Political Science 1

POLITICAL SCIENCE 1 Pasadena City College S. Anderson MW C337, 8:45 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TEXT James Morone and Rogan Kersh. By The People: Debating American Government, Brief Second Edition. (The book can be purchased from the PCC Book Store, the Bookmart located at 1535 E. Colorado Blvd. across from the college, or online. The text can also be rented) Bibliography. You will be required to read one book from a book list handed out in class class. You can purchase your selection from any major bookstore either on-line or in person. You may also want to see if your selection is in the Shatford Library or any other public library.

GRADING AND ATTENDANCE There will be a midterm and a final examination. In addition to these two tests, you will be required to turn in one paper – three to five pages typed (the paper will be a critical analysis of the book from the bibliography based on a handout given in class). There will also be three short assignments (one-two pages) called “political shorts” (these assignments are explained on the final page of your syllabus). There will be 5 on-line quizzes through turnitin.com throughout the semester session. There will also be two in-class written exercises focusing on topics post-midterm that are not in your textbook. Pasadena City College policy will be followed regarding attendance. “Students are expected to attend all class meetings of the courses in which they are enrolled. Students have a responsibility to drop classes they no longer attend. Excessive absences after the drop or withdrawal deadlines will result in the assignment of F grade.” Your final grade will be derived from the following: POLITICAL SHORTS 20% QUIZZES 10% WRITTEN EXERCISES 10% MIDTERM 20%* PAPER 20%* FINAL 20%* *YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL THREE CORE ASSIGNMENTS OR YOU WILL NOT PASS THE COURSE! *YOU MUST PASS EITHER THE MIDTERM OR THE FINAL WITH A “C” OR BETTER AND COMPLETE ALL OTHER CORE ASSIGNMENTS TO PASS THE COURSE!

PLAGIARISM, CHEATING, AND OTHER WAYS TO FAIL You are responsible for your own work in this class. Each and every assignment must be posted on www.turnitin.com by the time the assignment is due. If you fail to submit a hard copy and a copy to turnitin.com, you will not receive credit for the class.

1 There is a detailed explanation of how to use www.turnitin.com on my website. If you don’t pass either the midterm or final satisfactorily, you will not pass the course. Any student caught cheating on any core assignment will receive a failing grade and will be subject to further disciplinary action by the college. Cell Phone use will not be tolerated in class. If you have an emergency, please use phone in the hallway. Three warnings will be given and if not heeded, you will be dropped from the class. Laptop use in class is for taking notes only. Social networking, e-mailing, etc. in class will result a drop from class.

OFFICE LOCATION & PHONE: C347, 626/585-7495 E-MAIL: [email protected], website: http://faculty.pasadena.edu/sjanderson OFFICE HOURS: MW 8:00-8:45, TTH 8:00- 8:45, TTH 2:30-3:30 OR YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH ME BY E-MAIL! Throughout the Semester EXTRA CREDIT will be announced. The difficulty of the assignment will determine the amount of extra credit you will receive. You will be given a separate handout explaining in greater detail the types of Extra Credit you can complete. ALL EXTRA CREDIT IS DUE ON APR. 27TH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLASS. I suggest, however, that you turn extra credit in as you complete for feedback. NOTE: YOU MUST COMPLETE THE CORE ASSIGNMENTS – MIDTERM, PAPER, AND FINAL – WITH SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE IN ORDER TO PASS THIS COURSE. EXTRA CREDIT DOES NOT REPLACE MISSED POLITICAL SHORTS OR MISSED CLASSES. IN ADDITION, YOU MUST PASS EITHER THE MIDTERM OR FINAL WITH “C” OR BETTER IN ORDER TO PASS THE COURSE! THE COURSE This course if for beginning students of Political Science – for those who will be majoring in the field as well as for those who are majoring in other areas but wish to understand the subject matter of American Government. The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the structure of American Government and to illustrate how it affects our lives on a daily basis. ASSIGNMENTS Jan. 12-14 Ideas That Shape American Politics Assignment: M&K, pp. 2-41

