NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:

Texas Government

Course Prefix & Number: 

GOVT2306

Section Number: 

382

Semester/Year:

SPRING

1st 8 Week

2021

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  **  Must have Connect Access**

             

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Donna (Hooper) Smith

Campus/Office Location:

COR 209

Telephone Number:

940-498-6266 ** Based on Covid restrictions, I will be on campus primarily during class times and office hours only.  Email is a better way to contact me.

E-mail Address:

** I prefer students email me using the Canvas Course Email—Secondary is dhooper@nctc.edu

 

CLASS/OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

 9:30-10:50AM

OFFICE

 

10 am--12:00

ONLINE OFFICE HOURS

9:30-10:50AM

OFFICE

 

10 am--12:00

ONLINE OFFICE HOURS

Online:  By Appointment only

 

11-12:20PM

GOVT 2306.402

RM 258

 

 

1pm-3pm

ONLINE OFFICE HOURS

11-12:20PM

GOVT 2306.402

RM 258

 

 

1pm-3pm

ONLINE OFFICE HOURS

12:30-1:30pm

OFFICE

12:30-1:30pm

OFFICE

 

 

*OFFICE: Hours held in Corinth Office (209)

** ONLINE OFFICE HOURS:  Available for Webex meetings with students, simply set up through WebEx Office Hours; available to answer emails immediately during this time as well

***Evening Office Hours:  Available By Appointment only --Monday-Thursday 5-8pm-- Simply Email me in Canvas to Schedule

 

 

 

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:  Midterm Exam, Final Exam & Research Assignment

37.5%

16

Chapter SmartBooks (MCGRAW HILL); and Intro Module Activities

10%

13

Chapter Lecture Reviews (LR)

15%

10

Analysis Assignments (AA):  Research based chapter Assignments and Unit Discussion Boards & Attendance

37.5%

 

** Detailed Course Calendar is posted at the end of the syllabus **

Points                   Letter Grade Equivalent

90% or higher                         A

80-89.99%                              B

70 -79.99%                             C

60 – 69.99%                            D

59.99% or less                        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 extra credit.

Smartbook (Connect/McGraw Hill)-  For each chapter, students will be required to access the ebook and complete a series of questions from the reading to show mastering of learning outcomes of each chapter.

Chapter Reviews (Connect/McGraw Hill):  Students are to review the lecture/power point for each chapter and then complete the Chapter Review.  Students have unlimited attempts to improve his/her grade until the assignment closes.  The highest grade will be maintained; therefore, students can only improve the grade.

Discussion Boards- Students must post an original post at least three days before the assignment closes and response posts before the assignment closes.  Late discussion posts will receive a deduction of 3 points per each day late.  While students can include opinion in discussion board posts, this should always be secondary to incorporating the sources in to the discussion, as well as cite to where the sources are used.  Students are expected to behave in a professional manner at all times.  Standard grammatical rules apply, use complete sentences and paragraphs.

Exams:  Students will be given a mid-term and final exam.  Exams will be given online where students have two days to complete the exam.  Make-up exams are not given; therefore, if a student misses an exam, they will receive a permanent zero.

**Research Assignment:  Students will complete a research assignment, which will also count as an exam grade. 

Late Work –Late assignments will not be accepted.  No assignments, research paper, quizzes, etc. will be re-opened for any student for any reason.  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.  Submitting early is the best rule of thumb.  Students are free to make unlimited corrections and/or resubmission before the due date; however, after the due date has expired, no resubmissions/corrections will be accepted.

All Assignments must be typed and uploaded as a doc or docx document.  I will not grade assignments that have been handwritten.  In Canvas, I can only use the grading function if the document is a doc or docx.  If you are using a Mac, it is your responsibility to make sure the document has been submitted correctly—DO NOT UPLOAD .pages FILES AS THEY DO NOT FUNCTION OUTSIDE OF YOUR MAC.  IMPROPERLY UPLADED FILES, will lead to the student receiving a zero.  If you choose to use Google Docs, make sure you upload a functioning file.

**I highly recommend that you use Google Chrome as your browser.  Safari should never be used with Canvas.

Announcements: It is very important that students read all announcements in full.  Students are encouraged to set the notifications to receive announcements as they are posted.

CONNECT ACCESS-  The textbook, Learn Smart, Chapter Reviews & Exams are all maintained within the McGraw Hill Connect System.  Students need to be enrolled immediately in Connect, which can be purchased at the bookstore, or online directly from McGraw Hill through Canvas.  Temporary access can be used directly from Connect McGraw Hill from the first day of class.  Students must be enrolled within the first week of class, as assignments are due immediately.  Students who do not properly enroll in Connect will be dropped from the course.  Students will be given a warning by email and then dropped from the Course if the required materials are not purchased.

CANVAS ACCESS:  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).

Attendance will be taken weekly.  At the beginning of each week, students will be required access the weekly discussion board to sign-in.  This must be done early as everyone needs to be clear on what is required each week.  Attendance counts as an Analysis Assignment (AA) Grade. 

 

The following guidelines will apply:

Sunday – Tuesday sign in:  Present

Wednesday - Thursday sign in: Tardy

Those not signed in by Thursday at 11:59 pm:  Absent for the week.

