UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT (GOVT 2305) SYLLABUS FOR FALL 2017* LISA PEREZ-NICHOLS, PhD

CLASS TIME: MW Noon – 1:20 p.m. SYNONYM/ SECTION #: 34197-142 CLASS LOCATION: Hays Campus 01217.00 (Second Floor) OFFICE LOCATION: 1204.25 (Second Floor) PHONE: (512) 262-6563 (Voicemail Available. This is checked when I am on campus.) E-MAIL: lperez@austincc.edu (My goal is to offer you a reply within 24 hours.) OFFICE HOURS: Mon. through Thurs 8 – 9 a.m. / Mon. & Wed. 10:30 a.m. – Noon /

Tues. & Thurs. 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. BY APPOINTMENT: E-mail me or call me (during my office hours) to set up an appointment. Just ask! TEXTBOOK: American Government by OpenStax https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government

The textbook for this class is available online for free! The book comes in "web view" or PDF format. The web view uses a responsive design to display properly on almost any smart device. Downloading a PDF version will allow you to have access to your text anywhere, anytime OR to print a hardcopy.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to United States national government. The course includes a framework for understanding United States government and politics, the constitutional basis for United States government and politics, the processes of United States government and politics, the institutions of United States government and politics, and the policies of the United States government and politics. COURSE OBJECTIVES: First, students will understand the foundations, development, and features of the U.S. Constitution. Second, students will understand how mass media, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting, campaigns, and elections function with respect to American Government. Third, students will then go on to understand the structure, functions, and operations of the institutions (or branches) of U.S. government. Finally, students will understand how civil liberties and civil rights protect both individuals and categories of people. Plus, students will also understand the development and implementation of both foreign and domestic policies. Students will acquire the skills to interpret contemporary political events. INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD IN CLASS: This class will operate in a lecture-discussion format utilizing instructor-prepared materials, current events and student concerns and/or questions. My goal is to have the class be more of a dialogue versus a monologue. The lectures will include the use of power points, designed by your instructor, which are meant to both supplement and complement the text. The power points are meant to offer an outline which students can add to as they take notes each day in class by either writing down important information to complete the outline or by writing down the examples that will help you study later. More importantly, the power points used in class are meant to translate the theory found in the textbook into the reality of its practice. Thus, your instructor presupposes and insists that you read prior to coming to class. One of the primary objectives of the course is to have the student intelligently read, listen to, or view mass media reports about public policy questions and the election. As a result, information covered in class, current events, discussions, and the readings will be included in the assessments and/or exams. STUDY GUIDES FOR THE READINGS OUTSIDE OF CLASS: Please note that there are study guides related to the readings available in Blackboard. Thus, if you want to download a version of the study guides in Microsoft Word that you can use to fill in and/or to review with you should feel free to do so. You can find them in Blackboard http://acconline.austincc.edu/ Log into Blackboard (you can find the link to Blackboard on ACC’s main web page), then Click on your GOVT 2305 class, and then Click on Study Guides.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Your grade will be based upon FOUR EXAMS (worth 80 points total) which will be taken in class and FOUR ESSAYS (worth 20 points total) which will be completed outside of class. The assessments for the course and their point values are as follows:

In Class Assessment 25 Multiple Choice Questions Worth 2 Points Each You will need an 882 Scantron for this part of the exam which you will complete in class. Please note that the Bookstore at HAYS is a temporary one, which means that you need to obtain scantrons at the beginning of the semester when they are open or from the Learning Lab. They look like this

50 Points Possible Per Exam

6 Short Answer Questions Worth 5 Points Each You will write and complete these in class on the day of the scheduled exams.

30 Points Possible Per Exam

Out of Class Assessment An Essay with Research Worth 20 Points You will write the essay Outside of Class using the internet to do research. (A separate handout will be given on the first day of class that further explains the essays and the deadlines associated with them. This essay is considered to be a formal writing assignment since this is a sophomore level course. To help students be prepared to meet the demands of these requirements, the Government Department strongly recommends that ENGL 1301 or the equivalent be successfully completed prior to taking this course.)

