INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS:
OFFICE PHONE:
EMAIL:
Chris McDonald PhD
Sangamon 1105
Mon/Wed/Fri 09:00-11:00
Or by appointment (call or email) / or just stop by my office if the door is open !
786-4937 (secretary 786-2375) chris.mcdonald@llcc.edu
PLEASE PUT YOUR SECTION NUMBER IN THE EMAIL SUBJECT LINE
A DETAILED VERSION OF THIS SYLLABUS, ALONG WITH ALL THE CLASS DOCUMENTATION IS INCLUDED IN
A VITAL STUDY GUIDE THAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE CLASS BLACKBOARD SITE. THIS DOCUMENT IS A
SUMMARY VERSION. COURSE POLICIES AND ALL RELEVANT MATERIAL IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL IN THE
ONLINE VERSION
To access the blackboard site: Go to www.llcc.edu
, choose the Blackboard link (top right), log in using your LLCC Login and password, Select POS 101 and then click on the either the SYLLABUS or STUDY GUIDE link.
If you cannot access the online version tell me as soon as possible and I will provide you with a paper version.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is an introduction to American Government. Its aim is to provide a basic understanding of the principles, organization, structure and problems of American Government and to develop the critical faculties necessary to address the pressing questions of equity and democracy raised by politics in the U.S.
ONE TEXT IS REQUIRED :
EXAMS & GRADING Course totals >900=A, 800-899=B, 700-799=C, 600-699=D, <600=F
The final grade will be calculated as follows: Participation =10%, Exam 1 = 20%, Exam 2 = 20%, Exam 3 = 20%, Paper
=12%, Learnsmart Homeworks 15%, Week 1 Quiz =1% Homework 2=2%. (The optional final exam replaces the lowest exam score and is therefore also worth 20%) USE THE FOLLOWING TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR GRADE:
Assignment DUE DATE
Wk 1 QUIZ 10 pts - 1%
GRADE POINTS RUNING TOTAL
LEARNSMART HOMEWORKS 150pts - 15%
EXAM 1 200pts - 20%
WEEKLY
EXAM 2 200pts -20%
PAPER 120pts -12%
EXAM 3 200pts - 20%
HOMEWORK 20pts -2%
PARTICIPATION 100pts - 10%
(FINAL EXAM) sub for lowest exam
TOTAL = 1000 points (100%)
CONTINUOUS

SPRING SEMESTER 2013
WEEK and READING
WEEK 1
Chapter 1: Context &
Citizenship
WEEK 2
Chapter 2: The Constitution
WEEK 3
Chapter 3: Federalism
WEEK 4
Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
WEEK 5
Chapter 5: Civil Rights
WEEK 6
Chapter 6: Public Opinion
WEEK 7
Chapter 7: Political
Participation
WEEK 8
Chapter 8: Interest Groups
SPRING BREAK
WEEK 9
Chapter 9: Parties
WEEK 10
Chapter10 : Media
WEEK 11
Chapter 11: Congress
WEEK 12
Chapter 12: Presidency
WEEK 13
Chapter 13: Bureaucracy
WEEK 14
Chapter 14 Courts
WEEK 15
Chapter 15 Public Policy
WEEK 16
Chapter 16 Foreign Policy
FINALS WEEK
MONDAY
4 JANUARY
21MLK DAY No Classes
28
4
11
18
EXAM 1
25
4
SPRING BREAK
18
25
EXAM 2
1 APRIL
8
15
22
29
EXAM 3
6
13
FINALS
WEDNESDAY
16
23
30
6
13
20
27
6
SPRING BREAK
20
27
3
10
17
24
1 MAY
8
15
FINALS
FRIDAY
18
Wk1 QUIZ
25
1 FEBRUARY
8
15
22
Chris at Model United Nations
Conference
1 MARCH
8 MID POINT
SPRING BREAK
22
PAPER DUE
29
5
12
19
26
3 LAST DATE TO WITHDRAW
10
HW Due
COMMENCEMENT
WEEKEND
29/20
LEARNSMART HW 2 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
26/27
LEARNSMARTHW 3 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
2/3
LEARNSMART HW 4 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
9/10
LEARNSMARTHW 5 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
16/17
LEARNSMARTHW 6 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
23/24
LEARNSMART HW 7 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
2/3
LEARNSMARTHW 8 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
9/10
LEARNSMART HW 9 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
SPRING BREAK
23/24
LEARNSMARTHW 10 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
30/31
LEARNSMARTHW 11 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
6/7
LEARNSMARTHW 12 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
13/14
LEARNSMARTHW 13 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
20/21
LEARNSMART HW 14 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
27/28
LEARNSMART HW 15 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
4/5
LEARNSMARTHW 16 DUE
SUNDAY NIGHT
11/12
NO CLASSES ASSIGNMENT DUE INSTRUCTOR ABSENT (No
Class)
LEARNSMART
With your textbook you will find an access code to the McGrawHill Connect/Learnsmart system that we will be using in this course. There are 15 homework assignments each worth 10 points which use this system. Each chapter has a homework assignment that must be completed by SUNDAY NIGHT at 11:59pm the weekend BEFORE we start the chapter material in class.
To access these homework assignments you need to
MAKE SURE YOUR LLCC EMAIL AND BLACKBOARD ACCOUNT IS WORKING
CREATE A "CONNECT ACCOUNT" (using the code supplied with your textbook and the instructions provided below)
Once you have done this
LOG IN TO BLACKBOARD and select your POS 101 class
CLICK ON WEEKLY HOMEWORK (button to left) and select the correct week
YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOG IN TO THE LEARNSMART EXERCISE

