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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
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Course Title:
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Federal Government
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Course/Prefix/& Number:
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GOVT2305
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Section Number:
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315
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Semester/Year:
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Summer I/2019
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Semester Credit Hours:
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3
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Lecture Hours:
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3
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Lab Hours:
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0
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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.
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Course Prerequisite(s): None
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Required Course Materials:
Patterson, Thomas E. We the People. 12th edition. McGraw Hill. (E-book with Connect Plus Access)
ISBN 9781260200607
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Pamela Tutt
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Campus/Office Location:
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Corinth/Online
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-3350
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E-mail Address:
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ptutt@nctc.edu
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OFFICE HOURS
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Online 6p-7p
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Online 6p-7p
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** Students can schedule individual appointments in the Online Conference Room as needed, which does include evening appointments. Online students can also have face-to-face meetings, based on availability and campus operating hours.
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog
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At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
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Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.
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Demonstrate an understanding of our federal system.
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Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
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Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
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Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
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Analyze the election process.
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Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
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Analyze issues and policies in U.S. Politics.
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Research and compose an essay assignment/argument using proper grammar/English and basic computer skills.
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GRADING CRITERIA
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# Of Graded Course Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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Percentage or Point Values
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2
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Pre/Post Test
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5
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Exams & Research Paper
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40%
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3
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Discussion Boards
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20%
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21
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Learn Smarts & Assignments
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40 %
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Points Letter Grade Equivalent
90% or higher A
80-89.99% B
70 -79.99% C
60 – 69.99% D
59.99% or less F
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Unit/Module
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Scheduled Assignment
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Category
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Due Date
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For Students
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View required documents: EBook Info, Textbook Info, Summer II calendar, Course Syllabus, Welcome to the Course Message, How to Contact E Learning with Canvas Problems, How to view Grading, How to set Notifications, etc.
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Assignment
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6/13/19
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Intro to Course Quiz
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Assignment
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6/12/19
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Federalism
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Discussion
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6/16/19
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Student Intro Essay
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Assignment
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6/16/19
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Module 1
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Chapter 1 Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen
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Assignment
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6/18/19
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Module 1
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Chapter 2 Constitutional Democracy Promoting Liberty and Self Government
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Assignment
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6/18/19
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Module 1
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Chapter 3 Federalism and Forging a Nation
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Assignment
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6/18/19
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Module 1
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Chapter 4 Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights
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Assignment
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6/18/19
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Module 1
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Exam 1
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Exam
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6/18/19
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Civil Liberties
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Discussion
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6/23/19
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Congress Assignment
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Assignment
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6/23/19
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Module 2
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Chapter 5 Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness
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Assignment
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6/25/19
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Module 2
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Chapter 6 Public Opinion and Political Socialization Shaping the People’s Voice
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Assignment
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6/25/19
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Module 2
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Chapter 7 Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will
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Assignment
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6/25/19
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Module 2
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Chapter 8 Political Parties, Candidates and Campaigns Defining the Voter’s Choice
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Assignment
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6/25/19
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Module 2
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Chapter 9 Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence
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Assignment
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6/25/19
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Module 2
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Exam 2
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Exam
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6/25/19
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Campaigns & Elections
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Discussion
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6/30/19
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Module 3
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Chapter 10 The News Media: Communicating Political Images
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Assignment
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7/2/19
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Module 3
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Chapter 11 Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests
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Assignment
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7/2/19
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Module 3
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Chapter 12 The Presidency Leading the Nation
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Assignment
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7/2/19
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Module 3
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Chapter 13 The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government
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Assignment
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7/2/19
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Module 3
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Exam 3
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Exam
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7/2/19
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Research Policy
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Exam
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7/2/19
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Follow the Money
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Assignment
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7/7/19
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Module 4
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Chapter 14 The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law
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Assignment
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7/9/19
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Module 4
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Chapter 15 Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity
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Assignment
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7/9/19
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Module 4
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Chapter 16 Income, Welfare, and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security
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Assignment
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7/9/19
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Module 4
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Chapter 17 Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way
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Assignment
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7/9/19
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Module 4
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Exam 4
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Exam
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7/9/19
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Late Work – All assignments will be due before the Unit Exam opens for each module, unless a special due date has been stated. Late assignments will not be accepted. No assignments or post tests will be opened for any student for any reason. Please manage your time wisely, and leave enough time to deal with any computer problems that might arise and keep you from completing your course work as required. Submitting early is the best rule of thumb.
** If Sunday falls on a holiday, and you do not want to complete classwork on a holiday, make sure you complete the assignments early. Except Learn Smarts, they are due the day of the exam.
All Assignments must be typed and uploaded as a doc or docx document. I will not grade assignments that have been handwritten and submitted as pdf. In Canvas I can only use the grading function if the document is a doc or docx. If you are using a Mac, it is your responsibility to make sure the document has been submitted correctly. Canvas will not recognize files uploaded as.pages, which will lead to the student receiving a zero. I highly recommend that you use Google Chrome as your browser. Safari should never be used with Canvas.
Discussion Boards- Students must post an original post at least two days before the assignment closes and one response post before the assignment closes. Late discussion posts will receive a deduction of 3 points per each day late. While students can include opinion in discussion board posts, this should always be secondary to incorporating the sources in to the discussion, as well as cite to where the sources are used. Students are expected to behave in a professional manner at all times.
Availability: While this class is online and available at your convenience 24 hours a day (except when IT maintenance occurs), I am not available 24 hours a day. Please remember that in a face-to-face class students do not have access to the instructor all day, every day. You should not expect that in an online class either. During the work week, Monday through Thursday. I will attempt to check my email several times a day. However on the weekends I will check emails only during the times that I am available. Additionally, if it is a holiday or spring break, do not expect that I will be online at all. Therefore, it is my suggestion that you take a look at all assignments ahead of time to see if you need any clarifications before the weekend begins. I do not check emails after 9pm in the evening.
CANVAS 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 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.
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 judgment 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)
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is June 26, 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.
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
o Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)
X Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course
o WECM Course
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.
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 will not be tolerated in this course. All students will be held responsible for plagiarism, cheating and/or collusion. Students who do not follow the conditions of the instructor regarding scholastic dishonesty will have the appropriate documents filed with the appropriate Dean and may automatically receive an “F” in the course.
**Falsified Information- Any student who submits falsified information in this course; including community service/local government extra credit information will be given an automatic “F” in the course and scholastic dishonesty documents filed with the appropriate Dean.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
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Name of Chair/Coordinator:
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Crystal R.M. Wright
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Office Location:
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Gainesville Campus, Room 824
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-7731, ext. 4320
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E-mail Address:
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cwright@nctc.edu
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Name of Instructional Dean:
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Dr. Bruce King
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Office Location:
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1525 W. California St Gainesville, Texas
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-4267
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E-mail Address:
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bking@nctc.edu
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