POLS 001: AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONS Section #69332 Tuesdays 6:30-9:30 p.m. Mt. House Campus From 8/21 to 12/10 Instructor: Dr. Pamela J. Van Zwaluwenburg Contact: INBOX in Canvas or pvanzwaluwenburg@deltacollege.edu Office Hours: Before or after class I. Catalog Description: This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of government and political processes at the national, state, and local levels. Included are studies of basic issues confronted by the American people and their governing institutions. The course fulfills the Social Science (Group A) requirements for the AA and AS degrees and the United States Constitution and California State and Local Government requirements for the California State University system. II. Required Textbooks: Greenberg, Edward & Page, Benjamin. (2011). The Struggle for Democracy: 10 th Edition. IL: Pearson. III. Important Dates: Refund Date= 9/1/17 Last date to drop a full-term class WITHOUT a "W" notation on the academic transcript=9/10/17 Last date to drop a full-term class with a "W" notation on the transcript= 10/17/17 IV. Course Objectives 1. Describe and analyze the framework of government including the political structure, the fundamental concepts of government and their application in the United States. 2. Differentiate the key elements of the U.S. and California constitutions and describe how they have changed over time. 3. Define federalism and identify how it has changed overtime. 4. Define civil rights and civil liberties; identify their sources and outline how and why they have changed over time. 5. Examine and analyze the institutions of the American president, the Congress and the judiciary and their California state and local counterparts. 6. Analyze and critique the role and impact of public opinion, interest groups, and the media in the national and state political systems. 7. Analyze and critique the role and impact of political parties in the national and state political systems. 8. Explain and evaluate the national and state election processes. V. Student Responsibilities: This course is a WEB ENHANCED course, which requires you to work through Canvas and complete your assignments, discussions, and exams online. This frees up class time to cover the material more thoroughly. There will be a few in-class assignments worth approx. 100 points. A. Worksheets (14x10 points each=140 points total) 1. Each week s worksheet can be found in the Weekly Modules (ex. WS#1 is found in Week #1) or it can be accessed under ASSIGNMENTS on the left side menu. 2. After you are done reading your assigned pages from the Struggle for Democracy textbook you will be required to fill out answers on a worksheet, which you will submit when completed. 3. You need to click on SUBMIT ASSIGNMENT then the textbox will appear where you are to type in your answers. 4. PLEASE PUT ANSWERS IN YOUR OWN WORDS as much as possible. You don t need to go outside of the textbook for answers unless you are looking for current examples.
5. Each worksheet is worth 10 points and will help guide you in your reading and illuminate what I think are important concepts and ideas within each chapter. B. Readings and Discussions (12x10 points each=120 total points) 1. You will be required to read articles from Congressional Quarterly Researcher and other sources throughout the semester and post discussion responses to them. 2. You will be required to post at least TWO responses per week in Discussions. One of your responses must be to my original posting, answering the questions listed, and a second response must be to another student s posting, responding to what he or she has written. 3. Each posting must be at LEAST FIVE SENTENCES LONG. 4. Due to the nature of our subject matter, American politics, an important element of learning in this class is online discussion. My hope is that these issues are important to you and stimulate a great deal of thinking and opinions. C. IARs (Internet Article Reviews) (11x10 points=110 points total) 1. Each week you will to a news website, read an article about a current event going on in the world or in American politics. You will be required to post TWICE, the first to summarize the article in five sentences and give your opinion and the second post to respond to another student s post/article. BE SURE THE TOPIC IS POLITICAL (not about crime or entertainment). 2. Each IAR is worth ten points and is also found under the DISCUSSIONS link. D. Quizzes and Exams: 1. Chapter Quizzes (140 points total) a. The quizzes will be multiple choice and will assist you in preparing for the exams. b. If you want to work ahead, you will be able to take the quizzes ahead of time (i.e., in the weeks preceding the week it is due). c. You will have thirty minutes to complete the quiz. Therefore, you will need to have read the chapter(s) in advance. d. As you complete the questions, click save answer and at the end of the quiz be sure to click finish. Canvas will report that the quiz has been submitted. 2. Exams (301 points total) a. The exams will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. b. A study guide will be provided. c. All exams will be available on Canvas within that week s section in the Course Map. The exam will only be available for that one week only. d. Exams will be released to you for two hours only so be sure that you have studied before hand and set aside a two-hour time period to complete the exam. e. Dates for quizzes and tests are listed on the Weekly Schedule below. f. Your score will be released to you when the instructor has finished the grading and the release period has ended. You will have three exams throughout the semester. These December be done throughout the week they are due but must be completed by 11:55 p.m. Sunday. g. Dates of the exams are as follows: Exam #1 (Chapters 1-3): Due Week #4-Sunday, September 17 Exam #2 (Chapters 6-10): Due Week #8-Sunday, October 15 FINAL EXAM (Chapters 11&12, 14-19): Due Sunday, December 10
