Please Note: Subject to Slight Changes Prior to the Beginning of Fall Semester
Please note: Subject to slight changes prior to the beginning of Fall Semester
Hard copies of this syllabus will NOT be distributed
SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
Dowagiac, Michigan 49047
DIVISION OF Academic Studies
Course Syllabus
Fall 2011
September 6- December 18, 2011
Course Title: American Government Course No.: POSC 201
Section No.: 1386 &1504
Credits/Contacts: 3 Credit Hours 3 Lecture Hours/Weekly 3
Instructor : Mary D. Young, Ph.D.
Office and Office Hours:
NAC 134 MW 8a- 8:30a and 11:50a-12:20p W pm 5p-6p
O’Leary T/Th 10:20a-11:20a Friday by appt only .
Other - SMC Email or IM and by appointment
NAC 269.687.4805 /800.456.8675 ext 4805
DAC 269.782.1287
E-mail: email is the best way to contact me !
Class Hours and Location:
1386 MW 8:40a -10:10a NAC 146
1504 T/Th 8:40a -10:10a Lyons 202
Fall 2011 (Tentative at this point)
Day / Class / Time and RoomWednesday December 14 / SOCI 201 1397 / 10:05a-12n NAC 146
Wednesday December 14 / SOCI 201 1403 / 7p-9p NAC 146
Thursday December 15 / POSC 201 1504 / 8a-9:55a DAC Lyons 202
Thursday
December 15 / SOCI 201 1525 / 1p-2:55p DAC O’Leary 303
Friday
December 16 / POSC 201 1386 Yes I know we’ll see as we get closer to the time ! / 8:30a-9:55a NAC 146
Please do note: This syllabus and most class handouts can be found in @SMC Wired Prerequisite: Reading 100 or appropriate test score
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American Government
POSC 201
Fall 2011
Course Description: A study of how the American political system operates. Attention is focused upon governmental policy areas, the enacting of laws, citizens influence and related current events.
Core Curriculum: Not Applicable. The grade must be no less than "C" to earn credit for core competency requirements.
Distribution Requirements for All Degrees: Social Science for all degrees
Course Objectives:
Evaluate Internet resources
Analyze the fundamental concepts of government
Compare the five perspectives of American ideology
Assess historical importance of the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution
Analyze the United States Constitution and Federalism
Analyze the United States Constitution and it relationship to Congress
Identify the way leadership positions in Congress, describe the committee system and indicate some important differences between the House of representatives and the Senate.
Summarizes the specifics steps in the law-making process
Indicate what is involved in the Congressional budgetary process.
Describe the federal bureaucracy
Explain the Electoral College
Analyze the United States Constitution and its relationship to the Presidency
Compare a foreign policy issue to the American Government issue
Analyze the influence of the US government in the world community
Analyze the United States Constitution and its relationship to the Judiciary
Discuss Civil Liberties
Analyze current news stories in relationship to US Government
Identify the Political Party structure
Identify the involvement of Interest Groups
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American Government
Fall 2011
TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS:
GOVT 2, Edward Sidlow and Beth Henschen, 2011 Wadworth Cengage Learning
ISBN 13:978-1-4390-8218-8
http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/ISBN/9781439082188?cid=APL1
SMC Wired Videos as assigned. Articles as assigned Handout materials as given
Method of Instruction-This course will use lecture as its primary method of instruction. Video will be used either current, "live events", pre-recorded current events or other programs. Group work and open discussion will be encouraged. Please note: SMC is using a new “page” format for the “My Courses” pages- it is new to all of us- so there may be some bumps along way- let us know what you need- and think and things on my pages will get added as we go- or in some cases removes if it doesn’t work!!
Evaluation: "Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate achievement of the course objectives by obtaining a final minimum grade of 73.4 %( C) as measured by quizzes, written assignments and the final.
