Housatonic Community Technical College
Social and Behavioral Sciences Department
American Government Online
POL*E111 crn:1518 sec:03
spring 2008
Instructor: Michael Enders
203-468-6277 (available 7 days 9:00am to 3:00pm)
Please use the course email system for routine correspondence!!!
Personal email for emergency use only: Michael.B.Enders@comcast.net
This HCTC course in American Government is an introductory survey course pertaining to aspects of our national government and of the political processes associated with it. The course will provide you with a working knowledge of both governmental and non-governmental institutions which combine to make up our federal political system. It will also demonstrate the role of politics in shaping public policy, as well as the individual and collective roles in this process. A study of the Constitution, federalism, and other basic concepts of American government will be emphasized. Topics to be discussed will be the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government; national policy making (domestic and foreign); political parties; interest groups and elections; civil rights; and suffrage. The textbook used is a brief edition from a national view. This course is a three credit course, and is offered consecutively in the traditional 16 week format for the fall and spring semesters. The course consists of 15 weekly discussion board assignments, all covering topics in the textbook. This consists of 30% of the grade, and suggested due dates are posted with each lesson. There are also two ongoing discussions throughout the course where you will post and respond to an essay on a US Supreme Court case and a piece of US legislation, which counts for another 20% of the course. A final course reflection essay is also expected on the concept of American democracy worth another 10%, along with two exams for the remaining 40%.
Textbook:
Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy
Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry
Pearson Longman Publishing, 9th Edition (Brief) 2008
ISBN# 0-321-44278-4
General Education Objectives:
A thorough study of the course should enable the student to:
receive and comprehend written and oral information properly.
observe and analyze data accurately.
draw reasonable inferences from the presented facts and ideas.
express ideas and opinions clearly in an organized manner using Standard English.
demonstrate a knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences and their methods.
recognize ethical issues, both personal and public.
Course Specific Objectives:
A thorough study of the course should enable the student to:
develop an understanding of the ideals which the United States government was built on.
develop an understanding of the basic framework and branches of American government, as well as its checks and balances system.
understand the importance of the US Constitution and other written documents, treaties, and legislation which continues to guide the country.
understand the amendment process and judicial interpretation of the US Constitution.
recognize ethical and moral social issues and gain an understanding of differing views.
understand the medias and special interest groups role in the political process.
understand the continuous struggle of civil liberties and civil rights in America.
become better informed on political issues as citizens and residents of the United States.
develop an understanding of the value of diversity and importance of pluralism in America.
Course Grading:
30% Weekly Chapter Discussion Questions (discussion board)
10% US Supreme Court Decision Essay (discussion board)
10% US Legislation Essay (discussion board)
20% Exam I (submitted individually)
20% Exam II (submitted individually)
10% Final Course Reflection Essay (submitted individually)
Weekly Chapter Lessons and Discussions: (300pts/20pts per wk)
You will see 15 lesson assignments which are linked to weekly discussion threads. Each one includes lecture notes, chapter objectives, vocabulary, and essay questions. They are based on the topic of the week and are worth 20pts each week toward your grade. You are to choose TWO questions each week and answer them on the appropriate discussion thread which will be locked two weeks after the start date. This assignment can be completed with the textbook or any outside resources available. This is an informal writing assignment, but please make sure you include any outside resources at the end of your post and backup your opinions with cited facts. You can have access to all discussions in advance and you are allowed to work in advance, but you will only have two weeks from the start date, and after that the thread will be locked. Please see below for the discussion schedule dates. Participation and interaction (at least two replies) with other students posts is highly recommended and is included in the grading criteria below. This semester long assignment is worth 30% of the total grade!!!
Weekly Topic Discussions:
Week 1 |
01.21 to 01.27 (closes 02.04) | Government in America (ch1) |
Week 2 |
01.28 to 02.03 (closes 02.11) | The Constitution (ch2) |
Week 3 |
02.04 to 02.10 (closes 02.18) | Federalism (ch3) |
Week 4 |
02.11 to 02.17 (closes 02.25) | Civil Liberties (ch4) |
Week 5 |
02.18 to 02.24 (closes 03.03) | Civil Rights (ch5) |
Week 6 |
02.25 to 03.02 (closes 03.10) | Mass Media & Political Agenda (ch7). |
Week 7 |
03.03 to 03.09 (closes 03.17) | Political Parties (ch8) |
Week 8 |
03.10 to 03.16 (closes 03.24) | Interest Groups (ch10) |
Week 9 |
03.17 to 03.23 (closes 03.31) | Congress (ch11) |
Week 10 |
03.24 to 03.30 (closes 04.07) | The Presidency (ch12) |
Week 11 |
03.31 to 04.06 (closes 04.14) | Federal Bureaucracy (ch13) |
Week 12 |
04.07 to 04.13 (closes 04.21) | Federal Courts (ch14) |
Week 13 |
04.14 to 04.20 (closes 04.28) | Federal Budget: Taxing & Spending (ch15) |
Week 14 |
04.21 to 04.27 (closes 05.05) | Social Welfare (ch16) |
Week 15 |
04.28 to 05.04 (closes 05.12) | National Security (ch17) |
| *Chapters 6 & 9 will not be covered in this course! | ||
| This course ends on 05.16.08 and grades will be submitted on 05.20.08 | ||
Grading criteria for the weekly chapter discussion assignments:
| grading criteria |
possible points |
| participation in discussions |
30 / 2 |
| textbook cited or outside resources noted |
30 / 2 |
| content knowledge learned and research done |
210 / 14 |
| proper use of grammar, spelling, organization, and staying on topic, submitted by duedate |
30 / 2 |
|
300 / 20 |
Discussion Board Assignment: US Legislation Essay (100pts)
(duedate 05.12.08)
Choose a piece of US legislation from the Democracy Trail link.
