Syllabus: Federal Government
Course Number: GOVT 2305
Semester & Year: Fall 2018
Instructor Information
Name: David Orr
Office: Texas City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd
Telephone & Email: 903.798.3902, david.orr@txkusa.org
Office Hours: By appointment only, Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm
Textbook Information
We the People, 12th edition. by Patterson, McGraw Hill
Copyright year: 2018, ISBN: 9781307250763
Dahl, Robert. 2003. How Democratic is the American Constitution? 2nd Edition. Yale University
Press. ISBN-13: 978-0300095241, ISBN-10:0300095244
Student Notification: All students should register for class text reminders at remind.com/join/legovt16
Student Learning Outcomes for the Course
This course is designed to increase students' interest in and knowledge of how America's federal government operates.
Learning Outcome #1: The student will define government, politics, and democracy, and explain why America is considered a representative democracy rather than a pure democracy.
Learning Outcome #2: The student will describe and assess the philosophies that inspired the Constitution, the people who wrote it, the events that led up to the writing, and the contents of the Constitution.
Learning Outcome #3: The student will understand the meaning of the federal system.
Learning Outcome #4: The student will examine the evolving history and character of civil liberties and civil rights in America.
Learning Outcome #5: The student will discuss the influence of mass media, interest groups and political parties on public opinion and show how they serve as institutions to connect people to government.
Learning Outcome #6: The student will be able to explain the different types of elections and why and how people participate in the electoral process.
Learning Outcome #7: The student will be able to describe the structure and function of the three branches of the U.S. Government and to contrast their constitutional authorities.
Student Requirements for Completion of the Course and Due Dates
Requirements for competition are found in the student assessment section along with due dates in the class schedule section.
Online Coursework
This course will include online coursework via myTC online. The information Technology Help Desk is available to answer your questions at (903) 823-3030. Their email is: helpdesk@texarkanacollege.edu. For additional information as to how to access myTC click on the following link: https://my.texarkanacollege.edu
Dual Credit Information for Students & Parents: https://www.texarkanacollege.edu/enrollment-services/dual-credit/students-and-parents/
All students should register their myTC account within the first week of class and regularly login to check assignments on the class webpage.
Assignments:
All assignments and exams will be submitted online. Assignments passed the due date will not be accepted; unless, the instructor is contacted 48 hours prior to the assignment due date. Only excused absences will be accepted for tardiness of assignments. Valid documentation will be required for a university excuse in missing a course assignment. Note: If the absence is approved, the student will only have two weeks to submit assignment. If the student does not submit the assignment/exam within the designated time frame, the student’s grade will be marked as a 0.
Reflection Papers:
Throughout this semester, the student will be expected to provide evidence the student understands and has reflected on an article, online video, event etc. One way of doing this is to produce a well-written and thought-out response to important video responses, questions, topics, articles, events, and issues. Therefore, the student will be asked on several occasions to develop reflective responses through a reflection paper.
Format: All reflection papers should be at least full one page, 5 paragraphs, 5 sentence paragraphs, typed, double-spaced, with appropriate header, and in a 12 point font with one-inch margins (APA format). Grammar and spelling will count. The student should not wait until the last minute to complete the Reflection Paper. The reflection papers are to be used as proof of your thoughtful, meaningful, and critical thinking of our subject matter. Though the student’s reflection response is sometimes the student’s personal experience or opinions, the instructor can still grade them because the answers will provide if the student watched/read content and how well the student understand the material. In all this, it is important to remember what the wise philosopher Socrates once said, “The unreflected life is not worth living”.
HOW TO REFLECT:
This is a college level course and the following jargon is not acceptable: “I don’t know”, one liners, or blank pieces of paper. If you can think then you can reflect. I’ll do my best to give you the time to reflect. This means you will have to take the time to expand by sharing all the following that may apply:
When reading the Chapter or watching the online video what were your:
Thoughts
Feelings
Struggles
Likes
Dislikes
Comments
What have you learned, how?
Words or phrases that have struck you and why?
What message might their be for you?
How might this apply in the future?
How might this apply to another subject or your chosen major?
How can you most fully experience, enjoy, profit, from this person, this day, this challenge?
Student Assessment
Tests: You will have a total of 4 tests (3 unit tests and a comprehensive final). Tests will cover a combination of lecture and book material. Tests are worth 400 points total.
Class Participation & Reflection Papers: 100 total points covering each chapter and online assignments. See above for detailed information.
Book Review: 100 total points. Dahl, Robert. 2003. How Democratic is the American Constitution? 2nd Edition. Yale University Press. ISBN-13: 978-0300095241, ISBN-10:0300095244 Complete reflection paper with three to five scholarly references included. The paper should be a minimum of eight pages, including reference page and cover sheet. APA citing and format is required. This assignment will be worth 100 points.
Civic Engagement: The civic engagement component will include attendance at elected board meetings and participation in community activities worth 100 points. Opportunities will be announced in class and may include examples such as LEISD School Board Meetings (visit www.lesid.net for updated meeting schedule), City Council Meetings (visit ci.texarkana.tx.us for updated meeting schedule) , Community events (National Night Out October 4th), etc. Each activity is worth 50 points and must include a 2 page minimum reflection paper. The first activity is due October 10th and all activities must be turned in by November 28th.
Bonus Opportunities: Opportunities will be announced in class.
700 Total Class Points
Grading Scale
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Grade
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A
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90-100
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B
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80-89
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C
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70-79
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D
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60-69
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F
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59-below
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Class Schedule – Class begins at 5pm
Attendance Policy
Regular attendance is required for this course. TC’s policy is that you may have no more than 6 absences for a MWF class, 4 absences for a TTh class, and 2 absences for a night class. I will pass around a roll sheet for you to sign each day. It is your responsibility to sign the sheet. If you come in late, be sure to see me after class so I will not count you absent. Please be here on time.
Make-up Policy
Make-up tests will only be given for medical or approved extracurricular activities and must be completed prior to the next scheduled in class test. If you miss a test it is your responsibility to notify me before the test. If you fail to show up to take the final at the prescribed time given in the course schedule, and do not contact me prior to that time, I will record a zero for your grade.
Academic Integrity Statement
Scholastic dishonesty, involving but not limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, collusion, or falsification of records will make the student liable for disciplinary action after being investigated by the Dean of Students. Proven violations of this nature will result in the student being dropped from the class with an “F”. This policy applies campus wide, including TC Testing Center, as well as off-campus classroom or lab sites, including dual credit campuses. This information can be found in the Student Handbook at https://texarkanacollege.edu.
Disability Act Statement:
Texarkana College complies with all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and makes reasonable accommodations upon request. Please contact Larry Andrews at 903.823.3283, or go by the Recruitment, Advisement, and Retention Department located in the Administration building for personal assistance. If you have an accommodation letter from their office indicating that you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, please present it to me so we can discuss the accommodations that you might need for this class. It is best to request these changes at the beginning if not before the start of class so there is ample time to make the accommodations.
Financial Aid:
Attention! Dropping this class may affect your funding in a negative way! You could owe money to the college and/or federal government. Please check with the Financial Aid office before making a decision.
This syllabus is subject to change during the semester. Changes will be announced in class.