POLS 1113: American National Government-CRN 17053

Transcription

1 POLS 1113: American National Government-CRN University of Central Oklahoma (Fall 2014 Syllabus) Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am- 12:15; 12:30pm to 1:45pm INSTRUCTOR: John Wood, Ph.D., obtained a doctorate in environmental policy & conflict management from Oklahoma State University in January In addition, he has a master s in political science and a bachelor s in journalism from OSU. He is currently the vice mayor of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Contact Hours: 5:30pm to 7:30pm M; 10am-11am; 2pm-3pm T&Th (and by appointment) jwood41@uco.edu Telephone: Classroom: COURSE DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the basic institutions of the federal government of the United States, the factors that influence the exercise of political power in determining government policy, and the importance of civil rights and civil liberties to insuring fundamental democratic freedoms and encouraging civic participation. TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING EXPERIENCES: This class depends on active student participation and includes several readings, case studies, and in-class simulations. Classroom questions and discussion are strongly encouraged. Students will participate in classroom experiences and attend lectures which will orient them to basic concepts and information concerning American National Government. Students are responsible, through self-study and reading assignments, to learn relevant concepts and applications. Students will also analyze and present on a variety of current issues. Student are responsible for retaining backup copies of all homework assignments turned in. Students should also be aware that some flexibility is retained in the syllabus to accommodate invited speakers and other learning opportunities. Students should also regularly check their UCO accounts for any class announcements. The Political Science Department is committed to furthering the academic mission, vision, goals, values and philosophy of the University community as outlined in its Academic Mission/Vision See: This course directly incorporates the following Transformative Learning Goals:??? REQUIRED TEXTS (2) McKenna, George Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th edition

2 (ISBN10: ; ISBN13: ) Geer, Schiller, Segal, and Glencross Gateways to Democracy: An Introduction to American Government (with Aplia Printed Access Card). ISBN: COURSE OBJECTIVES STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES Given your conscientious reading of the text and other assigned material, regular class attendance, and active participation in class discussions, you will be able to: Identify the essential elements of the U.S. political system (the Constitution, Congress, the Presidency, the Judiciary), and the powers allocated to each. Identify the political actors (Political Parties, the Public, Media, & Interest Groups) that seek to influence the electoral process. Identify important civil liberties and civil rights, and how these act as a check on unwarranted governmental powers. Recognize the salience of ideology and political culture, and of selected present-day policy debates. These objectives will be met through discussion, class assignments, and quizzes in class. Note: I reserve the right to make changes, additions, or deletions to this syllabus as necessary to achieve these objectives. EXTRA CREDIT Up to five (5) percentage points of the overall total may be earned by attending select events related to government on any level, or other opportunities as approved by the instructor. Class attendance on some days or extraordinary classroom contributions may earn extra credit points without notice. CLASS ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION Attendance certainly has its privileges. Class attendance is an important part of succeeding in this class and is expected of all students. Class time provides an opportunity for you to ask questions, clarify issues, and deepen your understanding of the concepts covered in the text. If you are absent, you are responsible for getting any notes, assignments and schedule changes made on that day. If you come in late, you are responsible for seeing that the attendance record is correct. Above and beyond the expected class attendance, students are required to complete the readings as assigned (see course schedule) prior to the beginning of the class period. Demonstrated

3 mastery of the assigned readings through class discussion is necessary to earn full participation points. Class attendance represents a significant but not exclusive portion of the participation points grading component. This course directly incorporates the following Transformative Learning Goals: Discipline Knowledge students explore, discuss, and practice the techniques, conventions, and processes that will create knowledgeable citizens. Leadership students learn how to present claims and evidence fairly and civilly, to consider thoroughly and respond ethically to counterevidence and counterarguments, and to develop a clear, well-informed stance about ongoing current event political issues and/or problems. Problem Solving (Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities) students learn to analyze complex arguments, to create informed arguments by careful readings and research. Service Learning and Civic Engagement Activities students learn how the public use of argument as well as voting and participating has the potential to affect an audience and to effect a change in their communities. ACADEMIC HONESTY Cheating = Failure (please refer to attached Political Science Department s Academic Integrity Statement and the University s Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment available at: Cheating is unacceptable onduct and will result in an automatic grade of F for the course, and be reported to Academic Affairs. Students are required to do all of the work for this class on their own. Copying answers to exercises or examinations from anyone constitutes cheating. Allowing another student to copy one s answers will be treated as cheating. A student may discuss exercises and case briefs with others before preparing his or her own answers, but the answers must be each student s own work product. Consulting with the instructor about any assignment does not constitute cheating and is encouraged. Turnitin.com Plagiarism Syllabus Statement: UCO subscribes to the Turnitin.com plagiarism prevention service. Students agree that by taking this course, all required assignments may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted assignments will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com

