Government of the United States Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information
Instructor
Larry Adams (Curriculum Vitae)Phone
8063715191Office Location
Dutton Hall 202AOffice Hours
Tuesday-Thursday 1:30-2:00 and 3:15-3:45
Course Information
Recording Policy
Disability Statement
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.
Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc
Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:
Administrative Drop Policy
N/A
Student Withdrawal Procedures
N/A
Privacy Statement
The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students. If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .
Course
GOVT-2305-004 Government of the United States
Prerequisites
RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills
Course Description
The foundation, organization, growth and development of the national government and its problems.
Student Resources Student Resources Website
Department Expectations
\N
Occupational License Disclaimer
Hours
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Class Type
Online Course
Syllabus Information
Textbooks
\ Adams: The Philiadelphia Project: An American Experiment, bundled with Print and Reader, ISBN# 0-9767783-7-8 UT Publishing
Supplies
\ Access to a reliable computer and reliable internet. Smartphones have numerous problems with the Exams and Quizzes in this course. All students should have access to a desktop or laptop computer with a reliable internet access when taking Exams and
Student Performance
\ After Studying the Material Presented in this Course of Study, the Student will be able to:
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- \ Define and describe federalism and Intergovernmental Relations,the basis for federalism in the Constitution, and its changing character and development as well as explain other ways of organizing government. \
- \ Identify and explain the three branches of government in the U.S. \
- \ Explain the Constitutional powers and limitations of political actors. \
- \ Identify and define the rights of U.S. citizens. \
- \ Explain the philosophical development-theoretical concepts of the state, government, limited government, democracy, and authoritarian government and demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of each concept. \
- \ Explain the historical development of Constitutionalism as a basis for political society and the historical development of the U.S. Constitution and the political system that has developed under that Constitution. \
- \ Explain the concepts of limited Government, protection of the individual through the limitation of government power, and explain how American government is limited through through federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and democracy. \
Students Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesLog in using the AC Connect Portal
In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .
If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".
Expected Student Behavior
Students are expected to follow all Amarillo College policies and procedures.
During discussions in the course; students are expected to be professional and follow common curtesy. The discussions in this class are meant to bring up various positions and sometimes the debate can be heated; however, it is appropriate to attack a certain argument or point of view, but it is never appropriate to attack the person who is posting information with which you may disagree.
Grading Criteria
\ A = 90 - 100
\ B = 80 - 89
\ C = 70 - 79
\ D = 60 - 69
\ F = 0 - 59
\ All exams are online; there are no makeup exams.
Attendance
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The online US Government course will not have any on campus meetings. Students must log on to this course in ACOnline the first day of regular classes and follow the instructions for the course. If a student needs individual assistance they can contact me to work out the problems or schedule an appointment.
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Attendance and/or participation requirements in courses delivered electronically (telecourses and on-line courses) will be unique to the individual course.
Calendar
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Welcome to Government 2305
Assignments and Exams Dates |
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6-4-2012 |
Go into the Lessons Tab and click on the Start Here icon. Then read all of the information and instructions regarding this course. This information will help save you time later in the course. Also read the syllabus carefully. |
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6-4-2012 |
Under the Lessons Tab, there is a folder for Discussions. Click on that folder and then click on the Topic for Introduction. Write an introduction of yourself. It does not have to be long and is not graded. Simply state a few things about yourself for the class. Examples include: major, interests, family information, work, how far you live from campus, etc. There is no due date on this; but the quicker the better. This is just to let you get an idea of how the discussion works. |
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6-4-2012 |
As discussed in the Syllabus and the Start Here page, you will have 4 Exams total, 6 Discussions total, and 12 Graded Quizzes total during the semester. Those are all of the grades for this class. The average of those grades will make up your overall average for the course. Each Chapter Assignment is the same as far as the reading and study material are concerned. The Chapter 1 Assignment explains what that assignment includes, including introduction material and reading material. It also lists some study material. The rest of the Chapter Assignments are the same as the first except when there is a discussion question added to the assignment. In such case, the discussion question is added to the assignment with a due date stated. You generally have a week to participate in each discussion, so there are no excuses for not being able to complete one on time. In addition, I drop two of the six discussions, so you may miss two of the six and still have the opportunity to earn full credit for the overall discussion grade. Each of the discussions are worth 25 points and if you receive a grade of 25 on all four you will have one overall discussion grade of 100. The Chapter Assignments completed before a Graded Exam is what you are responsible for reading, studying and preparing for that Graded Exam. Therefore, each Graded Exam just covers the chapters assigned up to that exam and after the previous exam. The last Graded Exam is the Final and is only over the last few chapters assigned after Exam 3. It is not comprehensive of the whole course material. I drop one of the first three exam grades and the last exam counts for all students. This is also explained on the syllabus. Also stated on the syllabus, you will have 12 Graded Quizzes during the semester. These quizzes will be over the assigned readings from the US Government Reader; NOT the Philadelphia Project Textbook. Those assignments are all listed in the next box of this page. The Readings are from a paragraph to several pages. I have tried to keep each individual Reader assignment less than 15 to 20 pages. Some are only a couple of pages. All 12 quizzes will be 10 questions each worth 1 point for a total of 10 points for each quiz. At the end of the semester, I will drop the lowest 2 quiz grades and the highest 10 quiz grades will added up for one overall quiz grade on a 100 point scale. So, even if you miss two of the quizzes you can still receive full credit of 100 depending on your grades for each quiz. Several of those quizzes will be open at the beginning of the semester and all should be available within the first couple of weeks. Unlike the main exams, you will able to work ahead at your own pace to complete theses Quizzes. However, throughout the semester the quizzes will have a final due date where you will no longer have the quiz available. In essence, it works like this; all of the quizzes are open from the beginning of the semester. There is a due date by which you must have taken a certain number of quizzes. That due date is on this page as well as the calendar for the course. After that date, you will no longer be able to see or take those quizzes, but all of the other quizzes will still be open. Through the semester, as Quizzes become due with a final date that they are available, they will no longer be available. The Chapter Assignments and Readings Assignments are made to give students the information they need to read and study for the Discussions, Exams and Quizzes. There are no other due dates for these assignments. Just the due dates of the Discussions, Exams and Quizzes.
