NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Course title: Texas Government
Course prefix, number, and section number: GOVT2306 0349
Semester/Year of course: Spring 2022
Semester start and end dates: 1/18/2022 - 5/14/2022
Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Online (Async)
Class meeting location, days, and times: Available 24/7
Lab meeting location, days, and times: NA
Semester credit hours: 3
Course description: 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 prerequisites: none
Required course materials: Registration in the course gives you access to the e-book needed for GOVT2306. You do not need to purchase a separate textbook.
Inclusive Access is a partnership between NCTC and McGraw-Hill Education, to provide the best learning resources on the first day of class. Students can gain access to McGraw-Hill’s adaptive online platforms with the latest version of the eBook at a discount. If students would like to purchase a physical copy of the textbook, they can order a discounted loose-leaf version through the bookstore.
Students who drop before the add/drop date will have their book fees credited back to their student account, and students who remain in the course will be charged a materials fee by the school to have continued access of the online platforms. If you remain enrolled in the course but wish to opt-out of access to the book please email the NCTC Bookstore with your name and student number to 1263mgr@follett.com.
Name of instructor: Mr. Paul Coraccio
Office location: NA (Available Online)
Telephone number: 940-280-1923
E-mail address: pcoraccio@nctc.edu
Office hours for students: Contact for appointment
SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER
The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
List of graded assignments:
# of Graded
Course
Elements Graded Course Elements* Points Totals
McGraw-Hill ‘Connect’ Textbook Readings: 0
14 Smartbook® (CONNECT) – 1 per chapter 15 pts ea. 210 pts
2 Chapter Modules (CONNECT) – varies per chapter 10 pts ea. 20 pts
4 Unit Exams 50 pts ea. 200 pts
1 Writing Assignment (Research Paper) --REQUIRED TO PASS COURSE 100 pts ea. 100 pts
5 Pre-Writing Assignments 10-30 pts ea. 100 pts
5 Forum Discussions (Discussion Boards) 25 pts ea. 125 pts
5 Class Assignments 20 pts ea. 100 pts
5 Civic Decision-Making Project Assignments 15 pts ea. 75 pts
2 Current Events Assignments 20 pts ea. 40 pts
1 Historical Events Assignment 20 pts ea. 20 pts
990 pts
* There are no weighted assignment groups, so what you see is what you get--the overall point values effectively inform you of the "weight" of assignment(s), for example, 200 points for unit exams from about 1000 points total for the entire course is about 20% of overall course grade.
Final grade scale:
Letter Grade Equivalents:†
A = 90% or higher
B = 80-89.99%
C = 70-79.99%
D = 60-69.99%
F = 59.99% or less
†Grades are not rounded up in this course--students will receive the grade earned. Your individual effort determines your grade in this course. It is your responsibility to complete assignments, meet deadlines, and contact the instructor if you have any questions. No assignments or low scores are dropped. Minor grade adjustments may be made at the instructor's discretion (e.g. from a 79% to 80%) but, if considered, would take a student's "course standing" into account (e.g. attendance, participation, level of effort, missed assignments, etc.).
Late work policy: Late assignments will not, as a rule, be accepted. Please look ahead at assignment workload and plan accordingly; manage your time wisely and leave enough time to deal with any time/technology problems that might prevent you from submitting your course work on time. Students must communicate as early as possible with the instructor to receive consideration for adjusting due dates, if circumstances warrant such. If late work is accepted, points may be deducted.
SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
COURSE POLICIES
Academic Integrity Policy: 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)]”.
[Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy:
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:
Attendance is determined by participation (e.g. submitting assignments, participating in discussion forums) and not simply logging in. Attendance will be taken weekly. For this course, Sunday is considered the beginning of the week and Saturday the end. Students will be considered present if they have submitted assignments and participated in discussion forums during that week. When there is a discussion forum during a particular week, students who do not participate by Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. will be considered Tardy/Late. Also, if a student is late submitting an assignment that week, they will be considered Tardy/Late. Students who do not participate (e.g. submit any assignments) by Saturday at 11:59 p.m. will be considered Absent for that week.
Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.
Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: April 4
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.
Core Objectives: Critical thinking, Communication, Personal Responsibility, Social Responsibility
COLLEGE POLICIES
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.
ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.
STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Donna Smith
Office location: Corinth Campus, Room 209
Telephone number: 940-498-6266
E-mail address: dhooper@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Crystal Wright
Office location: FSB Exchange/Denton Campus, Room 204
Telephone number: 940-380-2504
E-mail address: cwright@nctc.edu