4 restricted access reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such assignments. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use posted on the Turnitin.com website. Turnitin.com is just one of various plagiarism prevention tools and methods which may be utilized by your faculty instructor during the terms of the semesters. In the UCO Student Handbook, there is a process for contesting any plagiarism allegations against you. EXAMINATIONS I give 2 exams (midterm and final). Tell me beforehand that you might miss an exam, in this way, I am more apt to work with you. If you are missing an exam for extra-curricular reasons, I must have a note from your coach, or professor beforehand. Remember, I test on facts, not opinions, unless I specify an author s set of facts or opinion in the required Taking Sides book. Occasionally, errors do occur when grading exams. You will have one week after receiving your exam score to bring to my attention any errors that may have caused you to lose points. No grade adjustments will be made after a week has passed. ASSIGNMENTS I have 2 (not including 2 issue papers) assignments that are required in order to gain full points. This first assignment is: Who are you? Where you will find yourself politically, including your typology (ideology). The second assignment is called: Presidential Commericals, where you will find how propaganda relates. Submitted each essay to me via the assignment link to the left under drop box in D2l. ISSUE PAPERS You must choose 3 essays out of the issue papers. Submitted each essay to me via the assignment link to the left under drop box in D2l. You can choose to write a 4 th for extra credit. These 2 issue papers are based on McKenna and Feingold s Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues, 18 th Edition, which is one of two books you are required to buy. We will have discussions in class, usually 4 where students will chair at least 1 debate during the semester. They will be assigned the day of the debate.

5 NOTE: Overall, this paper is at least 900 words. I used to say 3 pages but too many play with the font and spacing to get there. students Additionally, this paper is not an essay, but 5 essay questions. It is important for you to copy the 5 questions themselves as essay headings. Make sure that you answer the question subheadings for questions 1,3, and 4. Please, take out the notes, those are there to help you understand what I need from you. RETAKING ASSIGNMENTS AND QUIZZES If I let you retake a quiz or assignment, I automatically take 10% for late work (up to 24hrs); 20% (24hrs to a week); 50% (more than a week to a month); zero thereafter. APLIA (ONLINE QUIZZES) APLIA strengthens the link between faculty, students and coursework, helping everyone accomplish more in less time. Innovative, adaptive technology engages students in the course content so they are better prepared, are more active in discussion, and achieve better results. Simply, you will find these quizzes are a series of questions per chapter to prepare for the exams. There will be 9 quizzes throughout the semester-one per chapter. EVALUATION METHODS AND GRADING Instructor will determine course grades. Grading components include using the following scale: Aplia Practice quizzes/2 exams Issue Papers Discussions/Activities Assignments TOTAL 47 percent/270pts percent/ 100pts 17.5 percent /100pts 17.5 percent /100pts 100 percent/570pts Note: I reserve the right to modify the schedule and final grade total of this syllabus at any time in order to fulfill the class objectives stated above. ACADEMIC HONESTY Cheating = Failure (please refer to attached Academic Integrity Statement). Cheating is unacceptable conduct and will result in an automatic grade of F for the course, and be reported to Academic Affairs. Students are required to do all of the work for

