PSC 131–V9
JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE
P. Knop – FL 13
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
(Online)
3 cr. (3-0)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A survey of American national, state, and local governments, including a study of the
structure-function of the political system and the elements of constitutionalism,
republicanism, and federalism. Emphasis will be given to the dynamics of the political
process through the operation of public opinion, the party system, and the electoral
process. Special attention will be given to an analysis of the Constitution of the United
States. Students who receive credit for Political Science 131 automatically fulfill the
statutory requirements of the State of Illinois.
PREREQUISITES: None
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students studying the American political system and governmental system will come to
understand the basic framework of government institutions and public policy making. It
is expected that the student will be able to:
1.
List and describe the American governmental structure and the functions of each
component part.
2.
Explain and articulate institutional and individual behavior within the political
system in the United States.
3.
Describe the nature of contemporary social problems, and the operation of the
principle of social change.
4.
List and identify various source materials for gaining a greater understanding of
politics and government in the United States.
5.
List and evaluate public policy problems currently confronting the United States.
6.
List and analyze different public policies that have been implemented in recent
years to correct those problems.
7.
Participate in discussions by reading text assignments and answering questions
on the discussion board in a timely manner.
8.
Identify and discuss new and controversial political issues of the day.
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COURSE OUTLINE:
PSC – 131- American Government will be divided into 8 sections. The sections are as
follows:
Section A:
Civic Engagement and the Constitution
Chapter 1: Political Thinking & Culture: Citizenship, p. 1-26
Chapter 2: Constitutional Democracy: pp. 29-61
Section B:
State’s Rights and Individual Liberty
Chapter 3: Federalism: Forging a Nation, pp. 66-101
Chapter 4: Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights, pp. 104-143
Section C:
Equality and Public Opinion
Chapter 5: Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness, pp. 146-180
Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Socialization: pp. 183-212
Section D:
Political Parties and Participation
Chapter 7: Political Participation: Activating Popular Will, pp. 215-239
Chapter 8: Political Parties, Candidates, & Campaigns: pp. 242-278
Section E:
Media and Interest Groups
Chapter 9: Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence, pp. 281-312
Chapter 10: The News Media: Communicating Pol. Images, pp. 315-341
Section F:
Presidency and the Executive Branch
Chapter 12: The Presidency: Leading the Nation, pp. 390-428
Chapter 13: The Federal Bureaucracy: pp. 431-462
Section G:
Congress and the Courts
Chapter 11: Congress: National Goals v. Local Interests, pp. 344-387
Chapter 14: The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law, pp. 465-497
Section H:
Public Policy Making: Economic, Education, and Foreign Policy
Chapter 15: Economic & Environmental Policy, pp. 501-535
Chapter 16: Welfare and Education Policy, pp. 538-569
Chapter 17: Foreign Policy, pp. 573-603
Course Schedule
Fall 2013 - Schedule and Assignments for PSC – 131 V9
Introduction to American Government and Politics Online
Week
Day
Date
1
W
Oct 9
Th
Oct 10
Assignment
First Day of class & syllabus and expectations
Ch 1- Political Culture, pp. 1-26
Chapter 2 - Constitutional Democracy pp. 29-61
3
Fall 2013 - Schedule and Assignments for PSC – 131 V9
Introduction to American Government and Politics Online
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
M
Oct 14
Ch 3– Federalism, pp. 66-103
W
Oct 16
Ch 4 - Civil Liberties, pp. 104-143
F
Oct 18
(Writing Assignment #1- 50 pts)
M
Oct 21
Ch 5- Equal Rights, pp. 146-180
W
Oct 23
Ch 6– Public Opinion, pp. 183-212
F
Oct 25
(Writing Assignment #2- 50 pts)
M
Oct 28
Ch 7- Political Participation, pp. 215-239
W
Oct 30
Ch 8 - Political Parties, pp. 242-278
F
Nov 1
(Writing Assignment #3- 50 pts)
M
Nov 4
Ch 9- Interest Groups, pp. 281-312
W
Nov 6
Ch 10– News Media, pp. 315-341
F
Nov 8
(Writing Assignment #4- 50 pts)
M
Nov 11
Ch 12 - Presidency pp. 390-428
W
Nov 13
Ch 13 – Bureaucracy, pp. 431-462 Midterm Exam (100 pts)
F
Nov 15
(Writing Assignment #5- 50 pts)
M
Nov 18
Ch 11 - Congress pp. 344-387
W
Nov 20
F
Nov 22
Ch 14- Judiciary pp. 465-497
(Writing Assignment #6- 50 pts)
Ch 15 – Economic Public Policy, pp. 501-535
M
Dec 2
Ch 16 – Education Public Policy, pp. 538-569
W
Dec 4
F
Dec 6
Dec 10
Ch 17 – Foreign Policy, pp. 573-603
Last Day of Class!
