GOVT 2306 0230 - TEXAS GOVERNMENT

Introduction

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title: 

Texas Government

Course Prefix & Number:  

GOVT2306

Section Number:  

230

Semester/Year:

 

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:

Mora, Sherri.  The State of Texas.  4th edition. McGraw Hill Publishing. 

ISBN 978-1264031993
             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Charles Cooper

Campus/Office Location:

Online 

Telephone Number:

Please use the canvas email system 

E-mail Address:

ccooper@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

 

 

 

8-10 am 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

4

 

Exams *Any discussions, debates, or issues presented “in class” may be included in an exam.

30%

1

 

Graded Written Assignments – The GWA assignment will be written and submitted into Canvas.  There will be at least one research paper.  Please take care to cite your sources.

20%

8

Book Smart - The quizzes will open on Mondays and will be due by midnight Friday.  Quizzes will review that particular chapter's content only.  Quiz contents will likely show up in the Unit Exams.

25%

8

Weekly Discussions – Two posts due per chapter: one is your original reflection with citations from the textbook or a reputable online news source and the second is a response to another student’s reflection.

25%

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

Exams - All exams will be online.  They will be multiple choice exams.  Your exam average will constitute 30% of your final course grade.  There will be no extra credit (on the exam or elsewhere) and no make-up test dates.  You will get two chances per exam and the grades will be averaged.  You do get a grade you're happy with on the first attempt, you DO NOT have to take the exam a second time.

GWAs - Your graded written assignments (GWA) average will constitute 20% of your final course grade.  Any graded written assignment not completed (ie. Not submitted in the appropriate manner) will be calculated as a zero.  Whether the assignment (any assignment) has been completed on your side does not matter if it is not submitted before the due date.  No make-up grades or extra credit grades will be offered for any missed GWA’s. 

Discussion Forums - Your discussion board participation grade average will constitute the remaining 25% of the final course grade. If you do not participate in the discussion boards a zero will be placed in the grade book for that particular “absence” for that particular assignment. No make-up grade or extra credit grades will be offered for these missed assignments.  To get full credit for discussion forums you will need to complete two tasks:  First, fully address the prompt at the top of the forum (this will be due by midnight each Wednesday).  You will need to either cite a page number in the textbook or add a link to a reputable online news site that supports your statement or comment.  Second, you will need to reply to another student’s initial post (this will be due by midnight each Sunday).  In your reply to another student (your second post), your reply will need to be as academically sound as your first post. In other words, you will need to build upon another students first post, not simply “agree” or “disagree” with them. Please email me with questions if this is unclear. I will also clarify further in my first video post to the class. Each of these tasks is worth 50% of the 100% possible points.  Posting only once will get you 50% of the total points.  All students are expected to participate in each discussion forum. Your first post will be due before midnight Wednesday of each week.   Your second post will be due before midnight Sunday of each week.

Smart Book - As you access your online textbook, you will see the Smart Book exercises.  These are adaptive questions that help you process and understand the content that you are reading.  Adaptaive questions means that the questions levels up or down according to how you answer them . This is a useful tool to ensure that you are understanding what you are reading.  Smart Book open up Monday morning and are available until Friday night at midnight.  Smart Book will make up 25% of your semester grade.  They also help prepare you for the Unit Exams. 

 

Calendar

Unit I 

December 21st to December 27th

  • Chapter 1
    • Discussion Forum - Opens Monday and closes midnight Sunday
      • *Two posts are due each week for each chapter! The first post is due by Weds. (midnight) and the 2nd post is due by Sunday (midnight).  Please read the assignment description above!
    • Chapter 1 Book Smart- Opens on Monday and closes midnight Friday.
    • Graded Written Assignment 1 - Assigned... Due January 10th 
  • Chapter 2
    • Discussion Forum - Opens Monday and closes midnight Sunday
      • * Two posts are due each week for each chapter! The first post is due by Weds. (midnight) and the 2nd post is due by Sunday (midnight). Please read the assignment description above!
    • Chapter 2 Book Smart - Opens on Monday and closes midnight Friday.
    • Graded Written Assignment 1 - Assigned... Due January 10th 
    • Unit I Exam (Chapters 1 and 2)  - The exam will open Friday morning and close midnight Sunday of this week.  

Unit II

December 28th to January 3rd

  • Chapter 3
    • Discussion Forum - Opens Monday and closes midnight Sunday
      • *Two posts are due each week! The first post is due by Weds. (midnight) and the 2nd post is due by Sunday (midnight).  Please read the assignment description above!
    • Chapter 3 Book Smart- Opens on Monday and closes midnight Friday.
    • Graded Written Assignment 1 - Assigned... Due January 10th
  • Chapter 4
    • Discussion Forum - Opens Monday and closes midnight Sunday
      • *Two posts are due each week! The first post is due by Weds. (midnight) and the 2nd post is due by Sunday (midnight). Please read the assignment description above!
    • Chapter 4 Book Smart - Opens on Monday and closes midnight Friday.
    • Graded Written Assignment 1 - Assigned... Due January 10th
    • Unit II Exam (Chapters 3 and 4)  - The exam will open Friday morning and close midnight Sunday of this week.  

Unit III

January 4th to January 10th

  • Chapter 5
    • Discussion Forum - Opens Monday and closes midnight Sunday
      • *Two posts are due each week! The first post is due by Weds. (midnight) and the 2nd post is due by Sunday (midnight).  Please read the assignment description above!
    • Chapter 5 Book Smart- Opens on Monday and closes midnight Friday.
    • Graded Written Assignment 1 - Assigned... Due January 10th
  • Chapter 6
    • Discussion Forum - Opens Monday and closes midnight Sunday
      • *Two posts are due each week! The first post is due by Weds. (midnight) and the 2nd post is due by Sunday (midnight). Please read the assignment description above!
    • Chapter 6 Book Smart - Opens on Monday and closes midnight Friday.
    • Graded Written Assignment 1 - Assigned... Due January 10th
    • Unit III Exam (Chapters 5 and 6)  - The exam will open Friday morning and close midnight Sunday of this week.  

Unit IV

January 11th to January 14th  - THIS IS A SHORTENED WEEK!!! ALL assignments will open on Monday January 10th and close on Thursday January 14th.

  • Chapter 7
    • Discussion Forum 
    • Chapter 7 Book Smart
  • Chapter 8
    • Discussion Forum 
    • Chapter 8 Book Smart
    • Unit IV Exam (Chapters 7 and 8)

 

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 January 5th

 

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)]”.  

 

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator: 

Adam Ramsey

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 814

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4925

E-mail Address:

aramsey@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean: 

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

316 E Hickory St, Denton, TX 76201

Telephone Number:

940-380-2504

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

Syllabus File(s)

There are no Handouts for this set.