PSCI 1040.800, American Government: Laws and Institutions
Fall 2011
WH 122, MWF 10:00 am – 10:50 am
Host: Eddie L. Meaders, J.D., M.A.
Office: Wooten Hall 141
Office Phone: (940) 565 – 2310
Political Science Department Office: Wooten Hall 125
Political Science Department Phone: (940) 565 - 2276
E-mail:
Office Hours:
M & W: 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
T: 10:00 am -12:00 pm; 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
F: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Feel free to drop by. No appointment is needed during office hours. If the posted hours are no good, let me know and we’ll set something else up.
Teaching Assistant: Christina Case
Office: Wooten Hall 337
Office Phone: (940) 891-6807
Political Science Department Office: Wooten Hall 125
Political Science Department Phone: (940) 565 - 2276
E-mail:
Office Hours: MW: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Required Texts:
Fiorina New American Democracy custom (paper) Volume 1 with UNT eWorkbook access code.
Course Goal: This is an introductory American government course designed to examine the theoretical and constitutional foundations of U.S. and Texas political systems and their respective institutional structures. By the end of the semester, students will be able to identify, analyze, and evaluate the national institutions of government-Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy, the Judiciary, and related state level institutions. Students will also be able to identify and explain basic principles of civil rights and civil liberties. Student learning objectives include:
· Demonstrating the ability to identify and explain constitutionalism.
· Comprehending the principles of Federalism.
· Synthesizing the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.
· Demonstrating an awareness and recognition of the scope of democratic theory.
· Differentiating between civil rights and civil liberties.
This course satisfies state mandated requirements for a course emphasizing the U.S. and Texas constitutions.
Class Procedure: This course is part of the UNT’s N-Gen, Next Generation, Course Redesign project. There will be very little in class lectures. Instead you will be working on materials in teams. Team-Based Learning™ (TBL) (Michaelsen, Knight & Fink, 2002) shifts the focus of classroom time from conveying course concepts by the instructor to application of course concepts by student teams. In the TBL process, students acquire their initial exposure to the content through readings and are held accountable for their preparation using a Readiness Assurance Process (RAP). Following the RAP, class time is used to practice applying content in a series of team application exercises. The Team-Based Learning™ method allows a single instructor to conduct multiple small groups simultaneously in the same classroom. Learners must ACTIVELY participate in and out of class through PREPARATION and group discussion. Class time is shifted away from learning facts and toward application and integration of information. The instructor retains control of content, and acts as both facilitator and content expert. The Team-Based Learning™ method affords the opportunity for assessment of both individual and team performance. PowerPoint slides with notes will be available at the start of each unit in Blackboard for your lecture material.
Assessment components:
Examinations: There will be THREE (3) of them. Exams, which are closed book/notes, will consist of multiple choice and true-false questions. The exams are non-cumulative in the sense that they focus on the specific topics and reading assignments delineated by each section as well as various classroom team activities. Exam questions will NOT be taken from workbook readings. ! If there is a grading question about your exam, please bring this to the attention of the instructor no later than 48 hours after the grade is posted in Blackboard. Failure do so constitutes your waiver of the right to appeal the grade assigned. Missed exams may be made up after consultation with the instructor.
Workbook Assignments: The workbook provides you with additional resources for your individual learning experience. Workbook assignments are NOT team assignments! Each chapter corresponds with the topic under discussion in class. Assignments will be due in Blackboard on the date designated in the syllabus at class time, which is 10:00 am. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES (EVEN DEATH) WILL LATE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS BE ACCEPTED after the submission deadline! If there is a grading question about your assignment, please bring this to the attention of the TA no later than 48 hours after the grade is posted in Blackboard. Failure do so constitutes your waiver of the right to appeal the grade assigned. Workbook material will not be covered on the exams.
RAP (readiness assurance process) quizzes: The RAP quiz will occur at the beginning of each major instructional unit (chapter). RAP quizzes ensures that students have completed pre-class reading and are prepared for in-class
team work. The process consists of a multiple choice quiz (10 items) on key concepts from the readings. It is first taken individually and then immediately re-taken as a team. You will know at the completion of each RAP your individual and team score. Missed RAP quizzes cannot be made up! If you know you will be absent on a quiz day, please inform the instructor of this at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a time to take the quiz.
Chapter mastery quizzes. There are power point presentations online for each chapter assigned. These are based on the readings from the textbook. As you work your way through the slides for each chapter, you will periodically be directed to stop and take a mastery quiz over the content you have just covered. You will have 15 minutes to complete each quiz. You may take the quiz up to three times, but you must wait at least 30 minutes between each attempt. The highest of the three scores will be the one that counts for the grade. Your combined mastery quiz grades will count as one of your workbook assignments. Chapter quizzes will be online and available until the start of the next chapter when you take the RAP quiz.
You Tube Quality Public Service Video: create a “You Tube” quality public service video with music as your team project.
Team application activities- class discussions, simulations, experiential class assignments.
Peer review: your teammates evaluate your contributions ot the team over the term.
Attendance: ATTEND CLASS on the designated days! Lack of attendance may cause your peer reviews from your fellow team members to be lower.
Specifically for TAMS students: If you are absent for any reason, you are required to file an absence report with the TAMS Academic Office. In addition, as your professor, I will send periodic attendance reports to the TAMS Academic Office.
Disabled Students: If you are physically challenged, every attempt will be made to accommodate your educational needs. Talk to the instructor no later than the end of the first week of class so that we can make appropriate arrangements. The University of North Texas is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 – The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.
Final Exam: The final is scheduled for Friday, December 16th, from 8:00am – 10:00 am. It will not be comprehensive! Please do not ask to take the final early.
