal system.

LO-3.

Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.

LO-4.

Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.

LO-5.

Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.

LO-6.

Analyze the election process.

LO-7.

Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

LO-8.

Analyze issues and policies in U.S. Politics. 

LO-9.

Research and compose an essay assignment/argument using proper grammar/English and basic computer skills.

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Point Values

Total Point Values

5

Unit Exams & Research Assignments

100 pts ea

25%

 

Connect Assignments

 

25%

17

LearnSmart® (CONNECT) – 1 per chapter

20 pts ea

 

17

Chapter Post Tests (CONNECT) – 1 per chapter

10 pts ea

 

5

Chapter Modules – varies per chapter

5 pts ea

 

8+

In-Class Participation Assignment/Activities

10 pts ea

25%

10

Class Assignments

20 pts ea

25%

 

Letter Grade Equivalents:

A

B

C

D

F

90% or higher

80-89.99%

70-79.99%

60-69.99%

59.99% or less

†Grades are not rounded up in this course--students will receive the grade earned. 

 

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

Unit

Week

Class Dates

Assignments

Points

Due Dates

I

1

22 Jan

Student Intro Survey

10

26 Jan

 

 

Course Pre Test

5

3 Feb

 

24 Jan

LearnSmart® Ch 1:  Political Thinking and Political Culture

20

23 Jan

 

 

Ch 1 Post Test (Quiz)

10

20 Feb

2

29 Jan

LearnSmart® Ch 2:  Constitutional “Democracy” And Self-Government 

20

28 Jan

 

 

Ch 2 Separation Of Powers

5

28 Jan

 

 

Ch 2 Social Contract Theory

5

28 Jan

 

 

Ch 2 Post Test (Quiz)

10

20 Feb

 

31 Jan

LearnSmart® Appendixes – Founding Documents: Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution

20

30 Jan

 

 

Constitution Analysis Activity

10

In-Class

3

5 Feb

LearnSmart® Ch 3:  Federalism

20

4 Feb

 

 

Ch 3 Federal Spending by State

10

4 Feb

 

 

Ch 3 Post Test (Quiz)

10

20 Feb

 

 

Federal Budget Assignment

20

6 Feb

 

7 Feb

Federal Budget Activity

10

In-Class

 

 

Congressional Representatives Assignment

20

20 Feb

4

12 Feb

LearnSmart® Ch 4:  Civil Liberties

20

11 Feb

 

 

Ch 4 Post Test (Quiz)

10

20 Feb

 

14 Feb

LearnSmart® Ch 5:  Equal Rights

20

13 Feb

 

 

Ch 5 Post Test (Quiz)

10

20 Feb

5

19 Feb

Unit I Review & Wrap-up

0

NA

 

21 Feb

Unit I Exam

100

23 Feb

II

6

26 Feb

LearnSmart® Ch 6:  Public Opinion and Political Socialization

20

25 Feb

 

 

Ch 6 Public Opinion

7.5

25 Feb

 

 

Ch 6 Post Test (Quiz)

10

27 Mar

 

 

Political Ideology Assignment

20

27 Feb

 

 

Research Paper/Essay:  National Policy Issue and Party Platform Analysis Assignment

100

13 Apr

 

28 Feb

LearnSmart® Ch 7:  Political Participation

20

27 Feb

 

 

Ch 7 Post Test (Quiz)

10

27 Mar

7

5 Mar

LearnSmart® Ch 8:  Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns

20

4 Mar

 

 

Ch 8 Post Test (Quiz)

10

27 Mar

 

7 Mar

Ch 8 Parties, Candidates, and Campaign Activity

10

In-Class

8

12 Mar

NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

0

NA

 

14 Mar

NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

0

NA

9

19 Mar

LearnSmart® Ch 9:  Interest Groups

20

18 Mar

 

 

Ch 9 Post Test (Quiz)

10

27 Mar

 

21 Mar

LearnSmart® Ch 10:  The News Media

20

20 Mar

 

 

Research Paper/Essay Topic Only Submitted

0

23 Mar

 

 

Ch 10 Post Test (Quiz)

10

27 Mar

10

26 Mar

Ch 10 Media Analysis Activity

10

In-Class

 

28 Mar

Unit II Exam

100

30 Mar

 

 

Congressional Legislative Assignment – Draft Bill for Class Congress

20

3 Apr

III

11

2 Apr

LearnSmart® Ch 11 Congress

20

1 Apr

 

 

Ch 11 Post Test (Quiz)

10

24 Apr

 

 

Congressional Legislative Assignment – Examine Actual Bill

20

13 Apr

 

4 Apr

Class Congress:  Committees & Floor Debate

10

In-Class

12

9 Apr

LearnSmart® Ch 12 The Presidency

20

8 Apr

 

 

Ch 12:  Post Test (Quiz)

10

24 Apr

 

 

Electoral College Activity

10

In-Class

 