EVALUATION METHOD:
Periodic Quizzes 5 (210) 36%
Themes 4 (200) 34%
Presentation 1 (15) 3%
Internet Assignment 1 (35) 5%
Final Exam 1 (100) 17%
Total 580 100%
*Subject to change based on materials covered during semester
Articles - 50 Points
15 Points - Summary of Articles
5 Points - documentation
20 Points - analysis
10 Points - form ,-5 Points - late (additional points may be removed the later it is).
Grading Procedures: Grading Scale: Your final grade will be based on total points possible divided into your points. For example: Total points possible 100 Your points 85 85/100 = 85 %
A- / 3.67 / 90%-93.3%
B+ / 3.33 / 86.8%-89.9%
B / 3.00 / 83.4%-86.7%
B- / 2.67 / 80%-83.3%
C+ / 2.33 / 76.8%-79.9%
C / 2.00 / 73.4%-76.7%
C- / 1.67 / 70%-73.3%
D+ / 1.33 / 66.8%-69.9%
D / 1.00 / 63.4%-66.7%
D- / .67 / 60%-63.3%
F / .00 / 0-59.9%
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American Government
POSC 201
Fall 2011
Attendance Policy:
ATTENDANCE IS NOT REQUIRED BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED AND EXPECTED. IN CASE OF DOUBT RELATING TO GRADE, THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE ATTENDANCE AND ATTITUDE AS THE DECIDING FACTOR FOR THE FINAL GRADE. Except: in cases of extreme absences (over 50%- the instructor reserves the right to lower your grade by one full letter grade. Attendance will be taken; however, SMC has a policy that will require it. SMC's "early warning" policy is designed to help students by contacting them, if there is a potential for a problem. You will be contacted if, you are not attending regularly, if there is a grade problem or if you are in jeopardy of failing and need to consider the "withdraw" option. Student Service will notify you with instructions.
If, you are having problems, please consider discussing it with the instructor prior to just leaving the class, perhaps an arrangement can be made or other options.
Testing Policy:
Students are required to take all quizzes as scheduled for their class period, quizzes may be administered in the Testing Center, and then students will have one week to complete the quizzes before they are considered late. Missed quizzes must be made up prior to the next quiz. Only two quizzes may be missed, and then any other quizzes may not be made up. If quizzes are given in class then make up quizzes must be scheduled with instructor and cannot be taken during class time. Make up quizzes will be essay. Make up quizzes will be placed in the Testing Center (either campus) and should be taken during their regularly scheduled hours and cannot be taken during class time. Students will have the option of "redoing" quizzes for up to ten (10) points. This requires correcting all errors, even bonus questions, for the points. For example, if you receive a 19/40 on a quiz you would add 10 points for a 29, but you must correct all 21 points for full credit. If you received a 36/40 this would raise your score to 46...a cushion. More will be discussed on this later.
Other:
The Special Needs Program provides eligible students with academic and career advising, tutoring, support, tuition assistance and accommodations for students with disabilities as well as special workshops on a variety of topics. For further information, contact the Special Needs office at
269-782-1312 or 269-687-1600, extension 1312
* Tutoring is also available through the EXCEL Program.
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American Government
POSC 201
Fall 2011
Extra Credit is not available except as listed.
Papers and quizzes will be returned within one week of turning them in; this does not include late work. If you are not in class when papers or quizzes are returned, they can be picked up at the office-NAC or the instructor's office in Dowagiac.
If, you are not in class when handouts are given (review sheets etc.), they, also, may be picked up at the office. It is also posted on SMC Wired.
You are welcome, if you feel it is necessary, to use a tape recorder in class. You may not use headphones during class time.
Students are responsible for all work not turned in directly to instructor. Please include section number on all work. It is to your advantage to have a copy of your work available.
Please be courteous when it comes to cell phones, beepers, pagers, etc unless you are emergency personal and on call (or extreme other cases) they should NOT be on during class time.
DEFINITIONS:
Late: An assignment or test is late if the instructor does not receive it by the end
office hours on the assigned due date.
Cheating: is, but not limited to: using any additional written material other than what is provided by instructor for test, viewing other student's work, communication of any kind with another student during test time, using another person's work as own.
Typewritten: not hand written, not more than size 12 font-which is this size.
NOTICE: Representative student work will be used as a part of SMC’s on-going curriculum assessment program.
