Section 03: MWF 10:00-10:50 AM; SSB 2408
Section 04: MWF 11:00-11:50 AM; SSB 2408

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COURSE OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION

The core objectives for all courses in political science at SCC are threefold. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to: describe the workings of political, social and economic institutions; explain how social, economic and political forces interact to shape policies; and describe and discuss the relationship between citizens and government. In addition, my objective for this specific course is to create an environment and provide experiences that will allow students to learn and understand the functions of United States national level government. The goal is for the student to acquire basic knowledge and fundamental skills that will be useful both professionally and personally, not just for the duration of this course, but throughout life. To this end, the course covers the institutional and theoretical bases of American Government: democracy; the U.S. Constitution; federalism; civil rights and civil liberties; interest groups and public opinion; political parties, political campaigns, and the electoral system; the Presidency; the Bureaucracy; Congress; and the Court system. Students are encouraged to think of the policy making process as a complex interaction among many agencies, groups, institutions, and individuals rather than a number of governmental elements operating in isolation. Finally, the course focuses on the end results of government activity, the "policy products," such as, domestic, economic, and foreign/defense policy which represent the ultimate purpose of government.

GOALS FOR STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

-- Contrast the underlying differences between various theories and forms of government
-- Develop a perspective for the U.S. government as compared to other current forms of government
-- Struggle with the problem of formulating rules that protect society while allowing individual freedoms
-- Identify and appreciate the problems and motivations of the founders of this nation
-- Recognize the tensions that exist within democratic governments
-- Analyze the basic tenants of the U.S. Constitution and its implications for government
-- Review the development of governmental institutions and explore their interactions
-- Understand the mechanics and workings of political and governmental processes
-- Examine the impact on government of historical and cultural changes
-- Develop an understanding of the complexities of policy making
-- Identify historical trends in American domestic and foreign policy
-- Anticipate and analyze the implications for American government in the future

REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS

Karen O'Connor and Larry J. Sabato; American Government: Continuity and Change, 2008 Edition; Longman Publishing Company

Other sources of relevant information (such as newspaper articles, internet sites, and media presentations) to be announced in class

CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM

I do not allow children to attend class with students who are caregivers. Usually the classroom is too crowded and sometimes the subject matter we are discussing is not appropriate for children. I am also uncomfortable with the idea of leaving small children in the hall during class. If you have a child that cannot attend school or daycare and you are faced with missing class in order to care for the child call me and we can meet in my office before or after my classes to discuss what you missed in class and address your questions. You will receive full attendance points for that class. This policy also applies for quiz and exam days.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is required and I will take attendance at every class. The classes will include interactive discussions, lectures, and small group projects. For class attendance and participation in these activities you will receive points that count toward at least 25% of your total grade. On Monday and Wednesday you will receive 5 points per class and on Friday you will receive 10 points per class (for MWF classes -- TR classes will receive 10 points per class). In addition, thirtybonus points will be awarded to students who miss no more than two classes throughout the semester. You should make every effort to attend class. Missing more than 5 classes will lower your grade and if you miss 15 or more classes in the semester (one third) you will automatically be dropped from class and receive a grade of 'F'. If you decide to drop or withdraw from the class, it must be done formally following college procedures. Do not simply stop attending class. This will result in a grade of 'F'.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL DATES AND RELATED POLICIES

Specific information on dropping classes and partial refunds of tuition is published in the official college schedule. Become familiar with this information. It could save you money and help you avoid an 'F' if you decide to drop a class.

IF YOU ARE LATE/IF I AM LATE

If you are occasionally late for class, always come in for the remainder - don't skip the entire class. Be sure to remind me after class to mark you present. You can make an appointment to meet with me later to cover anything that you missed.

I will never intentionally miss class or be late. If I know in advance that I cannot be at class I will arrange for a substitute teacher. Because I commute to campus like all of you, there may be occasions when a traffic jam, an accident, or car trouble causes me to be late. In that case, wait one-half of the class period or until someone comes to tell you that class is cancelled. If, for some reason I am unavoidably detained en route and realize that I cannot make it to class, I will call someone on campus as soon as possible to have her/him notify the class. If, after one-half of the class period is over and I am still not there, class is officially dismissed (pray for me - something serious has happened).

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Classroom activities will not necessarily cover every topic in the text book or every question on the quizzes/exams (see the section, 'Study Suggestions'). Rather, I will use the class periods as a chance to give an overall perspective of the topic at hand and to add relevance to the material under discussion. Classroom activities will not rely solely on traditional style lectures. I will combine lectures and video clips with occasional collaborative learning experiences such as interactive discussions, and small group projects that focus on material presented in the text and other sources of pertinent information (including current news, newspaper articles, internet sites, and media presentations). These discussions will focus on the applicability of the theories and historical accounts provided in the readings. You are expected to read the appropriate materials prior to class and be prepared to contribute to these discussions. I will expect you to articulate positions taken by politicians, analysts, and scholars on these issues and together, as a group or as a class, we will explore and analyze the implications. We may not agree, either individually or collectively, with many of the positions we discuss but it is important in any study of politics and government to recognize the diversity of ideas that ultimately contribute to policy making. Consequently, I will expect you to be familiar with all sides of an issue and contribute to the discussions in a professional and scholarly manner.

WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM, COMPUTER LITERACY, AND CRITICAL THINKING

SCC has made a commitment to emphasize these three areas of learning in all classes. A study of Political Science in general and American Government specifically, demands and exercises abilities in all of these areas. In this class a number of activities and assignments will emphasize one or more of these skill areas throughout the semester. The research project for this class will require the use and integration of all three. In addition, I will assign five take-home assignments throughout the semester that will require the application of these three skill areas and the use of the internet. Finally, essay questions on exams and class discussion groups will focus on the development and demonstration of communication and critical thinking skills.

EXAMINATIONS AND QUIZZES

To assess your grasp of the basic factual material relating to American government there will be four examinations, and seven quizzes, as follows:

Exam 1 Chapters 1-6 100 points
Exam 2 Chapters 7-10 100 points
Exam 3 Chapters 11-16 100 points
Final Exam Chapters 1-19 100 points
Total: 400 points

Quiz 1 Chapters 1-3 30 points
Quiz 2 Chapters 5-6 30 points
Quiz 3 Chapters 7-8 30 points
Quiz 4 Chapters 9-10 30 points
Quiz 5 Chapters 11-13 30 points
Quiz 6 Chapters 14-16 30 points
Quiz 7 Chapters 17-19 30 points
Total: 210 points

The basic factual information covered by the exams and quizzes is drawn exclusively from the required readings and is covered in the Chapter reviews. The exams will consist of multiple choice and essay questions and will be worth 100 points. The quizzes will contain ten multiple choice questions worth 3 points each. Exams and quizzes will generally be graded and reviewed at the next class.

If you are going to miss an exam or quiz, notify me in advance. If you find that you cannot attend an exam or quiz, I can make arrangements for a make-up exam but you must notify me before the exam. Otherwise a make-up exam cannot be guaranteed. Make-up quizzes and exams are taken in the Assessment Center in SC 133. To take the make-up you must go to the Assessment Center during their office hours (Monday & Tuesday, 9-4, Wednesday & Thursday 9-8, Friday 10-4) and present a picture ID. Make-up exams and quizzes must be taken with seven days unless I indicate a longer period.

TEST ANXIETY/SPECIAL PROBLEMS WITH TESTS OR CLASS

There are times when students feel well prepared for an exam/quiz but 'freeze-up', 'go blank', or otherwise do poorly because of excessive nervousness. If you suffer from this problem or suspect that you do, I can refer you to an expert in the ACE center to evaluate and help you deal this dilemma. The service is free (and painless) so I encourage you to utilize this opportunity to help yourself become a better student. See me after class, in the office, or call if you are interested.

If you have difficulty writing essay questions, reading and comprehending class materials, or taking notes in class, see me for a referral to special student services that can help you (this is free too). If you are already working with a special student service let me know so I can accommodate your particular needs. If you have difficulty concentrating during exams/quizzes in a full classroom, talk to me about taking the tests in a quieter environment.

GRADING

Your grade will be based on your grasp of factual information as measured on the quizzes and exams, by your attendance and participation in classroom activities, by take-home assignments, bonus assignments, and a research project. Bonus points are awarded in this class for special work and are like "extra credit". They add into your score but do not increase the maximum possible score. Bonus points are a good thing. I recommend that you take advantage of them whenever possible.

Exams: 400 points (40% of total grade)
Quizzes: 210 points (20% of total grade)
Class Attendance & Participation: 300 points (28% of total grade)
Assignments (5x25 points): 125 points (12% of total grade)
Maximum: 1035 points

Semester grades will be determined by the percentage of total points as follows: 90% and above = A*; 80%-89% = B; 70%-79% = C; 65%-69% = D; below 65% = F

*Research paper also required (see next section)

RESEARCH PAPER

A research paper is required for an 'A' in this class. As an option, you may skip the research paper but a 'B' is the highest grade you can receive without a paper, regardless of your other scores. If you strive to receive an 'A' in this class you must complete a research paper. Completing a paper does not guarantee a grade of 'A' but, on the other hand, your grade on the project will not lower your overall semester grade. The project is also an opportunity for those students who feel they perform at less than peak on exams to demonstrate achievement. The paper must cover some topic of politics or American government and use at least three scholarly sources (excluding textbooks, encyclopedias, or newspaper/internet articles). The paper must be 6 to 8 typed, double-spaced pages of text (not including endnotes and bibliography), and must include a cover sheet, page numbers, source citations, and a bibliography. THE OMMISSION OF ANY OF THESE ELEMENTS WILL RESULT IN THE PAPER BEING RETURNED FOR ADDITIONAL WORK. A section of the booklet that you were given on the first day of class provides the schedule and requirements for each step of the process plus additional information to guide your research and preparation of a paper. Most of the information in the last section was prepared by the ACE center located in the SSB building. The ACE center and other campus resources are available to you at no cost and I encourage you to take advantage of these services. See the section "Need Help?" for more information or talk to me. All papers must be approved before you start. This is a fairly large commitment so you should be prepared to spend about two hours extra per week.

