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Trinity
Valley Community College
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INTERNET
COURSE SYLLABUS
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GOVERNMENT
2301: AMERICAN AND TEXAS CONS=
TITUTION
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FALL
2009
* Se=
e new
TVCC log-in Instructions below on page two
Professor: E. Michael You=
ng
Contact Inform=
ation: My office is =
T101
at the Palestine campus. But for this internet course, the best way to cont=
act
me is through the Blackbaord email. My TVCC email is myoung@tvcc.ed=
u. My office ph=
one
number is (903) 729-0256 extention 261.
Textbooks: The Challe=
nge of
Democracy, 10th edition, by Janda, Berry, and Goldman; Te=
xas
Politics Today, 13th edition, by Maxwell and Crane.
Course Decript=
ion: This is a 3
semester credit hour distance learningcourse. The instructional methodology=
is self-learning.
This type of couse can be very useful to certain students, for example those
who want to complete their education while working full time. But it does
require more self motivation and discpline. This course is an intro to the US and Texas Constitutions=
, federalism,
civil liberties, public opinion, voting & elections, and interest group=
s.
Course Rationale:
Course Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, the student is expected to: 1) acq=
uire
an understanding of the origins, development, and current practices of Amer=
ican
and Texas government; 2) gain factual knowledge about American and Texas
government, including terminology, classifications, methods, and trend; 3)
learn to apply course material to improve rational thinking, problem solvin=
g,
and decision-making. 4) gain a broader understanding of the intellectual and
cultural activities as they relate to government; 5) develop an appreciatio=
ns
of the contributions made to American and Texas government and society by
racial, ethnic, and religious minorities; and, 6) develop a sense of person=
al
responsibility (self-reliance and self-discipline).
Log-in Instructions
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Course Grade:
A (90 -100%) B (80-89) C (70-79%) D (60-6=
9%) F (59% and below)
Your course grade will consist of the following four grades:
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bsp;
Four Unit Exams (5=
0%): Each test will c=
over three
or four chapters and consist of 50 multiple choice questions. They will be
proctored (SUPERVISED). You must take them in a TVCC testing center or libr=
ary
and use a password.
<=
![if !supportLists]>2) Thirteen Chapter Quizzes (25%): The
quizzes can be taken at home, or wherever you have a computer. You can take=
the
quizzes an unlimited number of times, and you only need a passing grade to =
get
the credit (If you get a score of 70% or higher, I will give 100% credit). =
The
quizzes will mostly serve as preparation for the unit exams. Students who t=
ake
the quizzes two or three times each often get an A on the exams.
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span
style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>3)&n=
bsp;
Assignments (12.5%=
): You must complete =
the
four assignments, one for each unit. They are very short, one page,
assignments.
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span
style=3D'mso-list:Ignore'>4)&n=
bsp;
Discussion (12.5%<=
/span>): You must partic=
ipate
in the four unit discussion topics.
Assignments: The nature of these assignments is to get the student to become
more politically active and aware. There are four assignments for this cour=
se:
&=
nbsp; Unit One: Write your congressman =
or
senator an email about an issue you are concerned about. Make it short and =
powerful
to get his or her attention. Submit me a copy of your letter, no more than =
one
page.
&=
nbsp; Unit Two: Find an interest
group’s website on the internet. For example, go to PETA, the Seirra
Club, the Club for Growth, or MoveOn.org. Then write a one page description=
of
the concerns and activities the interest group is involved with.
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nbsp; Unit Three: Attend some government
function: city council meeting, school board meeting, trial, political
demonstration—any local or state government activity. Submit a one pa=
ge
description of the event.
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nbsp; Unit Four: Go to the Whitehouse w=
ebsite
and read one of the president’s latest speeches. In one page, describe
the essence of the speech and provide several quotes. You can critique the
speech either in your summary or in your conclusion.
Discussion Topics: Go to the Discussion board and participate by posting your
thoughts on the following political topics:
&=
nbsp; Unit One: Do
you support or oppose Health Care Reform. Why or why not. Give specifics.
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Unit
Two: Topic
to be announced.
=
Unit
Three: Topic
to be announced.
=
Unit
Four: Topic
to be announced.
*** KEY TO SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE: The assignment=
s and
discussions are easy and they count for 25% of the grade. And the quizzes a=
re
open book and you can take them an unlimited number of times until you pass.
The quizzes are worth 25% of the grade. The only hard part is the four unit=
exams.
But if you get full credit for all the easy stuff, then just do decently on=
the
exams and you will pass they class with flying colors!!!
FALL
2009 COURSE SCHEDULE with Due Dates:
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nbsp; Unit
One:
&=
nbsp; Read Janda Chapter 1: Freedom,
Order, or Equality?
Read
Janda Chapter 2: Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy?
Read
Janda Chapter 3: The Constitution
Complete
chapter quizzes 1, 2, and 3
Submit
assignment one
Submit
discussion one
Take
Exam I in the Testing Center
Everything
is due by 9/25/2009
&=
nbsp; Unit
Two:
&=
nbsp; Read Janda Chapter 4: Federalism
Read
Janda Chapter 5: Public Opinion and Political Socialization
Read
Janda Chapter 6: Media
Complete
chapter quizzes 4, 5, and 6
Submit
assignment two.
Submit
discussion two
Take
Exam II in the Testing Center
Everything
is due by 10/16/2009
Unite Three:
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nbsp; Janda Chapter 7: Participation=
and
Voting
Janda
Chapter 8: Political Parties
Janda
Chapter 9: Nominations, Elections, and Campaigns
Janda
Chapter 10: Interest Groups
Complete
quizzes 7, 8, 9, and 10
Submit
assignment three
Submit
discussion three
Take
Exam III in the Testing Center
Everything
is due by 11/6/2009
Unit Four:
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nbsp; Read Maxwell Chapter 1: Texas History and Culture
Read
Maxwell Chapter 2: The Texas Constitution
Read
Maxwell Chapter 3: Voting and Elections
Complete
quizzes TX1, TX2, and TX3
Submit
assignment four
Submit
discussion four
Take
Exam IV in the Testing Center
Everything
is due by 12/4/2009