GOVT 2302 Course Overview
Semester: Summer Session 2002 (8 weeks session)
Instructor: Wm. Feagin, Jr.
Office: 111C
Office Telephone and Voice Mail: 254/298-8361
e-mail address: wfeagin@templejc.edu
Course Description
This course surveys the policy-making institutions of American national and state government through the lens of
contemporary public policy controversies.
Textbooks
Edward S. Greenberg and Benjamin I. Page, The Struggle for Democracy, 5th edition, 2002
The Struggle for Democracy On-Line Publisher’s Companion Web Site –
http://www.ablongman.com/greenberg (optional use)
Lyle C. Brown et al, Practicing Texas Politics, 11th edition, 2001
Additional sources for reading materials are indicated on the Topical Syllabus.
Attendance Policy
Please be in class at the beginning of the class session and remain in class for the duration. Students who
repeatedly arrive late and leave class sessions early disrupt the class and will be removed from the class
roster according to the College's policy on disruptive behavior (see Temple College Student Handbook).
This policy will be enforced this semester!
The instructor keeps a seating chart and, therefore, asks that you sit in the same desk throughout the
semester.
Dropping the Course
It is absolutely the responsibility of the student to drop this course if she/he should decide that she/he is
unable to continue for any reason. The instructor will NOT remove students from the class roster except
when required by disruptive behavior and according to the College's policy on disruptive behavior (see
Temple College Student Handbook).
Course Requirements
Students may select one of the grading plans indicated below:
OPTION 1: The “I’m Way Too Busy Taking Other Courses, Earning a Paycheck, Raising Kids, or Sunbathing
To Write Papers” Plan
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Four scheduled objective-format exams (including the final exam). Each exam is worth 100 points
each/400 points total.
Maximum points to be earned: 400 points.
Highest possible course grade: B.
OPTION 2: The “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” Plan
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Four scheduled objective-format exams (including the final exam). Each exam is worth 100 points
each/400 points total.
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One out-of-class essay. [The instructor will provide details about the assignment on a separate handout.]
The essay is worth 50 points.
Maximum points to be earned: 450 points.
Highest possible course grade: A.
OPTION 3: The “Obsessive/Compulsive” Plan (a.k.a. The “My Entire Future Will Be Destroyed If My G.P.A.
Falls Below 3.8” Plan)
 Four scheduled objective-format exams (including the final exam). Each exam is worth 100 points
each/400 points total.
 Two out-of-class essays. [The instructor will provide details about the assignments on separate handouts.]
The essays are worth 50 points each/100 points total.
 Maximum points to be earned: 500 points.
 Highest possible course grade: A.
Grading Scale
Your course grade will be determined by the following scale:
450-500 = A
400-449 = B
350-399 = C
300-349 = D
< 300 = F
Some important points to bear in mind:
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Your grade in this course will reflect your initiative (effort) AND your performance. Simply choosing
an option and “doing the associated work” does not guarantee that you will earn the highest possible
course grade for that grading plan. In other words, choosing Option 3 is not the same thing as doing
“A” work. The instructor WILL score all of your work. Examples:
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A student selecting Option 1 would have NO CHANCE to earn an “A” in the course. He or she could
theoretically earn a “B” but this would require him or her to score perfectly on all four exams.
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A student selecting Option 2 could earn a course grade of A, B, C, D or F. However, to earn an
“A” in the course, the student would have to make “perfect” scores on all four exams and one outof-class essay.
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A student selecting Option 3 would need to “average” an “A” on each of the four exams and both
out-of-class essays.
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The grade intervals indicated on the above scale ARE CARVED IN STONE (no welfare points). Do not
ask the instructor to bump your course grade up a letter because you are “only 1 point away.” You are
always only one point away.
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Because the instructor wants all students in the course to maintain a “positive attitude,” tests grades
will be adjusted (curved) according to the schedule indicated below:
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The adjustment for the 1st exam is determined by taking the square root of your raw score and
moving the decimal point one place to the right. For example, a raw score of “81” would be
adjusted to a “90.” [Square root of 81 = 9.0; move decimal point one place to the right = 90.]
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The adjustment for the 2nd exam is determined by taking the square root of your raw score and
moving the decimal point one place to the right. The raw score is then subtracted. Half of the
difference is added to the raw score to obtain the adjusted score. For example, a raw score of “81”
would be adjusted to a “85.5.” [Square root of 81 = 9.0; move decimal point one place to the right
= 90; 90 – 81 = 9; ½ of 9 is 4.5; 81 + 4.5 = 85.5.]
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The adjustment for the 3rd exam is determined by taking the square root of your raw score and
moving the decimal point one place to the right. The raw score is then subtracted. One-quarter of
the difference is added to the raw score to obtain the adjusted score. For example, a raw score of
“81” would be adjusted to a “83.25.” [Square root of 81 = 9.0; move decimal point one place to
the right = 90; 90 – 81 = 9; ¼ of 9 is 2.25; 81 + 2.25 = 83.25.]
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The adjustment for the final exam is zero. For example, a raw score of “81” is simply an “81.”
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No “extra credit” work is available in this course. Taking on an extra credit assignment implies that
you have mastered the assigned materials for the course and you are ready to move on to “extra” (and
more challenging) work. If you have chosen Option 3 AND have mastered the materials, then you will
make an “A” in the course. Therefore, there is no need to seek “extra” credit.
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Essays must be turned in by the due date and time; no late work will be accepted (absolutely no
exceptions to this policy). Essays may be turned in at any time before the due date and time. Essays
will be turned in electronically (by e-mail) and will, therefore, be “stamped” with date and time that
you submit the work. Please do not put your work off until the last minute so that you are attempting,
for the first time, to submit your work only a few minutes before it is due. Expect to encounter
frustrations. Computers and servers crash! Your IP provider may have technical problems.
EXAMS
Regular exams: Exams in this course will feature objective-format questions (multiple choice or variations
thereof). Test items will be taken from both materials presented and discussed in class and in the reading materials.
NOTE: The exams in this class are CRITICAL THINKING exercises!! As such, they are designed to test students’
recall of factual knowledge, ability to analyze and synthesize information, weigh alternatives and make decisions.
The instructor will provide further information concerning the exams administered in this class, including sample
questions, on a separate document. You may obtain this document on the internet using the following URL:
http://www.templejc.edu/dept/Govt/feagin/TestIssu_Fa2001.htm
Final exam: The final exam will cover materials presented and discussed since the third exam (not
comprehensive). The format of the final exam will be the same as that of the regular exams. The date for the
final exam for this class is July 1.
Make-up exams : Students who miss one of the three regular exams are entitled to take a make-up exam over the
tested material. However, students should keep the following guidelines in mind: (1) to be eligible to take a make-up
exam, you should inform the instructor AHEAD OF TIME in writing that you will be unable to take the exam at the
scheduled time [hand-written or e-mail]; (2) make-up exams are composed of different questions than the regular
exams (make-up exams are written-format – essay, short answer, identification items, etc.); (3) all make-up exams
will be administered at the time of the final exam; (4) students who miss the final examination for a legitimate
reason will be given a grade of incomplete (I) and allowed to make-up the final exam according to the policy of the
College; and (5) NO exceptions to these guidelines will be made.
REQUESTS FOR REVIEWING GRADED WORK
Ultimately, your grade in this course reflects your ability to demonstrate understanding of the materials presented in
class sessions and reading assignments. If you believe for some reason that the course requirements and grading
system do not accurately reflect your performance, you should schedule a consultation and discuss the issue with the
instructor as soon as possible. If you believe that an exam or out-of-class essay has been graded incorrectly, please
submit (in writing) an explanation of the disputed item(s). When graded material is submitted by a student for
review, the instructor reserves the right to re-grade the entire exam or essay. Students must inform the instructor of
errors within one week after the graded material is returned. For exams, the contention that "the grading machine
incorrectly scored my answer sheet" will NOT be considered for re-grading when the student has erased an answer.
When taking exams, students are responsible for making sure they make all erasures completely and clearly indicate
their chosen response to multiple choice test items. On written assignments, the student must use a word processor
and submit their work electronically. The instructor will not grade hand-written work.
Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating and dishonesty are unacceptable and will not be tolerated! Measures will be taken to detect cheating. Any
infractions will be dealt with by seeking the maximum penalties available under current College policy. [Refer to the
sections on Scholastic Integrity and Disciplinary Penalties in the Student Handbook.]
Classroom Behavior
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"Obscene language and activities that are offensive to modesty or decency are prohibited on the College
campus" (from Student Handbook).
Do NOT bring beepers or cellular phones to class sessions. College policy prohibits use of these devices in
class rooms, except in the case of medical or emergency personnel who are on call (Student Handbook).
Any student who is covered by this exception is asked to inform the instructor at the first class meeting.
DAILY preparation is essential for success in this course.
Approach this course with a positive attitude!! Disregard what others have told you about the course, good or
bad. You can learn more about American government and politics this semester than you ever imagined, if
you let yourself. PRECONCEIVED ATTITUDES concerning college courses such as this one can do more
to impede your education than anything else!!
Do NOT expect the material to simply "WASH OVER YOU!!"YOU must take the initiative to learn!!!!!
Students may not use tape recorders to record lectures, discussions, or any other activity occurring during
class sessions. The instructor will make special accommodations for any student who has a documented
learning disability. More generally, any student with a documented learning disability must inform the
instructor at the beginning of the semester so that the instructor take appropriate action to set up special
testing procedures, study aids, or other accommodations.
GOVT 2302.01
Summer 1, 2002 -- 8 weeks
Wm. Feagin, Jr. -- Instructor
Topical Syllabus and
Course Calendar
Topic
Reading Assignment
Politics & Government
Public Policy
Mainstream versus radical politics
Greenberg, 1 and 2; Brown, 1 and 2
To be announced.
Greenberg, 4 (pp. 106-114); Lowi*
General Considerations
Wednesday, May 29
Monday, June 3
Wednesday, June 5
Monday, June 10
Exam #1
The Policy-Makers
Monday, June 10
Legislatures - The U.S. Congress and
the Texas Legislature
Greenberg, 11; Brown, 6
Wednesday, June 12
Chief Executives - The President and
the Texas Governor
Greenberg, 12; Brown, 7
Monday, June 17
Bureaucracies - National and State
Agencies
Greenberg, 13; Brown, 8
Wednesday, June 19
Courts - National and State Judiciaries Greenberg, 14; Brown, 9
Monday, June 24
Exam #2
Moral Controversies 1
Right to Privacy
Greenberg, 15
Monday, July 1
Wednesday, July 3
Abortion
Gay Rights
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Speech
Pornography
Hate Speech
Strickland*
Ellis*
Greenberg, 15; Jelen*
Greenberg, Chp. 15
Daynes*
Lawrence and Rauch*
Monday, July 8
Exam #3
Monday, June 24; Wednesday,
June 26
Moral Controversies 2
Monday, July 8; Wednesday, July
10
Monday, July 15
Criminal Due Process
Greenberg, 15; Brown, 9
Exclusionary Rule
Death Penalty
Equal Protection of the Laws
Affirmative Action
Steger and Steele*
Greenberg, 16
Bryner*
Monday, July 15
Retrospective and Conclusion
Wednesday, July 17
Final Exam
*Indicates articles that have been
NOTE: The dates indicated for
subject to revision.
placed on reserve in the Library.
each topic are tentative. The calendar, topics, and reading assignments are