WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL & SOCIAL SCIENCES
SIERRA VISTA-(TUCSON)
Wayland Mission Statement: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically
challenging, learning-focused, and distinctively Christian environment for professional success, and service to God
and humankind.
Course Title, Number, and Section: POLS 2301 TU01 - American Government
Term: Summer 2016 (May 23rd – August 6th)
Instructor: Mr. Nathan Stephens
Office Phone Number and WBU Email Address: (520) 792-1506 nathan.stephens@wayland.wbu.edu
Office Hours, Building, and Location: 10:00a.m. – 6p.m., Wayland Baptist University-Tucson Site, 6235 E.
Broadway Blvd, Tucson AZ 85711 /on-line.
Class Meeting Time and Location: Tuesdays 6-9:40 p.m., Wayland Baptist University –Tucson Site, 6235 E.
Broadway Blvd, Tucson AZ 85711.
Catalog Description: Survey of the American national government including such topics as the U.S. Constitution,
institutional structures and processes, political parties, elections, civil liberties, and civil rights.
There is no prerequisite for this course.
Required Textbook(s): AM GOV 2015 – 2016 (4th E.) by Losco/Baker, McGraw Hill, ISBN: 9781259284267.
Optional Materials: Pocket Guide to APA Style by Robert Perrin (3rd Ed.) WADSWORTH/CENGAGE. The
Purdue site for APA: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
The Constitution of the United States (Pocket Guide), ISBN: 9780880801447.
Course Outcome Competencies: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
 national constitutions
 the major institutions of the national government
 the national policymaking process
 the electoral system, federalism, civil liberties and civil rights
 requirements of United States citizenship
 national budget process
Attendance Requirements:
External Campuses
Students enrolled at one of the university’s external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings.
All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made
up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will
so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the external campus executive director/dean.
Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings may receive a grade of F in
the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are
considered a part of the university’s attendance policy. A student may petition the Academic Council for exceptions
to the above stated policies by filing a written request for an appeal to the executive vice president/provost.
Statement on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty: Wayland Baptist University observes a zero tolerance
policy regarding academic dishonesty. Per university policy as described in the academic catalog, all cases of
academic dishonesty will be reported and second offenses will result in suspension from the university.
Disability Statement: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of
Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in,
be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the
university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and
should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291- 3765. Documentation of a disability must
accompany any request for accommodations.
Course Requirements and Grading Criteria:
Participation – Students are required to actively participate in the class sessions to be given maximum credit for
participation. This can be as simple as responding to the instructor and other students’ questions, and providing
input during class discussions. Students who don’t actively participate in class discussions or are absent without
excuse will not be awarded points for participation for that class session.
Quizzes – There will be quizzes covering the chapters for the weeks leading up to each quiz (five all together). The
quizzes are not proctored; however, they have a time limit of 90 minutes. and are open note/book exams. Each quiz
will have no more than 40 questions, and consist of: multiple choice, fill-in the blank, matching, and essay
questions. Students that are scheduled to go TDY, etc. need to make arrangements prior to departure. Books, notes
and additional information are also allowed to be used on quizzes.
Current Events Articles – Students will select a current events article in the political/government arena and present
the article during that particular class session. Students should make every effort to keep the time of individual
presentations no shorter than three and no longer than 10 minutes in length.
Presentations – There will be one formal presentation for each student. The presentations will on the topic selected
by the student from the list provided by the instructor, for the research paper. Presentations will consist of a
PowerPoint presentation with references of sources used. The presentations will be no less than 8 minutes and no
more than fifteen minutes in length. Students will be provided a sample outline of points that should be covered
during the presentations.
Final Paper – There will be a final paper in the course. The final research paper will be on a topic selected by the
student from the list provided by the instructor. All papers will be in American Psychological Association (APA)
format. The papers will be no less than 1,500 (not including the cover sheet and bibliography pages). Specific
instructions will be provided on the final paper during the course. Students will be afforded the opportunity to
submit papers to the instructor two-weeks prior to the due date to allow for feedback. The final paper is weighted
the heaviest of all assignments and students should make every effort to ensure they complete the paper, and take
advantage of the instructor’s feedback.
Primary Course Assessments:
Participation:
Quizzes:
Current Events Articles:
Presentations:
Final Paper
Total:
110 Points (10 points each class session)
500 Points (5 quizzes @ 100 points each)
90 Points (2 @ 45 points each)
100 Points (1 presentation)
200 Points (1 paper)
1,000Points
900-1000 = A, 800-899 = B, 700-799 = C, 600-699 = D, 599 and below = F
The University has a standard grade scale:
A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F= below 60, W = Withdrawal, WP = withdrew passing, WF =
withdrew failing, I = incomplete. An incomplete may be given within the last two weeks of a long term or within
the last two days of a micro-term to a student who is passing, but has not completed a term paper, examination, or
other required work for reasons beyond the student’s control. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if the work
required is completed prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks) term, unless the instructor designates an
earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date, the I is converted to an F.
Student grade appeals:
Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious academic evaluation. A
student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or
appropriate grading, may appeal the final grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process
described in the Academic Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course
bypass examinations. Appeals limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any
stage of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the Executive
Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty
Assembly Grade Appeals Committee may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more
proper evaluation.
Tentative Schedule:
May 24th
Week 1
 Welcome/Course Overview/Expectations
 Reading: Chapters 1-2 and Lecture Notes
 Research Paper Topic selections
 Review of Current Events Article Requirements
June 7th
Week 2
 Reading: Chapters 3-4 and Lecture Notes
 Quiz on Chapters 1-2
June 14th
Week 3
 Reading : Chapters 5 - 6 and Lecture Notes
 Budget Hero Game & Review
June 21st
Week 4
 Reading: Chapters 7 – 8 and Lecture Notes
 Quiz on Chapters 3,4,5 & 6
 Video on American Government
June 28th
Week 5
 Reading: Chapters 9 – 10 and Lecture Notes
 Current Events Articles
July 5th
Week 6
 Reading: Chapters 8 – 10 and Lecture Notes
 Quiz on Chapters 7,8,9 & 10
July 12th
Week 7
 Reading: Chapters 11 –12 and Module 4 Lecture Notes
 *Draft of Research Paper Due
July 19th
 Read: Chapters 13 –14
 Quiz on Chapters 11,12,13 & 14
Week 8
July 26th
Week 9
 Reading: Chapters 15 – 16 and Lecture Notes
 Current Events Articles
 Course evaluations (in the lab)
Aug 2nd
 Quiz on Chapters 15 & 16
 Presentations
Week 10
Aug 9th
 Presentations Cont’d
 Final Research Paper Due
 Course wrap-up
Week 11
No late work will be accepted unless students have coordinated that with the instructor in advance- to include
papers, presentations, current events articles, quizzes.
Instructor's policy on Academic Dishonesty: University students are expected to conduct themselves according to
the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is subject to penalty includes
all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism.
(Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one’s own work.) Disciplinary action for academic
misconduct is the responsibility of the instructor assigned to the course. The instructor is charged with assessing
the gravity of any case of academic dishonesty and with giving sanctions to any student involved. See catalog for
more information regarding academic dishonesty.
Instructor educational philosophy: Students learn by doing! The various assignments are meant to stimulate
learning and appeal to the senses so that the learning experience is memorable. When students are involved in
multiple actions like oral presentations, challenging dialogue, and insightful research papers they will learn the
subject on a deeper level. My philosophy on education is very simple. Students are in the class to be educated on a
subject that’s a requirement on their degree plan. The instructor must teach lessons to support the learning
outcomes of the course while students apply themselves to attaining or comprehending these learning outcomes for
each lesson.