American Government and Politics (GOVT 2305)
ON-LINE
Syllabus Part I
Sections
CRN 14142 GOVT 2305 - 1N AMERICAN GOVT \ POLITICS (C)
CRN 14143 GOVT 2305 – 1P
CRN 14384 GOVT 2305 – 2J
AMERICAN GOVT \ POLITICS (C)
AMERICAN GOVT \ POLITICS (C)
CRN 14385 GOVT 2305 – 2K
CRN 14386 GOVT 2305 – 2L
I. Course Number and Instructor Information
Semester: Fall 2015
AMERICAN GOVT \ POLITICS (C)
AMERICAN GOVT \ POLITICS (C)
Instructor: Sergio Saenz-Rivera, Ph.D.
Office: Building A – Room A2104 Valle Verde Campus
Phone: Office (915)831-3285 - Voice mail: (915) 209-2131
EPCC E-Mail: Email me directly, not on Blackboard, ssaenzri@epcc.edu
I DO NOT READ MESSAGES IN BLACKBOARD
I respond usually within 24 hours or less.
Office Hours: Via Instant Messaging (chat) on Blackboard: Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
I. Textbook (required), materials, tech and time needed
Patterson, Thomas, We the People, McGraw Hill, 11th Edition. ISBN 9781305701083

If you are a dual credit student: You don't have to buy it. As per EPCC requirement for awarding college credit, your school should have a book for every student. Ask your facilitator.
If you are not a dual credit student: You have a choice to either use the e-book available online at http://connect.customer.mheducation.com/products/connect-for-patterson-we-thepeople-11e/ or buy the cheaper lose-leaf option at the epcc bookstore http://tinyurl.com/pl6yfcy
The book includes access to McGraw-Hill Connect and a video game: http://connect.mheducation.com/connect/login/index.htm?&BRANDING_VARIANT_KEY=en_us
_default_default&node=connect_app_8_95
And includes access to McGraw’s Government in Action Video Game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-dxhDYo6Gs
During the last two years we have used other books (Norton) but we will not use those materials anymore!!!!! Those are outdated and you will likely not be able to solve the exercises in our course..
Occasional supplemental readings or visual materials will be required/recommended but all will be taken from the web.
You are not required to own a computer but you must have access to an adequate one (see below). If you are not sure that you will have access to a computer for at least 9 hours a week please, I advise you to take the course in a normal classroom.
This on-line course is self-paced but is significantly harder than a live course. Make sure that you have at least 9 hours a week to complete the required activities.
I strongly recommend that you check the course announcements at least three times a week at minimum to keep up with changes or new developments
Be resourceful and proactive: Computer labs at EPCC and at public libraries could be a resource if your computer fails. Tell me about a problem immediately. Do not wait until the day of the exam or the finals’ week. Use also these resources:
Blackboard Help Desk: 1.888.296-0863 Available 24/7 More details below.
Quick reference: https://help.blackboard.com/en-us/Learn/9.1_SP_10_and_SP_11/Student
DO NOT USE YOUR CELLPHONE BECAUSE THE COMPATIBILITY TECHNOLOGY IS NOT THERE YET.
III. Course Requirements
Exams: 4 partial exams= 70% (Exams are a privilege not a right. For your benefit, I drop the lowest exam grade). There is no final comprehensive exam.

