Gibbs A122 903-675-6320 bodom@tvcc.edu Conference time: 9-10 AM MWF and by appointment

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO TO ASSURE SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE ARE TO READ, STUDY, AND UNDERSTAND THESE

Course description: Study of the United States and Texas Constitutions, civil liberties, civil rights, federalism, interest groups, public opinion, political parties, voting and elections.

1. To acquire an understanding of US and Texas governments; their origins, development and current political practices.

2. To gain factual knowledge about US and Texas government (terminology, classifications, methods, trends).

3. To learn to apply course materials to improve rational thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.

4. To gain a broader understanding and appreciation of intellectual and cultural activity as they relate to, or impact, US and Texas government.

5. To develop a sense of personal responsibility (self-reliance, self-discipline).

Assessment of these outcomes will occur through Exams and written projects described below.

The is generally a lecture/discussion course over the required material supplemented with slide presentations. Concepts and analysis will be emphasized. Real live events occurring at all levels of government and politics are important. Students are encouraged to pay attention to media coverage of political topics but to broaden their exposure beyond the Comedy Channel. Such information can teach you and help you see what you are learning in the classroom looks like in the real world of politics and government. Classroom discussion of the real world will be a vital part of the course.

It is of the utmost importance that each student comprehends that the source of the conflicts and tensions underlying most of the major political controversies in our society come from our attempts to deal with the conflicts and tensions among the concepts of freedom, order and equality. You also need to thoroughly understand the difference between majoritarian and pluralist democracy.

Study guides for each chapter of COD will be provided. At least 75% of all Exam questions will be from material in the textbook assignments. Other Exam questions will cover lecture presentations. Lectures may cover material not necessarily found in the textbooks. Everything of significance in the textbooks will not necessarily be discussed in class or included on a study guide.

There will be four Exams during this semester including the Final Exam. Due to the amount of material we need to cover, these exams will require a large amount of reading as preparation. Exams will be difficult multiple choice and written questions. Important! I expect you to acquire an understanding of the material covered in this course. Many Exam questions will be analytical in order to probe for that understanding; they will not just test your memory of facts. I don’t “teach the test.” The Final Exam will be COMPREHENSIVE, a review of all the material that has been covered during the semester as well as the new material covered since the Third Exam. More information about the Final will be provided as it becomes appropriate.

You will also be given several Key Term Tests over the Key Terms that appear in each chapter of Challenge of Democracy. The average of the scores (minus the lowest score) on these Key Term Tests will count as much in determining your course grade as an Exam. You will be told when you will have a Key Term Test. You will be allowed to make up one of these Key Term Tests; that means that you can miss two, the first one will count as a “0" and can be dropped as the lowest grade.

You will write two essays over assigned topics. These will not be research papers. The purpose of these papers will be for you to show me your understanding of the basic framework the textbook authors use to explain our government and politics, that is, majoritarianism and pluralist democracy and the clash among the values of freedom, order and equality.

Format: printed, 12 pt. font, margins–1" top, 1.5" bottom, 1.5" left, 1" right, double-spaced. No handwritten papers.

At the discretion of the instructor. There will be none during the last two weeks of the semester.

No make-up Exams will be given. The comprehensive Final Exam score will also be counted as the score for one missed Exam. Any additional missed Exam will be counted as “0” for purposes of determining the course grade.

Your course grade will be based on the average of these six grades — four Exams, the Key Term Test average and the essay average. The Final Exam will count 25% and each of the other scores will count 15% of your course grade.

The grading scale for this course is: A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=0-59.

Excellent attendance and/or classroom participation could add up to 5 points to your course average.

You should be familiar with the college policy on p. 64 of the catalog. In addition you need to know:

“A new Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Rule has been established to address a new law enacted by the legislature regarding the number of withdrawals (‘W’s’) that a student may have during their academic career (THECB Rules: Chapter 4, Subchapter A, 4.10). The law states that any student whose first semester in college is Fall 2007 or later may not have more than six unexcused withdrawals (W’s) during their academic career. This applies to a student’s academic record from all higher education institutions attended. If a student has six unexcused withdrawals, they will no longer be allowed to withdraw from a course without receiving a grade in the course (which will be an ‘F’). To determine if a withdrawal is excused, a student must initiate a withdrawal request through the guidance services office or, in special circumstances, through the faculty member. It is the students’ responsibility to officially withdraw from a course and to verify that the withdrawal has been posted to their transcript.”

If you miss roll call you are counted absent. If you come in before the door is closed it is your responsibility to tell me of your presence after class. It is important to note that ALL absences are counted, even those required by the College!

The last day to drop a class (by me or yourself) and receive a “W” is April 11.

● A student who walks out during class without previously having requested permission to do so WILL BE COUNTED ABSENT.

● No eating or drinking or use of tobacco in any form is allowed in the classroom.

You will find tips on how to improve your study habits if you click here and here and here.

Your instructor expects certain things from students. Among them are attentiveness, courtesy, effort, punctuality, and respect.

Students are always welcome to visit with the instructor or to confer if there are any academic problems that need to be discussed or to discuss the political news and controversies of the day.

All handouts plus other interesting stuff for this class will be available on the internet at the address below.

There are two tutoring labs on campus for students who are having difficulty with a course or with their study habits. One is in the Liberal Arts building and students must meet official eligibility requirements for its support. It is also a place where students who are doing well in a course may be employed as tutors. The other is an open tutoring lab where all students can come and be tutored by faculty.

I reserve to the right to modify anything in this syllabus during the semester. You will be informed if modifications are made.

Any changes in this syllabus will be made at my discretion and communicated to you.

http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&flag=student&product_isbn_issn=9780495410676&disciplinenumber=20

Below is a tentative outline of the reading requirements for the semester. The Study Guide for each unit will be the ultimate authority.

Challenge of Democracy	Texas Politics Today
Unit 1 Chs. 1, 2	Ch. 1 pp. 17-30
Unit 1.1 Ch. 3	Ch. 2
Unit 2 Chs. 15, 16, and 6 (partial)
Unit 3 Chs. 5, and 10
Unit 4 Chs. 8 and 9	Ch. 3, 4