1 Government 2301 Spring 2012 Mr. Daniel L English, Assistant Professor South Plains College Syllabus for Mr. English’s GOVT2301 Classes (page 2) Final Exam Schedule (page 8) Common Course Syllabus (page 9) Course Agreement (page 11)2 Syllabus for Government 2301 -- Spring 2012 Instructor: Mr. Daniel L English (This syllabus shall serve as the guideline, requirements, and obligations for student performance for this course.) Office: Reese Campus, SPC Building 3, Room RC316A Office Phone: 806-716-2454 Scheduled Office Hours: MW 8:30 – 9:30 am AD143 Levelland Campus (no phone) TR 2:00 – 4:00 pm RC316A Reese Center F 8:00 – 10:00 am RC316A Reese Center (No scheduled office hours April 30th through May 10th.) (Office email address: [email protected]) Please use your course and section with your first initial/last name on the subject line when emailing me. (Example: <subject line> 2301.001 denglish) Purpose: Government 2301, as taught at South Plains College, is a reading intensive course designed to acquaint the learner with the history, theory, and evolution of the American political system through a survey of institutions, processes, public policies and the actions of and interactions between the institutions of governmental and private entities. Government 2301 will also contribute to the student’s understanding of the present state of American and Texas government. Theories, models and observation of past and current events will be utilized to demonstrate the scientific study of political phenomena. Further, the course meets the statutory requirements as set forth by the state of Texas. Statement of Instructor’s Intent: Of necessity, we may discuss political ideas, events or personalities in politics or society, or you may be required readings which, to some, may include issues or viewpoints in conflict with a student’s personal beliefs, values or ideology. It is not the instructor’s intent to either “convert” or offend any student, but to introduce students to the spectrum of ideology, political thought, and reasoned political policy debate in a pluralistic society. Recommended Textbook: Politics in America Texas Edition Ninth Edition, T. Dye, B. Sparrow, L.T. Gibson, Jr. & C. Robinson Copies of the text will be on reserve at the SPC Library in Levelland and the SPC Reese Library circulation desk for limited in-library check out. The textbook may be purchased as new or used copies at SPC bookstores, other college bookstores in the area, online from a variety of sources including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, MySimon, Half.com, or ‘renting’ e-books at coursesmart.com. Assigned Readings and/or videos (in addition to the text) may be used in this course. These readings and/or videos will be posted in Blackboard and will be relevant material and current events for this course. Notices for the assigned readings and/or video will be in your “Messages”. Course Outline: (note: chapter numbers indicate Politics in America Texas Edition Ninth Edition chapters) Unit 1 Chap. 2 .........Political Culture Chap. 3 ........... US Constitution Chap. 4 .........Federalism Unit 2 Chap. 7 .........Political Parties Chap. 10 ......... Congress Unit 3 Chap. 11 ........The Presidency Chap. 8 ........... Campaigns and Elections Chap. 12 .......The Executive Branch Unit 4 Chap. 20 ........Texas Constitution Chap. 22 .......... The Texas Legislature Chap. 23 ........The Executive and Bureaucracy in Texas Final Exam ................Chaps. 3, 4, 10, and 113 Key Dates and Exam Schedule: Tues. Jan. 17th ....................... First TR Class Day; Late Registration Wed. Jan. 18th ....................... First MW Class Day; Late Registration Unit 1 Exam: ................ Thurs. Feb. 9th & Mon. Feb. 13th Unit 2 Exam: ................ Tues. Mar. 6th & Wed. Mar. 7th Mar. 12th – 15th ..................... Spring Break Mon. Apr. 9th ......................... Easter Holiday Unit 3 Exam: ............... Wed. Apr. 11th & Thurs. Apr. 12th Tues. Apr. 24th ...................... Last Day to Drop Unit 4 Exam: ............... Mon. Apr. 30th & Tues. May 1st Final Exam: .................. May 7th - 10th Finals Week Schedule (see page 8) Grading and Course Requirements: 1. There will be four Unit Exams during this semester. Exams will cover material from the lectures, assigned chapters of the text and additional readings or videos. 2. The lowest exam grade of Units 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be dropped. Each of the three highest exams will be one fifth of your course grade. 3. Unannounced chapter quizzes – no fewer than 5 and no more than 10 chapter quizzes from the text will be given during the semester. The lowest quiz will be dropped and the remaining total will be one fifth of your course grade. 4. There will be no make-up exams or quizzes, except in extreme situations. 5. The Final Exam will be one fifth of your course grade. (See page 8 for the final schedule.) Exception: If a student has an “A” average on the four Unit exams and chapter quizzes, he/she will be exempt from the Final Exam. (If any student who does not have an A average on the four Unit Exams and chapter quizzes does not take the Final, a zero will be recorded as one fifth of the student’s course grade.) 6. Lecture/discussion will NOT cover all the material from the text which will be included on the exams. 7. Unit Exams and chapter quizzes will be taken during students’ regular scheduled class periods. 8. Extra credit work is not allowed or accepted. Don’t even ask. Place your efforts and time on the assigned material and exams. Grades: The grading scale for this course (based on total points) is as follows: A = 500 - 450 points C = 399 - 350 points F = 299 - 0 points B = 449 - 400 points D = 349 - 300 points Top three of the four unit grades, + chap. quizzes + the final: Exam 1 ________ ________ Exam 2 ________ ________ Exam 3 ________ ________ Exam 4 ________ ________ Total of Chap. Quizzes (minus lowest quiz) ________ Final ________ ________ Total score = course grade: ________4 Course Outline and Content Unit One: American Political Culture, Constitution and Federalism: Jan. 17th – Feb. 13th History and Influence of Natural Law and Social Contract Theory Political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke Political Ideologies and Cultures