Instructor: Dr. R. Althaus Office: 211 F Carnahan Hall

Fall 2013

MISSOURI GOVERNMENT (PS220)

Instructor: Dr. R. Althaus Office: 211 F Carnahan Hall Phone: 651-2700 (o) 651-1799 (h) Hours: 9:00-9:50 MWF E-mail: [email protected] 11:00-11:50 MWF Web: http://cstl-cla.semo.edu/althaus/ and by appointment

COURSE INTRODUCTION

An online class is, by definition, a different kind of experience from that of a face-to-face class. In the latter, you would probably expect class days to consist primarily of lecture and discussion. In this online class, we will have discussion, conducted through the Forum. There will be no lecture, however. Most of what I would talk about in a face-to-face class, I have written into the Althaus supplement that is required for this course. That means that you will be reading what you would otherwise be hearing if this were a face-to-face class. You will also be doing reading from the main (Hardy) textbook, just as you would in a face-to-face class, and you will be completing homework and exams, as well. There won’t be any videos to eat up your bandwidth. (Not many people MAKE videos about Missouri Government!) Nor will there be simulations, or other “bells and whistles.” I have designed our course activities to be very similar to what used to be known as a “correspondence course.” It’s not meant to be entertainment, but it is meant to be a valid way for you to do some directed study and demonstrate your mastery of the material, without distracting you too much from the other coursework that makes up your degree requirements. I don’t know if you have taken any other online classes, nor do I know what your experiences were like. However, you should not view this class as a “look-something-up, cut-and-paste” class. This is a genuine class, with academic standards as high as those of the face-to-face sections. You will spend a significant amount of time on it if you are to learn the material and do well. For face-to-face classes, we usually say that students should expect to spend two hours outside of class studying or doing homework for every hour they spend in class. That means that you should expect to spend at least six hours a week in completing this class. That may not be evenly spread out over our term, however. The requirements of the first week are rather light, in anticipation that some of you might have had delays in obtaining the texts. The workload of later weeks will be greater. Just as in my face-to-face classes, I will expect you to have to stretch your mental abilities, thinking and analyzing rather than simply doing. Academic learning takes place between the ears, not by clicking a mouse button. That means that you might find some of the homework or exam questions challenging, because the answer will not be spelled out for you in a textbook or website for you to simply find and parrot back to me. Yes, I do understand that this class is a component of a general education requirement, and not a course intended for Political Science majors. However, the state’s lawmakers decided that this subject was so important that they required that it be taken. Also, many of you are or will be voters of the state of Missouri, choosing our officeholders and influencing government policy, so hopefully you will understand why I, too, think it is important for you to understand the basics of government. Of course, if you have difficulties understanding anything this semester, please let me know. I’ll do my best to help you learn and understand. (For your information, I am more likely to read my e-mails during the day, from my office, than overnight.)

OK? Now, let’s get on with it! The usual course information begins on the next page… COURSE INFORMATION

PURPOSES OF THE COURSE: To familiarize students with the Constitution of the state of Missouri and the institutions and functions of Missouri state and local governments. To permit students to comply with the Missouri state law requiring universal instruction regarding US and Missouri Constitutions and institutions.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the Missouri Constitution and its amendment process, and compare both to the US Constitution and its amendment process. Students will demonstrate familiarity with the institutions of Missouri state and local government and their functions. Students will demonstrate the ability to determine who their elected Missouri officials are and know how they are chosen.

TEXTS: There will be two texts used in this course. Missouri Government and Politics, 1995 ed., by Richard J. Hardy, Richard J. Dohm, and David A. Leuthold is available through the textbook rental service. Assignments will also be made from Missouri Government and Politics, 3rd ed. (2012), by Rickert Althaus. This second text can be obtained from the University Bookstore.

GRADES: Semester grades will be assigned on the basis of a scale computed from the total number of points accumulated in the course. The grade scale is a 90%--80%-- 70% one. This means that a student receiving 90% or more of the total points possible in the semester can expect to receive an "A", 80% to 89% a "B", etc. No letter grades will be assigned to individual tests or assignments.

