POL-101-N1/N2 American Government

Spring 2013

Dear POL-101-N Student:

Welcome to the American Government Online Course (Political Science 101-N). My name is Paul Roesler and I will be your instructor. My role is to be the "teacher;" however, this is obviously not a traditional classroom setting. While you will watch several PowerPoint "mini-lectures," much of the learning going on will be in your assignments and bulletin-board discussions. I continuously tweak this class, so I'm sure we'll have a few glitches here and there. However, the political science department is proud of our non-traditional course offerings and tries to make them as fun and interesting as possible. (In addition to online courses, we also offer travel courses.)

My email is proesler@stchas.edu, but if you ever need to talk to me or see me 'live,' my office is located in SSB 1104 and my number is 636-922-8265. If I don't answer and you need to reach me, call Margaret O’Dea at 636-922-8398. If you have any bureaucratic questions (such as meeting times), please go to the college's distance learning website (http://www.stchas.edu/academics/online_distance_learning) or call Angie Hampel at 636-922-8419.

I'm excited about offering this course online. This online experience offers students an exciting and challenging opportunity to learn about politics in the U.S. The course helps students acquire a broad general knowledge of the nature, scope, purpose and structure of the national government. This class should improve your awareness and understanding of the issues facing Americans today and help you be a fully active citizen in our democracy.

The workload and material for which you are responsible will be essentially the same as that in my on-campus American Government sections. Below is the schedule for the semester. You have two hours to take the final. You should check the website to make sure there have been no changes.

Optional Orientation

• 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, in TECH 103.

Midterm

Choose one to attend:

• 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, in SSB 1102.
• 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in SSB 1102.

Final

Choose one to attend:

• 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, in SSB 2404.
• 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16, in SSB 1102.

Optional Orientation Session

For those of you who have never taken a class with Moodle or simply would like to go over the syllabus with me in person, you can come to my OPTIONAL orientation session. At the orientation you will receive your syllabus and have the opportunity to ask questions about the course. In addition to introducing you to the mechanics of the course, I will also use about 45 minutes of the orientation time to give a short lecture. This is the only time we can discuss the material in a classroom setting, so be sure to bring pen and paper. If you don't attend an orientation session, you should download a copy of the syllabus within two days of the orientation. You can also download a copy of my orientation lecture on my Web page, which will walk you through the course structure and introduce you to Political Science.

Bookmark my website (http://www.stchas.edu/faculty/proesler/online/home101N.html): it has lots of helpful information, such as links to "How to get an A in the Class" and PowerPoint "mini-lectures" on relevant topics. It also spells out extra credit options.

Course Syllabus

Get the course syllabus and follow it. It is an important procedural and academic information guide. Copies will be available at orientation. If you can’t make the orientation, be sure to download the syllabus online the day AFTER the orientation to ensure that you have the final version of it. Keep the syllabus handy for your own reference during the semester. It will spell out when assignments are due, although some dates are subject to change. If you have any questions about the syllabus, be sure to let me know. You should also frequently check Moodle and my website (http://www.stchas.edu/faculty/proesler/online/home101N.html) for any updates. My website has useful links, study guides and minilectures to help you with the class.

Textbooks

Get the textbook “American Democracy Now” by Harrison & Harris (2^nd edition). This book can be purchased from the bookstore on campus. It is essential for successful completion of this course. The textbook website has helpful information and links. Students may call the Bookstore at 636-922-8448 to place their order or order online at http://bookstore.stchas.edu.

Moodle

You will take a series of short, open-note and open-book quizzes on Moodle. They are short, but there will be about 16 quizzes (10-20 points each) throughout the semester. You will also need to post responses to my Questions of the Week. A significant part of my exams are based on the quizzes and the Questions of the Week. You may not collaborate with other students on the quizzes, but I encourage you to get together in study groups before the quizzes and exams.

Exams

The midterm and final exams will be given at the times listed above, but rooms are subject to change (please arrive a few minutes early in case that happens). You must attend the exams on one of the dates listed. If there is an emergency, I will consider a make-up exam. The final exam will be comprehensive.

Moodle will be available to students by the start of the semester. I will have the syllabus up on my Web page usually by the first day of the semester, but certainly by the day after the (optional) orientation. If you download it early, be sure to download the syllabus again after the orientation in case I made any changes.

Please click on the link below and take the quiz to learn how well you are suited for online education:
http://stchas.smartermeasure.com

Thank you for enrolling with SCC. I look forward to meeting you. Good luck.

Sincerely,

Paul Roesler