(Writing Assignment #7- 50 pts)
Exam 2 (Final) -100 points
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
General Approach to Online Class
An online class is a different method of teaching from conventional classroom
experiences. The most dramatic difference is that we will not meet each other in person
during the course of the semester. We will cover the same material in the online class
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that I cover in a conventional classroom course, however, at a slightly different pace.
You will be expected to work on this class for the full 8 weeks of the semester, at a pace
that I have determined. You will be given weekly assignments to read the material in
the text book and other sources. And you will be expected to complete all assignments,
quizzes, papers, exams, forum postings, etc., within the timeframe of the assigned due
dates. The specific due dates for all assignments will be listed at the beginning of each
week of class. You may also find a course calendar of chapter reading assignments in
this syllabus. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me as soon as
possible (email: perryknop@jalc.edu .
Chapter Quizzes. (150 points – 15x10 points) Since reading the assigned chapters is
necessary for the success of the student in the class, this semester I am asking that you
complete the assigned chapter quiz found on Desire2Learn as we discuss the chapter.
The quiz will be available only during the week when the chapter is assigned. Quizzes
will be open during specific dates and it is your responsibility to have the quizzes
completed within that specific time frame. The specific due dates for these assignments
will be given to you at the beginning of each week of class.
Multiple Choice Exams. (200 Points) There will be TWO 100-point multiple choice
exams, one midterm and one final exam during the semester. The midterm exam will
cover material from the first half of the course and the final will cover the remaining
material. All chapter materials can be found in We The People by Thomas Patterson
(10th Edition, 2013). Precise dates for exams will be announced and posted several
weeks prior to the due date.
Discussion Questions. (100pts, 5 pts each) Each chapter you will be asked one
question about the assigned material. Then through the week, I will post questions of
the day to highlight either contemporary political/governmental events or to check to see
if you are still paying attention to the class. These should be fun questions! These
questions will reflect your attendance and participation in this class. Since this is a fully
online class, it is particularly important that you participate regularly throughout the
semester. This is my tool for measuring your participation.
Written Assignments. (400 Points) During this semester you will be required to write
and turn in eight (8) written assignments. Each of these writing assignments will be
worth 50 points. The written assignments will be posted on the Desire2Learn course
site. A grading rubric will be supplied with the first assignment and will also be available
on Desire2Learn. Each assignment must be uploaded in/on Desire2Learn by the
assigned due date in an acceptable format: doc, .docx., or .rtf. If the submission cannot
be opened due to improper formatting or no submission is made by the posted deadline,
your grade will reflect this omission. The specific due dates for these assignments will
be given at the beginning of each week.
Incomplete. In general, incomplete grades are rarely awarded. However, if unusual
circumstances do arise, in order to become eligible for an incomplete grade, your
attendance must be near perfect and your grade must be a “C” or better. It is the
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student’s (your) responsibility to finish course work requirements within the semester. If
at any given time during the semester that it appears that the student (you) will have
challenges finishing the course work, please see me as soon as possible.
Plagiarism and cheating: A student who cheats during a quiz or exam is guilty of
academic dishonesty. A student who submits a paper which in whole or part has been
written by someone else or which contains passages quoted or paraphrased from
another person’s writing without proper acknowledgment (quotation marks, internal
documentation, etc.) is guilty of plagiarism. These are serious offenses. In the least,
cheating and plagiarism will cause you to receive a “0” on an assignment; at most, a
possible failure for the course.
Student Success Center. Tutors may be obtained through the Student Success Center.
Contact the staff in C219 if this service is desired. John A. Logan College will make
reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities under Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Any student with a disability that may have some impact on work in this class, who feels
she/he needs an accommodation, should make an appointment with the Coordinator of
Services for Students with Disabilities on campus, Room C219B, Ext. 8516. Before
services can be provided, this advisor must determine eligibility and arrange appropriate
academic adjustments. It is the student’s responsibility to register in advance of a
school term with this office and to turn in a schedule each term to ensure that
there is every opportunity for success in this class.
