Eastern Kentucky University Department of Government POL 101: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 3.00 Credits Winter CRN 70007

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1 Eastern Kentucky University Department of Government POL 101: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT 3.00 Credits Winter CRN Professor: Joe Gershtenson Office: Miller 202 Office Hours: by appointment Office Phone: (859) CATALOG DESCRIPTION: POL 101: Introduction to American Government Principles, functions, and basic political institutions of the American system of government at the national level. REQUIRED TEXT: Keeping the Republic: Power and Citizenship in American Politics. The Essentials. 8th edition (2017). Christine Barbour and Gerald C. Wright. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage/CQ Press. ISBN: Note: Only the textbook is required for this course. However, students have the option to purchase the textbook bundled with electronic resources such as an interactive ebook and online study materials. None of the online materials are required for the class, but some students find the online materials helpful when studying. Additional readings and materials will be made available through Blackboard. NO PREREQUISITES ONLINE FORMAT: This course is taught completely online, through video and audio presentations, discussion board forums, directed readings, and assignments, and exams, over the period of five weeks (one of which is a holiday week during which students do NOT have required readings or assignments) which are divided into eight modules. An overview of the course modules can be viewed in the table at the end of this syllabus and on the course s Blackboard site. TECHNOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS: In order to complete this course, students need the following technology: High speed Internet connection Computer speakers Familiarity with Blackboard Word-processing program that will save Access to EKU files as.doc,.docx, or PDF Microphone or other recording device PDF reader GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS: POL 101 is a general education course designed such that students will be able to:

2 1. Use appropriate methods of critical thinking and quantitative reasoning to examine issues and to identify solutions. (GE Goal two) 2. Analyze the historical and social contexts of cultural, economic, political, religious, and scientific developments. (GE Goal three) 3. Analyze the social and behavioral influences that explain how people relate to each other, to institutions, and to communities. (GE Goal four) 4. Distinguish the methods that underlie the search for knowledge in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, history, and social and behavioral sciences. (GE Goal seven) 5. Integrate knowledge that will deepen their understanding of, and will inform their own choices about, issues of personal and public importance. (GE Goal eight) Students will learn about the principles, functions, and basic political institutions of the American system of government at the national level. As part of the learning, students are required to use critical thinking to understand and evaluate democratic traditions and to better understand the importance of engaged citizenship. Students are also required to consider the historical development of American democracy and to integrate knowledge of political institutions, processes and behavior throughout the course. In doing these things, students will be instructed regarding the ways in which political scientists use qualitative and quantitative methods to study political institutions, processes and behavior. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will study American government using political concepts, which provide a formal framework for public policy, political behavior and government actions and institutions. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1. Demonstrate comprehension of the basic institutions and processes of American politics through written and oral communication. (CCR.R.1; CCR.R.2; CCR.W.2) 2. Demonstrate comprehension of the role of citizens in our democracy and evaluate their own roles in the political process through written and oral communication. (CCR.R.1; CCR.R.2; CCR.W.2) 3. Apply, orally and in writing, concepts in American government to examples drawn from their everyday lives. (CCR.W.2) 4. Analyze orally and in written form current political events, integrate information about disparate events, and evaluate their own positions. (CCR.R.1; CCR.R.2; CCR.R.7; CCR.R.8; CCR.W.1; CCR.W.2; CCR.W.9) 5. Identify, comprehend and communicate orally and in written form selected major political developments in United States history. (CCR.R 1, 2, 7, 9, 10; CCR.W 2, 9) 6. Analyze orally and in written form the ways in which contemporary American politics have been influenced by historical developments. (CCR.R 3, 7, 9, 10; CCR.W 1, 2, 4, 9) 7. Evaluate primary sources as evidence for political scientists through written and oral communication. (CCR.R 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; CCR.W 1, 2, 4, 9) 8. Demonstrate comprehension of the forms of political participation and measure the effects of participation by various groups through written and oral communication. (CCR.R.1; CCR.R.2; CCR.W.2; CCR.W.9) 9. Explain orally and in writing the effects of social, economic, cultural, geographic and psychological factors on political ideology and political preferences. (CCR.R.1; CCR.R.2; CCR.W.1; CCR.W.2) 10. Analyze orally and in written form political arguments and integrate new information in relation to those arguments. (CCR.R.1; CCR.R.2; CCR.R.3; CCR.R.4; CCR.R.9; CCR.W.1; CCR.W.2; CCR.W.9)

