Course Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title: 

Texas Government  - Mondays   6:30 – 7:50   Hybrid

Course Prefix & Number:  

GOVT2306

Section Number:  

590

Semester/Year:

Spring2019

Semester Credit Hours: 

3

Lecture Hours: 

3

Lab Hours: 

0

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.        

Course Prerequisite(s): None

Required Course Materials:

Champagne-Harpham. Governing Texas. 3rd edition. Norton. paperback w/ebook folder

ISBN: 9780393283679 

OR 

Champagne-Harpham. Governing Texas. 3rd edition. Norton. 2 hole punch w/ebook folder

9280393616477

             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Aubri Thurmond

Campus/Office Location:

Flower Mound

E-mail Address:

athurmond@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

5:00 – 6:20pm

 

 

 

 

7:50 – 8:15pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 the Texas Constitution.

 

Demonstrate an understanding of 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.

 

GRADING CRITERIA

 

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

3

Exams

400

14

Reading Quizzes

280

1

Map Quiz

50

1

Local Government Project

50

1

Research Paper

100

5

Homework Assignments

125

4 

Discussion Boards

200

 

 

Total = 1205

 

Students accumulating between 1205 and 1085 points will receive an                   A

Students accumulating between 1084 and 964 points will receive a                      B

Students accumulating between 963 and 844 points will receive a                        C

Students accumulating between 843  and 723 points will receive a                       D

Students accumulating or fewer than 722 points will receive an                              F

 

 

COURSE POLICY AND PROCEDURES

 

  1. Late Policy: No assignments will be accepted late. No Canvas or Connect assignment will be re-opened. All assignments must be completed on time and will receive the grade of 0 if they are not completed by the due date. 

 

  1. Attendance:Student attendance will be recorded in each class meeting.  Students are expected to attend class, to be on time, and to stay for the duration of our class meeting.  If you miss class, it is your responsibility to get notes from one of your peers and to ask the instructor about assignments, handouts, etc. There are NO MAKE UP QUIZZES OR EXAMS. There are no excused or unexcused absences in this course; students are either present or absent.  If a student has perfect attendance (and is punctual and does not leave early), he or she will be awarded 10 extra credit points at the end of the semester.  

 

  1. Technology Requirements:Students are required to have weekly access to an internet-enabled computer (not a phone, not a tablet – an actual computer).  There are computers available in the lab on campus, if needed. Students are also required to have Microsoft Word and Adobe Reader programs.  Assignments in GoogleDocs with NOT be accepted.

 

  1. Course Agreement Statement:You are required to read the syllabus and understand all assignments, due dates, requirements, course expectations, and the course grading system.  After reading the syllabus you mustcomplete the “Agreement Statement” found on Canvas. Mrs. Thurmond will not accept future course work from any student who has not submitted the course agreement statement by January 28th.  If you do not understand the syllabus, assignments, due dates, requirements, course expectations, course grading system – and are, consequently, unable to sign the statement – you must contact Mrs. Thurmond immediately. If you do not understand any aspect of the course requirements, etc. Mrs. Thurmond will be happy to explain them to you.  Failure to sign the agreement statement, within the allotted time, will result in severe academic penalty.

 

  1. Course Pre-Test and Post-Test: To measure student learning outcomes, students must complete both a pre-test and a post-test for this class.  These are REQUIRED assignments and students must complete them within the given time frame.  As an incentive, Mrs. Thurmond will give 5 extra credit points to students who complete the pre-test by January 28th at 11:59pm.  The post-test will be available after our last class meeting on May 6th and an additional 5 extra credit points will be given to students who complete the post test by May 14th at 11:59pm Both the pre-test and post-test can be found on Canvas. 

 

  1. Recording Lectures: You are permitted to record lectures using only audio recording devices.  However, if you intend on recording my lectures, you must first complete and turn in the recording contract found on Canvas. You do not have permission to record my lectures, unless you complete the recording contract. 

Additionally, students are not permitted to take pictures of the instructor’s power point presentations without my explicit permission. All lecture material is considered my academic property and you may not replicate it without my permission. Students who do so will be removed from the classroom. 

 

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. Readings: You are required to do all reading listed in the course schedule.  Quizzes – worth 20 points each – will be completed online prior to class to assess your comprehension of the assigned reading. Careful reading is essential to success in college government courses.

 

  1. Homework: Students are required to complete five homework assignments, worth 25 points each. See course schedule for due dates. 

 

  1. Discussion Boards:You are required to write four discussion board posts examining the topics covered in the lectures and your reading assignments.  A series of questions will be provided to guide your discussion.  Your post must be thoughtful and demonstrate that you are critically thinking about topics covered in the course, and they must be at least 10 sentences.  After writing and submitting your post, you must respond to the posts of two classmates.  Always be respectful in your responses to others; disrespectful and derogatory language will not be tolerated. 