English Writing Center/Tutoring. For assistance with writing assignments in any college
courses, students are encouraged to visit the Writing Center in C214. English
instructors are available for one-on-one tutoring each semester during hours posted at
the center.
Financial Aid. Students who receive financial assistance and completely withdraw from
classes prior to 60% of the semester being completed (approximately 2-3 weeks after
midterm) could be responsible to return a portion of their Federal Pell Grant award.
Prior to withdrawing from courses, students should contact the Financial Aid Office.
Course Withdrawal Information. It is expected that you will attend this class regularly.
If you stop attending for any reason, you should contact your advisor and withdraw
officially to avoid the posting of a failing grade (an E) to your transcript. It is also
advisable to discuss the situation with your instructor before dropping.
Administrative Withdrawal. A student may be withdrawn from a class for lack of
attendance/participation as defined below. Logging into an online course is not
sufficient to be considered participation. Participation for online courses is defined as
an active process and may include posting/sending assignments to the drop box or
instructor’s email, participating in online discussion boards, taking quizzes or exams, or
otherwise communicating and/or participating in some manner that is approved by the
instructor. A student who has been administratively withdrawn from class will receive
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an email notification from the Admissions Office. This notification will outline the
student’s appeal options if the student wishes to re-enroll in the course.
Face-to-Face Class
(8 or 16 weeks)
Online Class
(8 week)
Online Class
(16 week)
Student may be withdrawn from class if the student has missed
four (4) consecutive class periods without prior notification to the
instructor of the absences.
Student may be withdrawn from class if the student has not
participated (as indicated by activity reports) in the online class
for the equivalent of one week.
Student may be withdrawn from class if the student has not
participated (as indicated by activity reports) in the online class
for the equivalent of two weeks.
Safety Review Request. Our safety at JALC is everyone’s responsibility!
Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to use the Safety Review Request,
https://secure.jalc.edu/campus_safety/safety_review_request_form.php, link on the
JALC home page or contact Campus Safety directly (Ext. 8218 or Room E105) to report
safety concerns or questions. This statement comes from the John A. Logan College
Campus Violence Prevention Committee.
METHOD OF EVALUATION:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chapter Quizzes (15) ....................... 150 points .................................. 18%
Multiple Choice Exams (2) ................ 200 points .................................. 24%
Written Assignments (8) ................... 400 points .................................. 47%
Discussion Questions (20) ................ 100 points .................................. 11%
Total ................................................ 850 points
90% or 765 points+ = ........... A
80% or 680 points+ = ........... B
70% or 595 points+ = ........... C
60% or 510 points+ = ........... D
59% or 509 points or less = E
METHOD OF PRESENTATION:
I expect you to read and outline textbook chapters and respond to posted questions.
Also, it is imperative that you complete all quizzes, projects, written assignments and
forum postings in order to satisfactorily complete this course. This is a completely online
course!
TEXT:
Required: : We the People, 10th Edition, by Thomas E. Patterson, McGraw-Hill, 2013.
ISBN # 978-0-07-337917-3
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Recommended Supplemental Reading: During the course of the semester, I
recommend that you develop a habit of following political and governmental news by
reading daily newspapers and following the news on television or online. Also, I will
provide links to relevant and hopefully interesting stories on a regular basis through
course announcements.
INSTRUCTOR:
Perry A. Knop, Professor of Political Science
Office: G219B
Office Hours:
M
9:00am – Noon
W
8:00am – 1:00pm
or by appointment
Ext: 8353
Email: perryknop@jalc.edu
DATE:
Fall, 2013
John A. Logan College Telephone Numbers
Carterville Campus
Carterville and Williamson County ................................. (618) 985-2828, (618) 985-3741
Carbondale and Jackson County .................................. (618) 457-7676, (618) 549-7335
Du Quoin area .......................................................................................... (618) 542-8612
West Frankfort area.................................................................................. (618) 937-3438
Crab Orchard, Gorham, and Trico Areas ................................................. 1-800-851-4720
Alongi DQ Extension Center ................................................................. (618) 542-9210
West Frankfort Extension Center........................................................... (618) 932-6639
John A. Logan College does not discriminate on the basis of race,
religion, color, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender orientation.
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