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American Government
POSC 201
Fall 2011
ACCEPTABLE USE OF PERSONAL COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
SMC Policy All phones, iPods, iPads, BlackBerries, palm pilots, pagers, laptops and other technological devices including devices capable of taking photographs must be turned off or placed on vibrate mode and may not be brought our during class.. If you are expecting or receiving an urgent call, you are required to leave the classroom before answering. Violation of this policy will result in your removal from the classroom for the class period. Multiple violations of this policy will be referred to the appropriate dean for disciplinary action. Further details or ramifications of violations maybe found elsewhere in this syllabus.
ACCEPTABLE USE OF PERSONAL COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY:
Please be courteous when it comes to cell phones, beepers, pagers, etc unless you are emergency personal and on call (or extreme other cases) they should NOT be on during class time. Laptop use is acceptable.
NOTICE: Information in this syllabus was to the best knowledge of the instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. The instructor, however, reserved the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Southwestern Michigan College, to make changes in course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.
Civility Statement
"Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, students are prohibited from engaging in any form of distraction. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result, minimally, in a request to leave class."
HONESTY POLICY: Cheating or plagiarizing will absolutely not be tolerated at Southwestern Michigan College. Any student found cheating or plagiarizing materials in any manner may be assigned a failing semester/session grade in this course. A second such incident while at SMC could result in suspension or expulsion from the institution. A student found in violation of this section of the syllabus will not be allowed to drop this course.
Additional detail regarding cheating and /or plagiarism may be found elsewhere in this syllabus. . For more detailed information consult the SMC Student Code of Conduct.
Found at http://www.swmich.edu/academics/code-of-student-conduct.php
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American Government
POSC 201
Fall 2011
Course Outline :
Introduction :
Chapter 1: The Contours of American Democracy~ pages 3-9, 11
Chapter 1: The Contours of American Democracy~ pages 12-21
Lecture: Five perspectives of American Political Thought
History and Federalism
Chapter 1: The Contours of American Democracy ~ pages 9-10
Chapter 2: The Constitution
Appendix A: Declaration of Independence, page A-1
Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States , page A-3
Appendix F: Federalist papers A-21
"The Empire of Reason: - Video or other video
Chapter 3: Federalism
Chapter 5: Civil Rights~ pages 105-108,
Chapter 8: Public opinion and Voting~ pages 186-190
Appendix G: How to Read Case Citations and Find Court decisions
Political Institutions
Chapter 7: Political Parties
Chapter 11 The Congress
Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy
Chapter 9: Campaigns and Elections Electoral College, pages 202-206 SMC Wired resources
Appendix D Party Control of Congress since 1900 page A-16
Chapter 12: The Presidency
Chapter 15: Domestic Policy pages 354359
Chapter 16: Foreign Policy
Appendix E- Information on U.S. Presidents~ page A-17
Chapter 14: The Judiciary
Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
Appendix C Supreme Court Justices since 1900 page A-13
Appendix G: How to read Case Citations and Find Court decisions
Depending on time combined w/ final exam-and points adjusted
Note: This course will cover all of the material through political
Institutions. Materials beyond that will be based on the amount of time
available. Time allowed for "lecture" does vary based on current events and class discussion. Because of this, the number of tests does vary from semester to semester, in some cases even class to class. Last quiz may be combined with final.
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American Government
POSC 201
Fall 2011
Course Assignments:
Assignments are due the last class period of each week. Handwritten work is NOT accepted.
Please note -students are responsible for checking their grades.- if there is an error(s)- it must be reported to the instructor prior to Prep Day-(December 13, 2011) any errors reported after that date will be addressed at the discretion of the Instructor.
Documentation: Wikipedia can only be used as one source for your research. Your textbook needs to be cited as a source if I have asked you to use it to start your papers. The work cited page needs to be separate page and there are no numbers on it for example; 1.) source one, 2.) source two. The list need to be in alpha order by author if you have an author or by name of the article.
Interest Group - Political Parties
Interest Groups ( Chapter 6 ) and Political Parties( Chapter 7)
Interest Groups have continued to become an increasing force in the political process- and at this time in our political history elections seem to be an ongoing process w/ the Presidential race for 2012 as you have seen is going strong already . Both interest groups and political parties playing key roles.
This assignmenthas several components-
Part I -40 points Due: Week of September 12, 2011