 

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is February 22, 2021.

 

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 and 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

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:

1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408

Telephone Number:

940-498-6464

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria--All due dates will be maintained in the Canvas Course Calendar.  This schedule provides a tentative layout of the course; however, changes can be made at any time to ensure the best learning environment.  As this is a government class, there are always current events that can guide the course.  Students are expected to be in class and to monitor the Canvas Calendar throughout the semester.)

 

SPRING 2021 Course Calendar

Week

Dates by Week

Unit/Chapter

Assignment

Due Date

1

JAN 19-23

 

 

Classes Begin

Intro Module

Complete Intro to the Course Week 1 Module

 

**Intro to the Course Quiz

** Orientation Videos

**Course Pre-Test

 

 

 

 

** Students who do not complete the Intro Module requirements by THURSDAY 1/21 before 11:59 pm

will be dropped from the course**

 

 

 

 

Ch 1 Intro to Texas History & Politics

** Student Intro Essay

 

Chapter 1 SmartBook

 

Chapter 1 Review

 

**AA:  State Rep Assignment (Ch 1)

 

 

**AA: Unit I Discussion Brd: My Community

 

 SUNDAY* 1/24

 

 

SUNDAY* 1/24

 

 

Monday* 1/25

 

Monday* 1/25

 

 

 

Original Post Due Saturday* 2/13

 

Response Post Due Tuesday* 2/16

 

2

JAN 24-30

Ch 2 Amer Federal System & Tx State Constitution

Chapter 2 SmartBook

 

Chapter 2 Review

 

AA: **Texas Bill of Rights Assignment (Ch 2)

Sunday * 1/31

 

 

Sunday * 1/31

 

Monday 2/1

 

 

Chapter 3 The Texas Legislature

Chapter 3 SmartBook

 

Chapter 3 Review

 

**AA:  TX State House Member Inventory (Ch 3)

 

Sunday * 1/31

 

 

Sunday * 1/31

 

Monday * 2/8

3

JAN 31-FEB 6

Chapter 4 The Executive Branch

Chapter 4 SmartBook

 

Chapter 4 Review

 

**AA:  Governor Veto Assignment (CH4)

Sunday * 2/7

 

 

Sunday * 2/7

 

Tuesday 2/10

 

 

 

Chapter 5 The Court System

 Chapter 5 SmartBook

 

Chapter 5 Review

 

Sunday * 2/7

 

 

Sunday * 2/7

 

4

FEB 7-13

Chapter 6 The Criminal Justice System

Chapter 6 SmartBook

 

Chapter 6 Review

 

 

**Research Assignment:  Texas Exoneration

Sunday * 2/14

 

 

Sunday * 2/14

 

 

 

Monday* 3/1

 

 

 

MID-TERM EXAM

EXAM WILL COVER CHAPTERS 1-6

EXAM will open SUNDAY 2/14 at 1 AM and close on MONDAY 2/15 at 11:59PM 

5

FEB 14-20

Chapter 7 Local Governments

 Chapter 7 SmartBook

 

Chapter 7 Review

 

**AA:  **Local Reps Assignment (Ch 7)

 

**AA: Unit III Discussion Board:  Crime in Your Community

Sunday * 2/21

 

 

Sunday * 2/21

 

Monday*2/22

 

 

 

Original Post Due

Wednesday*3/3

Response Posts Due

Saturday*3/6

 

 

 

Ch 9 Voting & Political Participation

 Chapter 9 SmartBook

 

Chapter 9 Revew

           

 

Sunday * 2/21

 

 

Sunday * 2/21

 

6

Feb 21-27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ch 10 Campaigns & Elections

Last Day to Withdraw with a “W”

 

Chapter 10 SmartBook

 

Chapter 10 Review

 

**AA:  ** Elections & Campaign Assign (Ch 9, 10 & 12)

 

 

Monday 2/22

 

 

 

Sunday * 2/28

 

 

Sunday * 2/28

 

Tuesday* 3/9

 

 

Ch11 Political Parties in Texas

Chapter 11 SmartBook

 

Chapter 11 Review

 

 

 

Sunday * 2/28

 

 

Sunday * 2/28

 

7

March 7-13

12 Interest Groups & Lobbying in TX

CA:  Chapter 12 SmartBook

 

Chapter 12 Review

 

Sunday * 3/7

 

 

Sunday * 3/7

 

 

 

13 Public Policy

CA:  Chapter 13 SmartBook

 

Chapter 13 Review

 

 

Sunday * 3/7

 

 

Sunday * 3/7

 

 

8

March 7-13

Chapter 14 Financing State Govt

Extra Credit Due

 

CA:  Chapter 14 SmartBook

 

Chapter 14 Review

 

**AA: Texas Budget Assignment

 

Course Post Test

 

 

Tuesday* 3/9

 

Sunday * 3/11

 

 

Sunday * 3/11

 

Friday* 3/12

 

 

Friday*  3/12

 

March 12-13

Final Exam

 

 

 

 

Final Exam (Ch 7, 9-14)

 

 

EXAM will open Friday 3/12 at 1 AM and close on Saturday 3/13 at 11:59PM 

 

**  Dates can be adjusted at any time during the semester for the betterment of the student and/or course. 

There are no Handouts for this set.