11 Apr

LearnSmart® Ch 13 The Federal Bureaucracy

20

10 Apr

 

 

Ch 13 The Bureaucracy

7.5

10 Apr

 

 

Ch 13 Post Test (Quiz)

10

24 Apr

13

16 Apr

Class Bureaucracy Activity

10

In-Class

 

18 Apr

LearnSmart® Ch 14 The Federal Judicial System

20

17 Apr

 

 

Ch 14 Post Test (Quiz)

10

24 Apr

14

23 Apr

Class Court (Judicial Review Activity)

10

In-Class

 

25 Apr

Unit III Exam

100

27 Apr

IV

15

30 Apr

LearnSmart® Ch 15 Economic and Environmental Policy

20

29 Apr

 

 

Ch 15 Post Test (Quiz)

10

13 May

 

2 May

LearnSmart® Ch 16 Income, Welfare, and Education Policy

20

1 May

 

 

Ch 16 Post Test (Quiz)

10

13 May

16

7 May

LearnSmart® Ch 17 Foreign Policy

20

6 May

 

 

Ch 17 Post Test (Quiz)

10

13 May

 

9 May

Ch 15 – 17 Case Studies

10

In-Class

 

 

Course Post Test

5

12 May

 

 

Student Outbrief (Survey)

10

12 May

 

 

Course Evaluation

5

12 May

17

14 May

Unit IV / Final Review & Wrap-up (Quiz Game)

10

In-Class

 

16 May

Unit IV / Final Exam

100

16 May

 

 

 

 

1300

 

* Assignments are due by 11:59 PM on the respective DUE DATE.

** Instructor may change this schedule and assignments to better the learning experience.

 

Unit Exams.  Unit exams and a comprehensive final will be given.  There are no makeup exams.  If a student misses an exam, he/she will take an extended Final exam that will count twice to make up for the missed exam.   

 

In-Class Assignments.  At any time during the semester, in class assignments may be given.  Students who are absent will not have the opportunity to make up the point. 

 

Late Work.  Late assignments will not, as a rule, be accepted.  Most assignments and tests are submitted online, so even when a student cannot make it to class, assignments can still be submitted on time.  Please manage you time wisely and leave enough time to deal with any computer problems that might prevent you from completing your course work as required. 

 

Chapter Quizzes (i.e. Post Tests).  Students will complete a post test for each chapter, which is designed as a study tool, so the due date is just before the unit exam.  All quizzes must be completed on or before the due date, but students have unlimited attempts until the due date.  Post tests will not be reopened for any reason.  Students are free to use the book/notes/assignments information to complete the post tests.

 

Extra Credit.  From time to time, students may have a chance to earn extra credit points. Each properly completed extra credit is worth one or more points, which will be added to the course grade; however, no student’s grade may exceed 100%.  Extra credit opportunities are at the Instructor’s discretion and will be announced in class and/or posted on Canvas.  If an extra credit opportunity is given, it will be given to all students. 

 

CONNECT ACCESS.  The textbook, LearnSmart®, 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.  Temporary access can be used directly from Connect McGraw Hill for 12 days from the first day of class.  Students should be enrolled by the end of day 1 as assignments are given immediately.  Students who do not properly enroll in Connect will be dropped from the course. 

 

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 and all needed programs to complete assignments.  Students are not to give any other person access to his/her 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. 

 

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:

**Attendance will be taken during each class.  Students will be considered absent if he/she is not in class when attendance is taken.  If a student comes in tardy, it is his/her responsibility to stay at the end of class and request to be changed from absent to tardy.  Students who miss more than half the class period will be considered absent.  Any student who fails to sign in will be counted absent.  There are no excused absences, except those listed in the catalog where specific requirements have been met. 

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 4, 2019.  Dropping the course is the sole responsibility of the student. 

 

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)_______       


          Communication

          Mathematics              

          Life and Physical Science

          Language, Philosophy & Culture

          Creative Arts

 

X          Government/Political Science

          Social and Behavioral Sciences

          Component Area Option

          American History


 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)


X          Critical Thinking

X          Communication

          Empirical and Quantitative

 

          Teamwork

X          Personal Responsibility

X          Social Responsibility


COURSE TYPE

          Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X          Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

          WECM Course

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

**Electronics Policy.  Students are permitted to use electronic devices, such as computers, tablets, etc. for class purposes only, which includes accessing Canvas, note-taking, or class participation assignments. 

 

Communication.  The instructor answers emails during the week within 24 hours of receiving them.  The Instructor will not discuss specific grade questions by phone or email, nor discuss grade issues with anyone other than the student.  Please be aware that FERPA (Federal Privacy Laws) prevents the Instructor from discussing a student’s enrollment, grades, attendance, etc. with anyone but that student.  The Instructor will not speak with parents, spouses, siblings, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. regarding enrollment and/or performance in this course.

 

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)]”. 

 

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

 

There are no Handouts for this set.