Texas Government Syllabus for 2013-2014
Return to Syllabus List
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-2306-001 Texas Government
Prerequisites
RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills
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.
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: Understanding Texas Government, bundled with print, ISBN# 0-9767783-8-6 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
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Explain the origin and development of the Texas constitution.
2. Describe state and local political systems and their relationship with the federal
government.
3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in
Texas.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
6. Analyze the state and local election process.
7. Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
8. Analyze issues, policies and political culture of Texas.
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 courtesy. The discussions in this class are meant to bring up various positions and sometimes the debate can be heated; however, it is appropriate to attach a certain argument or point of view, but it is never appropriate to attach the person who is posting information with which you may disagree.
Grading Criteria
You will have 7 Main Exams total, 5 Discussions total, and a short 2 to 3 page paper.Main Exams - These exams will be over the chapter assignments which come from the main textbook, Understanding Texas Government. One of the first 6 of the 7 exams will be dropped and the last exam will count for all students. All of these exams are just over 1 to 2 chapters of the text as assigned below. The last exam is just over the last two chapters. There will be 30 to 35 questions on each exam and you will have a total of 40 minutes to complete each exam once you begin. You will have a four day window with which to take the exams as shown below on the assignment dates. The six total exam grades will count 60% of the grade.
Discussions - There will be five total discussions. The first discussion grade will count for all students. One of the last four discussion grades will be dropped and the four total remaining discussions (including the first) will count 20% of your grade. You must do the discussions during the time period they are assigned. They will be opened on certain Tuesdays, as designated below on the assignment dates, and then closed at Midnight on Sunday. That gives each student six days to work on the discussions. Be sure to work on those early in case other things come up later in the week. You will not get a grade for a discussion you do not participate in during the time it is open. We will be looking for a good two to three paragraph response to the question posted as well as at least two replies to posts made be other students. That is the least a student must do to get full credit. There are more detailed instructions on the discussion page.
Short Paper - The paper will be assigned the first part of October and you will have at least four weeks to work on this assignment. It will not be a detailed research paper, but must be done in the same manner as a paper done for an English composition class. Style and grammar will count in addition to the content of the paper. There will be detailed instructions when the paper is assigned. This paper will count 20% of your overall course average.
Those are all of the grades for this class. The average of those grades will make up your overall average for the course.
A = 90 - 100
B = 80 - 89
C = 70 - 79
D = 60 - 69
F = 0 - 59
Makeup exams and discussions at professor's discretion.
Attendance
\
Attendance and/or participation requirements in courses delivered electronically (telecourses and on-line courses) will be unique to the individual course.
\
\
The regular online Texas Government course will not have any on campus meetings. Students must log on to this course in AC Online on 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.
\
\
\
Calendar
This Course outline will be posted on the class site.
|
Date |
Welcome to Texas Government 2306
Assignments and Exams |
||
|
8-26-2013 |
If you have not already done so, 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. |
||
|
8-26-2013 |
Under the Lessons Tab, there is a folder for Discussions. Click on that folder and then click on the Topic for Introduction. Click on my introduction posting and then click on "reply" at the bottom of the page. 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. |
||
|
8-27-2013 |
As discussed in the Syllabus and the Start Here page, you will have 7 Main Exams total, 5 Discussions total, and a short 2 to 3 page paper. Main Exams - These exams will be over the chapter assignments which come from the main textbook, Understanding Texas Government. One of the first 6 of the 7 exams will be dropped and the last exam will count for all students. All of these exams are just over 1 to 2 chapters of the text as assigned below. The last exam is just over the last two chapters. There will be 30 to 35 questions on each exam and you will have a total of 40 minutes to complete each exam once you begin. You will have a four day window with which to take the exams as shown below on the assignment dates. The six total exam grades will count 60% of the grade. Discussions - There will be five total discussions. The first discussion grade will count for all students. One of the last four discussion grades will be dropped and the four total remaining discussions (including the first) will count 20% of your grade. You must do the discussions during the time period they are assigned. They will be opened on certain Tuesdays, as designated below on the assignment dates, and then closed at Midnight on Sunday. That gives each student six days to work on the discussions. Be sure to work on those early in case other things come up later in the week. You will not get a grade for a discussion you do not participate in during the time it is open. We will be looking for a good two to three paragraph response to the question posted as well as at least two replies to posts made be other students. That is the least a student must do to get full credit. There are more detailed instructions on the discussion page. Short Paper - The paper will be assigned the first part of October and you will have at least four weeks to work on this assignment. It will not be a detailed research paper, but must be done in the same manner as a paper done for an English composition class. Style and grammar will count in addition to the content of the paper. There will be detailed instructions when the paper is assigned. This paper will count 20% of your overall course average. 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 one of the five discussions, so you may miss one of the five (except the first one) and still have the opportunity to earn full credit for the overall discussion grade. 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 6. It is not comprehensive of the whole course material. I drop one of the first six exam grades and the last exam counts for all students. This is also explained on the syllabus.
