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INTERNET
COURSE SYLLABUS - FALL 2009
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GOVERNMENT
2302: AMERICAN AND TEXAS GOVERNMEN=
T
*For=
new
TVCC log-in instructions, see page two.
Professor: E.
Michael Young
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 Blackboard email. My campus phone number is (903) 729-0256
extention 261, and my campus email is myoung@tvcc.ed=
u.
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
via the internet. This type of course can be very useful to certain student=
s,
for example those who want to complete their education while working full t=
ime.
But it does require more self motivation and discpline. This course is an introduction =
to the
United States and Texas Constitutions, federalism, civil liberties, public
opinion, voting and elections, and interest groups.
Course Rationale: The Texas Education Code (51.301) mandates that
"every college and university receiving state support or state aid from
public funds shall give a course of instruction in government or political
science that includes consideration of the Constitution of the United States
and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas.
This course shall have a credit value of not less than six semester hours or
its equivalent." Implicit in the law is the understanding that a good
citizen knows something about the constitution and the politics of his coun=
try and
state.
Course
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, the student is expected to: 1) acquire an
understanding of the origins, development, and current practices of American
and Texas government; 2) gain factual knowledge about American and Texas go=
vernment,
including terminology, classifications, methods, and trend; 3) learn to app=
ly
course material to improve rational thinking, problem solving, 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
Information:
Course
Grade:
A (90 -100%) B (80-89) C (70-79=
%) D (60-69%) F (59% and below)
Your
course grade will consist of the following four grades:
<=
![if !supportLists]>1) Four
Unit Exams (50%):
Each unit exam will cover three or four chapters and consist of 50 multiple
choice questions. They will be proctored (supervised). You must take them in
the library or a testing center of one of the TVCC campuses. The test proct=
or
has the passwords for each exam.
<=
![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% credi=
t). 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.
<=
![if !supportLists]>3) Assignments
(12.5%): You must complete=
the
four short writing assignments, one for each unit.
<=
![if !supportLists]>4) Discussion
(12.5%): You must
participate in the four unit discussion topics.
Assignments:
The nature of the=
se
assignments is to get the student to become more politically active and awa=
re.
There are four assignments for this course: *** Submit all these via Blackb=
oard
Assignments.
Unit One: Write your congressman =
or
senator an email about an issue you are concerned about. Remember to keep it
short and powerful (less than one page). Congressmen and senators get a lot=
of
email, so try to make yours stand out. Submit a copy of your letter in the
assignment drop box.
Unit Two: Find an interest group’s
website on the internet. For example, go to PETA, the Seirra Club, the Club=
for
Growth, MoveOn.org or any group that interest you. In one page, describe wh=
at
they do, what activities they sponsor, and their political agenda.
Unit Three: Attend some government function: city c=
ouncil
meeting, school board meeting, trial, political demonstration—any local or
state government activity. In one page,
describe the event and what you learned from the experience.
Unit Four: Go to the Whitehouse w=
ebsite
and read one of the president’s latest speeches. In one page, give me
the topic of the speech and provide several quotes. You can critique=
it
as you summarize it, or save your comments for your conclusion.
Discussion
Topics: Go to the
Discussion board and participate by posting your thoughts on the following
topics:
Unit One: Do you support or oppose
Health Care Reform. Why or why not. Give specifics.
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 assignments =
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 COU=
RSE
SCHEDULE - with all due dates
UNIT ONE=
Read Janda Chapter 11: Congress
=
Read
Janda Chapter 12: The Presidency
=
Read
Janda Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy
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Complete
chapter quizzes 11, 12, and 13.
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Submit
Discussion One
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Submit
Assignment One
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Take
Exam I in the Testing Center
=
Everything
is DUE by 9/25/2009
=
UNIT TWO=
Read Janda Chapte=
r 14:
The Courts
=
Read
Janda Chapter 15: Order and Civil Liberties
=
Read
Janda Chapter 16: Equality and Civil Rights
=
Complete
chapter quizzes 14, 15, and 16.
=
Submit
Discussion Two
=
Submit
Assignment Two
=
Take
Exam II in the Testing Center
=
Everything
is DUE by 10/16/2009
UNIT THR=
EE
Read Janda Chapte=
r 18:
Economic Policy
=
Read
Janda Chapter 19: Domestic Policy
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Read
Janda Chapter 20: Global Policy
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Complete
chapter quizzes 18, 19, and 20
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Submit
Assignment Three
=
Submit
Discussion Three
=
Take
Exam III in the Testing Center
=
Every
thing is DUE by 11/6/2009
UNIT FOU=
R
M & C Chapter 6: The legislature
=
M
& C Chapter 7: The Legislative Process
=
M
& C Chapter 8: The Governor
=
M
& C Chapter 9: The Bureaucracy
=
Complete
Texas chapter quizzes 6, 7, 8, and 9.
=
Submit
Assignment Four
=
Submit
Discussion Four
=
Every
thing is DUE by 12/4/2009
=