 

  1. Texas Maps Quiz: You will be quizzed over Texas geography, including: major cities; border locales; major rivers; and climate areas.  A study guide is provided for you on Canvas.  For full-credit, answers must be spelled correctly. The quiz will be complete on Canvas. You will have 25 minutes, and one attempt, to complete the quiz.

 

  1. Exams: There will be two exams in this course (100 points each) and a Final exam (200 points).  Exams will assess your comprehension of allmaterials discussed in lectures and printed in the assigned readings.  Exams #1 and #2 will only be offered online in Canvas during the dates and times listed in the syllabus. Students will have 1 attempt and 1 hour to complete the exams on Canvas. The Final exam is comprehensive and will only be offered in-class on the date listed in the syllabus. Failure to take an exam will result in a 0.  

 

  1.  Local Government Project:  Students will be required to select a city in Texas and discover how the local government in that city is structured; what officials are elected and appointed and how often; and the responsibilities and functions performed.  Students will then be required to visit a local government meeting and take extensive notes which will be submitted as part of the project. More detailed instructions will be posted on Canvas. See Course Schedule for due date. Projects will not be accepted late.

 

  1. Research Paper: Students will be required to write a research paper in this course.  Your essay must be at least 3 pages in length.  It must be doubled-spaced with 1-inch margins and you must use 12-point font. The essay will be submitted both in class and through Vericite.  Please see syllabus for due dates.  Further instructions are available on Canvas. 

 

  1. Participation Students are expected to be fully engaged in class; to take notes; to ask questions; and to participate in class discussions.  Do not brush your hair, paint your nails, or put on make up during class. Do not eat a hot meal during class.  Do not chat with your neighbor during class.  Do not sleep during class.  Do not study for other courses during class. All cell phones and other mobile devices must be turned off and put away. 

 

Students are asked to remain seated throughout the entire class; please leave only in cases of emergency.  If you anticipate needing to leave before the end of class, speak with Mrs. Thurmond before the beginning of class and sit near an exit. Perennially leaving class may result in severe academic penalty.  Students are not permitted to leave class during the administration of in-class examinations. Students who engage in disruptive and/or inattentive behavior will lose participation points and possibly be asked to leave the classroom.

 

 

 

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)

Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy:

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W”is _____April 4_______.

 

  1. Classroom Decorum Many different experiences, opinions, and beliefs will be represented in our class and sensitive and divisive topics will be discussed. Therefore, this course will be an exercise in civil discourse. Students will disagree; however, students must be respectful and kindto one another at all times or he/she will be removed from the classroom. 

 

 

 

 

  1. Laptop Computer Policy Laptops and Tablets are NOT permitted in this class.

 

 

  1. Familiarizing Yourself with Canvas:  It is imperative that, before class begins, you familiarize yourself with the various folders and assignments available on the course Canvas site.  In addition to hosting many assignments in this course, Canvas also contains the course grade book, faculty contact information, and other helpful tools.  I use Canvas to post important announcements, course documents and to send periodic communications to the class. I will only use the Canvas Inbox to communicate with students, so be sure that this function is working properly.It is your responsibility to check Canvas and your e-mail account regularly.  

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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)]”.  

 

Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course.  You are not to give any person (which includes parents, spouses, friends, etc) access to your Canvas account at any time during the semester.  If you do, you are putting the integrity of the course work completed in question.  Do not ask someone to email me on your behalf in Canvas.  If you have an emergency and cannot contact me yourself, it is best to have an alternative person contact me via my NCTC email address:athurmond@nctc.edu.  Again, do not give anyone access to your Canvas account.  Academic dishonesty in ANY form will NOT be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, using incorrect citations; not citing paraphrased material; using unauthorized sources; working together when not permitted; falsifying assignments; and turning in or copying the work of someone else.  Students who engage in academic dishonesty on any course material (exams, assignment, post tests) will immediately fail the course and academic dishonesty papers will be filed with the Dean and VP of Instruction.

 

 

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator: 

Crystal R.M. Wright

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 824

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4320

E-mail Address:

cwright@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean: 

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408

Telephone Number:

940-498-6464

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

 

Unit 1: Lectures 1 – 5      January 22 – March 3

 

 

Welcome to Government 2306 – ONLINE MODULE

Assigned Reading:        Syllabus

Assignments:                  Sign & Submit Course Agreement Statement

 

              To Do for next week:  Course Pre-Test

                                                  Syllabus & Course Policy Quiz (extra credit)

                                                     Read Governing TexasChapter 1

                                                  Reading Quiz #1

 

 

January 28                       Texas History and Political Culture – Lecture 1

Assigned Reading:        Governing TexasChapter 1

Assignments:                  Sign & Submit Course Agreement Statement Due Today

                                          Course Pre-Test Due Today

 

