Spring 2017

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title: TEXAS GOVERNMENT
Course Prefix & Number: GOVT2306	Section Number:  408	Semester: SP17
Semester Credit Hours: 3	Lecture Hours: 3	Lab Hours: N/A
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): Origin and development of the Texas constitution, structure and powers of state and local government, federalism and inter-governmental relations, political participation, the election process, public policy, and the political culture of Texas. 48 lecture hours.
Course Prerequisite(s): None
Required Materials: v  Governing Texas by Champagne & Harpham, Norton, 2nd edition, paperback w/ebook folder, ISBN: 978-0-393-28731-8  OR v  Governing Texas by Champagne & Harpham, Norton, 2nd edition, 3-hole punch w/ ebook folder, ISBN: 978-0-393-28752-3  OR v  Students can also purchase the ebook at a lower price directly from Norton

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Jennifer Danley-Scott, Ph.D.
Campus/Office Location:	n/a
Telephone Number:	n/a
E-mail Address:	Jdanley-scott@nctc.edu

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
3	exams (150 points each)	450
varied	Weekly quizzes in Canvas	150
5	weekly modules  (50 points each)       *	250
1	Research paper	100
1	Peer points	25
1	Simulation	25

 

 

 

• See below for module specifics

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

	At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
	Explain the origin and development of the Texas constitution.
	Describe the state and local political systems and their relationship with the federal government.
	Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas.
	Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.
	Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups and political parties in Texas. Analyze the state and local election process.
	Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
	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.  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.

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

 

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is _______________.

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).  http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx (Links to an external site.)

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA______________________________           

 

o         Communication

o         Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

 

o         American History

X         Government/Political Science

o         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

 

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES

 

X             Critical Thinking

X            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. http://nctc.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2014-2015/Catalog/North-Central-Texas-College-Student-Handbook

 

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator:	Donna Hooper
Office Location:	Corinth 209
Telephone Number:	940-498-6266
E-mail Address:	dhooper@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean:	Dr. Larry Gilbert
Office Location:	Corinth 305
Telephone Number:	940-498-6216
E-mail Address:	lgilbert@nctc.edu

 

 

  

COURSE ACTIVITIES

Activities, Assignments, and Grading Policy

This course will utilize team based learning, which means you will be assigned to a group of 5 to 7 and you will work with the group throughout the semester. A small part of your grade will be derived from your group activities/performance and the majority of your grade will be based on your attendance, performance on exams, and reading/research quizzes. It is important for you to complete your weekly reading and work so that you do well on your individual tests, but also so that you can help your group.

 

This class is not one where you can skip class and skip readings, but it is one that will help you connect with the material and have a little fun. While an A will require real effort, it isn’t difficult to pass this class if you complete the work and attend regularly. If you don’t complete the weekly work and skip classes, you will fail. It is also likely that you will make new friends and find study partners. Many of my students leave class with a list of new contacts, which will hopefully help you throughout your years at NCTC.

 

You will be responsible for all material presented in Canvas, lecture, and the readings.  You will required to watch online videos, perform online activities, complete exams and written assignments, and be actively involved in group and individual activities inside lecture periods. Late work will not be accepted, as I will drop the lowest module grade.  There are no retakes or resubmissions of work in this class. Please keep all electronic documents and files until your final grade is posted at the end of the semester. If there are discrepancies between the recorded grade and the actual grade, it will be your responsibility to prove the recorded grade is in error. If you disagree with a grade, an argument must be explained in writing and e-mailed to me within one week of the grade posting. Extra credit assignments will not be given on a student-by-student basis. If you feel you are doing poorly in the class, please speak with me to discuss how to improve your performance. 

 

Grades are received based on the number of points you have at the end of the term. Students will accumulate points and there are 1000 points to be earned. The grade breakdown is:

 

 

A    900-1000                       B    800-899                          C    700-799                          D  600-699                           F  599 & below

 

Your grade will be composed of:

3 exams (150 points each)                              450

5 weekly modules  (50 points each)                250

Weekly reading quizzes                                   150

Peer Points                                                       25

Simulation                                                        25

Research Paper                                               100

 

The exams will be multiple choice, fill in the blank, and written. There are no re-takes of the test. If you miss a test due to illness, freeway accident, etc., you will be allowed to take a make-up, but the test will be different and will increase in difficult the longer it is postponed.  A review for both will be provided online. Material will come from the textbook, lectures, online class materials, and class activities. You must bring a picture ID (drivers license, NCTC ID, professional ID, etc.) on the days of the exams to prove you are the person registered for the class.

 

The research paper will be a 3 to 5 page paper that researches your US House or Senate representative Instructions will be in Canvas.

 

The weekly quizzes will be reading / research quizzes in Canvas (15 points per week over 11 weeks). The reading/research quizzes in Canvas will be due on Sunday evenings by 11:59 p.m. I do not accept late quizzes, as there will be one extra quiz to help if you miss a week.

 

The weekly modules will consist of the total sum of the following activities, each week:

• • In-class individual readiness test (14 points)
  • In-class team readiness test (14 points)
  • In-class team activity sheet (22 points)

In class activities (readiness tests / activities) cannot be made up. To help with the inevitable illness, I will drop the lowest weekly module score. There will be 6 modules over the term. If you must miss more class due to hospitalization, you will need to provide hospitalization paperwork and we will create alternate testing. Please see Canvas for which days are team days.

 

 Simulation will be an in class activity. More information will be in Connect.

 

* Students must treat their groupmates with respect. While my students have always been respectful of one another, the following are the policies on group respect:

 

If multiple students in your group complain about your performance, you will receive a warning. If there are more complaints, you will be removed from your group and will work alone or with another group (at the instructor’s discretion) for the remainder of the semester.

 

If students complain about behavior that is harassing or inappropriate, you will be asked to leave for the remainder of the class and speak with me before returning to the group. If the behavior requires you to leave class, you may forfeit the group activity and test scores for that day.

 

** Signing in for another students will result in a 0 for you and for the other student on the weekly module, and that weekly module will not be eligible for dropping. You will also be sent to the Dean on a student conduct violation. I will do occasional cross-checks on attendance and group activity sheets, so if you are in class for the activity, be sure to also take the individual test.