|
||
|
8-27-2013 |
Chapter 1 Assignment (Politics and Governmental Structures) - 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:
|
||
|
9-2-2013 |
Chapter 1 Assignment - Continue Chapter 1 Assignment - 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. - 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 should have your main substantive response and at least two substantive replies that add to the conversation of the discussion for the possibility of getting full credit for the discussion. Your first response should be posted the Saturday before this discussion concludes. That gives other students time to reply to posts made by then. You may participate in this Discussion through Sunday, September 8th. 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. THIS FIRST DISCUSSION GRADE COUNTS FOR ALL STUDENTS!!
|
||
|
9-9-2013 |
|
||
|
9-13-2013 |
All Exams must be submitted by 10:30pm the last day the exam is available. |
||
|
9-14-2013 |
Exam 1 continued today |
||
|
9-15-2013 |
Exam 1 continued today |
||
|
9-16-2013 |
Exam 1 - last day. The Exam will end at 10:30 pm, you should begin the exam by 9:30 pm at the latest. |
||
|
9-17-2013 |
Chapter 3 Assignment (Political History, Culture and Demographics) - In addition to the reading, respond to Discussion question #2 posted on the Bulletin Board. You may participate in this Discussion through Sunday, September 22nd. Remember to follow the same instructions as those listed under the first discussion question. |
||
|
9-23-2013 |
|
||
|
9-27-2013 |
All Exams must be submitted by 10:30pm the last day the exam is available. |
||
|
9-28-2013 |
Exam 2 continued today |
||
|
9-29-2013 |
Exam 2 continued today |
||
|
9-30-2013 |
Exam 2 - last day. The Exam will end at 10:30 pm, you should begin the exam by 9:30 pm at the latest. |
||
|
10-1-2013 |
|
||
|
10-7-2013 |
Chapter 6 Assignment (State Bureaucracy) |
||
|
10-11-2013 |
All Exams must be submitted by 10:30pm the last day the exam is available. |
||
|
10-12-2013 |
Exam 3 continued today |
||
|
10-13-2013 |
Exam 3 continued today |
||
|
10-14-2013 |
Exam 3 - last day. The Exam will end at 10:30 pm, you should begin the exam by 9:30 pm at the latest. |
||
|
10-15-2013 |
|
||
|
10-25-2013 |
All Exams must be submitted by 10:30pm the last day the exam is available. |
||
|
10-26-2013 |
Exam 4 continued today |
||
|
10-27-2013 |
Exam 4 continued today |
||
|
10-28-2013 |
Exam 4 - last day. The Exam will end at 10:30 pm, you should begin the exam by 9:30 pm at the latest. |
||
|
10-29-2013 |
Chapter 8 Assignment (Judicial Branch) - In addition to the reading, respond to Discussion question #5 posted on the Bulletin Board. You may participate in this Discussion through Sunday, November 3rd. |
||
|
11-4-2013 |
Chapter 9 Assignment (Law and Due Process) |
||
|
11-8-2013 |
All Exams must be submitted by 10:30pm the last day the exam is available. |
||
|
11-9-2013 |
Exam 5 continued today |
||
|
11-10-2013 |
Exam 5 continued today |
||
|
11-11-2013 |
Additional InformationNo additional information available Syllabus Created on:N/A Last Edited on:N/A | ||