Instructor: Jody Lefevers 670-4917 (Cell)

Government

Instructor: Jody LeFevers 670-4917 (cell) [email protected] [email protected]

Course Overview

This course will examine the basic founding principles that have governed our nation and have been debated since our inception. We will explore the philosophy and motivations of our founders, the documents we are founded on, and the outcomes, which in many regards manifest themselves in the current political debates regarding the various issues that help create our national dialog.

This course involves reading, discussion and writing. In addition to graded writing assignments, students will be graded on their discussion participation and leadership. There will also be a comprehensive final exam in December.

You can also expect to have the opportunity to attend talks, films and discussions outside of class. I will let you know of these opportunities as they arise. Attendance expectations will vary. We will also bring in guest speakers and have a couple of field trips if possible.

Expectations

A discussion-based class requires and depends on your active participation in class. You must come to class prepared, with assignments completed and materials ready. You will ALWAYS need your text in class, whether it is an article, document or book. Your text should be annotated, with notes in the margins, highlighted sections, and questions prepared for class. You can expect to write, on any given day, short responses to questions from the teacher and/or other students. Other specific expectations include the following:

1. Reading Read actively by annotating your text with notes, questions, and comments. Look up definitions to words you don’t know and write the definitions into your text.

1 Read the text completely.

2. Writing Write and revise each assignment (word process as much as you want, on larger assignments it will be required. Always use peer and teacher comments to improve your style and structure.

3. Discussion Have observations and questions about each reading. Speak as well as listen in every class. Address classmates by name. Connect your comments to those of other students. Always cite specific passages of text to introduce your ideas or support your opinions.

Written Reactions to class readings

You will keep a notebook specifically for your reactions to the readings in this class. You should take notes on your readings, journal profound thoughts that come to you as you read, and write out questions and thoughts you want to discuss in class the following day. I will often provide you with prompts, questions, and/or other suggestions with each reading to guide you in your reflective writing.

Discussions

You are expected to take part in daily discussions relating to the class material. You will also be asked to lead discussions. Discussion leadership and daily participation will determine a percentage of your grade each semester. There will be days that I will serve only as an observer and evaluator to the discussions. Some thoughts on a discussion-based class are included at the end of this syllabus.

Papers

You will be assigned a number of research papers this semester. All papers will be MLA formatted unless specified otherwise. These papers are an important part of this course. Always follow the specific guidelines. Outlines and rubrics will be provided for many of these papers. It would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the basics of MLA formatting.

2 Engagement Assessment

(15% of the overall semester grade)

1) Showing up on Time (in seat with needed materials ready to go)

2) Being prepared (has pen/pencil, needed materials, homework completed)

3) Being actively on Task (cell phone put away, staying in class, contacting teacher if absent)

4) Having an Appropriate Attitude (willingness to engage, supportive of others)

Overall Grade Assessment

Engagement (15%)

Participation (15%)

Everything else is based on a point scale. Each assignment will have a point value that will be given with each assignment.

TMP COURSE POLICIES

REVISION OF WORK

Students who turn assignments in on time are allowed to revise them based on the teacher feedback. Papers and projects turned in must meet all minimum requirements of the assignment rubric. If an assignment does not meet the minimum standards of the rubric, it is considered unfinished work and must be completed by the student in order to be graded. If this leads to the assignment being late, the student will forego the opportunity to revise it. Students are allowed three days from the day an assignment is returned to revise an assignment and turn it in for a higher grade. We believe that there is more value in revision than in throwing away a paper that is not very good. Assignments that are turned in after the due date are not allowed to be revised.

3 LATE WORK

In order to better prepare our graduates for the strict deadlines and realities of college and work, TMP has adopted a policy that TMP teachers will not accept any assignment for full credit after the due date. An assignment turned in by 4PM the next calendar day after it is due will drop one full grade. After 4 PM that next calendar day, the grade is a zero. Being absent does not relieve a student of the responsibility to check the website and email in an assignment that is due, or to correspond with the teacher about an extension.

School Activities: School trips and events and service learning activities are an integral part of the TMP experience, and they are usually planned at least one week in advance. If an assignment is due the day that a student will be gone for a field trip, event or mentorship activity, the student must turn the work in as assigned, before the end of the day he/she will miss. In the case of an extended field trip of more than one day, individual arrangements must be made with teachers. Further, the student is responsible for inquiring about and turning in on time any homework that is assigned on the day that is missed. “I don’t have my homework because I was on a field trip when you assigned it,” is not a legitimate excuse.

Tardiness to class is disruptive to the learning process and does not reflect excellence. Any student late up to 10 minutes is considered tardy. If you are more than 10 minutes tardy, please check in with the office and get an admit slip before entering class. Tardies will be tracked in each class. Initially, excessive tardiness will be handled by the Community Life Council. If this is not an effective deterrent and grades suffer, academic detention will be put in place to support the student. Excessive tardiness will also be considered for early intervention and/or habitual truancy.

Make-up work/excused absences: For class assignments that were due the day of the absence, the make-up work is due the day that the student returns, not the next time that the class meets. Tests must be made up during free time on the day of return. Each student will have a syllabus and may also look at the course web page on the TMP website for information. If there is a protracted illness that makes this difficult, the student needs to contact each teacher to set a date for assignments to be due. Students may call, text or email teachers for help or to ask questions.

Make-up work/unexcused absences: Students who miss a class without being excused may turn in their work and may receive a penalty as determined by the teacher. Should this happen frequently, the student will be called for a meeting with TMP staff and the student’s parents. It is the student’s responsibility, not the teacher’s, to ask for homework missed and to make arrangements with each teacher for any work owed. Work not turned in will

4 adversely affect the student’s grade. Any student missing more than six sessions of a particular class, even for excused absences, risks academic consequences.

Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is a fundamental principle which is important to the College. Students are responsible for ensuring they are honest in their academic pursuits. Academic dishonesty means any behavior that misrepresents or falsifies the student’s knowledge, skills or ability with the goal of unjustified or illegitimate evaluation or gain and includes cheating, plagiarism and falsification of records.

Cheating: Cheating includes using or attempting to use unauthorized materials such as notes, texts, visuals, electronic devices, copies of test materials and presenting the work of others to misrepresent the student’s knowledge, skills or ability. Unauthorized collaboration also constitutes cheating. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional representation of another’s work as one’s own, without proper acknowledgement of the original author or creator of the work.

Food and drink: no meals in class; certain snacks will be permitted. Sodas, energy drinks and other drinks with high sugar contents are discouraged.

Discussion Grades

A Excellent, consistent participation and leadership. Not just talking but connecting ideas and encouraging others to speak. Collaborating with other students, encouraging dialogue, not debate.

Uses text references frequently and references are directly connected to specific points. Strong preparation for class, and has a solid grasp of the readings.

B Consistent offerings to discussion. Relevant, perceptive questions and comments. Needs a bit more substance and more references to text. Occasionally collaborates with other speakers and asks a question or two in class. Speaks often, but rarely listens to other speakers in class.

Has some grasp of the material, but hasn’t read thoroughly, or has not stated evidence correctly.

C Minimal participation in discussions. Occasionally asks questions, but rarely

5 makes a statement related to a specific point in the text. Sometimes offers comments that stray from the topic at hand. Has been disruptive a few times.