Instructor: Mr. Daniel L EnglishOffice: Reese Campus, SPC Building 3, Room RC316A Pre and Post Assessment quizzes:Chapter Quizzes:Government 2301.156 Spring 2011 Mr. Daniel L English, Assistant Professor South Plains College Syllabus for Mr. English’s GOVT2301.156 Internet Class (page 2) Common Course Syllabus (page 7) Course Agreement (page 9) 1Syllabus for Government 2301.156 -- Spring 2011 Instructor: Mr. Daniel L English (This syllabus shall serve as the guideline, requirements, and obligations for student performance for this course.) Primary communication for this internet course -- E-mail Please use the email in SPC Blackboard (formerly WebCT) Office: Reese Campus, SPC Building 3, Room RC316A Office Phone: 806-716-2454 Office Hours: MW 8:30 – 9:30 am AD143 Levelland Campus (no phone) TR 2:30 – 4:00 pm RC316A Reese Center F – 8:00 – 11:00 am RC316A Reese Center (No scheduled office hours May 2nd through May 13th.) (Office email address: [email protected]) 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, Eighth Edition, Dye, Sparrow, Gibson and Robison, [Used copies available at bookstores or on internet] Copies of the text will be on reserve at the SPC Levelland Library and the SPC Reese Library circulation desks for limited in-library check out. Assigned Readings (in addition to the text) may be used in this course. These readings will be posted in Blackboard (formerly WebCT) and will be relevant material and current events for this course. Students are required to deliver a signed “course agreement” (see last page of syllabus) to the instructor no later than 10:00pm Wed. Jan 26th . Since successful completion of this course depends on understanding and following this syllabus, failure to agree to the guidelines, requirements and obligations of student performance will result in the student being dropped from the class with an “X” shortly after the Official 12th Class Day. 2Course (Text) Requirements, Assignments/Tests and Due Dates Schedule: Pre-Assessment (quiz 1) ......................................................... Fri. Jan. 21st 11:00 pm Quiz 2: ............ Chap. 3 US Constitution ................................ Tues. Jan. 25th 11:00 pm Course Agreement due ......................................................... Wed. Jan. 26th 10:00 pm Quiz 3: ............ Chap. 4 Federalism ....................................... Tues. Feb. 1st 11:00 pm Quiz 4: ............ Chap. 7 Political Parties ................................ Tues. Feb. 8th 11:00 pm Quiz 5: ............ Chap. 10 Congress .......................................... Tues. Feb. 15th 11:00 pm Quiz 6: ............ Chap. 8 Campaigns and Elections ................ Tues. Feb. 22nd 11:00 pm Quiz 7: ............ Chap. 11 The Presidency ................................ Tues. Mar. 1st 11:00 pm Notification of Response Paper Topics ................................... Tues. Mar. 1st Quiz 8: ............ Chap. 12 The Executive Branch ...................... Tues. Mar. 8th 11:00 pm Spring Break ......................................................... Mon. – Fri. Mar. 14th – 18th Quiz 9: ............ Chap. 19 Texas Politics ................................... Tues. Mar. 29th 11:00 pm Quiz 10: .......... Chap. 20 Texas Constitution ........................... Tues. Apr. 5th 11:00 pm Response Paper Due: ....... ......................................................... Tues. Apr. 8th 11:00 pm Quiz 11: ........... Chap. 22 The Texas Legislature ..................... Tues. Apr. 12th 11:00 pm Quiz 12: ........... Chap. 23 Texas Governor and Bureaucracy ... Tues. Apr. 19th 11:00 pm No quizzes or assignments due – Prepare for Final .................... Apr. 20th – May 5th Last Day to Drop Classes ........................................................ Tues. Apr. 26th Post-Assessment (quiz 13) ......................................................... Wed. Apr. 20th 11:00 pm Final: .............. Chap. 3, 4, 10 & 11 ............................................. Fri. May 6th 11:00 pm Grading and Course Requirements: Summary: Item Points Total Points total % 10 chapter quizzes 100 each 1000 66.7% 1 Response paper 100 100 6.7% Final 400 400 26.6% TOTAL 1500 100% All exams, and the paper requirements will be completed or posted within the SPC Blackboard (formerly WebCT) course for GOVT2301.156. Pre and Post Assessment quizzes: The Pre-Assessment and Post-Assessment quizzes are instruments to determine the level of information students bring into a government course and the retention of information at the end of the course. These quiz scores will not affect your grade. I ask that you take the quizzes and do your best on them in order to have an effective measurement. Thank you. Chapter Quizzes: Each chapter quiz will be approximately 40 multiple choice. (The number of questions may vary depending on the chapters and additional readings.) Chapter quizzes will be timed, one attempt tests. Students will have at least a 48 hour window of availability for each quiz. The time allowed for each quiz will be