United States Government Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

GOVT-2305-003 United States Government

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: 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 U.S. Constitution, structure and powers of the national government including the legislative, executive and judicial branches, federalism, political participation, the national election process, public policy, civil liberties and civil rights.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Farmer, Brian, Robert Bresler, Robert J. Friedrich, Joseph J. Karlesky, D. Grier Stephenson, Jr., and Charles C. Turner. American Government. Seventh Edition. Redding, CA: 2013. 

Farmer, Brian R.  Radical Islam in the West: Ideology and Challenge. Jefferson, NC: McFarland Press, 2010  978-0-7864-5953-7 

Supplies

Computer with online access, capability to take notes in class 

Student Performance

Learning Outcomes

 After Studying the Material Presented in this Course of Study, the Student will be able to:

1. Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system.

3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.

4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal

government.

5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political

system.

6. Analyze the election process.

7. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens

8. Analyze issues and policies in U.S. politics.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log 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

Behavior policy.  To the mature adults which are members of this class I apologize for the insult imposed upon you by this section of the syllabus.  Unfortunately, past behavior of your fellow students has necessitated its inclusion.  Students are expected in this class to behave in a manner befitting adult, Christian, university students, with the proper respect displayed for their fellow students, the instructor, and the University.  This is not junior high, elementary school, nor the Lad 'N' Lassie day care center, and I have no intention of tolerating behavior which is more stereotypical of any of the aforementioned.  In order to clarify my position, the following list of behaviors are included as examples of behavior which may result in permanent expulsion from this class.  A student will receive one verbal warning only.  Verbal warnings may include dismissal from class for the remainder of the class period.  A second incident results in permanent expulsion with no chance for reinstatement. 

Prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:

5. disruptive talking/visiting 10.  doing homework related to  15.  knitting, needlepoint, other arts and crafts          

The instructor reserves the right to assign seating if necessary to preserve order.  Contrary to what you are probably now thinking, it is not my intention to design a class which is a prison camp for college students.  I am in favor of having fun in class perhaps as much as anyone; however, it must not be at the expense of an environment conducive to learning.   

Academic dishonesty:

Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.  Some collaboration with other students on projects is acceptable; however, students must do their own work.  Papers which bear a striking resemblance to the work of other students will not be accepted.  If the instructor determines that a student is not responsible for his/her work, no credit will be given for the assignment.

Grading Criteria

Course requirements/grading:

Exams.  There will be three major examinations during the semester plus a final exam on Thursday, August 13, 9:30-11:20. Exams will be multiple choice and cover both the readings and the lectures.  Each exam has 50 questions worth two points each for a total of 100. Students may not drop an exam. Exams are accessed online in Blackboard from the computer of choice for each student. To access Blackboard for the exams, I suggest typing in the following URL: https://actx.blackboard.com/webapps/login/  You will then enter your username and password. If you do not know what those are, call 371-5000 for instructions on how to set up your technology account. Go to Courses at the top of the screen and click on our Govt 2305 course. Click on the Content button on the left side of the screen. Scroll down to the Exams folder. Click on the folder and then click on the exam that you want to take. If you experience problems, call Ask AC at 371-5000 or Dr. Farmer at 371-5193. 

Makeup Exams.  There are no makeup exams without prearrangement with the instructor.  If a student misses an exam, the student can replace the exam with an extra credit book review assignment. 

Ethical Dilemma Paper: Students will read a historical ethical dilemma assigned by individually by the insturctor. Individual due dates are determined by the instructor. In a one page typed paper, students will briefly identify and accurately describe the ethical dilemma. Students will use appropriate insights from two or more areas of study at AC to make connections and clarify the ethical dilemma. Students will recognize connections to their own personal values and rules, articulate the sources of their insights, and incorporate personal values in a reasoned response.  Do not include information from Wikipedia or any other web sites, articles, or books. Keep the length of your response to one page. The Historical Ethical Dilemma Paper is worth 50 points of the total of 600 points possible in the class. 

Weekly Online Quizzes in bvtlab. Students will answer the online quizzes on each chapter in bvtlab on a weekly basis for a total of 100 points. There are ten quizzes and each quiz has ten questions and all are drawn from the Understanding American Government book. Students must use the access codes inside the back cover of the Understanding American Government textbook that they purchased for this class to complete the quizzes in BVT Lab at www.bvtlab.com. Students will need to use the section code listed in the instructions on how to use bvtlab found in the bvtlab folder accessed through the content button. All bvtlab quizzes must be completed by noon on Wednesday, August 12.

Instructor Attendance Policy. Attendance will be considered in the compilation of the class participation grade. Habitual absenteeism may cause students to lose the full ten points from the final grade for class participation. Leaving class early without prior arrangement with the instructor counts as a tardy.  Leaving class 20 minutes or more early counts as an absence.  

Class participation grade.  Attendance is considered by the instructor in formulating the class participation grade.  Class participation is worth 50 points of the possible 600 points in the clas. Students that never miss class normally receive the full 50 points for their class participation grade. Conversely, the instructor reserves the right to deduct up to all ten points from the class participation grade for absences or behavior detrimental to the class.  For example, a student who misses half of the class periods will probably receive only 25 of the possible 50 points for the class participation grade at the discretion of the instructor. Students who continually exhibit disruptive, disrespectful, or otherwise detrimental behavior may receive a zero for their class participation grade at the discretion of the instructor.  A more complete listing of behaviors which may result in loss of class participation points is presented in the behavior section below. 

Synopsis of Grading                                                   Total

Four Exam scores      (100 points each)                       400

Ethical Dilemma Papers      (50 points)                        50

Online Quizzes on BVT Lab   (100 points)                100

Class Participation Grade   (50 points)                       50 

Total                                                                          600

Grading Scale

540-600 = A

480-539= B

420-479= C

360-419= D

Below360 = F  

Attendance

Instructor Attendance Policy. Attendance will be considered in the compilation of the class participation grade. Habitual absenteeism may cause students to lose the full ten points from the final grade for class participation. Leaving class early without prior arrangement with the instructor counts as a tardy.  Leaving class 20 minutes or more early counts as an absence.  

Class participation grade.  Attendance is considered by the instructor in formulating the class participation grade.  Class participation is worth 50 points of the possible 600 points in the clas. Students that never miss class normally receive the full 50 points for their class participation grade. Conversely, the instructor reserves the right to deduct up to all ten points from the class participation grade for absences or behavior detrimental to the class.  For example, a student who misses half of the class periods will probably receive only 25 of the possible 50 points for the class participation grade at the discretion of the instructor. Students who continually exhibit disruptive, disrespectful, or otherwise detrimental behavior may receive a zero for their class participation grade at the discretion of the instructor.  A more complete listing of behaviors which may result in loss of class participation points is presented in the behavior section below. 

Calendar

Additional Information

Disability Statement:  Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact Dissability Services (SSC 125, Phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.