Political Science 150: Introduction to American Government
and Politics
Online Course
College of the Canyons: Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. Steven Reti
Email address: steven.reti@canyons.edu
Course Description
Politics is about the struggle among political values: liberty, equality and order. How does our
constitutional system seek to achieve these values and what happens when dilemmas occur
among them? As a class, we will examine concepts and theories that help us analyze how our
political system works. We will argue about ways to improve our political system and examine
the ways that we can get involved in political life. Students will read and analyze a number of
political dynamics through readings of textbook chapters and online materials, writing short
essays every week and participating in online discussions.
This is an introductory course. No prior knowledge of politics is expected, however familiarity
with American history and understanding of current events will be very helpful. This class
involves quite a bit of writing of short essays and online research, so the ability to work research,
read and write independently will be of great help. One can of course receive help to strengthen
these skills from me, from the TLC lab and the library on campus, and from other college
resources. Reliable access to the Internet and to common word processing programs is
necessary.
There is one assignment per week, plus discussion board posts. Set aside about two to three
hours a week.
Course Requirements
Assignments
(1) Online Assignments
Description
Please complete assignments for each topic.
(Plus three unit tests)
(2) Discussion Boards
Students share their points of view. Due by
Sunday night.
Value
100
pts.
Each.
20
points
each
Course Materials (for purchase at the COC bookstore)
(a) Ginsberg, Benjamin et al, We the People, Ninth Edition. Early editions are acceptable as
well.
(b) Anagnoson, J. Theodore, Governing California in the Twenty-First Century, Fourth Edition.
Early editions are acceptable
Note: the CoC bookstore packages these two books as a set.
(1) Online Assignments: Each topic is organized according to the following template (consult the
course calendar below for guidance).
1.
Read assigned chapters in Ginsburg and Anagnoson.
Study PowerPoint highlights online (under “Course Powerpoints”) that
correspond to readings. Be patient. Files are over 1 MB in size and may take
time to download. If you don’t have PowerPoint on your computer,
download a free PowerPoint reader at the Microsoft Download Center,
www.microsoft.com/downloads.
Tip: look at assignments before you read, to guide your focus.
2.
Under “Assignments,” answer questions. Be sure to answer in your own
words. Adhere to the College of the Canyons’s Code of Conduct regarding
the prohibition of plagiarism. See
https://www.canyons.edu/offices/student_services/Academic_Info/ConductPo
licy.asp
Please communicate with me regarding illnesses and other extenuating
circumstances for late work to be accepted for grading. It is especially
important that you turn in work on time because the college requires that
students who do not turn in work be dropped from the class.
3. Discussion: Using the online discussion board, respond to discussion board topics and
respond to the posts of at least two other students.
Due Dates are on Sunday nights. Because discussion boards are
dialogues among students, late posts are not accepted for grading.
Note: When posting online, please be as civil and polite as you would be
in a face-to-face meeting. For example, comment on what people
say, rather than commenting about them (avoid the ad hominem
attack)
Course Calendar
Unit 1: The American System:
Topic 1: Introduction to American Politics: Assignment due Thursday February 13
a. Read chapter 1 of Ginsburg.
b. Read chapter 1 of Anagnoson.
Discussion Boards due by Sunday night, do early so you can reply to other people.
Topic 2: The Constitutional System: due Thursday February 20
a. Read chapter 2 of Ginsburg.
b. Read chapter 2 of Anagnoson.
Discussion Boards due by Sunday night, do early so you can reply to other people.
Topic 3: Federalism: Assignment due Thursday February 27
a. Read chapter 3 of Ginsburg.
Unit Test 1 due Thursday March 6
Unit 2: People and Politics
Topic 4: Public Opinion: Assignment due Thursday March 13
a. Read chapter 6 of Ginsburg.
Reminder: Discussion Boards are due on Sundays
Topic 5: Political Participation and Voting: Assignment due Thursday March 20
a. Read Chapter 8 of Ginsburg.
Reminder: Discussion Boards are due on Sundays
Topic 6: Political Parties: Assignment due Thursday March 27
a. Read chapter 9 of Ginsburg
b. Read chapter 4 of Anagnoson..
Topic 7: Campaigns and Elections: Assignment due Thursday April 3
a.Read chapter 10 of Ginsburg
Reminder: Discussion Boards are due on Sundays
Topic 8: Interest Groups: Assignment due Thursday April 17
a.Read chapter 11 of Ginsburg
Unit Test 2: due Thursday April 24
Unit 3: Political Institutions and Policy Choices
Topic 9: Congress: Assignment due Thursday May 1
a. Read chapter 12 of Ginsburg
b. Read chapter 5 of Anagnoson.
Topic 10: Presidency: Assignment due Thursday May 8
a. Read chapter 13 of Ginsburg
b. Read chapter 6 of Anagnoson.
Reminder: Discussion Boards are due on Sundays
Topic 11: The Judiciary: Assignment due Thursday May 15
a. Read chapter 15 of Ginsburg.
b. Read chapter 7 of Anagnoson.
Topic 12: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Assignment due Thursday May 22
a.Survey chapters 4 and 5 in Ginsburg.
Unit Test 3: Due Thursday May 29
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------By the end of the course, we should have achieved the following student learning
outcomes:
The student will be able to:
Identify the basic institutions of the government of the United States and the State of
California.
Compare and contrast democratic theories of American government.
Exhibit a heightened sense of personal political efficacy and civic responsibility.
Objectives:
1) Summarize federalism and the relationships between national, state, and local
government within that political structure.
2) Describe and evaluate the basic theories behind the U.S. Constitution and their
role in contemporary American political life.
3) Compare the functions of the three branches of government.
4) Explain the differences in the major contemporary political ideologies and evaluate
their strengths and weaknesses.
5) Compare the influence of political parties, interest groups, the media and public
opinion in public policy decisions.
6) Identify and explain the major theories and challenges in domestic and foreign
political affairs.
7) Explain the role of state and local governments with a particular emphasis on the
distinguishing characteristics of California government.
------------------------------------------------------------
How is Work Graded?
You may be wondering how weekly work is graded in this class. In a nutshell, work should
address the question that is being asked, using appropriate arguments and evidence to
support the positions that you are seeking to justify and be very well-written.
Perhaps a little rubric will help.
Criteria
Content (70%)
Writing Quality
(30%)
Excellent (90
to 100%)
Response fully
addresses the
question
setting out the
students’
reasoning and
when possible
using many
examples to
illustrate
points.
Student shows
a superior
understanding
of the
question.
Additional
research and
reflection is
noted.
Writing quality
is excellent.
Essays are
Good (80-89%)
Response fully
addresses the
question setting
out the
students’
arguments
using some
examples to
illustrate points.
Student shows
a clear
understanding
of the question.
Writing quality
is good. Essays
clearly
Fair (70 to
79%
Response
addresses the
question, using
one example to
illustrate points.
Students show
a sufficient
understanding
of the question.
Poor (<70%)
Writing quality
is fair. With
better
Writing quality
hinders
communication
Lack of
justification
and/or
examples make
it difficult to
learn if student
understands the
issue that is
being
considered.
written with
clear theses,
appropriate
organization in
paragraph
form.
Citations are
provided when
necessary.
communicate
theses.
organization
and editing,
essay would be
greatly
improved
of the message
to the reader
Letter Grades: 90-100%: A
80-89:
B
70-79:
C
60-69:
D
Keep Track of your grades. Make sure that you are receiving credit for everything in your
gradebook.