Jan. 21 The Constitution Assignment: M&K, pp. 42-83,

Jan. 26-28 The Constitution (con’t) Assignment: M&K, pp. 42-83 P S #1 DUE JAN. 28

Feb. 2-4 Federalism and Nationalism Assignment: M&K, pp. 24-111, 1 ST QUIZ DUE ON TURNITIN.COM FEB. 4 (chapters 1-3)

2 Feb. 9-11 Civil Liberties Assignment: M&K, pp. 112-145

Feb. 18 The Struggle for Civil Rights Assignment: M&K, pp. 146-187, PS #2 DUE FEB. 18

Feb. 23-25 Civil Rights (con’t) Assignment: M&K, 146-187

Mar. 2-4 MIDTERM EXAMINATION

Mar. 16-18 Campaigns and Elections Assignment: M&K, pp. 250-281

Mar. 23-25 Interest Groups and Political Parties Assignment: M&K, pp. 282-323, PS #3 DUE MAR. 25 2 ND QUIZ DUE ON TURNITIN.COM, MAR. 25 (chapters 8-9)

Mar. 30-Apr.1 Congress Assignment: M&K, pp. 324-357, Written Exercise #1 Apr. 1

Apr. 6-8 The Presidency Assignment: M&K, pp. 358-397, 3 TH QUIZ DUE ON TURNITIN.COM, APR. 8

Apr. 13-15 The Bureaucracy Assignment: M&K, pp. 398-429, PS #4 DUE APR. 15

Apr. 20-22 The Judicial Branch Assignment: M&K, pp. 430-467, 4 TH QUIZ DUE ON TURNITIN.COM, APR. 22 (chapters 12-13), PAPER DUE APR. 22, Written Exercise #2 Apr. 22

Apr. 27-29 Domestic and Foreign Policy Assignment: M&K, pp. 468-508

May 6 FINAL EXAMINATION, 8:00-10:00

TURNITIN.COM : CLASS ID AND PASSWORD: ID: 9266910 password: Keystone (instructions for setting up turnitin.com on posted on my website)

3 POLITICAL SHORTS Political Shorts are due according to the above schedule. More detailed instructions for each assignment are posted on my website prior to the due date. They are short double-spaced typed assignments, one-two pages in length. Always cite your sources (follow MLA Format posted on-line). NO LATE POLITICAL SHORTS WILL BE ACCEPTED! We will discuss your political shorts in class.

Political Short #1 Due Jan. 28– Biography of elected or appointed official (WEBSITE POSTING WILL HAVE DIRECTIONS). You will select a name in class of an elected or appointed official and complete the following: 1. Write a job description for their position. 2. Outline the PUBLIC BACKGROUND ONLY! of your official. (what offices have they held, committees that are important, etc.). 3. Find three areas of activity that this person has been involved in since they have been in office. Summarize these issues in three separate paragraphs. Write one accountability question for this individual.

USE A MINIMUM OF TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES – ONE SOURCE MUST BE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE AND OTHER SOURCE MUST BE OBTAINED THROUGH EBSCO (SHATFORD LIBRARY DATABASE)

Political Short #2 Due Feb. 18 – Public Television or Public Radio (WEBSITE POSTING WILL HAVE DIRECTIONS). Watch or listen to one program on public television or radio regarding the national elections. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ONLY STATIONS YOU MAY USE: Public T.V. Stations KCET Channel 28 or 50, kcet.org or PBS.org Public Radio States KPFK 90.7, 89.3, 106.9 FM, or .org

Political Short #3 Due Mar. 25 –Political Ideologies. (WEBSITE POSTING WILL HAVE DIRECTIONS) Go to two websites – one liberal and one conservative and do the following: - Pick the same issue for both websites. Read about the issue and then summarize the liberal position and summarize the conservative position in two paragraphs. - Compare and Contrast the two positions - Take a position on the issue as a conservative or a liberal

Political Short #4 Due Apr. 15– A Draft of your paper with a brief meeting regarding draft. WRITTEN EXERCISES There will be two written exercises in class this semester. Both written exercises will be completed in class after the midterm and will be worth 200 points each. We will be watching two DVDs regarding foreign policy. The dates of the written exercises will be announced.