6 this class on their own. Copying answers to exercises or examinations from anyone constitutes cheating. Allowing another student to copy one s answers will be treated as cheating. A student may discuss exercises and case briefs with others before preparing his or her own answers, but the answers must be each student s own work product. Consulting with the instructor about any assignment does not constitute cheating and is encouraged. Please refer to the discussion of plagiarism in the Academic Integrity Statement attached to the syllabus (see next page) as well as the Fall 2012 Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment (available at: The Political Science Department of the University of Central Oklahoma is asking all students taking political science courses to read the following Academic Integrity Statement. Our purpose in doing so is to ensure that all our students are aware of what is improper academic behavior. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT As members of the academic community, students are expected to recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity. The Political Science Department expects that its students will conduct themselves honestly. This means, above all, that students submit for credit work that is the product of their own efforts. Principles of academic integrity require that all dishonest work be rejected as a basis for academic credit, and that students refrain from any and all forms of dishonorable conduct in the course of their academic work. The examples and definitions given below are intended to clarify the standards by which academic honesty and integrity is judged. The list is merely illustrative of some of the more common infractions. It is not intended to be exhaustive. Any question a student has about what constitutes inappropriate behavior should be directed towards their instructor. The rule of thumb to follow is: If in doubt, ASK! DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES Plagiarism - Plagiarism is presenting another person s work as one s own. Plagiarism includes not only the exact use of another s words, word for word, but also the paraphrasing or summarizing of the works of another person without acknowledgment, including the submitting of another student s work as one s own. The student is responsible for understanding the legitimate use of sources, the appropriate ways of acknowledging academic, scholarly, or creative indebtedness, and the consequences of violating this responsibility. In case of doubt, give a citation of the author you are using. Failure to indicate the extent and nature of one's reliance on other sources is plagiarism. A plagiarized paper will likely result in a failing grade on the work in question, and perhaps, for the entire course. Cheating on Examinations - Cheating on examinations involves giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during, or after an examination. Examples of unauthorized help

7 include the use of notes, texts, or crib sheets during an examination (unless receiving instructor approval), or sharing information with another student either during or after an examination. Falsification - It is a violation of academic honesty to misrepresent material or to fabricate information in an academic exercise or assignment (e.g. false or misleading citation of sources, the falsification of the results of experiments or of computer data). Multiple Submissions - It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once without the explicit consent of the instructor to whom the material is being submitted the second time. Class Schedule Introduction chapter 1 Week 1 8/18-8/24 Read: In Geer et al. Ch. 1 Gateways to American Democracy. Tues.: Activity: Popcorn; Syllabus-Give out Pew Charitable Trusts Typology quiz have due Thurs. Thurs.: lecture and Who Are You? assignment review; Discussion of Issue: Should Americans Believe in a Unique American Mission? (Discussion of the Issue topics are discussed in class. Refer to the required text Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th edition for this and most if not all of the following class schedule as noted below). Due at the end of the Week: Introduction to Aplia 8/25 Due by next week : 9/1 Aplia quiz over chapter 1. The assignment is due the minute class starts: 1. (You will need to follow the instructions in the content marked Aplia to register and start). Week 2 8/25-8/31 Bring to class Tues.: Activity: Who are You? What do you know about typologies? See dropbox! Thurs: youtube: The Millennials Bring: Illegal immigration Due this week date: 9/2-Assignment 1 Who Are You? Syllabus quiz, no later than 8/29 to stay in the class. Week 3 9/1-9/7 Tues.: Intro; Awakening the American dream: Kevin Maggiacomo at TEDxOrangeCoasthttp:// Thurs.: Ch.1 scratch off quiz. Issue: Does the Tea Party Represent a Revival of America s Revolutionary Ideals? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19 th Edition

8 Due by next week at the beginning of class: due 9/9-Practice Aplia quiz chapter 2 Constitution chapter 2 & Federalism chapter 3 Week 4 9/8-9/14 Read: In Geer et al, Ch. 2 The Constitution Tues.: Early years; Structure of Government Thurs.: Ch.2 scratch off quiz. Issue: Is Bigger Government Better Government? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th Edition Video: Due date by: 9/16 Paper 1, Issue 21. Is Warrantless Wiretapping Ever Justified to Protect National Security? Due by next week at the beginning of class: due 9/15-Aplia quiz chapter 3 Tues.:. Activity: film on the Constitution Week 5 9/15-9/21 Thurs: Ch.3 scratch off quiz Issue: Should the Courts Seek the Original Meaning of the Constitution? ; Discussion Due by next week at the beginning of class: due 9/23-Aplia quiz chapter 4 Read: In Geer et al, Ch. 4, Civil Liberties Civil Liberties chapter 4 Week 6 9/22-9/28 Tues: Issue: Should the United States Be More Restrictive of Gun Ownership? Youtube video Guns in America: Gun Ownership and Crimes by the Numbershttp:// Bring: Thurs: Ch.4 scratch off quiz. Rights vs. Liberties Issue: Should Homeland Security Focus More on Cyber Crime Moving Forward? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th Edition Video: Security Institute - Cyber Security Week 7 9/29-10/5 Tues.: Death penalty The History of Capital Punishment in the United States