E. Research Paper (100 points): 1. You will be required to write a research paper on one of the weekly reading/discussion topics. Your paper must be double-spaced and must be at least 1500 words long. Sources must include the weekly reading along with at least four additional sources and your sources must be current (no more than 3 years old). Your sources must be cited within the paper with a bibliography at the end of the paper. 2. Your essay should include: DESCRIPTION: Summary of the issue, including a brief history EXPLANATION: Why there is a problem that needs to be address EVALUATION: Brief summary of both sides of this issue PRESCRIPTION: Your own opinion (one page or so). What should be done? 3. Your essay must be checked for grammar and spelling, and must include proper MLA Style citations within the text, not just at the end of the paper. Papers will be returned with no grade unless properly cited. I have attached instructions for the research paper, including links to the library, how to cite your paper and how to avoid plagiarism. 4. Be sure to write in your own words. Papers with copied/plagiarized portions will not be accepted. I DO NOT want papers full of quotes; paraphrase and cite your information as much as possible. LIMIT TWO DIRECT QUOTES PER PAPER. F. Misc. 1) Attendance is very important in this class. If you miss more than three classes, you may be dropped from the course. 2) NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED, unless prior arrangement has been made. 3) DSPS: If you have a documented disability and need accommodations for this class, please see me as soon as possible or contact the Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) for assistance. DSPS is located in the DeRicco Building, 2 nd floor. DSPS # is 954-65151 ext. 6272. 4) NEW +/- grading scale at Delta College A =Excellent work -- Work earning 93% or higher A- =Exemplary Work -- Work earning a score of 90% to 92.9% B+ =Very Good work -- Work earning a score of 87% to 89.9% B =Good Work -- Work earning a score of 83% to 86.9% B- =Very Satisfactory -- Work earning a score of 80% to 82.9% C+ =Better than Satisfactory Work -- Work earning a score of 77% to 79.9% C =Satisfactory Work -- Work earning a score of 70% to 76.9% D =Less than Satisfactory work -- Work earning a score of 60% to 69.9% F =Failing -- Work earning a score of less than 60% FW =A grade indicating that the student ceased participating in the class and failed to withdraw in a timely manner
5) Grading Scale out of 911 points A=820-911 points C=638-728 points F=Below 547 B=729-819 points D=547-637 G. Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism Policy (from the Delta College Handbook): An assignment that falls into one of these categories, such as the research paper or an exam essay, December receive a failing grade (0) or will be given an F in the class. A report will be put in the offending student s file. Academic Dishonesty consists of any deliberate attempt to falsify, fabricate or otherwise tamper with data, information, records, or any other material that is relevant to the student's participation in any course, laboratory, or other academic exercise or function. Most, although not all, such attempts fall into one or more of the following two categories: 1. Plagiarism: Deliberately presenting work, words, ideas, theories, etc., derived in whole or in part from a source external to the student as though they are the student's own efforts. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Failing to use proper citations as acknowledgment of the true source of information included in a paper, written or oral examination, or any other academic exercise. 2. Presenting any work completed in whole or in part by any individual or group other than the student, as though the work is the student's own, in any academic exercise. 3. Buying, selling, bartering, or in any other fashion obtaining or distributing material to be used fraudulently as part of any academic exercise. 2. Cheating: Disseminating or receiving answers, data, or other information by any means other than those expressly permitted by the instructor as part of any academic exercise. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Copying answers, data, or other information (or allowing others to do so) during an examination, quiz, laboratory experiment, or any other academic exercise in which the student is not expressly permitted to work jointly with others. 2. Assuming another individual's identity or allowing another person to do so on one's own behalf for the purpose of fulfilling any academic requirement or in any way enhancing the student's grade or academic standing. 3. Using any device, implement, or other form of study aid during an examination, quiz, laboratory experiment, or any other academic exercise without the faculty member's permission. The foregoing list of offenses is not intended to be fully exhaustive of all potential instances of academic dishonesty.