All other participation: 30% (Each and all exercises are mandatory to be allowed to take an exam)
Grades: The column “Current Grade” IS your current, actual, updated and final grade. I cannot
modify those numbers. It updates automatically. Grades are automatically calculated by
Blackboard and is updated at the very moment that you submit an activity or exam. However, if you are curious, you roughly calculate your grades in the following manner: a.
Partial grade:
To roughly calculate your partial grade during the semester:
All exams have 40 questions. So if you answer 40 questions correctly = 100%, 39 = 98%
(because 39x100/40 = 97.5 or 98), 38 =95% and so on.
Convert to a 100% scale, average your exams, and add 10%, 20% or 30% (according to how high or low your participation scores have been) b.
Final Grade:
1.
Do the conversion explained above (40=100%, 39 = 98%, 38% =95, etc.)
2.
Drop the lowest exam grade
3.
Average the remaining exam grades
4.
Multiply the exam average by .7
5.
The remaining 30% is more complicated to calculate but Blackboard weighs in your activities and calculates the 30% values. You can do a rough calculation by adding all of your points, multiply by 100 and divide by 1100 (this number will change but is the approximate number of total points available for participation in the course)
6.
Multiply the number on step 5 by .3
7.
Add the number obtained on steps 4 and 6. That is your numeric grade.
Example:
If your exam grades were: 33, 29, 34 and 35 then your average (dropping the lowest grade) was 34 = 85% . The 85 is really just 70% of your grade then 85 (.7)= 59.5 or 60 out of 70 possible percent points.
If your participation points were 1046 out of 1100 that gives you 38 out of 40
1046 x 30/ 1100 = 28 participation points out of 30 points
60 points for exams +28 for participation = 88 (does not round up to 90)
IV. Grade scale:
A=90-100, B= 80-89, C =70-79, D = 60-69, F= anything below 60
Clarifying grades: A 59 is an F, 69 is still a D, 79 is still a C, and 89 is a B. I do not and will not modify Blackboard calculations and they do not round to the next whole number.

V. Instructor’s Policies:
Ignorance clause: Not knowing the content of this Syllabus does not render the Student irresponsible for its content; Students are required to abide by the content of this Syllabus.
Modification Clause: Within reason and within the parameters of College procedures I reserve the right to make modifications to these rules at any given moment according to the particular circumstances of the semester. The students will timely be notified about any changes. my interpretation of the class rules is final.
Omission clause: Anything omitted in this syllabus is automatically NOT allowed unless expressly authorized by me.
Mandatory clause: YOU MUST DO EACH AND ALL THE PARTICIPATION ASIGNMENTS (quizzes, short answers, etc.) IN ORDER TO BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE EXAMS AND YOU MUST QUALIFY
TO TAKE ALL OF THE EXAMS TO PASS THE COURSE.
Panic and Coolness Clause: Unforeseen things, mistakes, accidents and glitches happen all the time. It can happen to you and me. Do not panic and avoid drama. Everything will be o.k. and everything will be solved eventually. E-mailing me solves most problem very quickly. Drama worsens the mood and adds to the obstacle. Please be cool. I’ll be cool.
Failing Technology Clause: There is NO automatic make up work or “resetting” of a test if
your computer malfunctions. The Instructor, not the Blackboard Help Desk representative, makes the final determination about possible make up work. It is your responsibility to do all of the activities and exams on a wired laptop, notebook or desktop computer. Cellphone are not allowed to do the activities. Remember, the EPCC provides computer labs at each campus and at the campus library (for student use) and you can often find computers at the public places, such as libraries in your community. Always check for time limitations when using these machines. All of the issues stated above must be checked to make sure that the computer that you are using is appropriate for an online course.
Policies about Blackboard:
If you experience a technical problem, call the Blackboard Help Desk, 1.888.296-0863 immediately, from your computer; tell the professor and work with the Blackboard
Representative to solve the problem; and then request a ticket number. Immediately, forward the details of your problem to me via ssaenzri@epcc.edu.
The Blackboard Learning System’s effectiveness is dependent on the EPCC Distance Education
Department and their contractors; the faculty member; and, the student user. It is a team effort. It is very important that we all stay up-to-date with the learning system. For your part, whether you are a first-time online student or a returning student, please carefully check each of the following, even if you have taken other online courses:

The Blackboard Mobile App does not allow for test-taking -- it will crash during tests and is not allowed for completion of homework or assignments.
Blackboard works best with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari. You may have some issues with Google Chrome.
1.
Run the Internet Browser tune-up to update your computer’s software: UPDATING
JAVA AND BROWSERS IS CRUCIAL.
2.
Make sure that you are using a browser/browser version that is compatible with
Blackboard Learn. 9.0
3.
Attempting to take this course on a cell phone is not recommended. Cell phones and wireless Internet services are often unstable and you run the risk of connection problems.
4.
Disable/turn off pop-up blockers on your computer. Blackboard is based on pop-up technology.
5.
The time and date on your computer must be set accurately for your location; remember, the course itself is based on El Paso time (MST).
6.
Turn off any automatic update systems or screensavers prior to beginning tests or assignments.
7.
If you attempt to take a test at your workplace, you might encounter problems due to security or firewalls used by many businesses. Be aware and check with your organization’s IT department prior to beginning an assessment at work.
8.
Carefully read announcements posted by the Instructor and the EPCC Distance
Education department during the semester.
You must seek a solution and make an active attempt to identify the cause of the problem to be considered for requested make up work. Simply requesting a ticket number will not solve your problem nor will it result in consideration for makeup work. Your call to Blackboard must be made immediately upon experiencing a technical problem.
Policy about privacy in Blackboard:
Blackboard monitors all student activity inside a course. Please be advised that the information in the course, including messages, are property of EPCC and can be monitored during the semester. All student activity is recorded by Blackboard and is used to verify student work in the course. If Blackboard does not record student activity during an assignment opening, the student cannot claim to have completed the assignment.
Policies about exams:
Use a wired connection to take all exams. Using a wireless connection or a smartphone may
cause problems like being kicked out of the test before you finish it.
Sorry, NO RETAKES FOR
ANY COMPLETED TEST.
Technical problems can and do occur even if you use the proper hardware and software. Close the Test, and in front of the computer call the Help Desk 888 number listed above, get your ticket number; contact the professor immediately so that the problem may be fixed. Waiting

until after the Test is closed to inform the Professor of problems will not allow the Student recourse.
EACH AND ALL EXAMS AND EXERCISES ARE MANDATORY. Exams are a privilege not a right. You qualify by doing all of the required assignments on time.
THE EXAMS ALONE WILL NOT GIVE YOU A PASSING GRADE. If you have straight As in all the exams but you have low class participation (60% or less) you will not pass. I will ask you to drop the course or fail. There will be around four exams.
EXEMPTIONS: Three consecutive As will exempt you from taking the exam and you will have a final A in the course. You will still have to do all of the assignments.
EXAM CONTENT: YOU ARE REQUIRED AND MUST READ THE CORRESPONDING CHAPTERS FOR
EACH PARTIAL EXAM (there is no way around reading the chapter). BUT EXAMS ARE NOT JUST
BASED ON THE BOOK. I developed parts of the course and you cannot find those materials anywhere. The exams include questions about material developed by instructor and about activities required in the course.
Exams are 40 questions. 50 minutes. Multiple choice. True or false. Occasional open-ended question.
Policy about missing an exam: Missing or failing to present an exam on the time and dates required is the worst thing that can happen because there is no remedy and because it has many dire consequences. I appreciate you telling me in advance of any impediments for taking the exam. I am always willing to make reasonable accommodations but if you fail to present an exam (whether you didn’t do each and all of the assignments on time or because you just chose not to do it on time):
1.
You will have a ZERO for that partial exam
2.
The zero will NOT be dropped for averaging purposes as a lowest grade. It will count towards your final average. I will average the four exams not three,
3.
There is no make-up exam, extra work or any other form to recover from missing an exam. You will keep the zero.
4.
FURTHERMORE. Your final grade will be capped to a C regardless of whether you have a higher numerical average at the end. That means that to get a C you must have As in the remaining exams to qualify to the C.
5.
With my authorization, you can request to postpone taking only one exam but you will eventually have to take it within a time framework determined by the instructor.
6.
I cannot postpone a second exam. A second missed exam counts as zero for averaging purposes and cannot be replaced with another exam or other activities.
7.
If you miss two exams you will be dropped from the course or fail.
Exam changes policy: I reserve the right to increase or diminish the number of exams according to the performance of the students, eliminate, change, drop or modify one or all the exams or substitute them for another form of assessment and the same applies to value of each of the assessments.

