INTRODUCTION to AMERICAN GOVERNMENT and POLITICS
POLITICAL SCIENCE 150
INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT and POLITICS
Tuesdays– 6:30pm to 9:35pm, Bonelli 306
Spring, 2014
SYLLABUS
GABRIELA H. SHAPIROOFFICE HOURS
OFFICE:Classroom, before/after classTU – 6:00pm to 6:30pm
CELL NUMBER:310-650-5468TU – 9:40pm to 10:00pm
EMAIL: am also available via cell/email.
COURSE SUMMARY
Political Science 150 is an introductory course which seeks to establish a foundation and basis of understanding of American government. The course will cover various elements and dynamics of American democracy, the institutional and practical linkage between citizens and their government, and the roles and functions of the individual governmental institutions. A portion of the course will be devoted to understanding California State government and its relationship with and to the federal government.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to speak knowledgeably of the following subjects: the United States Constitution, federalism, public opinion and the role of news media in government, political parties and interest groups, elections, campaign finance, congress, the presidency, the judiciary, contrasting political theories and American democratic values in general. The learning process should sharpen and refine the students’ abilities to understand everyday news and current events relating to the overall governmental structure in the United States. Student participation in discussion is deemed necessary to enhance learning and allows for continued development of individual speaking and oratory skills. In addition, the respectful exchange of political opinions and experiences is vital to gaining a well-rounded understanding of issues which exist along the political spectrum.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
The following are the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) listed in the Political Science 150 course outline for the College of the Canyons. SLOs are similar to the objectives listed in the above section. They are the intended learning outcomes a student can expect to achieve for this course. They are as follows:
Identify and explain the basic institutions of the government of the United States and the State of California.
Compare and contrast democratic theories of American government.
Exhibit a heightened sense of personal political efficacy and civic responsibility.
TEXT BOOKS
As a department, the professors agreed to create a custom textbook for use in our P.S. 150 classes. This enabled us to simplify student access to the material and negotiate a fair price for the required books. This custom text will ONLY be available in the COC bookstore. It contains: We the People (9th Edition – FULL Version) by Ginsberg, et al., and Governing California (4th Edition) by Anagnoson, et al. If you purchase these texts online, you will need to purchase both books separately, and the pagination will differ from those assigned in the class.
PUBLISHER RESOURCES
For this course you can access online resources from the publisher for the assigned text book. Accessing these resourceswill enable the student to take practice exams in the form of multiple choice, essay, short answer, matching, etc… It also provides important excerpts from the text book, as well as video resources explaining chapter topics. Feel free to use these resources to prepare for the weekly assignments and exams. There is also a possibility that you will be required to visit this website for some weekly assignments. These sites are useful as they match the assigned readings in the syllabus. Here is the link:
ASSIGNMENTS/GRADE POINTS
QUIZZES
5 Quizzes (20 Points total; each quiz is worth 4 points.) For any quizzes assigned through wwnorton.com, a score of 85 or higher will result in a score of 4; scores between 70-84 will result in a score of 3; 55-69 will result in a score of 2.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
Political OpinionDebate Topics (20 Points) – (A total of twoopiniondebate topics on current political issuesare assigned for a total of 20 points. The essays are to be1 to 2 pages minimum. If you submit anything shorter, you will be unable to earn the maximum points.) A topic list will be distributed separately in class.
Please Note: I will accept papers beyond the due date listed on the semester schedule (see below). However, for every day the paper is late, I will penalize students 5% above and beyond their graded score. Therefore, if the paper is submitted two days past the due date, you will receive a 10% reduction in score, etc.
SERVICE LEARNING ALTERNATIVE PROJECT*
*Students have the option of participating in a services learning project through COC’s Service Learning Department in lieu of the required AnalyticalPapers. Students who successfully complete 20 hours of work for one of the local organizations recognized and chosen by the instructor will receive the full 20 points for this component of the course assignment/grade points. Students who select this option must sign up and inform the professor within the first 6 weeks of class to be eligible (by the week of March 18, 2014). Placement forms are due at the SLC by the 8th week of the semester, and the Reflection Assignment required by the SLC (to be submitted to the instructor as well) is due by May 27, 2014.
At Home or In Class Assignments (10 Points)
Assigned throughout the semester, or done as group work in class.This may include occasional spot-checks of class notes.
EXAMS
Mid-Term Examination (25 Points): covers all material from the first lecture about Political Ideologies through, but not including, Chapter 12 – Congress.
Final Examination (25 Points) – Though the final exam is not cumulative, students will be required to know and apply concepts relating to the U.S. Constitution.
GRADING
90% - 100%A88 – 100 Points
80% -- 89%B80 – 87.9 Points
70% -- 79%C69 – 79.9 Points
60% - 69%D60 – 68 Points
0% - 59%F59 Points or less
Students are expected to maintain their own records of grades to keep track of individual progress throughout the semester.
EXTRA CREDIT
Supplemental Instruction Workshops (5 Points) – College of the Canyons is offering a series of skills building workshops (called Supplemental Instruction Workshops) to promote student success in courses throughout the college. Students will only earn credit for English language workshops as they are most applicable to this course and the assignments. You must complete your workshops by May 27, 2014. Check in at the TLC and they will direct you to each workshop’s location. If you cannot attend the workshop at the time it is held, you may complete the independent, self-paced Guided Learning Activity (GLA) with the help of a tutor. Each workshop has an accompanying GLA which may be completed at any time during the TLC’s open hours. Check the Skills4Success website at for the workshop schedule. And check the TLC website for hours of availability.
You must complete 5 separate workshops to earn a total of 5 points. Each workshop is worth 1 point. Please retain a copy of all workshops completed for your records; the TLC sends me a weekly summary of labs completed by students.
MAKE-UP EXAMS and DEADLINES
Make-up exams for the mid-term and final will only be honored for those excusesmade in advance and approved by the professor. The deadline for the required writing assignment will not be extended. Students are given advanced notice through this syllabus so that they prepare and organize their time accordingly. Instances do arise where students are unable to sit for an exam. With advance notice provided, the exam may be taken at the TLC and proctored by their staff.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
The policy regarding the use of cell phones and laptop computers will be discussed in class. Do not use your iPod in class. Do not exhibit disrespectful behavior while in class. Do not maintain extended personal conversations while lecture is underway.These behaviors are inappropriate in a college environment. After two warnings, a student may be asked to leave the lecture.
ATTENDANCE, TARDINESS AND WITHDRAWAL
Student commitment to attending all classes is essential to a full understanding and comprehension of the material. This class meets once a week. One missed class can cause the student to immediately fall behind in their assignments. Furthermore, missing one class, for less than dire reasons, can reduce the student’s focus and commitment, thereby easily leading to continued absences.
School policy states that “any student absent for any reasons for one more time than that class meets in one week may be dropped from the class providing the withdrawal deadline for the semester/term has not passed.” The instructor reserves the right to officially drop a student from the course for exceeding this attendance standard. If a student is absent for one more time than the class meets in two weeks, and the drop deadline has passed, the instructor reserves the right to reduce the student’s overall grade in the class by one full letter grade. If a student is absent for one more time than the class meets in three weeks, and the drop deadline has passed, the student will automatically have their semester grade for the course reduced by one full letter grade.
Tardiness disrupts the class lecture and discussion. The instructor reserves the right to treat a student’s habitual tardiness as absences. Please notify me if you are going to be late or absent. It helps with assignments and ensures open communication to benefit everyone.
CLASS DISCUSSION
Political Science 150 is both a lecture and discussion course. The general nature of the material demands class discussion. This course addresses matters of public affairs. If the course is at all representative of American society at large, then expect to listen to and hear a variety of opinions and political positions. The instructor welcomes all views and opinions. I only ask that you address these issues in a respectful manner and be mindful and sensitive of your classmates and their diversity of thought and background.5 pointswill be added to your overall grade for your participation and preparedness in class.
PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING
COC Statement and Policy on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Approved by Academic Senate in May, 2010
Students are expected to do their own work as assigned. At College of the Canyons, we believe that academic integrity and honesty are some of the most important qualities college3 students need to develop and maintain. To facilitate a culture of academic integrity, College of the Canyons has defined plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Due process procedures have been established when plagiarism or academic dishonesty is suspected.
At COC, we define plagiarism as follows: Plagiarism is the submission of someone else’s work or ideas as one’s own, without adequate attribution. When a student submits works for a class assignment that includes the words, ideas or data of others, without acknowledging the source of the information through complete, accurate, and specific references, plagiarism is involved. This may include dual submissions of a similar work for credit for more than one class, without the current instructor’s knowledge and approval.
To be specific, below are some of the situations which will be considered plagiarism at COC:
- Use information from any source, online, or in print, in one’s own writing without acknowledging the source in the content and in the reference page of the assignment;
- Simply list the sources in the reference page, without parenthetical citations in the body of the essay;
- Take more than one printed line of words consecutively from the source without putting quotation marks around them, even though the student has put the author’s name in the parentheses or in the reference page;
- Turn in work done for other classes, regardless of how big or small the assignment may be, without the current instructor’s approval – this is considered “self-plagiarism,” which is a form of academic dishonesty; or,
- Turn in work by another student, even by accident.
In addition, COC has strict rules against using electronic devices during exams without the instructor’s approval. To be specific, absolutely no cell phones or any electronic devices can be on the desk or in sight during a test or exam without the instructor’s approval. The presence of electronic devices in sight during tests or exams may be considered as an intent to cheat and will be processed as a form of academic dishonesty.
Cases of alleged academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or cheating, will be referred to the Dean of Student Services for investigation. See your syllabus for course specific policies, rules, and guidelines on plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism and cheating violate the inherent value and essence of education. The College and the instructor consider plagiarism and cheating to be serious offenses. You are expected to do your own work at all times. Any evidence to the contrary may lead to disenrollment from the course. Additionally, it is often the mere appearance of impropriety which can place a student in an unfavorable light. In other words, during exams, keep your eyes on your own paper even if you do not intend any improper behavior. Do not create doubt.
TEST MATERIALS AND WRITTEN RESPONSES
Scantron forms will be used for the quizzes, mid-term, and final exams. These forms have space for one hundred (100) questions. You will also need two (2) Blue Books for the essay portion of the mid-term and final exams. Failure to obtain these testing materials in time for the exam is not an acceptable excuse for a make-up exam. ONLY scantron forms and blue books will be used for these exams. Both materials can be obtained in the bookstore on campus. Finally, in order to receive credit for essay responses on exams, all writing must be legible, and absolutely no texting phrases (including, but not limited to the following examples: b/c, &, b4, btw) will be permitted.
STUDY APPROACHES/METHODS
In order to prepare for the quizzes, mid-term, and final, students must maintain an organized outline of their course notes, as well as a list of all key terms. The notes should come from class lectures, reading assignments, discussions and any video presentations made in class. The multiple choice portion of the exams requires memorization of established doctrines and facts derived from these notes. This is also true of the essay portion of the final exam and the written assignments. However, in those assignments, students will be required to draw upon their own perspectives and positions in order to present their own thoughts in response to the assigned questions and topics. Class outlines arealso available through Blackboard.
SEMESTER SCHEDULE
(subject to change)
WEEK #1
Tuesday 2/11
Introduction to Course
Political Ideology Lecture
Chapter 6 – Public Opinion
WEEK #2
IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT
Tuesday, 2/18
Political Ideology Lecture continued…
Chapter 1 – American Political Culture (Ginsberg)
Chapter 1 – California Government in Crisis (Anagnoson)
WEEK #3
Tuesday, 2/25QUIZ #1 (Chapters 1, 6 Ginsberg + Ideologies)
Chapter 2 – The Founding and the Constitution (Ginsberg)
Chapter 2 – The Constitution and the Progressive Legacy (Anagnoson)
WEEK #4
Tuesday, 3/4
Chapter 3 – Federalism (Ginsberg)
Chapter 9 – Local Government (Anagnoson)
WEEK #5
Tuesday, 3/11QUIZ #2 (Chapters 2, 3 Ginsberg) &
Chapter 4 – Civil Liberties (Ginsberg)(Chapter 9 Anagnoson)
WEEK #6
Tuesday, 3/18 First OpinionDebate Topic Due
Chapter 5 – Civil Rights (Ginsberg)
WEEK #7
(Submit online 20 question Quiz for chapter 4, Civil Liberties; due midnight)
Tuesday, 3/25
Chapter 12 – Congress (Ginsberg)
Chapter 5 – The California Legislature (Anagnoson)
** WEEK #8 **
Tuesday, 4/1
MID-TERM EXAMINATION
Bring blue books, Scantron, pencils, and a pen.
WEEK #9
Tuesday, 4/8 ____SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
WEEK #10
(Submit online 20 question Quiz for chapter 12, Congress; due by midnight)
Tuesday, 4/15
Chapter 8 – Political Participation and Voting (Ginsberg)
Chapter 9 – Political Parties (Ginsberg)
Chapter 10 – Campaigns and Elections (Ginsberg)
WEEK #11
Second Opinion Debate Topic Due
Tuesday, 4/22
Chapter 4 – Parties and Elections in California
Chapter 7 – Media (Ginsberg)
Chapter 16 – Government and the Economy (Ginsberg)
WEEK #12
(Submit online 20 question Quiz for chapter 7, Media; due midnight)
Tuesday, 4/29
Chapter 15 – The Federal Courts (Ginsberg)
Chapter 7 – The California Judiciary (Anagnoson, pp. 135 “To understand the role courts play…”-136; 138-144; 146)
WEEK #13
Tuesday, 5/6
Chapter 15 – The Federal Courts (Ginsberg)continued…
Chapter 7 – The California Judiciary (Anagnoson)continued as listed above…
WEEK #14
Tuesday, 5/13
Chapter 13 – The Presidency (Ginsberg)
Chapter 6 – The Governor and the Executive Branch (Anagnoson)
WEEK #15
Deadline to Submit Supplemental Instruction Paperwork
Tuesday, 5/20
Chapter 18 – Foreign Policy and Democracy (Ginsberg)
WEEK #16
Tuesday, 5/27IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT
Review; completion of any incomplete lectures
***WEEK #17***
Tuesday, 6/3
FINAL EXAM
Bring blue books, Scantron, pencils, and a pen.
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