Weekly Schedule I. FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY Week #1 August 22 (Tue): Introduction to course and Canvas Intro to Democracy Assignments: Due Sunday, August 27 Struggle Chapter One: Introduction Worksheet #1 Quiz #1 Week #1 Reading & Discussion: Democracy in the Constitution Week #1 IAR Week #2 August 29 (Tue): Introduction to Democracy and the Constitution Assignments: Due Sunday, September 3 Chapter Two: The Constitution Worksheet #2 Quiz #2 Week #2 Reading & Discussion: Rural Economies Week #2 IAR Week #3: September 5 (Tue): The Constitution and Federalism Assignments: Due Sunday, September 10 Struggle Chapter Three: Federalism Worksheet #3 Quiz #3 Week #3 Reading & Discussion: Civic Education Week #3 IAR Week #4 September 12 (Tue): Federalism and Jeopardy Contest for Exam #1 Assignments: Due Sunday, September 17 Exam #1 on Chapters 1-3 Struggle Chapter Five (Public Opinion) and Ten (Voting and Participation) Worksheet #4 Quiz #4 No discussion or IAR II. LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS Week #5 September 19 (Tue): Public Opinion, Political Ideology and Voting/Participation Assignments: Due Sunday, September 24 Struggle Chapter Six: The Media Worksheet #5 Quiz #5 Week #5 Reading & Discussion: Media Bias Week #5 IAR
Week #6 September 26 (Tue): Media Assignments: Due Sunday, October 1 Struggle Chapter Seven: Interest Groups Worksheet #6 Quiz #6 Week #6 Reading & Discussion: Campaign Finance Week #6 IAR Week #7 October 3 (Tue): Interest Groups Assignments: Due Sunday, October 8 Struggle Chapter Nine: Political Parties Worksheet #7 Quiz #7 Week #7 Reading & Discussion: Farm Subsidies Week #7 IAR Midterm Feedback Survey Week #8 October 10 (Tue): Political Parties and Jeopardy Contest Assignments: Due Sunday, October 15 EXAM #2_Chapters 5-10 (not 8) Struggle Chapter Eleven: Congress Worksheet #8 Quiz #8 NO IAR or discussion Week #9: October 17 (Tue): Intro to Congress and the Legislative Process Assignments: Due Sunday, October 22 Struggle Chapter Twelve: Executive Branch Struggle Chapter Thirteen: The Bureaucracy Worksheet #9 Quiz #9 Week #9 Reading & Discussion: Social Security Week #9 IAR Week #10: October 24 (Tue): Executive Branch Assignments: Due Sunday, October 29 Struggle Chapter Fourteen: The Courts Worksheet #10 Quiz #10 Week #10 Reading & Discussion: Immigrant Detention Week # 10 IAR
Week #11 October 31 (Tue): Supreme Court Assignments: Due Sunday, November 5 Struggle Chapter Fifteen: Civil Liberties Worksheet #11 Quiz #11 Week #11 Reading & Discussion: Sentencing Reform Week #11 IAR IV. PUBLIC POLICIES Week #12 November 7 (Tue): Civil Liberties Assignments: Due by Sunday, November 12 Reading: Struggle Chapter Sixteen: Civil Rights Worksheet #12 Quiz #12 Week #12 Reading & Discussion: Racial Conflict Week #12 IAR Week #13 November 14 (Tue): Civil Rights Assignments: Due by Sunday, November 19 Struggle Chapter Seventeen: The Budget & Economic Policies Chapter Eighteen: Social Safety Nets Worksheet #13 Quiz #13 Online Assignment: Federal Budget Challenge Week #13 Reading & Discussion: National Debt NO IAR Week #14 November 21 (Tue): Budget and Economic Policy and Social Safety Nets Assignments: Due by Sunday, November 26 Chapter Nineteen: Foreign Policy Worksheet #14 Quiz #14 Week #14 Reading & Discussion: Free Trade Week #14 IAR Week #15 November 28 (Tue): Foreign Policy Assignments: Due by Sunday, December 3--RESEARCH PAPER Week #16 December 5 (Tue): Exam Review and Jeopardy Contest Sunday, December 10 (by 11:55 p.m.): Exam #3 on Chapters 11-19