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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
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Course Title:
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TEXAS GOVERNMENT
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Course Prefix & Number:
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GOVT2306
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Section Number:
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231
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Semester/Year:
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December, 2017
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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 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.
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Course Prerequisite(s): None
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Required or Recommended Course Materials:
Champagne-Harpham. Governing Texas. 3rd edition. Norton. paperback w/ebook folder
ISBN: 9780393283679
Champagne-Harpham. Governing Texas. 3rd edition. Norton. 2 hole punch w/ebook folder
9280393616477
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Donna Hooper Smith
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Campus/Office Location:
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Corinth 209
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Telephone Number:
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940-498-6266
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E-mail Address:
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dhooper@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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TBA
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TBA
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TBA
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TBA
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TBA
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** I will post office 3 hours per week that will vary each week.
**I can also schedule private meetings in the online Canvas Conference room.
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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 the Texas Constitution.
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Demonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relationship with the federal government.
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Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas.
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Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.
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Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
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Analyze the state and local election process.
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Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens
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Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
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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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Exams – 100 pts each – Lowest test grade dropped
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300
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13
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Chapter Post Tests
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130
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16
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Class Assignments
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310
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2
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Discussion Boards
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80
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COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)
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Due Date
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Unit
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Scheduled Assignment
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points
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12/21
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Intro
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Intro to the Course Quiz
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10
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Course Pre Test
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10
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12/22
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I
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Student Intro Essay
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20
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12/26
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CH 01 ANIMATION QUIZ: The Texas Population
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6
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State Representatives Assignment
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30
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CH 04 ANIMATION QUIZ: The Republican Party in Texas
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8
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CH 05 ANIMATION QUIZ: Voting in Texas
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10
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CH 05 BY THE NUMBERS: Campaign Contributions
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6
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Chapter Post Tests (1-5)
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50
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12/27
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Unit I Exam (Chapters 1-5)
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100
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12/27
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I
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Discussion Board #1 : Original Post
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40
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12/29
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Discussion Board #1 : Response Post
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1/2
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II
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CH 06 ANIMATION QUIZ: Interest Groups in Texas
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8
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CH 06 BY THE NUMBERS: Measures of Texas Civic Health
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6
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State House Member Assignment
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40
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CH 09 ANIMATION QUIZ: Texas's Judges
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6
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Chapter Post Tests (6-9)
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40
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1/3
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Unit Exam II (Chapters 6-9)
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100
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1/9
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III
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Local Govt Assignment
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30
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CH 11 ANIMATION QUIZ: Taxes in Texas
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8
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Exoneration Assignment
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40
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Chapter Post Tests (10-13)
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40
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1/7
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III
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Discussion Board #2 : Original Post
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40
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1/9
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Discussion Board #2 : Response Post
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1/10
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Unit III Exam (Chapters 10, 12, 13 & 9)
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100
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1/11
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Final Exam
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100
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Total Points
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820
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Points Letter Grade Equivalent
90% or more of points A
80-89.99% of points B
70 -79.99% of points C
60 – 69.99% of points D
59.99% or less of points F
** Grades are never rounded up in this course. The student will receive the grade earned. Every student has the ability to increase his/her grade with local government & community service extra credit.
Exams- Three unit exams and a comprehensive final will be given. At the end of the semester, the lowest test grade will be dropped. There are no makeup exams. If a student takes all three unit exams and is happy with the test score, the final exam can be the dropped exam. If the student chooses to take all four exams, the lowest is dropped.
Late Work – Late assignments will not be accepted. Student are free to submit early assignments. 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.
Discussion Boards: In this class, Discussion Boards take the place of a research paper. Therefore, you will be held to high standards with regard to writing, citing, and using the sources required. Discussion boards in this class are not opinion based, they are based on research and analysis. The original post is due two days before the final due date. Three points per day will be deducted for late original posts.
Chapter Post Tests- Students will complete a post test for each chapter, which is designed as a study tool. All post tests must be completed on or before the due date. Post tests will not be reopened for any reason. Students are fee to use the book/notes/assignments information to complete the post tests.
CANVAS ACCESS: You have signed up for an online course, and you must have access to a computer. You will not be able to complete all assignments or access all information using a cell phone. 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.
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)
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is December 29, 2017.
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
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 and published online.
**Students who display inappropriate or disrespectful behavior will be immediately removed from the course and reported to the Dean of Students.
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)]”.
**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.
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. Larry Gilbert
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Office Location:
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Corinth Campus, Room 305
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Telephone Number:
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940-498-6216
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E-mail Address:
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lgilbert@nctc.edu
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