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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
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Course Title:
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American State & Local Government
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Course Prefix & Number:
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GOVT2306
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Section Number:
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101
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Semester/Year:
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Sp ‘18
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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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Adam Ramsey
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Campus/Office Location:
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Gainesville 814
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Telephone Number:
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817-999-5446
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E-mail Address:
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aramsey@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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11:00 – 1:30
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8:00 – 9:30
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11:00 – 1:30
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8:00 – 9:30
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12:30 – 1:30
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12:30 – 1:30
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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 Consitution.
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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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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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Percent of Final Grade
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4
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Exams
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40
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2
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Research Project
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25
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3
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Current Event Reports
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15
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40
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Online Assignments
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20
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COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)
A detailed Assignment Guide for each Graded Course Element is available on Canvas under the “Modules” tab beneath the “Course Files” heading. These include assignment details, grading criteria, and tips for success. Specific due dates for each assignment can also be found on Canvas, along with the dropboxes for the written assignments.
The course is divided into 4 Modules. At the conclusion of each Module, an in-class Exam is given. Each exam consists of several testing methods, including multiple choice, matching, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and an essay question. A Research Project in which the student identifies a statewide problem, researches credible information on it, and recommends policy solutions will be submitted in Module 4. The project consists of a paper and a presentation. For each of Modules 1-3, Current Event Reports will be submitted, in which the student researches credible media reports and summarizes in essay form a current political issue facing the state of Texas. In each Module, several Online Assignments are completed via the Norton system integrated to Canvas.
Module 1 (Chapters 1-3) January 16 – February 9
Module 2 (Chapters 7-10) February 10 – March 9
Module 3 (Chapters 4-6) March 19 – April 6
Module 4 (Chapters 11-13) April 7 – May 10
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)
Attendance will be kept throughout the semester via sign-in sheets distributed randomly during class time by the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to remove any student who exceeds 4 unexcused absences.
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 5, 2018.
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
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.
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)]”.
Any student engaged in the aforementioned behaviors will forfeit all points on the assignment in questions and may be removed from the course at the instructor’s discretion. Any such instance will be reported to NCTC.
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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