The exams will come in different formats (multiple choice/short answers/True or false). The material covered in each exam will be announced in advance.. Changes will be announced prior to any modification which depends on my evaluation on how the majority of students are performing in class. For the final grade I will drop the lowest grade but not if you missed an exam. There are no make-up exams for failing grades. The only recourse you have is to perform better in the next exams.
Students are not allowed to discuss answers or attempt to provide answers to anyone. I will follow the College’s policies on disruption and on academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism.
Policies about participation
Participation refers to every graded activity (Video exercises, readings, simulations, quizzes, etc.) except for the exams. Each activity is has a number of points that will be added by automatically by blackboard. Some activities are worth many points and will significantly affect the final grade. Over time there will be a maximum of points awarded. Example: If we have 50 activities throughout the course and, let’s say, if each is worth a maximum of 3 points. 150 points would represent 30% of your grade
Exams alone do not give you a passing grade. You must have more than 60% of total participation points to pass the course even if you have all As in the exams. Without 60% or more points you have not learnt enough and will fail the course regardless of exam grades.
Altogether these evaluations are worth a total of 30% of your final grade. Failing to do any of them will disqualify you from having the right to take an exam.
No late/Missed assignments/Participations will be ever admitted.
Not having a computer or being out of town are not excuses for work not completed or turned in on time. If this behavior is recurrent you may be dropped from the course.
Instructions will be provided for each specific Assignment.
Assignments submitted as e-mail attachments will not be accepted for grading. Written paper assignments must be submitted using the space provided for each assignment (usually a Type submission” link). If you make a mistake, email me ASAP.
Make sure your participations are substantial and not superficial. For example: Just saying you agree with someone will not get you much credit, say why you agree with them or why you disagree.
Avoid at all cost writing as if "text messaging." This segment of the course attempts to emulate class discussions in a regular/traditional setting. Flaming will not be tolerated.
DISABILITY STATEMENT

EPCC offers a variety of services to persons with documented sensory, mental, physical, or temporary disabling conditions to promote success in classes. If you have a disability and believe you may need services, you are encouraged to contact the Center for Students with
Disabilities to discuss your needs with a counselor. All discussions and documentation are kept confidential. Offices are located at: VV Rm C-112 (831-2426); RG Rm B-201 (831-4198) NWC Rm
M-54 (831-8815) and MDP Rm A-125 (831-7024).
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974):
Dual Credit and Early High School Students must be aware of the FERPA legalities. Once a student is registered and is in attendance in a college classroom, even on-line - dual credit courses, the student must abide by the same rules and privacy constraints that any college student must comply with. This means that once a person attends college, all rights that the parents had in a K - 12 grade school transfer from the parents to the college student regardless of the age of the student. The courts have yet to rule against a college or university in this Act; therefore, any information about the student's grade, class activity or success is the property of only the student and the Professor. Any such inquiries made by the parents of the student will be referred to the Dean and/or Vice- President of Instruction at EPCC. In this instance, FERPA protects the rights of privacy for all college students. (This includes High School Facilitators,
Counselors or anyone other than the Student; no grades can be given out by the Professor.)
FERPA also protects the academic integrity of the Professor which translates to allowing the
Professor to introduce any material deemed appropriate for the classroom environment.
Therefore, there are no restrictions on materials that may be introduced into the classroom as learning tools. The Professor is not bound by considerations of age before materials are introduced; therefore, the student, regardless of age, will be required to participate as a member of the class, regardless of the material being studied. The student, up until the date of drop, has the option to drop the class at any time for any reason.
Policies about w ithdrawals It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from this course before the drop deadline which is April 17, 2015. There are no reasons why a student may take an incomplete in this course, unless there is an outstanding reason (pregnancy, sickness, marriage etc.)
Policies about on-line behavior
Online learning is fun but it is much harder than face to face education. You must be selfmotivated or you will not complete the course.
Online learning is not a spectator sport. It is everyone's responsibility to participate as fully as they can so everyone can get the most from the experience.
All of your freedoms (especially those of speech and thinking) are highly protected and encouraged in class. Just keep our discussions civil ( i.e. do not launch personal attacks (a.k.a. as “flaming”), be mindful of not offending anyone and so forth). We must build a constructive thinking and learning community and everyone should feel and is welcome and included. Please let me know if I can tear down some obstacles for the flourishing of our learning environment.