Go to the following web address and click the "register now" button. http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/c_mcdonald_pos101_-
_11am_main_campus_2
© 2013 The McGraw-Hill Companies. All rights reserved.

COURSE, PROGRAM and COLLEGE OUTCOMES.
Catalogue Description: POS 101
This is an overview of the American political system including the structure, functions and processes of our federal government. Emphasis is placed on current illustrations of the continuing interplay of forces which constitute our political system. Successful completion of this course fulfills Illinois statutory requirements for teacher certification.
R, W1 (3 lecture hours) IAI: S5 900, PLS 911
POS 101 Outcomes Guide
Course Outcomes are the essential elements in the class. Course Outcomes (read them as “upon completion of the course students will be able to…) are linked to the broader Program Outcomes which, in turn, are linked to the General Education outcomes set by the college:
Thus:
POS 101 outcome 1 Characterize and critique the basic elements of republican and liberal-democratic forms of government, both historically and theoretically.
Program Outcome Political Science -- Demonstrate familiarity with the basic philosophical groundings of the Western political tradition, in particular, the (substantive) content of liberal democracy and the (methodological) principles of social science.
I. Critical Thinking
Students will be able to demonstrate their analytical reasoning abilities to interpret, evaluate, and synthesize information across disciplines.
RELEVANT ASSIGNMENTS: EXAMs 1, 2, 3 and FINAL
POS 101 outcome 2 Identify a range of major analytic approaches to the study of politics and the varied forms of political practice, and discuss their relative merits.
Program Outcome Political Science -- Identify and distinguish between the major approaches within a range of sub-fields of political science.
I. Critical Thinking
Students will be able to demonstrate their analytical reasoning abilities to interpret, evaluate, and synthesize information across disciplines.
V. Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning
Students will be able to utilize the scientific method and quantitative mathematical reasoning skills to solve problems across disciplines.
RELEVANT ASSIGNMENTS: EXAMS 1, 2, 3 and FINAL, HW 2
POS 101 outcome 3 List and explain the structures and functions of the institutions of government within the US and provide a summary of their development.
Program Outcome Political Science -- Articulate a variety of models and methodologies for addressing the relationship between the citizen and the institutions and mechanisms of government, including distinguishing between a variety of governmental institutions and structures as practiced at various levels within the United States and globally.
RELEVANT ASSIGNMENT HW 1, EXAMS 1, 2, 3 and FINAL
POS 101 outcome 4 Using appropriate analytic tools and theoretical constructs, critically evaluate the role of individual and group rights and liberties in the contemporary US context.
Program Outcome Political Science -- Articulate a variety of models and methodologies for addressing the relationship between the citizen and the institutions and mechanisms of government, including distinguishing between a variety of governmental institutions and structures as practiced at various levels within the United States and globally.
I. Critical Thinking
Students will be able to demonstrate their analytical reasoning abilities to interpret, evaluate, and synthesize information across disciplines.
RELEVANT ASSIGNMENT EXAMS 1, 2, 3 and FINAL
POS 101 outcome 5 Identify and evaluate the role of extra-constitutional actors within the political process (including, but not limited to: interest groups, the mass media, political parties and social movements).
Program Outcome Political Science -- Analyze the interplay of economics and politics and the basic functioning of economies and economic policy in sub-national, national and transnational contexts.
II. Cultural and Global Awareness
Students will develop and establish an awareness of the responsibilities of contributing individuals in a diverse society. Students will demonstrate a critical appreciation of the visual and performing arts throughout history and across cultures, and will be able to formulate responses to a variety of aesthetic experiences.
RELEVANT ASSIGNMENT EXAMS 1, 2, 3 and FINAL, PAPER, HW 2
POS 101 outcome 6 Both orally and in writing, critique the nature and extent of contemporary US democracy and discuss their own role as a citizen within it.
Program Outcome Political Science -- Demonstrate familiarity with the basic philosophical groundings of the Western political tradition, in particular, the (substantive) content of liberal democracy and the (methodological) principles of social science.
I. Critical Thinking
Students will be able to demonstrate their analytical reasoning abilities to interpret, evaluate, and synthesize information across disciplines.
IV. Communication
Students will be able to read, write, speak and listen effectively as individuals and in teams.
RELEVANT ASSIGNMENT EXAMS 1, 2, 3, PAPER, PARTICIPATION.