Contact Information
Leigh Sink 415 Graham Building
336-870-4167 alsink@uncg.edu
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
Explain the distinctive and “unusual” features of America’s democracy.
Explain the importance of the Constitution as a foundation for the system.
Analyze the voting trends and participation in our elections.
Discuss the roles of our informal linkage institutions (parties, interest groups and the
mass media) in our democracy.
5. Describe the legislative process.
6. Discuss the importance of the courts in America’s system. .
1.
2.
3.
4.
These goals will be accomplished through the class reading, discussion forums, Politics in
Action activities and three tests. The tests will be 50 multiple choice and one essay question.
Required Texts
Magleby, O’Brien, et al. Government By the People, 2009 Brief Edition or 8th edition. (Buy
whichever book you can find the cheapest…the pages won’t always perfectly align, but there
will not be big differences.)
General Description of Course Activities
Weblinks. Part of students reading will be accomplished by weblinks inserted as part of the
course text. Students are expected to read all the assigned weblinks. Some assignments will be
directly related to the weblink reading.
As a start, check out this link of presidential campaign ads since the age of television:
http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us/index.php
Discussion forums. Discussion Forms will provide a major part of the class. Students are
expected to answer questions and respond to the posts of other students.
Media (movies, videos, or other outside assignments). Video lectures and other videos
provide part of the course content.
Politics in Action activities: Some of these will require you to go through an interactive activity
and respond thoughtfully. Others will give you articles or weblinks to read and respond. All of
these answers need to be longer and more detailed than your discussion forum posts.
Please also sign the UNCG Honor Code on your tests. You may simply write: I have abided by
the UNCG Honor Code and digitally sign your name. You are expected to familiarize yourself
with the Academic Integrity Policy, which is available here:
http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/violation/
Adherence to the Academic Integrity Policy will be expected and enforced on ALL
assignments.
Exams. There will be three tests which will be part essay and part multiple choice (50 multiple
choice questions and one essay). Students will be expected to take the information they have
gained and apply it in a thoughtful manner. Essays will be graded on content, thought and
clarity. There is a 75 minute timer applied to each exam. Once you begin, the timer starts. If you
log out, the timer will continue to run so be sure you have enough time set aside to take your
exam. It is your responsibility to keep up with the time. Blackboard does NOT have an alarm
that goes off at the end of your time. ANY EXAM THAT GOES OVER THIS TIME
LIMIT WILL RECEIVE AN AUTOMATIC ZERO. IF YOU HAVE
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY ME
IMMEDIATELY. You may email or send a text if necessary.
Grades
Your final grade will be calculated as follows:
Discussion Forums 10 points each
110 points
Politics in Action
40 points each
440
3 tests
150 points each
450
Each test has 50 multiple choice worth 2 pts. Each plus one essay worth 50 points
Total
1,000 points
Late Penalties
Exams must be completed at the scheduled time unless you have notified me ahead of time or
student can document a medical or family emergency—NO Exceptions!
Activities and Discussion Forums that are not completed on time will lose 10% of the grade for
each day the paper is late. Assignments cannot be turned in more than one week late—any
assignment turned in more than a week (7 days) late will receive a 0. Unless otherwise noted, if
an assignment is due on May 1, anything that is posted after 11:59PM that day is late.
Technical Help
While I am familiar with the course content, I am not as familiar with the technology as our
Help Desk counterparts. If you encounter technical issues, you should contact the Help Desk
immediately. They should be your first point of contact if you have technical issues and other
Blackboard course management questions. The number is 336-256-TECH, or 256-8324.
Start Date
Unit/Lesson
May 23-25
Lesson 1: American
Political Culture
Readings and Assignments
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, ch. 3, 4
Discussion Forum(DF) 1 (these
will be posted in your groups)
Politics in Action #1 (these will
be posted on blackboard)
All assignments must be posted
by 11:59 PM of the due date.
May 26-27
Lesson 2: the Constitution
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, ch. 1 ,
Federalist Papers 10 and 51( in
text or online)
DF2
Politics in Action #2
May 28-30
Lesson 3 : Federalism
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, ch. 2
DF 3
Politics in Action #3
May 31- June
2
Lesson 4: Participation
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, ch. 6,
pp.168-178
DF 4
Politics in Action #4
June 2-June 5 TEST ( click on Test in
blackboard)
The test has a one hour, 15
minute time limit.
June 6- June
7
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, ch. 6,
pp. 178-215
Lesson 5:Voting and
Elections
DF 5
Politics in Action #5
June 8-9
Lesson 6: Political Parties
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, Ch. 5,
pp. 128-146
DF 6
Politics in Action #6
June 10-12
Lesson 7: Interest Groups
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, ch. 5,
pp.146-167
DF7
Politics in Action #7
June 13-14
Lesson 8: Mass Media
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, ch. 7
DF 8
Politics in Action #8
June 15-16
TEST
Remember the one hour, 15
minute limit.
June 17-18
Lesson 9: Congress
Read: Magleby, O’Brien,ch. 8
DF 9
Politics in Action #9
June 19-20
Lesson 10: the Presidency
and Executive Branch
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, ch. 9,
10
DF 10
Politics in Action #10
June 21-22
Lesson 11: the Courts
Read: Magleby, O’Brien, Ch. 11
DF 11
Politics in Action #11
June 23-24-
FINAL
FINAL MUST BE COMPLETED BY
6 PM FRIDAY JUNE 24