Political Science 2511 -- State Government
Instructor: Dr. Shari Garber Bax Phone: 543-4476 Office: Wood 7G
E-mail: Office Hours: MWF 10:00-10:50 a.m., and MW 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Required Text: Donovan, Todd, Christopher Z. Mooney, and Daniel A. Smith. 2009. State and Local Politics. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Additional Required Reading: USA Today and the Kansas City Star, both of which are available to students free of charge through the readership program. You can acquire copies of both using your student id card in the boxes around campus.
Information on the web:
The course syllabus and other related materials are available online via Blackboard; the web page may be accessed at http://courses.ucmo.edu/ . Students needing assistance accessing and using Blackboard should contact the professor as soon as possible to schedule a training session.
The textbook publisher provides a web page that includes practice tests and other information; it can be accessed at http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20bI&flag=instructor&product_isbn_issn=9780495090441&disciplinenumber=20
Information about the Missouri state government, including the Missouri Constitution, is available at http://www.mo.gov
Finally, information about library services, your library account, and the collections is available at http://library.ucmo.edu/
Hyperlinks to additional useful websites will be provided on Blackboard.
Course Description: State government and politics is designed to introduce the student to the foundational theory, structure, and functions of state governments. Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to identify key political concepts; understand the major functions, roles, powers and developments of state institutions; recognize the role played by non-governmental actors such as parties and interest groups; understand the nature of political participation, campaigns and elections; and demonstrate an understanding of these components within the policy process. To this end, students are expected to read the materials assigned in conjunction with class lectures, participate in class discussions of the material, and demonstrate their comprehension of the material in writing (essay questions on exams and a project). In addition to the course content, students will be evaluated and assessed regarding the following competencies: higher-order thinking, communication, valuing and managing information. Exams, quizzes, homework assignments, and a project will be used to assess each student. For further information regarding evaluations and assessment within political science courses, students are encouraged to consult the Political Science Student Handbook available in the department's main office and on the department’s webpage. A description of each of the assessment tools used in this course is provided below, further information about the grading and feedback for each of these assessments will be posted on the course Blackboard page.
Evaluation: Evaluation of students will be based upon the following
Graded Component / % of Final Grade / Points Toward Final Grade3 In-Class Exams / 20% each (60% total) / 200 points each (600 total)
Project (REQUIRED)[(] / 20% / 200 points
Daily Work: participation, homework, quizzes, etc. / 20% / 200 points
Final Exam / 20% / 200 points
Total / 120% / 1200 points
A student’s grade will consist of 6 basic grades – three in-class exams, one final exam, a REQUIRED project, and a daily grade which will include all quizzes, homework assignments, in-class excersises, and any extra credit earned by a student. For each student, the five best grades will be used in determining their final grade in the course. A description of each of the components is provided below.
Exams will include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Questions will cover material from lecture, the text, and current events as covered by the USA Today and the Kansas City Star.
The project is designed to allow the student to become informed about the 2008 state election. Each student will write a paper examining a particular 2008 state election race. Then as a group, students will construct a display which informs viewers about the election and encourages them to be informed voters. Further details about this assignment will be posted on Blackboard. Completion of this project is required; a student that does not complete this project or meet the assigned assessment competencies will fail the class.
Daily Work includes quizzes (both in class and on-line), homework assignments, and any graded in-class exercises.
· Regarding quizzes, quizzes are usually announced and may consist of multiple-choice, matching, and/or short answer questions. Make-up quizzes will not be given. Questions on current events as covered by USA Today and the Kansas City Star will make up 10-30% of the points from each quiz. If a student misses a quiz and has an excused absence (see University Student Handbook for an explanation of excused absences), s/he may complete a writing assignment in order to earn those points. If the student misses class due to a previously scheduled event (such as a university sponsored field trip), then the essay must be submitted by the time the class takes the quiz. Otherwise, the essay must be submitted with two calendar days of returning to class in order to be eligible for points. Details regarding the assignment and its submission are posted on Blackboard.
· Regarding homework assignments, assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day they are due unless otherwise noted. All late work will be docked 10 points for each calendar day late, NO EXCEPTIONS (note: most homework is worth 25 points or less). Students may submit assignments early, and may use the digital drop box to submit assignments.
· Any extra credit earned will be included in the student’s daily grade.
· If a student earns more than the allotted 200 points, all points will be retained assuming the student is eligible for extra daily points. If at the end of the semester, the instructor has not assigned 200 points worth of daily work then the percentage of points earned by the student will be used to calculate a 200 point grade.
The Final Exam will be cumulative. Although larger in scope and content, it will assume a format similar to previous exams.