              To Do for next week: Discussion Board #1 – Political Culture

                                                 Read Governing TexasChapter 2

                                                 Reading Quiz #2

 

 

February 4                       The Texas Constitution – Lecture 2

Assigned Reading:        Governing TexasChapter 2

Assignments:                  Discussion Board #1 Due Today

              

              To Do for next week: Bill of Rights Comparison Worksheet (homework #1)

                                                 Read Governing TexasChapter 3

                                                  Reading Quiz #3

 

 

February 11                     Texas in the Federal System – Lecture 3

Assigned Reading:        Governing TexasChapter 3

Assignments:                  Homework – Bill of Rights Comparison Due Today

              

              To Do for next week:  Read Raich v. GonzalesPacket

                                                  Federalism Worksheet (homework #2)

                                                  Read Governing TexasChapter 7

                                                  Reading Quiz #4

                                                

 

 

February 18                     The Texas Legislature – Lecture 4

Assigned Reading:        Governing TexasChapter 7

Assignments:                  Homework – Federalism Worksheet Due Today

 

              To Do for next week:  Who Represents Me? Worksheet (homework #3)

                                                  Read Governing TexasChapter 8

                                                  Reading Quiz #5

                                                   Texas Maps Quiz

 

 

February 25                     The Executive – Lecture 5

Assigned Reading:        Governing TexasChapter 8

Assignments:                  Homework – Who Represents Me? Due Today

                                          Texas Maps QuizDue Today

 

              To Do for Next Week:  Unit 1 Exam 

                                                    Read Governing TexasChapter 9

                                                   Reading Quiz #6

 

UNIT 1 EXAM DUE ON MARCH 4TH To be completed on Canvas

 

 

March 4                      The Texas Judiciary – Lecture 6

Assigned Reading:  Governing TexasChapter 9

Assignments:                        Unit 1 Exam Due Today

 

            To Do for next week:  Election v. Appointment Worksheet (homework #4)

                                                 Reading Governing TexasChapter 4

                                                Reading Quiz #7

 

 

March 11 – 15              Spring Break – No class

 

 

March 18                    Political Parties – Lecture 7

Assigned Reading:  Governing TexasChapter 4

Assignments:                        Homework - Election v. Appointment Due Today

 

            To Do for next week:  Read Governing TexasChapter 5

                                                Reading Quiz #8

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 25                    Campaigns and Elections – Lecture 8

Assigned Reading:  Governing TexasChapter 5

 

            To Do for next week:  Read William Galston “Telling Americans to Vote, or Else”

                                                Discussion Board #2 – Mandatory Voting

                                                ReadGoverning TexasChapter 10

                                                Reading Quiz #9

 

 

April 1                        Local Government – Lecture 9

Assigned Reading:  Governing TexasChapter 10

Assignments:                        Discussion Board #2  Due Today

 

            To Do for next week:  Read Selection from State and Local Government (on Canvas)

                                                Reading Quiz #10

 

 

April 8                              City Governments – Lecture 10

Assigned Reading:        Selection from State and Local Government

Assignments:                 Research Paper Due Today

 

 

            To Do for next week:  Discussion Board #3 – Preemption and Homerule

                                                Unit 2 Exam

                                                ReadGoverning TexasChapter 6

                                                Reading Quiz #11

 

UNIT 2 EXAM DUE ON APRIL 15TH To be completed on Canvas

 

 

April 15                      Interest Groups – Lecture 11

Assigned Reading:  Governing TexasChapter 6

Assignments:                        Unit 2 Exam Due Today

                                    Discussion Board #3  Due Today

 

            To Do for next week:  Read Smith, “Lobbying” and West, “Inside the Lobby”

                                                Lobbying Worksheet (homework #5)

                                                Governing TexasChapter 11

                                                Reading Quiz #12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 22                            Budgeting and Finance – Lecture 12

Assigned Reading:        Governing TexasChapter 11

Assignments:                 Homework – Lobbying Worksheet Due Today

                                          

            To Do for Next Week:  Read Governing TexasChapter 12

                                                 Reading Quiz # 13

 

 

April 29                            Public Policy – Lecture 13

Assigned Reading:        Governing TexasChapter 12

                                               Local Government Project Due Today

 

            To Do for next week:           Discussion Board #4 – Public Policy

                                                ReadGoverning TexasChapter 13

                                                Reading Quiz #14

 

 

May 6                               Crime and Corrections – Lecture 14

Assigned Reading:        Governing Texas Chapter 13

Assignments:                 Discussion Board #4 Due Today

 

 

THE FINAL EXAM WILL BE ON MAY 13THFROM 6:30 – 8:30PM

 

There are no Handouts for this set.