Research the topic using multiple reliable sources (at least three sources).
The "Thomas" database on the Library of Congress website will have accurate information.
Write an informal essay (approximately 400-800 word) and post it to the appropriate discussion thread.
Examine two other students essays and post responses to their essays.
Grading criteria for the 10% US Legislation Essay:
(duedate 05.12.08)
|
grading criteria |
possible points |
|
participation in discussions |
35 |
|
textbook cited or outside resources noted |
15 |
|
content knowledge learned and research done |
35 |
|
proper use of grammar, spelling, writing organization, and staying on topic |
15 |
|
|
100 |
On Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a legal violation and schools will often fail, or expel students for this type of behavior. Please be aware that plagiarism will not be tolerated and points will be deducted (under the research & knowledge learned area), or papers refused, if I find this does occur. If you are unsure of using the proper MLA writing format or have any uncertainty of what plagiarism is, please review the Enders Writing Lab link below. In-text notation does not mean you can cite exact wording, it means that you are citing the original authors "idea" not the wording. You are to interpret the information and then paraphrase it "in your own words". Quotations should be used sparingly and noted as such.
I have created a list of over 200 reliable research links for the social sciences. Keep in mind many of them are think tanks or university sites and may be biased. Remember almost everything on the Internet probably holds a bias of some kind, even government sites may tend to portray the current administration in a good light, however the sites listed at the link below all should have good strong current information.
Discussion Board Assignment: Supreme Court Decision Essay (100pts)
(duedate 05.05.08)
Choose a Supreme Court Case from the Justice Trail link.
Research the topic using multiple reliable sources (at least three sources).
The US Supreme Court database will have accurate information as well as the legal links on the Justice Trail page.
Write an informal essay (approximately 400-800 word) and post it to the appropriate discussion thread.
Examine two other students essays and post responses to their essays
Grading criteria for the 10% Supreme Court Decision Essay:
(duedate 05.05.08)
|
grading criteria |
possible points |
|
participation in discussions |
35 |
|
textbook cited or outside resources noted |
15 |
|
content knowledge learned and research done |
35 |
|
proper use of grammar, spelling, writing organization, and staying on topic |
15 |
|
|
100 |
On Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a legal violation and schools will often fail, or expel students for this type of behavior. Please be aware that plagiarism will not be tolerated and points will be deducted (under the research & knowledge learned area), or papers refused, if I find this does occur. If you are unsure of using the proper MLA writing format or have any uncertainty of what plagiarism is, please review the Enders Writing Lab link below. In-text notation does not mean you can cite exact wording, it means that you are citing the original authors "idea" not the wording. You are to interpret the information and then paraphrase it "in your own words". Quotations should be used sparingly and noted as such.
I have created a list of over 200 reliable research links for the social sciences. Keep in mind many of them are think tanks or university sites and may be biased. Remember almost everything on the Internet probably holds a bias of some kind, even government sites may tend to portray the current administration in a good light, however the sites listed at the link below all should have good strong current information.
Exam I: 03.08.08 to 03.21.08 (200pts)
Exam I will be all multiple choice (100 questions) and you will have a two week window (03.08.08 to 03.21.08) to take it. You will have a 48 hour time frame to start it, complete it, and submit it. That means that you can log in and out of the exam within 48 hours of clicking the start button. The exam will time out after the 48 hours if you do not complete it on your own. Make sure you click the save button on each question after you have chosen an answer. You have the option to change answers as long as you click the save button again. The midterm will cover the first half
(chapters 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/10) of the text.
Exam II: 05.03.08 to 05.16.08 (200pts)
Exam II will be all multiple choice (100 questions) and you will have a two week window (05.03.08 to 05.16.08) to take it. You will have a 48 hour time frame to start it, complete it, and submit it. That means that you can log in and out of the exam within 48 hours of clicking the start button. The exam will time out after the 48 hours if you do not complete it on your own. Make sure you click the save button on each question after you have chosen an answer. You have the option to change answers as long as you click the save button again. The final will cover the second half
(chapters 11/12/13/14/15/16/17) of the text.
Final Course Reflection Essay: due 05.16.08 (100 pts)
American ideals of government arose out of the ashes of European disillusionment resulting from forced rule of dictators, tyrants, and monarchies, holding little opportunity for the downtrodden in society. This new philosophy of liberty and democracy came out of the intellectual centers of the Enlightenment period of the 17th and 18th century and it was considered liberal and radical at the time. Americas wealth was built on the backs of immigrants in search of this freedom and opportunity as a result of the diversity arriving from all parts of the world. In the second half of the 19th century, during a heavy influx of European immigration, a gift was sent to the US from France.
The inscription on the Statue of Liberty (gift from France in 1885) reads:
"Give me your
tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
Write an informal essay (approximately 600-900 word) on what you have learned throughout the course concerning the concepts of "liberty" and "democracy".
Do you think we still aspire to these principles inscribed on the statue? With so much controversy today on immigration, is it really wise to tighten or close our borders to keep foreigners out or should we make the immigration process easier for foreigners to become American citizens and enter the country legally?
There are various directions in which you can address this topic with no real right or wrong answers, just your critical thought in reflection of what you have learned from the course. Please back up opinions with a logical argument or cited facts. Outside resources should be posted at the end. Please submit your essay through the proper assignment area.