9 Bring: Thurs.: Issue: Do Corporations Have the Same Free Speech Rights as Persons? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th Edition FreeSpeechForPeople.org Are Corporations People? Due by next week at the beginning of class: due 10/7-Aplia quiz chapter 11 Congress chapter 11 Week 8 10/6-10/12 Read: In Geer Ch. 11, Congress Tues.: Powers, Organization, and its Members Thurs.: Ch.11 scratch off quiz. Issue: Is Congress a Dysfunctional Institution? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th Edition Video: CBS Evening News - Schieffer: Congress "totally dysfunctional" Due date:10/20-paper 2 Issue 11. Should Abortion Be Restricted? Week 9 10/13-10/19 Tues: Who is your Congressman? Watch Inequality for All. Thurs: Midterm Week 10 10/20-10/26 Tues.: Discussion on abortion Bring to class: Youtube Gerrymandering: How drawing jagged lines can impact an election - Christina Greer Thurs.: Discussion #2 Issue: Should Recreational Drugs Be Legalized? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th Edition Increasing debate on legalizing marijuana in U.S. Bring to class: Due by next week at the beginning of class: due 10/28- Aplia quiz chapter 12 Presidency chapter 12 & Bureaucracy chapter 13

10 Week 11 10/27-11/2 Read: In Geer et al, Ch. 12, The Presidency; Ch. 13, Bureaucracy: Citizens as Owners and Consumers Tues.: Activity: presidential commercials. Have the commercials due on 11/3 Thurs.: Ch.12 & 13 scratch off quiz. Issue: Are Entitlement Programs Creating a Culture of Dependency? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th Edition Due date: 11/4-Paper 3, Issue 5, Does the President Have Unilateral War Powers? Due by next week at the beginning of class: due 11/4-Aplia quiz chapter 13 Week 12 11/3-11/9 No class Due by next week at the beginning of class: due 11/11-Aplia quiz chapter 14 Judiciary chapter 14 Week 13 11/10-11/16 Read: In Geer et al, Ch 14, The Judiciary Tues.: Issue 19. Is Indefinite Detention of Suspected Terrorists Justified? Obama wants Indefinite detention for 'terrorist' suspects at Guantanamo Bay. Thurs: Ch.14 scratch off quiz. Issue: Will the Affordable Care Act Successfully Transform the American Health Care System? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th Edition Bring to class: Week 14 11/17-11/23 (Thanksgiving) Tues.: It s members, key court cases; Drinking age Bring: Thurs: Capital punishment (Separate reading) Due date: 11/18-Assignment 2 presidential commercials Due by next week at the beginning of class: due 11/25-Aplia quiz chapter 5 Read: In Geer et al, Ch. 5, Civil Rights Tues: Slavery, Dred Scott, Segregation Civil Rights chapter 5 Week 15 11/24-11/30 Thurs.: Ch.5 scratch off quiz. Issue: Is Same-Sex Marriage Close to Being Legalized Across the United States? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th Edition youtube Same sex marriage for and against Proposition 8 Bring the procon chart to class

11 Due date: 11/25-Paper 4, Issue 15, Should Same-Sex Marriage Be a Constitutional Right? Week /1-12/7 Tues.: Brown v. Board and Change Brown v. Board of Education in PBS' The Supreme Court Thurs.: Issue: Is America Approaching Equality within Society? Read: Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues - 19th Edition Week 17 (finals week) Tues.: Review Thurs.: Wrap up, review & take final Final & Wrap up