SPRING 2012 COURSE SYLLABUS EASTFIELD COLLEGE SOCIAL SCIENCE DIVISION COURSE NUMBER: GOVT 2301.4002 COURSE TITLE: American Government I COURSE DESCRIPTION: American Government 2301 is designed to introduce the student to the American and Texas political processes. The course will focus on the origin and development of constitutional democracy, federalism and intergovernmental relations, local government, politics and political behavior. A historical perspective will be provided to help students understand the context for the development of our system of government and indentify the central issues that define American Democracy. COURSE CREDIT HRS: 3 LECTURE HRS: 3 PREREQUISITE: Development Reading 0093 or English as a Second Language (ESOL) 0044 or have met the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standard in Reading COURSE DELIVERY METHOD: Lecture and Group Work INSTRUCTOR: T. Nacoste OFFICE: C201 PHONE: 972.391.1047 EMAIL: [email protected] OFFICE HOURS: By appointment only; Please contact me before or after class or through email if you would like to schedule an appointment. CLASS INFORMATION: M/W/F 9:05-10am TEXTBOOK: Dye,Thomas. Politics in America 9th Edition, Texas Edition. Copyright Date: 2011. ISBN: 978-0-205-84038-0 Publisher: Pearson Longman. SUPPLIES: Textbook and four (4) scantrons (Form 822-E) STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the following: 1. To recognize and assume one’s responsibility as a citizen in a democratic society by learning to think for oneself, by engaging in public discourse 2. Describe the development of the American and Texas Constitutions 3. Define and distinguish between Federal, Confederal, and Unitary Systems 4. Outline the development of Federalism in the United States 5. To identify and understand differences and commonalities within diverse cultures. 6. Identify the agents and impact of political socialization 7. Describe the significance and controversies surrounding public opinion polling in American and Texas politics.8. Describe the purpose, types, and tactics of interest groups in American and Texas politics. 9. Describe the purpose, development, characteristics, and organization of political parties in American and Texas politics. 10. Identify patterns of voting behavior. 11. Describe the relationship between the media and politicians. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 1. Reading of textbook and other assigned materials. 2. Class participation. 3. Completion of assigned exams including a final examination. 4. Completion of four short assignments. 5. Attend, be on time for and stay the duration of class. 6. Respect for the rights of others to have viewpoints differing from your own. THE FOLLOWING ACTS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED: 1. Sleeping in class 2. Talking and playing around in class 3. Doing another professor’s work or outside reading material while in my class 4. Getting up and walking out of my class without making prior arrangements 5. Constantly arriving to my class late 6. No noisy devices; turn off or put all cell phones/beepers on silent/vibrate 7. Laptops are allowed until that privilege is abused METHOD OF EVALUATION: The grade in this class will be based upon four examinations and four short assignments. Four required exams will make up 65% of the total course grade. The remaining 35% percent of the course grade will be determined by the average of the best four short assignments. Letter grades are assigned according to the following scale: 90-100+=A 80-89=B 70-79=C 60-69=D Below 60=F Exams will be based upon class notes, supplemental readings, and the textbook. Students are allowed to make up only one missed examination with the exception of the final examination. The final examination must be taken at the time and date specified by the college calendar. Any and all missed exams will be made up the week before final exams in the testing center. Any and all missed exams will be made up the week before final exams (4/30-5/4) in the testing center. All exams must be made up by closing on May 4, 2012. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to schedule a make-up within the designated days. Short assignments must be completed before the start of class (9:15am) on the assigned due day. No late short assignments will be accepted. A total of six short assignments will be assigned only four are mandatory. Any assignments completed over the four mandatory will be considered extra credit. The extra credit will be for a maximum of tenpoints (5 points each assignment) added to the final exam. ****Opportunities for additional extra credit will be given at the instructor’s discretion. Those opportunities will be announced throughout the course. COURSE REPEAT POLICY: Effective for Fall Semester 2005, the Dallas County Community Colleges will charge additional tuition to students registering the third or subsequent time for a course. All third and subsequent attempts of the majority of credit and Continuing Education/Workforce Training courses will result in additional tuition to be charged. Developmental Studies and some other courses will not be charged a higher tuition rate. Third attempts include courses taken at any of the Dallas County Community Colleges since the Fall 2002 Semester. See Third Attempt to Enroll in a Course at: http://www.dcccd.edu/thirdcourseattempt/ WITHDRAWL POLICY: If you are unable to complete this course, it is your responsibility to withdraw formally. The withdrawal request must be received in the Registrar’s Office by the Spring 2012 drop date. If you drop a class or withdraw from the college before the official drop/withdrawal deadline, you will receive a “W” (Withdraw) in each class dropped. Students are responsible for officially withdrawing themselves from the course; failure to do so will result in a performance grade of "F". Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” is April 12, 2012. For more information about drop deadlines, refer to the current printed Credit Class Schedule, contact the Admissions/Registrar’s Office at 972-860-7167 (Room C119), or contact the division office. A student may repeat this course only once after receiving a grade, including “W.” Please also note that Texas law now restricts students from withdrawing from more than six classes during their college career from