University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of Political Science Spring 2011 Introduction to American Politics Instructor: Majid Shirali Course Number: PSC 101.1002 Email: [email protected] Class Time: Fri 8:30 am-12:00 pm Office Hours: Tues 3:30-5:00 & Fri 12:30-3:30 Classroom: BEH 119 Office Location: WRI A215 Office Phone: (702) 895-5242 Course Description: This course will provide students with an introduction and overview of American government and politics. We will exam the founding of the United States, the formation and role of political ideas, processes, parties, the function of political institutions, and various types of policy. The course will also focus on these issues at the state level by discussing politics in Nevada. Upon completing this course, students will have developed a solid understanding of the origins of politics in the US and familiarity with the major branches of government, key actors within the state, and evolution of political life in America. Course Texts: Ginsberg, Benjamin, Theodore J. Lowi, and Margaret Weir. We the People: An Introduction to American Politics. New York and London: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009. 7th Edition. Bowers, Michael. The Sagebrush State: Nevada’s History, Government, And Politics. Reno: University of Nevada Press, 2006. 3rd Edition. The Sagebrush State text is available at the UNLV bookstore and online through the UNLV library. To access the online version, please go to the UNLV library catalog and do a search by either using the author’s name or the title of the book. Next, click on the link for the online version of the text provided to the University by NetLibrary. Electronic viewing, however, is limited to only five students at a time and there will be hundreds of students taking courses that require this book. Thus, access is not guaranteed and a better option would be to purchase the text. Grading: 20% Attendance and Participation 20% Paper Assignment 20% Exam #1 20% Exam #2 20% Exam #3Grading Scale: 100‐93 = A 82.9‐80 = B‐ 69.9‐67 = D+ 92.9‐90 = A‐ 79.9‐77 = C+ 66.9‐63 = D 89.9‐87 = B+ 76.9‐73 = C 62.9‐60 = D‐ 86.9‐83 = B 72.9 ‐70 = C‐ 59.9‐0 = F Attendance and Participation – Attendance will be taken every day either by circulating a sign-in sheet or via roll call. You are allowed up to two excused absences during the semester. Excused absences need accompanying documentation that explains why class was missed. Students are expected to do all assigned readings before class and must be prepared to discuss them during class. Students are also required to do an oral presentation of their paper and meet with me once during my office hours. Handouts with more information on both of these requirements will be given later during the semester. Paper Assignment – Students are expected to write a paper of approximately ten pages in length analyzing a landmark Supreme Court decision. Due to class size and time constraints, students will work in groups of two on this assignment. Each student is expected to shoulder half the workload for this paper. As mentioned above, students, again in groups of two, will also be required to present their paper to the class. A handout allowing students to sign up for Supreme Court cases will be passed out along with more detailed instructions and expectations for the paper and presentation three weeks before the due date. Exams – The exams for this class will consist of true/false and multiple choice questions from the readings and class lectures. Students should bring a #2 pencil and scantron with them on the day of the exam. The final exam (exam #3) will not be cumulative. It will only cover the material that came after exam #2. Students must notify the instructor in advance and provide documentation if they plan on missing the first or second exam. Make-up exams will all take place on the same day, which, if needed, will be announced prior to the exam date. There will be no make-up exam for the final exam. University Policies: Academic Misconduct – Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices to always take the ethical path. Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV’s function as an educational institution. An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another, from the Internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources. See the Student Academic Misconduct Policy (approved December 9, 2005) located at: http://studentconduct.unlv.edu/misconduct/policy.html. Copyright – The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The university will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties andcriminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies. Additional information can be found at: http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright/. Disability Resource Center (DRC) – The Disability Resource Center (DRC) coordinates all academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities. The DRC is the official office to review and house disability documentation for students, and to provide them with an official Academic Accommodation Plan to present to the faculty if an accommodation is warranted. Faculty should not provide students accommodations without being in receipt of this plan. UNLV complies with the provisions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, offering reasonable accommodations to qualified students with documented disabilities. If you have a documented disability that may require accommodations, you will need to contact
View Full Document
Unlocking...