Winter Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

On-Line

Course Title:

American National Government

Course Prefix & #: 

GOVT 2305

Section Number: 

230

Semester/Year:

Winter 2020

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:

Patterson, Thomas E.  We the People: An Introduction to American Government. 13th edition. McGraw Hill. (E-book with Connect Plus Access)   ISBN 978-1264031919

             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

  Kevin T Davis

Campus/Office Location:

  Flower Mound Room #107 – Cubicle #4

Telephone Number:

  972-899-8410

E-mail Address:

  kdavis@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

10am to Noon

 

10am to Noon

 

4pm to 6pm

(online)

 

(online)

 

(online)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Point Values

16

Smart Books Chapter Reviews

5 pts / 80 pts

10

Daily Participation Assignments

10 pts / 100 pts

5

Discussions

15 pts / 75 pts

2

Pre Test & Post Test

5 pts / 10 pts

3

Video Quizzes

10 pts / 30 pts

2

Research Papers

50 pts / 100 pts

2

Midterm Exams

100 pts / 200 pts

1

Final Exam

100 pts

 

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

Completed Smart Book Chapter Reviews will get full credit IF you spend the time to complete them by due date.  This is about 10% of your grade, so DON'T ignore it!  There are no make-ups for Smart Books!

Participation Assignments are due every weekday and are pretty much all or nothing.  If you are late, it is three points off every day.

 

Discussions will occur every other day in between exams.  Even though you will see Discussions on the Assignment Board, THAT is for the grade ONLY, you HAVE to go to the Discussion Board to complete the Discussion.  Clicking on the Assignment will direct you to go to Discussion Boards.  More info below.

 

Two short research papers will be due.  More info below.

 

Exams will be 100 points each and count for just over one-third of your grade!

 

These are 45-minute multiple choice exams of 50 questions.  You MUST complete them in ONE sitting.  You cannot go back to a question, so answer everyone and move on.  Any question left blank will be wrong, so make your best guess if you don’t know the answer.

 

You will get ONE Mulligan for TECHNICAL Reasons ONLY, if something happens during an exam, I can reset, but ONLY once for the ENTIRE course.  If I see that you worked on the exam for 40+ minutes, you will NOT get a MULLIGAN.  Be sure to find out why you lost your connection and fix it, or switch to a more secure location/computer/modem.  Plagiarism/ Cheating/Collusion will NOT be tolerated and will result in a Zero for that assignment and a report to the Dean for Disciplinary Action.

 

This is a TENTATIVE Schedule which is subject to change W/O notice due to inclement weather, power outages, or other unforeseen events.

December 21st – First Day of Class

December 27th – Smart Books Unit #1 - Due by 11:59pm

December 28th to 29th – First Midterm Exam - Module #1 - Chapters 1-4 & 11

                           Opens December 28th at midnight.  Closes at 11:59pm on December 29th.

December 31st – Research Paper #1 due through CANVAS by 11:59pm.

January 4th – Smart Books Unit #2 - Due by 11:59pm

January 5th to January 6th – Second Midterm Exam - Module #2 - Chapters 5-8 & 12

Opens January 5th at midnight.  Closes at 11:59pm on January 6th.

January 5th Last Day to Withdraw from Course.

January 8th – Research Paper #2 due through CANVAS by 11:59pm.

January 12thFinal Smart Books Unit #3 - Due by 11:59pm

January 13th to January 14th – Final Exam - Module #3 - Chapters 9-10 & 13-16

Opens January 13th at midnight.  Closes at 11:59pm on January 14th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you cannot meet these dates/deadlines, then drop this course.

 

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

COURSE TYPE

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

 X          Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o         WECM Course

 

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

 

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)]”. 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  On-line students are expected to log-in on a regular basis to get their work done.  It is the student’s responsibility to get assignments done by the deadline.  If a deadline is missed, 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.  Students 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)

Absence does not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  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 withdraw from this course with a “W” is January 5, 2020.

 

Learn Smart is due by the Due Date and no late work is accepted, since it is hosted off site.

Discussion responses will NOT be accepted late after the second day, but there will be a late penalty.

Participation Assignments can be accepted late through CANVAS, but there will be a 3-point penalty for every day that it is late.

Research papers can be accepted late through CANVAS, but there will be a loss of 10 pts per day.

Since Exams are open for 2 days, there will be no make-ups, except for some sort of technical malfunction, or serious medical problem, and even then, ONLY with a Doctor’s Note.

E-mail your instructor IMMEDIATELY if there are any problems with anything.

DO NOT send e-mails asking to turn in your work, attach it to your e-mail and send it ASAP. The longer you wait, the more points you lose.

Grades will post within 3 days of assignment closing, except for research papers, which can take up to 5 days, assuming there is no intervening factor that occurs.

 

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.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such as College 101, placement testing, academic advising and course registration, transfer assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much more. http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx

 

Completion Center offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab and assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students.   First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized support services.

http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Adam Ramsey

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 814

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4925

E-mail Address:

aramsey@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus

Telephone Number:

940-498-6464

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format: North Central Texas College students should be aware that in the event of a college closure due to COVID-19, onsite classes will be converted to an online/remote format. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have access to the computer equipment (either PC, MAC, or tablet), webcam, and internet connectivity to continue their classes in an online/remote format. Please read all your official North Central Texas College student emails as the transition from onsite to online/remote might require a reorganization in your personal situation. Students will be granted a 72-hour transition and grace period. Online classes will continue as scheduled without disruption. Wear a mask, stay safe, and contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

 

Syllabi Statement Regarding Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students must wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. Students without coverings, or those who do not comply with the rules relating to face coverings, will not be able to participate in on-campus classroom activities. To request an exception to this requirement, students should contact the NCTC HR Office of Enrollment Management (ccove@nctc.edu). Failure to comply with the face coverings requirement may result in the Instructor directing the student to leave the classroom. Any student asked to leave the classroom may be referred to the student conduct officer. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

 

Temporary COVID-19 Attendance Policy for Face-to-Face Meetings: We are facing an unprecedented situation in which all of us must be flexible and make prudent decisions in the best interest of our families, our campus, and our community. In light of this, North Central Texas College is temporarily establishing the requirement that faculty keep records of student attendance for face-to-face course meetings as well as a documented seating chart. In addition, students who are sick or need to quarantine should not attend classes. Students will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider and will not be penalized for COVID-19 related absences when proper notification to campus health officials is made in accordance with the guidelines stated below.

 

Faculty will:

 

  • Notify students about important course information and delivery changes through Canvas and campus email.

 

Students should:

  • Provide notification to campus officials (via NCTC Daily Health Check protocol through Canvas) if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine so we can confirm reported absence with instructors, monitor, and assist the campus community.
  • Notify instructors in advance of the absence.
  • Connect with that class through Webex if the class session is being transmitted in a hybrid fashion.
  • Keep up with and/or make up missed classwork or assignments.
  • Submit assignments digitally through Canvas or other means as announced by your instructor.
  • Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities described in the course syllabus.
  • Check Canvas and campus email daily to receive important announcements pertaining to the course.

During this period, faculty with face-to-face meetings will establish assigned seating/work stations to facilitate roll-taking, and, if necessary, contact tracing. Additionally, we ask all members of the College community to be attentive to their health, and safeguard others, by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website.

Additional NCTC information is available at http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html

 

Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

DONALD TRUMP: I've been told by my many sources, good sources - they're very good sources - that the chicken crossed the road. All the Fake News wants to do is write nasty things about the road, but it's a really good road. It's a beautiful road. Everyone knows how beautiful it is.

JOE BIDEN: Why did the chicken do the...thing in the...you know the rest?

SARAH PALIN: The chicken crossed the road because, gosh-darn it, he's a maverick!

BARACK OBAMA: Let me be perfectly clear, if the chickens like their eggs they can keep their eggs. No chicken will be required to cross the road to surrender her eggs. Period.

AOC: Chickens should not be forced to lay eggs! This is because of corporate greed! Eggs should be able to lay themselves.

HILLARY CLINTON: What difference at this point does it make why the chicken crossed the road?

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us or against us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken.

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he is acting by not taking on his current problems before adding any new problems.

ANDERSON COOPER: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: To cross the road or not cross the road… THAT, is the question.

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

[Copied from another source.]

 

 

 

Discussions:

 

Every student is expected to participate in the Discussions. We will have 5 Discussions over the course of the term.  Dates are on the assignment board, and in the title of the Discussion.  Discussions themselves will be on the Discussion Board, and ONLY the grade will go on the Assignment Board.  You will need to go to the Discussion Board to complete the assignment.  Due dates will show in the title of each discussion and should be listed in chronological order.

 

Your original response will be at least 400 words long, but it can be more if you wish. Make sure to reference your source material in some fashion, as you need facts to form opinions. Everyone should have at least 2 sources for your original response. Your original response is worth 10 pts.

 

An additional 5 pts will be added for your response to another poster. Your response should be at least 150 words and be something more than agreement or disagreement. In other words, WHY do you agree, or disagree, with the person’s post?

 

Although there is no real wrong answer to these questions, you will NOT get points for fluff, opinions without facts, or extremely biased “just because” pieces. I will take off points for derogatory language, answers that are too short, poorly worded, or use little to no research.

 

Remember EVERYONE is entitled to their opinions, so there is no need to get nasty about them.  We can always agree to disagree, but the best opinions are those you can defend.