General Class Policies and Requirements: (1) The instructor will make every possible effort to meet each scheduled class and to start and end class on time. Please do the same. (2) Although students will not be directly penalized for missing class, attendance is strongly encouraged. There will be in class exercises for which students will receive daily points, and information and material from the lectures will be included on exams. Furthermore, students who miss less than three classes will be awarded an additional fifteen daily grade points, and only students who miss less than five classes are eligible to receive any extra credit or extra daily points (students who miss five or more classes are NOT eligible to receive any additional credit points, including those already earned). It is the instructor’s policy to take roll at the beginning of class. When late to class it is the student’s responsibility to have the roll corrected after class. Repeated tardiness may result in the student receiving a recorded absence; the instructor will provide one warning before assigning such. Unannounced quizzes may be administered should low attendance become a problem, and such quizzes are only given during class. (3) Students should take examinations on time. No make-ups will be permitted absent written proof of a valid excuse. The student should notify the instructor as soon as possible of his/her inability to be present at examination time. Makeup exams may be of a different format, and must be completed before the next scheduled exam. (4) All graded components are due at the beginning of the class on the day they are marked due. They need to be turned in on time; unless otherwise noted on the assignment late work will be docked 10 points for each calendar day late. (5) All writing assignments should be turned in to the instructor, submitted via the Blackboard drop box, or given to the office professional in Wood 5 to be placed in the instructor’s box. If work is given to the office professional, the student should politely request that the work be timed and dated so as to assure proper credit; otherwise the instructor will assume the date and time she receives it is the same as the date and time it was submitted. Please do NOT e-mail you assignments, use the Blackboard drop box instead. (6) During the course of the semester there will be a few opportunities to earn extra daily points. These opportunities, however, will be limited so it is highly recommended that the student take advantage of them when they are offered. There will be no such opportunities during the last two weeks of school. (7) Students should be prepared to give oral presentations on the day assigned. Missed oral presentations will only be made up at the convenience of the instructor and will result in a grade reduction. Appropriate handouts are part of the assignment and should be made available to the instructor and other students in the class; failure to provide such material will result in a grade reduction. (8) The instructor will utilize Blackboard to supplement in-class instruction. Students will be held responsible for any and all information posted on Blackboard. As such, students should check Blackboard regularly. Announcements, assignments, and reserve readings will be made available on Blackboard, and some quizzes may be administered through Blackboard (such quizzes are only given during a particular time period and cannot be made up). Furthermore, the instructor may establish work groups to allow students to exchange information and ideas with other members of the class. (9) The instructor will make every effort to create a productive and learning environment in class. As such disruptive (i.e. cell phones, newspapers, etc), and disrespectful behavior are unacceptable and may result in immediate ejection from class. Furthermore, any student ejected from class or disciplined in class more than once for such behavior during the course of the semester forfeits any and all additional credit including any extra credit already earned, and any points earned in class on that day. (10) Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students are encouraged to review the University’s Honesty policy, which can be found in the student handbook or on-line at http://www.ucmo.edu/politicalscience/documents/handbook.pdf . (11) Disabled students should contact the Office of Accessibility Services in Union 220 to ensure that appropriate accommodations are made. (12) The instructor keeps exams and papers on file for one semester. Students should retrieve their work no later than the last class day of the following semester
Grade policy: The following is the point scale I will use in determining final grades:
A=900-1000; B=800-899; C=700-799; D=600-699; and F=599 and below.
In addition, completion of written components worth more than 100 points is required to pass the class. As such, a student who fails to complete the project assignment will fail the class.
Regarding all written work: Unless otherwise noted, written assignments to include homework should be double-space typed, should assume a traditional sentence paragraph format, conform to the general rules of grammar, and employ a generally accepted style manual for structure and citation. In addition to completeness and content (knowledge and understanding of subject, explanation and justification of arguments, and depth of analysis), students will be graded on the general presentation of the material including organization, grammar, citation (if you use any source for information, it should be cited), and clarity. Other grading components may be identified for a particular assignment. Students needing assistance with topic development, presentation, formatting, and/or citation are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the instructor. Students may also find the writing lab located in Humphreys 127 helpful. The instructor reserves the right to require a student to present his/her sources and answer questions about any and all written assignments submitted.
Calendar of Topics of Discussion and Assignments:
DATES / SUBJECT / ASSIGNMENT[*]8/20 / Introduction to class / Read this syllabus
8/22-8/29 / Foundations / Ch. 1-2
Missouri Constitution XII
Project Topic Assignments 8/29
9/1 / Labor Day / NO CLASS
9/3-9/15 / Political Participation in State Politics / Chs. 3-6
Missouri Constitution, Art. VIII
9/17 / Exam #1
9/19-10/8 / The Institutions: The Legislature /
Ch. 7
Missouri Constitution, Art. IIIIndividial Project Due 9/22
10/10-10/24 / The Institutions: The Executive /
Ch. 8
Missouri Constitution, Art. IV, VII & XIIIGroup Project Due 10/15
10/27 / Exam #2
10/29-11/7 / The Institutions: The Judiciary / Ch. 9
Missouri Constitution, Art. V
11/10-11/19 / The Institutions: Local Government / Chs. 11 & 12
Missouri Constitution, Art. VI
11/21 /
Exam #3
/11/24-11/28 /
Thanksgiving Holiday
/NO CLASS
12/1-12/5 / Public Policy / Chs. 10, and 13-15Missouri Constitution, Art. IX, X, & XI
12/10 at 2:00 / Final Exam
[(]¨ Attention Education Majors: As an education major, you are required to compile an education portfolio. You should keep this assignment because you may want to include it as an artifact in your portfolio.
[*] Students are also responsible for any readings posted on the course Blackboard page and for reading the USA Today and the Kansas City Star daily.