NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Federal Government

Course prefix, number, and section number: GOVT2305 0602

Semester/Year of course: Spring 2022

Semester start and end dates: January 18, 2022 through May 14, 2022

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Face to face

Class meeting location, days, and times: FSB Exchange Denton Campus, Room 111; Tuesdays and Thursdays 8 am – 9:20 am

Lab meeting location, days, and times: No lab

Semester credit hours: 3

Course description: 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 prerequisites: none

Required course materials: Registration in the course gives you access to the e-book needed for GOVT2305.  You do not need to purchase a separate textbook. 

Inclusive Access is a partnership between NCTC and McGraw-Hill Education, to provide the best learning resources on the first day of class. Students can gain access to McGraw-Hill’s adaptive online platforms with the latest version of the eBook at a discount. If students would like to purchase a physical copy of the textbook, they can order a discounted loose-leaf version through the bookstore.

Students who drop before the add/drop date will have their book fees credited back to their student account, and students who remain in the course will be charged a materials fee by the school to have continued access of the online platforms.  If you remain enrolled in the course but wish to opt-out of access to the book please email the NCTC Bookstore with your name and student number to 1263mgr@follett.com.

Name of instructor: Rebekah Sanchez

Office location: Corinth Campus—Pinnell Square 1400 N. Corinth Street, Suite 102

Telephone number: 940.498.6438

E-mail address: rsanchez@nctc.edu

Office hours for students: Office hours for students: Mondays 3:30-5 pm; Thursdays 9:30-11. You are welcome to come to my office during office hours. If you want to meet at a different time, send me a few options and we can schedule a meeting. Meetings during or outside of office hours can be in person in my office or we can schedule a Webex meeting. 

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments:

• 3 Exams - 100 points each - 300 total points
• 17 SmartBook assignments - 10 points each - 170 total points
• 17 Chapter Quizzes - 10 points each - 170 total points
• 1 Research Paper - 100 points for leading assignments and 100 points on final paper based on the rubric - 200 total points
• Participation - points vary by activity - 150 total points
• 2 pre/post tests - 5 points each - 10 points total

Final grade scale: 

900-1000 points = A
800-899 points = B
700-799 points = C
600-699 points = D
0-599 points = F

Late work policy:

Below you will find the late policies for each assignment type. You will notice that some of them have hard deadlines and others have soft deadlines. What is important to note is that communication is key. If you have extenuating circumstances, I encourage you to reach out to me and we can discuss your individual situation. Although it is not always possible, communication is best when it happens prior to deadlines. 

Exams will be taken in class. If you are unable to attend class on the date of an exam, you must notify me as soon as possible prior to the date of the exam to schedule a make-up exam. If you miss an exam and have not made arrangements for a make-up exam, you will not receive credit for the missed exam. 

SmartBook assignments are due by the start of class on the day we cover that chapter. You can complete the assignments after the due date, but you may lose participation points if you are not prepared to participate in class. You can only submit SmartBook assignments up to the date the unit closes. Each unit will close on the day of the unit exam for that unit. No SmartBook assignments will be accepted after the unit closes.

Quizzes are due on the Monday (by 5 pm) following the day we cover the chapter. You can complete quizzes after the due date. Each quiz is 20 questions and they are randomly drawn from a pool of questions. Unit exam questions come from the quizzes, so I encourage you to take each quiz several times so you see more questions in the pool and have more material to study for the exams. Your highest quiz score is recorded for your final grade. You can only submit quizzes up to the date the unit closes. Each unit will close on the day of the unit exam for that unit. No quizzes will be accepted after the unit closes.

The research paper is due on April 14. You will have small assignments due leading up to the final submission. Writing papers is a process and communication is necessary when deadlines are approaching. I will allow some flexibility in deadlines if you communicate with me early on all of the leading assignments except the final draft. Because I want to allow the maximum amount of time for revisions, the draft deadline will be required to receive points for that portion of the assignment. Final papers will not be accepted after April 14. 

Participation points will be given for active participation in activities and discussions. Your presence in class is required to earn participation points. Participation is not always about having the ‘correct’ answer. The topics we discuss in this class generate debates and elicit a variety of opinions. We will practice respect and civility in class discussions. Points will be based on your engagement in the discussion or activity. If you have an excused absence and are not present in class, you can complete a make-up assignment for the points. 

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy: 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.  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)

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: April 4, 2022

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:

1. Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system.
3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
6. Analyze the election process.
7. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
8. Analyze issues and policies in U.S. Politics.

Core Objectives: Critical thinking, Communication, Personal Responsibility, Social Responsibility

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS