Please Speak with Me Before Beginning This Individualized Course

PLEASE SPEAK WITH ME BEFORE BEGINNING THIS INDIVIDUALIZED COURSE

(THIS IS NOT A WEB-BASED/BLACKBOARD COURSE)

SYLLABUS - POLS 101 C03I - AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT–SPRING 2009

INSTRUCTOR: Lee Ann Hagan

Office: Aspen 126Hours: MWF 10:00-11:50

Phone: 732-6867 MWF 12:00-12:50

Home Phone:423-6355 – Please feel free to call me at home TR 10:50-11:50

if you cannot reach me at the office. & by appointment

CSI Mission Statement: The College of Southern Idaho, a comprehensive community college, provides quality educational, social, cultural, economic, and workforce development opportunities that meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. CSI prepares students to lead enriched, productive and responsible lives in a global society.

General Education Criteria: This course satisfies all eight criteria for general education. It is designed to:

1.provide a broad-based survey of a discipline and show the interconnectedness of knowledge.

2.develop a discerning individual.

3.practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

4.promote awareness of social and cultural diversity in order to appreciate the commonality of mankind.

5.foster the balance between individual needs and the demands of society.

6.reinforce reading, writing, speaking, and/or quantitative skills.

7.encourage and inspire life-long learning.

8.encourage creativity.

Social Science Department Mission Statement: The mission of the Social Science Department is to provide educational, social, and cultural opportunities which encourage enriched, productive and responsible lives primarily by instructing students to understand, interpret, and apply Social Science discipline coursework.

Social Science Department Goals: This course addresses the following Social Science Department goals, which are to:

1.help students understand important facts, concepts and theories of Social Science subjects.

2.help students acquire techniques and methods used to gain new knowledge in the disciplines.

3.help students learn to distinguish between fact and opinion.

4.teach students to use evaluation, analysis and synthesis to interpret and solve problems.

5.teach students to use different perspectives from the social sciences to make better-informed decisions

6.help students acquire an informed understanding of various cultures.

7.prepare students to transfer to a university.

Political Science Program Mission Statement: The Political Science Program prepares students to examine the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior.

Political Science Program Objectives: Students will…

1. comprehend political theories, structures and processes.

2. think, integrate, and logically organize, not just memorize, political information.

3. gather knowledge from other disciplines to interpret political situations.

4. apply insights from the study of political science to understand local, state, national and international developments.

POLS 101 CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION: A basic course in political science introducing the basic concepts and major structural elements of the national government. Many aspects of American government are introduced and discussed in a way that will make the study of government more a part of the students’ world.

Course Outcomes Aligned with GE criteria (GE) Social Science Goals (SS) and Political Science Objectives (POLS)

Assessment Method: Alignment of course outcomes with course assessment methods.

Welcome to POLS 101 C03I – (Individualized) - American National Government - a one-semester course for students who want to learn about the United States government and politics. This course is intended to give students a more complete understanding of how American government operates. Students will examine the principles on which our country is founded, the institutions in our government that represent us as citizens and the rights to which all Americans are entitled.

Students completing this course should:

1. Have a basic understanding of democracy and what it means to us today.

2. Have a general knowledge of the United States Constitution and of what is meant by "living" Constitution.

3. Be aware of ways to participate in government through public opinion, interests groups, political parties,

and the media.

4. Know the three cornerstones of American government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches and

the roles that each plays.

5. Be informed of one's rights and of the "due process."

6. Recognize the strong emphasis on individual rights within our system.

7. Be able to identify potential problems in order to help our elected officials to find solutions.

Through your reading and supplementary video tapes you will discover how the government and politics work. You will also view many people inside and outside of government who attempt to influence policy-making. Hopefully this course will make government and politics come alive for you.

The textbook for this course is Thomas E. Patterson, The American Democracy, 9th Edition. This text is available in the College of Southern Idaho Bookstore. This will directly correspond with the supplementary videos. Also, there is a printed study guide to assist you with your reading. (Included with the syllabus)

As part of this course you will be required to talk with the instructor at least two times. The first meeting (or phone conversation) will be an opportunity to ask general questions about testing, the course, and to allow the instructor to meet you. This phone conversation or meeting should be scheduled prior to taking Exam I. The second meeting will be an exit interview. Please feel free to call at any other time throughout the semester. Because the reading is so extensive, I recommend that you call or visit with me prior to each exam as a means of narrowing the focus.

The course will include four examinations to be administered on campus or at the Outreach Offices on an individualized basis. The tests will be available at the CSI Campus Testing Center. Each exam will have multiple-choice questions, identifications, and an essay. Grades will be determined on a 100 points scale. The four (4) test grades will be averaged for your final grade with consideration for improvement. Retakes are available, but only on the multiple-choice sections. Optional extra credit assignments will be available at your request. Exam I must be completed by February 13, 2009; Exam II must be completed by March 13, 2009;Exam IIImust be taken no later than April 9th, 2009; and Exam IV must be completed by May 7, 2009. Students who do not meet theses deadlines must speak with the instructor or be responsible for completing a drop slip by April 10, 2009 (last day to drop). (You may leave me a phone message if you are going to be delayed in taking an exam by just a couple of days. Please call 732-6867.) STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT MET THE ABOVE DEADLINES WILL RECEIVE AN “F” FOR THE COURSE!

Please include name, address, phone number and exam numberon each Scantron test sheet so I can contact you with your test results.You will NOT receive exam scores unless your postal mailing address is on your answer sheet. Exam results will not be sent over email.

Program Titles: The tapes are available to check out from the CSI Library located in the Gerald R. Meyerhoeffer Building (GRM). Please plan to keep the tapes OVERNIGHT ONLY. Tapes are available at the outreach centers. VIDEOS WILL NOT BE CHECKED OUT THROUGH THE MAIL!

Student Evaluations: Students are strongly encouraged to complete evaluations at the end of the course. Evaluations are very important to assist the teaching staff to continually improve the course. Evaluations are available online at . Evaluations open up two weeks prior to the end of the course. The last day to complete an evaluation is the last day of the course. During the time the evaluations are open, students can complete the course evaluations at their convenience from any computer with Internet access, including in the open lab in the library and in the SUB. When students log in they should see the evaluations for the courses in which they are enrolled. Evaluations are anonymous. Filling out the evaluation should only take a few minutes. Your honest feedback is greatly appreciated!

Student Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for related accommodations. To determine eligibility and secure services, students should contact the coordinator of Disability Services at their first opportunity after registration for a class. Student Disability Services is located on the second floor of the Taylor Building on the Twin Falls Campus. 208.732.6260 (voice) or 208.734.9929 (TTY), or e-mail .

LESSONS/READING ASSIGNMENTS

TEST SCHEDULE – SPRING 2009