 

GOVT 2305 – Research Papers – Winter, 2020

 

Here is your chance to practice writing formal Research Papers, which will consist of two 1400 to 1500-word essays from the assigned topics listed below.  Please choose your words carefully and make sure your paper is no longer than 1700 words with your citations.  Put your name at the top, skip a line and then start writing.  Be sure to focus on relevant information and not extraneous personal information like exact birth dates, siblings, pets, mother’s/father’s occupation, etc. 

Here is a good place to find source material: https://www.nctc.edu/library/research-help/subject-guides/government.html 

Make sure your discussion is significant to the topic at hand and researches/discusses both sides of each issue.  In your conclusion, discuss your own opinions on the subject; for or against, etc. and justify that conclusion! 

 

Make sure to cite ALL your quotes and use APA or MLA format for citations/sources.  Failure to cite your quotes is plagiarism, and you will be counted off for that.  Also, do not cite more than 10%, or 150 words, of your paper.  Using encyclopedias and encyclopedic websites (about.com or wikipedia.com), or grade school websites, will count against you!  Do NOT quote your instructor or textbook.  This is supposed to be OUTSIDE research, so make good use of the books, magazines, journals, reports, and government/education websites.

 

Each paper or project is worth 50 points towards your final grade, and paper points are assigned as follows:

5 points – Is the length correct? 

12 points – Covered subject matter w/o grammatical, spelling, or sentence errors?

10 points – Is there a conclusion?  Was it a high-quality conclusion?

8 points – 4 or more “good” sources?  (You will lose points for using wikipedia.com, about.com, or any encyclopedic site, as a source.  You also lose points for using your textbook or instructor as a source.)

15 points – Quality of your paper.  (Answers the questions, sticks to subject, no excessive quoting, no awkward spots, and has good flow?)

 

Papers will be submitted through Canvas by 11:59pm on the day it is due.  If you miss the deadline, you can e-mail it to me, but I will deduct 5 points for EVERY day that it is late.  It is YOUR responsibility to make sure YOUR paper is submitted by the deadline.

 

Paper #1 Due December 31st  – What is the power of the President to pardon?  Where does it come from?  What are the limitations?  What are the ramifications if you accept a pardon?  How is a pardon different from a commutation/parole?

 

There ahs been talk that President Trump might give himself a pardon.  Do you think this would be legal?  Why or why not?  Also, could he give someone a pardon for future crimes?

 

In the body of your paper be fair and balanced, leave the opinions until the conclusion.  In your conclusion be sure to agree or disagree with a President pardoning themselves or giving pardons for future crimes, and why.    

 

Although your conclusion is your opinion, be careful NOT to use “I” or “we.”  Personal pronouns are not to be used in a formal research paper, which this is, even though it is a bit short.  Just say it like you mean it, and it is a fact.

 

Paper #2 Due January 8th – Is health care a right?  The United States is one of the few industrialized nations that does NOT have universal health care.  Although you can go to a hospital and get treatment, not everyone has health care.  We have had long discussions about the viability of universal health care.  Medicaid was supposed to help our poor, but many seem to fall through the cracks.  Obamacare was supposed to help more, but Republicans acted very strongly against it, even though 20 to 30 million Americans got access to health care. 

 

Lots of different aspects to this question but be sure to answer the main question in you conclusion with reasons why you think that.


Although your conclusion is your opinion, be careful NOT to use “I” or “we.”  Personal pronouns are not to be used in a formal research paper, which this is, even though it is a bit short.  Just say it like you mean it, and it is a fact.

 

If you have any questions, please ask!

 

Grading Scale: 695 total points possible

A = 620+ pts     B = 619 – 550 pts     C = 549 – 481 pts    D = 480 – 411 pts    F = 410 or less

 

Helpful Phone #’s for Flower Mound:

 

Admissions: 972-899-8430

Business Office: 972-899-8403

Counseling: 972-899-8412

Financial Aid: 972-899-8400

FM Director: 972-899-8408

Library: 972-899-8413

Testing: 972-899-8335

 

Technical Problems?

    • The Connect website address: http://connect.mheducation.com (shortcut: mhhm.com)
    • The Customer Experience Group: The Customer Experience Group is your “just in time” contact for tech support and one-off questions that need immediate attention. This team can address questions such as how to extend a due date, how to view a student’s grade, how to change assignment policies, etc.
      • https://mhedu.force.com/CXG/s - You will find the Platform Status Center here, which lets you know if there is a Connect disruption and when/for how long it occurred.
      • 800-331-5094
      • Their hours of operation [Eastern]:

Sunday              12pm – 12am
Mon-Thurs         24 hours
Friday                12am - 9pm
Saturday            10am - 8pm 

 

Kevin Davis: 972-899-8410

Email: kdavis@nctc.edu

 

Address:

NCTC – Flower Mound
Attn: Kevin Davis

1200 Parker Square
Flower Mound, Texas 75028

 

There are no Handouts for this set.