Grades: A necessary evil. Your grade will be determined based on your scores on the following activities:
Exams (3): to be determined by the class, but at least 50% of your grade
Individual workbook assignments, RAP scores: to be determined by the class, but at least 20% of your grade.
Team scores on RAPs, in class application exercises, and public service video: determined by the class, but at least 10% of your grade.
Peer and instructor participation score: to be determined by the class, but at least 10% of your grade.
If the class fails to reach a consensus on the grade weights, the default weights are as follows:
Exams (3): 50%
Individual workbook assignments, RAP scores: 25%
Team scores on RAPs, in class application exercises, and public service video: 15%
Peer and instructor participation score: 10%
I reserve the right to add or subtract up to a total of three (3) points to or from your final average based upon participation and general attitude. This is where good attendance and asking/answering questions can pay off.
Plagiarism and Cheating: Perish the thought and do not yield to temptation! Please refer to the attached university policy on academic dishonesty. Be on notice that I will enforce the policy. While not pleasant, I have done it in the past and will not hesitate to do it again! Do not risk your academic career by taking the easy way out! Please sign the last sheet of the syllabus when you return your information sheet to indicate you have read the policy.
Miscellaneous Poop:
PLEASE TURN CELL PHONES OFF DURING CLASS! RINGING, BEEPING, CHIRPING, AND OBNOXIOUS MELODIOUS TUNES CAUSE DISTRACTIONS. IF THIS HAPPENS, I MAY ANSWER YOUR PHONE FOR YOU, OR AT LEAST CONFISCATE IT FOR THE DURATION OF THE CLASS PERIOD!
Bonus opportunity: since the missed homework and quiz policy is a bit harsh, you may participate in two (2) community service projects either individually or as a team. Please check the volunteer center website, http://www.unt.edu/volunteer/, for service opportunities. Complete the service this fall, show written proof of your completion, and write a paper (no longer than 2 pages long, typed, 12 point font, double spaced, standard margins, Chicago or APA manual of style compliant) about your experience and how it contributes to the common good. Each project is worth 100 points credit to replace a missing quiz or homework assignment. Projects, documentation, and papers must be completed and turned in NO LATER THAN December 5th at the start of class. No exceptions!
Schedule Changes: I reserve the right to change any of the exam times or assignments by providing you with at least a 48 hour notice of such changes. You are responsible for any changes that may occur during the course of the semester. Any changes will be announced at the beginning of each class and posted in Blackboard.
Coming Attractions
(More or Less)
Week 1 August 29, 31, September 2
Introductions; RAP # 1 on the 31st covering (FPJM), Ch. 1, Democracy in the United States; Dye Ch. 1, The Political Culture of Texas
Exercises 1-2, 1-3, 1-5, due on the 2nd!
Week 2 September 7, 9
Exercises 2-1, 2-3 due on the 9th.
Week 3 September 12, 14, 16
RAP # 2 on the 12th covering (FPJM) Ch. 2, Establishing a Constitutional Democracy; Dye Ch. 2, the Texas Constitution
Exercises 3-1, 3-3, 3-4 due on the 16th!
Week 4 September 19, 21, 23
RAP # 3 on the 21st covering (FPJM), Chp. 3, Federalism,
Week 5 September 26, 28, 30
Exercises 4-1, 4-3, 4-6 due on the 26th!
Exam 1 on the 30th!
Week 6 October 3, 5, 7
Prep day on the 3rd, No Class
RAP # 4 on the 5th covering (FPJM) Ch. 12, Congress, Dye Ch.3, the Texas Legislature
Week 7 October 10, 12, 14
Exercises 5-4, and 5-6 due on the 10th!
Week 8 October 17, 19, 21
RAP # 5 on the 17th covering (FPJM), Ch. 13, the Presidency; Dye Ch.4, the Texas Executive
Exercises 6-1, 6-3, and 6-6 due on the 21st!
Week 9 October 24, 26, 28
Application activities
Week 10 October 31, November 2, 4
RAP # 6 on the 31st covering (FPJM), Ch. 14, the Bureaucracy ; Dye Ch. 4, the Texas Executive
Exercises 7-1, 7-3, 7-4 due on the 4th!
Week 11 November 7, 9, 11
EXAM 2 on the 7th!
Prep Day on the 9th, no class!
Team video judgment day on the 11th
Week 12 November 14, 16, 18
Team video judgment day on the 14th
RAP # 7 on the 16th covering (FPJM), Ch. 15; the Federal Courts; Dye Ch. 5, the Texas Judiciary
Exercises 8-1, 8-3, and 8-5, due on the 18th!
Week 13 November 21, 23
RAP # 8 on the 21st covering (FPJM), Ch. 4, Civil Liberties;
Exercise 9-2, 9-3, 9-5 due on the 23rd!
Week 14 November 28, 30, December 2
RAP # 9 on the 2nd covering (FPJM), Ch. 5, Civil Rights,
Week 15 December 5, 7, 9
Public service extra credit essays due on the 5th!
Exercises 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 due on the 7th!
Prep day on the 9th, no class!
Week 16 December 16th (Friday)
FINAL EXAM 8:00 am – 10:00 am, WH 122.
PSCI 1040.800, Fall 2011
Student Information Sheet
(Please Print)
Name:______
Phone:( )______
Hometown:______
E-Mail:______
Year in School:______
Transfer (if so, which school):______
Major:______
Minor:______
Hobbies and interesting things you like to do:
This certifies that I have read the syllabus and understand the requirements for the course, including the Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism. I agree to abide by academic honesty. As such, I verify that all work done in this class will be my own. I understand that violating the policy will result in an automatic “F” for the course and referral to the Dean of Students for disciplinary proceedings.
Signature:______
Printed Name:______
Date: ______