Here are some simple rules to follow to ensure your participation and engagement in the learning process:

Ask questions: If you don't know the answer, someone else will. The discussion board is the area for asking questions related to content OR any problems (related to the class) you are having. Make sure that you have clearly indicated the subject of your message.
 Reach out to others: Offer a fact, article, link, or other item that can help others learn something you can share.
 Be appropriate: The online classroom is not the place for insulting or insensitive comments, attacks, or venting. Inappropriate behavior can be subject to disciplinary action, as well.
 Be diplomatic: When sending messages on emotionally charged topics, I recommend that you write the message and then walk away for at least an hour before re-reading the message and then sending it. Re-reading emotionally charged messages ensures that they are constructive instead of destructive. Think of the person at the other end.
 Stay focused: Stay on topic to increase the efficiency of your learning. If you start one assignment, finish it and do not continue until you are done with past work.
It is also important to share a word of caution, so we can become wiser about interpersonal distance learning communications. When communicating electronically, many of the feelings or impressions that are transmitted via body language in face-to-face communications are lost.
Consequently, interpreting emotions and innuendos is much more difficult. Only what is written, or drawn, carries the message. Often, excitement can be misinterpreted as anger or insult. It is important that we all keep this in mind as we communicate. Words in print may seem harmless, but they could emotionally injure us when working at a distance. Hence, it is vitally important that we are conscious of how we communicate while working at a distance.
For example, avoid the use of ALL CAPS in your electronic messages, as wording in caps comes across as shouting.
The standard practice ("Netiquette") for participation in networked discussion requires that all participation be focused on the topic at hand, not become personalized, and be substantive in nature. (Translation: you may certainly disagree with others, but you must do so respectfully; you may express strong beliefs or emotions, but you may not get so carried away that you lose all perspective on the course itself.)
More information on Netiquette, the etiquette of Internet communication, can be found at www.albion.com/netiquette .
ABOUT INCOMPLETES: There will be no incompletes offered in this course. Past experience has shown that if you cannot complete the course during the time allotted, you probably never will.
ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

It is the student’s responsibility to have the equipment, prepare for exams, and complete all assignments on time. Make sure for instance that your computer works or that you have an alternative access to a computer. If you need to deliver homework make sure your email,
especially your Blackboard account, works. You must tell me if something is going wrong with family, job, life or in our class. Do not wait until the last second or after the fact to tell me. I will find a way to help you if I can but you need to tell me in advance.
VI. Tentative Calendar
All dates are subject to change and all changes will be announced in advance.
WEEK Proposed Topics Content Postings on
Week I
(Aug 24-28)
Week II (Sep 31-4)
Week III (Sep 7-11)
Intro/The study of politics, policy and government of the
United States
Democracy
Democracy (contd.)
Political Culture
Includes part of ch 1, and original material developed by the instructor.
Includes part of ch 1 and original material developed by the instructor
Includes parts of ch 1 First Exam open and original material developed by the from Friday
September 11 at 9
AM-to Saturday instructor
September 12 until
11:59 PM)
The activities folder for part I will close on Sat Sept 12 at 5
PM)
Week IV (Sep 14-18)
Week V (Sep 21-25)
Week VI
(Sep 28-Oct 2)
Week VII (Oct 5-9 )
The constitution
The constitution (ctd.)
Federalism
Federalism (ctd.)
The Presidency
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Chapter 12 and parts of Chapters 6, 7, 8
.
Second Exam open from Friday
September 25 9
AM-to Saturday
September 26 until
11:59 PM
The activities folder for part 2 will close on Sat Sept 26 at 5
PM

Week VIII (Oct 12-16) The Presidency (contd.)
Week IX (Oct 19-23)
Week X (Oct 26-30 )
Week XI (Nov 2-6)
Week XII (Nov 9-13)
Week XIII (Nov 16-20)
Week XIV (Nov 23-27)
Weeks XV and XVI (
Nov 30- Dec 4)
Congress and the
Legislative Process
Congress and the
Legislative Process
The Judiciary
Civil Liberties
Civil Rights
Foreign Policy
(Thanksgiving)
Last exam, results and wrap-up.
Final remarks December
7. and 9
Chapter 10 and parts of 13 (Bureaucracy)
Chapter 11 and parts of chapter 8 (parties) and 9 (Interest groups)
I.
Chapter 9 and parts Third Exam on of chapter 8 (parties)
President, Congress and Congress.
(October 30-31)
Activities folder closes Sat at 5 PM
Chapter 14 and parts of Chapter 4 (Civil
Liberties)
Chapter 4
.
Last day to drop class with “W”
Chapter 5 and original material developed by the instructor
Ch 17 and original material developed by the instructor
There is no final, only partial exams in the course.
26 and 27
Thanksgiving
Fourth and last partial exam
(December 4-5) All participation folders close at 5 PM on
Saturday, December
4