There will be 265 total points possible for the course. They will be distributed as follows: 100 Two 50-point examinations 100 Scheduled papers 50 Participation in Forum discussion 15 Elected Officials assignment

265 Total

EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS: Students are expected to work individually, doing their own work and submitting it on time. Further explanation is provided below:

LATE WORK: The schedule for the semester has been designed using the instructor’s best professional judgment, with assignments timed to cover the material in such a way as to spread out the work of the students and the instructor in a uniform manner. Much of the course content covered is cumulative, building on material which has been covered earlier. For these reasons, as well as to ensure fairness and equal treatment of students, late submissions of work will be discouraged by being penalized in grading. The grade of a late assignment will be reduced by 10% of the assignment’s value for each 24 hour period or faction thereof which it is late. CHEATING: The instructor will enforce all University rules, regulations, and policies pertaining to academic honesty. For your information, a brief listing of some of these rules may be found in the 2013-2014 University Bulletin (pp. 20-23). □ In addition: you are expected to read the expanded statement about academic honesty that will be adhered to in this class at: http://online.semo.edu/2013fall/ps220-740/class/honesty.htm and to complete and submit the form found there by the end of the first week of class. Late submission will result in the reduction of an increasing number of points from the semester total.

"Academic dishonesty" includes, but is not limited to: a) giving or receiving unauthorized assistance on examinations, quizzes, or other assignments. b) plagiarism, which is the representation of the thoughts, words, or ideas of another as one's own. (Including material from other sources in one's paper, whether word-for-word or in a close paraphrase, without giving proper credit to those sources is plagiarism.)

Plagiarism can be easily avoided by simply giving an appropriate citation to the author of the work, whether you are quoting it or paraphrasing it. Any thoughts or material that is not your own should be credited to the source. Plagiarized work, and any other work involving academic dishonesty, will receive a grade of zero, and the matter will be turned over to the appropriate University authorities for additional disciplinary action. EXTRA CREDIT: Because of inherent unfairness in extra credit plans, no extra credit will be offered. NOTE: Anyone who remains enrolled in this course will be assumed: 1) to have received a complete copy of this course syllabus, 2) to have read and understood the contents of this syllabus, and 3) to have agreed to the rules and conditions set out herein.

EXPECTATIONS: It is expected or assumed by the instructor that you: ...enjoy learning, and that is why you are enrolled at the University. …will spend an average of about six hours per week in reading and doing the work for this class. ...will be familiar with and comply with this syllabus and the policies set out therein. ...will ask questions about anything which is not clear to you. ...will let him know if your performance in this class is not up to your usual level.

EXPECTATIONS: You should expect or assume that the instructor will: …apply class and university rules and procedures fairly and impartially …prepare class materials (content, assignments, exams, and evaluations) in a professional manner …apply high standards of performance to both student performance and to his performance …provide office hours and other means with which to communicate with him …return graded assignments and exams within a reasonable time

Questions, comments or requests regarding this course or program should first be taken to your instructor. Unanswered questions or unresolved issues involving this class may be taken to Dr. Hamner Hill, Department Chairperson ([email protected]). PERSONAL GRADE RECORD

out of 50, Test 1 out of 50, Test 2

out of 15, Elected Officials Assignment

out of 50, Forum Discussion

out of 10, Writing Assignment #1 out of 15, Writing Assignment #2

out of 25, Writing Assignment #3 out of 25, Writing Assignment #4 out of 25, Writing Assignment #5

out of 265, Total for the Semester

Tentative Grade Breaks: 90% 238 points 80% 212 points 70% 185 points 60% 159 points

SCHEDULE

The reading which you are expected to do is as follows. Paper assignments, forum discussions, and written exams are scheduled to correspond with these weeks and topics.

Week Topic(s) Hardy Chapter(s) Althaus Page(s) 1 Federalism, Political Culture 1,2 1-2 2 Constitution, Laws 6,7 3-4 3 Interest Groups, Public Opinion 3,5 19-20 4 Political Parties 4 15-18 5 Legislative Branch 8 9-13 6 Executive Branch 9 5-9 7 Judicial Branch 12 13-15 8 Local Governments 21,22,24 20-21