There will be no partial credit for this assignment - you must complete all four phases of the project. If one item, such as the outline, is not submitted no credit will be earned for a paper. However, you can change your mind at any point if you decide not to complete this assignment. The graded research paper will be returned by the last day of class.

Approved topic and one paragraph proposal
Approved list of scholarly sources
Sentence outline of paper
Completed paper

note that all four parts of this project must be completed to get credit for the paper

The paper will be graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory based on the following: use of source materials and citations = 20%; style (grammar, spelling, syntax, etc.) = 10%; organization and presentation of material = 10%; research = 20%; content = 40%. For missing cover page, page numbers, or bibliography, or less than 6 full pages of text, the paper will be returned for completion.

STUDY SUGGESTIONS

This course requires a significant amount of reading that must be done outside of class. It is critical that you keep up with the reading assignments in order to participate in and understand the class discussions. In addition, study guides or Chapter reviews are provided for each chapter of the textbook. I recommend that you review the study guide before reading each chapter and answer the questions in the study guide as you read the corresponding chapter. All multiple choice and essay questions for the quizzes and exams will be taken from the subject matter covered in the study guides. Plan on spending about 2-3 hours per week on reading and completing the study guides plus additional time reviewing for the quizzes and exams (i.e., intense review of the study guides). Simply reading the text and/or attending lectures will not be sufficient to pass this course. Learning to manage your time and allocating appropriate personal resources to this class will be very important to your success. For some tips directly from the "horse's mouth" check out advice from previous students that they left specifically for you. If you would like to add to this list send me some email or give me a note. Your advice will be strictly anonymous. If you have read this far you have earned your first bonus points in this class. You will receive five bonus points by simply giving me an index card or slip of paper with you name on it along with the words, "bonus points for reading syllabus."

NEED HELP?

The goal of this course is not just to cover a prescribed curriculum of reading material but to provide you the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of American government. If you have trouble with any aspect of this course either in understanding the material, taking notes, managing your time, or developing personal study discipline, see me. If your free time does not match my office hours, call and make an appointment for a time that is convenient. The College has an Office of Accessibility Services that guides, counsels, and assists students with disabilities. It is located in Room 133 of the SC Building. If you feel that you would benefit from these services see me or contact Pam Bova (636-922-8247) in the Office of Accessibility Services to discuss what you need to help you succeed and determine your eligibility for services. Additionally, there are campus resources available to you like the ACE center located in the SSB building that provides tutoring and other forms of individual assistance at no cost to you. The ACE center is also prepared to help you acquire or hone writing/research skills and the Computer Lab, also in the SSB building, can help you learn to access the internet and develop computer literacy skills. In addition the Computer Lab provides a selection of computer hardware and software for a variety of applications including research paper preparation. The reference librarians are eager to help you use the computers in LRC for research and internet access. Finally, other students, especially those with some previous college experience, can often be helpful.

Study groups, arranged with fellow students, have proven to be very effective and even though regular study group sessions require some effort, especially at a commuter campus, I strongly encourage you to use this tool. If you are spending the appropriate amount of time and trying your best yet not achieving your learning expectations, let me hear from you so that we can explore possible solutions. If you have personal or medical situations/emergencies that impact your attendance or performance let me know immediately. It may be possible to provide some flexibility. Try to notify me before it becomes a crisis. I want you to be successful in this class and your college experience.

A mental health counselor is available to assist all current St. Charles Community College students with a variety of issues. If you have any personal issues that are interfering with your success, please know that our counselor, Mary Hall, is here to help. Call 636-288-6533 to make an appointment or just to talk. You can also e-mail Mary at mhall@bridgewaybh.com or go to the SCC website to find more information.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY

I expect honesty and integrity in all of your assignments, exams and quizzes. Exams and quizzes must be your work and your work alone. Likewise, you cannot aid another student. As for outside assignments and the research project, you may discuss issues, seek advice, and even have others review your work but the work must be your own. If that turns out not to be the case, appropriate measures will be taken. Remember that the issue of academic and professional integrity also includes misconduct or violations of college policies and rules.

CLASS SCHEDULE AND READING ASSINGMENTS

class schedule and reading assignments