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6-5-2012 |
US Government Reading Assignments for each Graded Quiz Quiz 1 - Readings Number 1, 2, 3, and 5 Quiz 2 - Readings Number 6, 9, and 10 Quiz 3 - Readings Number 11, 12, 13, and 14 Quizzes 1, 2, and 3 must be completed by June 17, 2012 at 11:30 pm. Quiz 4 - Readings Number 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 Quiz 5 - Readings Number 20, 21, and 22 Quiz 6 - Readings Number 23, 24, and 25 Quizzes 4, 5, and 6 must be completed by June 28, 2012 at 11:30 pm. Quiz 7 - Readings Number 26, 27, 28, and 29 Quiz 8 - Readings Number 30, 31, 32, and 33 Quiz 9 - Readings Number 34, 35, 36, and 37 Quizzes 7, 8, and 9 must be completed by July 12, 2012 at 11:30 pm. Quiz 10 - Readings Number 38, 39, 40, and 41 Quiz 11 - Readings Number 42 and 43 Quiz 12 - Readings Number 44, 45, 46, and 47 Quizzes 10, 11, and 12 must be completed by July 22, 2012 at 11:30 pm.
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6-5-2012 |
All readings are assigned at the beginning of the semester. Students must complete the Readings Quizzes by the dates set forth on this page. That should guide each student on when it is best to read and study for each quiz. I strongly encourage each student to stay ahead in the Readings and taking the quizzes. This class moves very fast and students should not wait until the last minute to take the quizzes. |
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6-6-2012 |
Chapter 1 Assignment (Politics and Government) - All of the assignment material is found under the Course Materials icon in the Lessons Tab. If you have not purchased access to the E-Book and materials you will not have this icon. The assignments for Chapter 1 are as follows:
Each chapter assignment is the same as the first unless there is a Discussion Topic assigned with that chapter’s assignment. When there is a Discussion assigned, it will be added to this assignment and the days the discussion will be open will be listed. The first graded Discussion Question will be included with the next assignment. |
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6-11-2012 |
w/ discussion - - In addition to the reading, respond to Discussion question #1 posted on the Discussion Board. These Discussions are threaded so you are to also comment on a couple of the other student's responses as well as making your own response. You must post your first reply to the question before you can look at and reply to other's posts. You may participate in this Discussion through Sunday, June 17th. If you want any credit for this question, be sure to have something posted by the deadline. These instructions apply to all of the discussion questions in this course. Also read the Discussion FAQ's and Instructions on the Discussion Board. |
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6-13-2012 |
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6-15-2012 |
All Exams must be submitted by 10:30pm the last day the exam is available. |
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6-16-2012 |
Exam 1 continued today |
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6-17-2012 |
Exam 1 - last day. The Exam will end at 10:30 pm, you should begin the exam by 9:30 pm at the latest. Discussion 1 is Due
Last Day to take Readings Quizzes 1, 2, and 3. |
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6-18-2012 |
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6-19-2012 |
Chapter 5 Assignment (The Executive Branch) |
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6-21-2012 |
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6-22-2012 |
All Exams must be submitted by 10:30pm the last day the exam is available. |
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6-23-2012 |
Exam 2 continued today |
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6-24-2012 |
Exam 2 - last day. The Exam will end at 10:30 pm, you should begin the exam by 9:30 pm at the latest.
Discussion 2 is Due |
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6-25-2012 |
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6-27-2012 |
Chapter 8 Assignment (Civil Rights, First Amendment) |
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Last Day to take Readings Quizzes 4, 5, and 6.
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Discussion 3 is Due | ||
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7-3-2012 |
Chapter 9 Assignment (Civil Rights and Equal Protection) - In addition to the reading, respond to Discussion question #4 posted on the Bulletin Board. You may participate in this Discussion through Sunday, July 8th. |
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7-6-2012 |
All Exams must be submitted by 10:30pm the last day the exam is available. |
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7-7-2012 |
Exam 3 continued today |
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7-8-2012 |
Exam 3 - last day. The Exam will end at 10:30 pm, you should begin the exam by 9:30 pm at the latest.
Discussion 4 is Due |
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7-9-2012 |
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7-10-2012 |
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Last Day to take Readings Quizzes 7, 8, and 9. |
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Discussion 5 is Due | Additional InformationNo additional information available Syllabus Created on:N/A Last Edited on:N/A | |