3 11. Analyze and evaluate orally and in written form the impact of political choices and policies upon themselves and upon society as a whole. (CCR.R.3; CCR.W.1; CCR.W.2; CCR.W.9) Evaluation Methods: Students will have the chance to develop each of these skills in this course through writing on exams and assignments, listening to lectures, asking and answering questions and participating in discussions, and completing assignments, including an oral presentation. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Students will be evaluated via assignments, discussion, and exams. Please note that the exams will draw on required readings, videos, and class discussions through Blackboard. 30% Assignments (4 equally weighted assignments) 25% Discussion Boards (8 equally weighted forums) 45% Exams (3 exams worth 15% each) PLEASE NOTE: The fact that this Introduction to American Government course is taught online does not mean that the course is easier than the in-class version. As shown later in the course outline, the requirements for the course are divided into modules. For each module, students will have lecture presentations to watch, assigned chapters to read, a discussion board in which to participate, and (for some modules) an assignment to complete. To take the course, students must regularly (daily for this course at a minimum) check their EKU and be able to use Blackboard. Inability to access Blackboard because of a temporary Blackboard failure or because of personal computer troubles is NOT AN ACCEPTABLE reason for missing assignments or exams. I will be available by and I will also post course announcements and grades on Blackboard. All course modules will be available at the beginning of the term so that students may work ahead (at least on readings and some assignments) should they choose, and, this may be particularly important the last couple modules of the course since the timeline is a bit compressed and there are several assignments due the same days. All discussion board forums, assignments, and exams included in each of the modules have due dates specified below. Once the dates for assignments have passed, students will still be able to view module lectures and materials will still be available, but will NOT be able to complete the assignments. ASSIGNMENTS: You will complete four assignments (one due at the end of each of modules 2, 4, 6, and 8) designed to get you engaged with current political events and apply concepts learned from class to evaluate our political institutions. The assignments may involve completing some supplemental readings and doing some outside research, completing and analyzing a survey, writing short papers, etc. The specific assignment guidelines and a rubric for grading are posted on Blackboard. Each of the first three assignments will be graded out of 25 points. Late assignments will NOT be accepted. ORAL ASSIGNMENT (ASSIGNMENT 4): Many of the learning outcomes for this course must be assessed orally. In order to comply with these outcomes, you will complete an audio recording of a response to an essay question as part of the course. This requires you to have access to a microphone or another recording device (there are a variety of options/devices that will work) that will enable you to make an audio recording for this assignment. The oral assignment will be cumulative in the sense that it will address important, recurrent themes from throughout the course and require students to integrate material from across the modules. The response should be approximately 5 6

4 minutes. This assignment will be graded in accordance with the rubric posted on Blackboard, and be graded out of 100 points (though it will be weighted equally with the first three assignments in calculating students assignment portions of course grades). DISCUSSION BOARDS: For each module you will participate in a discussion board. These discussion forums are designed to get you critically thinking about potential reforms to our system of government and understand how contemporary American politics are influenced by the historical design of our government. The specific discussion board guidelines, as well as a rubric for grading, are posted on Blackboard. Each module s discussion board will be graded out of 25 points. Examples include assessing provisions of the Constitution and considering recent developments with regard to gay marriage, among others. EXAMS: Exams will consist of both multiple choice questions and open-ended responses, and each exam covers all material since the previous exam. That means exam 1 will cover modules 1 2, exam 2 will cover modules 3 5, and exam 3 will cover modules 6 8. Exams will draw on lecture materials as well as assigned readings. GRADING SCALE: A = % B = 81-90% C = 70-80% D = 60-69% F = below 60% MISSED/LATE ASSIGNMENTS: There will be no make-up exams or assignments except in the case of a bona fide (and verified) emergency! A different version of the exam may be substituted. Problems with your computer or internet connection are NOT an acceptable excuse for late work. This class is an online course so by signing up for this course you accept the responsibility for having access to a computer with an internet connection for the entire duration of this course. DROP DATE: Please consult the Colonel s Compass on the EKU website. STUDENT PROGRESS: Grades will be updated several times a week on Blackboard so that students know their progress in the course at all times. OFFICIAL An official EKU is established for each registered student and faculty member. All university communications sent via will be sent to this EKU address. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Students are advised that EKU s Academic Integrity policy will be strictly enforced in this course. The Academic Integrity policy is available at Questions regarding the policy may be directed to the Office of Academic Integrity. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

