Political Science 180 Introduction to American Government
Orange Coast College
Online Course Fall Semester 2013
Dr. Patrick Coaty
Office Hours: 9:00-9:30 a.m.; 2:15-3:15 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and virtual office hour Monday 8:00-
9:00 a.m.
Office: Social Science C
Student learning Outcomes and Course Objectives
The student Learning Outcomes for this class are:
1. The student will be able to explain the basic structures of the political system and how some of
its institutions, procedures and actors function.
2. The student will be able to demonstrate critical thinking through analysis, synthesis, and
evaluation of course content.
3. The student sill be able to effectively communicate the knowledge and skills gained in this
course.
Course Objective
The objective in this course is to provide information and analytical exercises to increase the student's
understanding of the American system of government and the War on Terror. Academically, it is my
objective to provide students of this course an experience in reading, thinking and writing to increase
their skills and provide for a sound base for further academic and professional achievement.
UNIQUE ASPECTS OF ONLINE EDUCATION
This course is 100 percent online. I encourage students to visit me on campus during my office hours if
they have any issues concerning the class. However, this is not a requirement. A requirement for this
course is to log in to blackboard daily. You are expected to spend six to nine hours a week on this
course. We do monitor your time ins i de the course and will communicate issues surrounding noninvolvement.
Please communicate to the Professor and Course Assistants through the blackboard environment. All
email will be answered in a 48 hour turn around. Emails concerning subjects that have been a subject of
announcements or in the syllabus will not be a high priority for reply by the Professor or Course
Assistants.
It is the student's responsibility to keep up to date on deadlines and course requirements. This is not a
self-paced course. The student cannot work ahead. Students should be independent learners and have
the experience of time management. Online courses are not easier, and if a student falls behind it is very
difficult catch up. Please keep this in m ind. Finally, please follow t h e proc ed ures for h a n d i n g in
homework, papers and assignments. There are over three h un dr e d s t u d e n t s in the c las s , by not
following procedures it makes everyone's job more difficult. The Professor and Course Assistants retain
the right to drop students from the course who do not follow procedures or are disruptive to the
learning of the other students.
The role of the Professor in this class is to guide and facilitate the student to achieve the student
learning outcomes (SLOs). The student is responsible for reading the textbooks, going through the
learning modules and using their critical thinking skills to complete the assignments. It is the
course assistants' role to administer the record keeping and the computer issues surrounding
online education. Both the Professor and the Course Assistants want to support your efforts,
but please remember you have to do your part in order to have a successful semester.
Finally, cheating will not be tolerated; all of your assignments will be checked through s af e
assign software. If you are found cheating on any assignment (either getting answers
yourself or helping someone cheat) you will be given zero points on the assignment and your
case will be given to the Dean of Students for further action.
Textbooks
Textbooks are available online through Amazon or other vendors and at the bookstore. There
are two required textbooks for this course. Make sure you have the correct editions or you
can have access to the correct editions because assignments are based on those editions.
Toward A More Perfect Union: Introduction to American Government second edition by
Patrick Coaty and Understanding the War on Terror Third Edition by Gordon Babst(ed.) and
Patrick Coaty. War on Terror is available as an e-book at the Kendall Hunt Publishing Company
website.
Grading
Passing the course entails the Student completes all of the requirements of the class. If a
student does not complete the requirements of the course this will result in the administration
of negative points to the Student's final grade. A STUDENT MUST COMPLETE THE PAPER
AND TAKE THE FINAL EXAM IN ORDER TO PASS THE COURSE. I will follow t h e Social and
Behavioral Science Division guidelines on grading. This course is designed so everyone can
succeed. There will be three mid-term exams and a final exam. One of the mid-terms (the
lowest grade) will be dropped. NO MAKE UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN SINCE WE DROP ONE
MIDTERM EXAM.
The participation grade is determined by homework. The procedures for handing in homework
and the due dates are posted on blackboard in the announcement section. Please make sure
you understand the procedures.
Grading Formula
Midterm 1 – 15 percent
Midterm 2 – 15 percent
Midterm 3 – 15 percent
Homework & Journals – 20 percent
Final Exam – 25 percent
Paper – 25 percent
One dropped mid-term -15
Total100
percent.*
*EXTRA CREDIT, each journal is worth 2.5 percent, for a total of 5
percent.
Grading
Criteria
90 percent and above A
80 percent and above B
70 percent and above C
55 percent and above D
55 percent and below F
The Homework grade is determined by handing in the questions at the back of each chapter
of More Perfect Union. Please see announcements on the procedures for handing in homework.
Homework may be a submitted as a Xeroxed copy. We do keep the homework so please do
not ask for it back, if you want a copy please make Xerox copies for yourself before you hand in
the homework.
Paper
The paper is a 5 page paper analyzing the concepts in the book Understanding the War on
Terror 3'd Edition.· I am looking for a structured argument which entails:
premise+evidence+conclusion. Please do not use opinion. Your argument should answer the
question: Using the concepts included in the War On Terror 3'd Edition including the
appendices-Answer the question: Identify the significant historical elements of terrorism and
how they have evolved since the attacks of 2001. PLEASE NO QUOTES.
Journal
There will be two journal assignment required. If you are below the required word count or
your ideas are not developed you will not be given full credit. Using the learning modules and
reading the chapters plus the historical documents assigned in the appendix of More Perfect
Union. Again, I would like to see a structured argument and demonstration of your
personalization of the material. PLEASE DO NOT COPY DIRECTLY FROM THE BOOK. PLEASE NO
QUOTES.
Journal
Assignments:
1.
The Constitution-Read Chapter 2 in More Perfect Union, The Treaty of Paris, The
Constitution, President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points and the United Nations
Charter. Answer the question: How have the concepts of Popular Sovereignty, Rule of
Law and Tolerance developed through time (using the historical documents as a
reference). REQUIRED
2.
Civil Rights vs. Civil Liberties-Chapter 4 in More Perfect Union. Read Lee's Resolution
and the Declaration of Independence, Voting Rights Act of 1965. Question: Which
documents enforce Civil Rights and which enforce Civil Liberties. EXTRA CREDIT
3. Campaigns and Elections: Chapter 8 in More P e r f e c t Union, 17th Amendment of
the U.S.
Constitution, John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address (view it on YouTube), George
Washington's Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address.
Question: What was the campaign promises embedded in these Presidential
speeches? Do you think these promises were fulfilled? Explain. REQUIRED
4. The Presidency-Chapter 10 in More Perfect Union, Louisiana Purchase Treaty,
Gettysburg Address, Theodore Roosevelt's Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine,
Executive Order 9066: Resulting in the Relocation of the Japanese, Executive Order
10730: Desecration of Central High School, Executive Order 10924: Establishment of the
Peace Corp, learning module. Question: How has Presidential Power and the role of the
President Expanded? (EXTRA CREDIT)