20 Points Possible Per Exam

There are MAKE UP EXAMS that will only be offered should you miss the in class portion of either the First, Second or Third exams (for whatever reason). The make up exams will be given on the very last day of the semester. The MAKE UP EXAM policy includes two steps and is as follows: (1) You should send an e-mail to your Professor at lperez@austincc.edu within 48 hours of having missed either the first, second, or third exams to confirm that you plan on taking the make up exam; (2) Come the last day of the semester to the classroom to take the make up exam during your regularly scheduled class time. The make up exam will consist of two essays worth 40 points each which you will write and complete in class. Please note, though, that you can only make up ONE (1) missed exam and this includes only the First, Second or Third Exams only! Make up exams are neither retests nor retakes. Please note that there are no retests offered for the FOURTH EXAM and you will receive a grade of zero if you do not take the fourth exam at the scheduled time and day. Finally, keep in mind that there is NO MAKE UP PROVISION FOR THE OUT OF CLASS ESSAYS that you will be writing this semester. GRADING SCALE: Your overall course grade is based on the following grading scale.

A 400-360 Points B 359-320 Points C 319-280 Points D 279-240 Points F 239-000 Points This grading scale will be strictly adhered to. The grades are not “rounded” or “curved.” Plus, there is no “extra credit” or “grade negotiations.” Federal law mandates that grades or scores cannot be given over the phone, through another person, or by e-mail. I will offer all of your exams back to you in class with feedback along with your scores and your grades will be recorded in Blackboard where you will see your points being compiled as the semester moves along. You should feel free to visit with me if you are concerned with your grade at any time during the semester. My advice to students – the earlier the better! This will allow me to assist you in modifying and/or developing approaches to better your performance in the class. It is important to note that there is a Learning Lab, which includes both free tutoring and a computer center, available to you on campus. SCHOLATIC DISHONESTY: As described in the ACC Student Handbook, scholastic dishonesty includes a violation of college rules and regulations as punishable according to the procedures listed in the Handbook.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an exam (providing or stealing answers), plagiarism (using another authors words without attribution), and collusion (collaborating with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of any class requirement). If a student commits any of the above actions, the instructor will seek disciplinary action in the form of an academic penalty. This may include granting you a zero for the academic work in question and, where necessary, may include a course grade of “F.” Please note that your instructor will run your writing assignments against a plagiarism tool. ACADEMIC FREEDOM & CLASS CONDUCT: Academic freedom protects professors and students in their search for both truth and free expression. Professors and students alike share a responsibility to be respectful of the opinions of one another in order to maintain an affable learning environment. It is my hope that differing opinions will only create an atmosphere where everyone will be encouraged to think and learn. Rest assured that your grades will not be adversely affected by any beliefs or ideas expressed in class.

Disruptive conduct of any kind is prohibited. This includes habitually talking, sleeping, walking around aimlessly or laughing at someone during class. In addition, reading printed material not related to this class is viewed as disruptive conduct (newspapers, studying for another class). You may be asked to leave class for the remainder of that particular lecture and will be counted absent. Furthermore, do not disrupt the lectures by either arriving late or leaving early from class. Please let me know before class begins if you need to arrive late or leave early. The use of cell phones, pagers, iPods, iPads, earbuds and laptops is considered disruptive – turn them off and put them away during class. Food, open containers of drink, tobacco products and/or vapor products (such as e-cigarettes) are also considered to be disruptive to the learning environment and are therefore prohibited in this class. Please note that the failure to abide by these policies can result in being dropped from the course by your professor.

ATTENDANCE: According to the Student Handbook, “students are expected to attend classes in order to progress satisfactorily toward completion of course objectives.” Students are expected to arrive on time and not to leave until the class is dismissed. Your Instructor will take roll and note when students arrive late or leave class early for class attendance certification purposes as mandated by the college. You should also keep in mind, if and when you are absent, that students are still responsible for the lecture material and announcements made in class – you should get them from a classmate. To put it simply, your professor will neither publish nor provide the power point presentations used for class lectures to students that are absent from class.

WITHDRAWALS: A student may withdraw anytime during the semester until November 27th with no academic penalty. This means that you will receive a ‘W’ at the end of the semester on your transcript. This responsibility rests entirely in the hands of the student! I will not withdraw any student from the course even if you quit coming to class! If you quit coming to class and do not officially withdraw from the course, you will receive a performance grade (A, B, C, D, or F) at the end of the semester. Please note that per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 (or after) at any Texas college or university are not to withdraw (receive a W) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college career. INCOMPLETES: Please note that students may receive an Incomplete if the following steps are followed: if the student has a documented medical reason; if the student has scored at least a seventy or above on the exams he or she has taken; if the student has come in person to complete the required form prior to the last week of class; and if the student agrees to complete the course by the deadline established on the Report of Incomplete Grade form. Otherwise, no incomplete status will be granted. STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES: Students with Disabilities: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Student Accessibility Services Office on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.

The official syllabus with the course calendar will be handed out in class. Be sure to attend the first day of the semester to get it.

In addition, it is important that you be counted “present,” since we are now being asked to certify attendance.