5 A student with a disability may be an individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as learning, seeing or hearing. Additionally, pregnancy or a related medical condition that causes a similar substantial limitation may also be considered a disability under the ADA. If you are registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please obtain your accommodation letters from the OSID and present them to the course instructor to discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you believe you need accommodation and are not registered with the OSID, please contact the office in the Whitlock Building Room 361 by at disserv@eku.edu or by telephone at (859) Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in an alternative format. The Department of Government is located in Beckham Hall and my office is in Miller Hall, historic buildings on campus that are not handicapped accessible. Alternative meeting locations are available as needed. EXPECTATIONS OF THE PROFESSOR: The best way to contact me is via . You can expect a response from me within 24 hours, and typically much more quickly. I will also check the Blackboard forum a minimum of once a day and you can expect a response from me accordingly. I am available to meet with students by appointment (though I will be out of state near the end of the course and unavailable to meet in person then). Exceptional circumstances aside, I will have all assignments for the course graded within two days of their submission. SCHEDULE (may be modified as needed): (Note: KTR refers to the Keeping the Republic textbook) Module 1 Understanding Government & Citizenship READ: KTR chapters 1, 2 Module 2 Discussion Board #1 (original posting by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Monday; American Founding & U.S. Constitution READ: KTR chapters 3, 4 Federalist Papers #10, #51 Module 3 READ: KTR chapter 7 Discussion Board #2 (original posting by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Thursday; responses by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Saturday ) Assignment #1 (by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday) Exam #1 (by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday) Congress & Legislative Process Discussion Board #3 (original posting by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Monday; Module 4 (includes non-instructional days, ) Presidency & Bureaucracy READ: KTR chapters 8, 9

6 Module 5 Discussion Board #4 (original posting by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Friday; responses by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday) Assignment #2 (by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday) Judiciary READ: KTR chapter 10 Discussion Board #5 (original posting by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Monday ; Exam #2 (by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Thursday) Module 6 Civil Liberties & Civil Rights READ: KTR chapter 5, 6 Discussion Board #6 (original posting by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Friday; responses by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday) Assignment #3 (by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday) Module 7 1/12 1/14 Political Parties, Interest Groups, & Media READ: KTR chapters 12, 13, 15 Module 8 Discussion Board #7 (original posting by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Monday; (NOTE: Course ends on Friday, not Sunday, and there is overlap in dates between modules 7 and 8) Public Opinion & Voting READ: KTR chapters 11, 14 Discussion Board #8 (original posting by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Wednesday; responses by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Friday) Exam #3 (by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Friday) Assignment #4 (by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Friday)

Imperial Avenue Holbrook High. Imperial Valley College. Political Science 102. American Government & Politics. Syllabus-Summer 2017

Imperial Avenue Holbrook High. Imperial Valley College. Political Science 102. American Government & Politics. Syllabus-Summer 2017 Imperial Avenue Holbrook High Imperial Valley College Political Science 102 American Government & Politics Syllabus-Summer 2017 Professor: Class Meets: Time: Class Room: Marcus Green MTWR 12:00-02:45PM