Government 2305 Course Information Sheet

 

Fall 2008

Instructor: Alan Lehmann

Office: Old Main #408          

 

Office Hours:

Monday & Wednesday:

8 to 9, 10:15 to noon And 1:00 to 4 p.m.

 

Tuesday and Thursday:

8 to 9:15, 10:45 to noon And 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

 

Friday:

9 a.m. to noon

                                   

                                    And by appointment

 

Phone Number:           (979) 830-4226

email:                           alehmann@blinn.edu

 

Course Description:  Government 2305 consists of a study of the organization, functions and administration of the several branches and agencies of the national government, including a study of the federal constitution.  The primary factors considered relate to the three branches of government (Judicial, Executive, Legislative), historical documents (Constitution, Declaration of Independence), events that shaped our nation and current events.  Emphasis will be placed on the interaction of these subsystems.

 

Course Prerequisites:  Sophomore standing

 

Core Curriculum:  This is a Core Course in the 42-Hour Core of Blinn College.  As such, students will develop proficiency in the appropriate Intellectual Competencies, Exemplary Educational Objectives, and Perspectives.  The URL for the Blinn College Core Curriculum web site is: http://www.blinn.edu/corecurriculum/index.htm

 

Student Learning Objectives:  After successfully completing Government 2305, students should have a working knowledge of the organization, functions and administration of the several branches and agencies of the national government, plus an understanding of the Federal Constitution.

 

Readings:  Please read this section very carefully and be aware of the implications for your successful progress in this course.  Government 2305 is designed to allow you a successful and enjoyable introduction to the many facets of Government at the college level.  It is designed to challenge you as well as keep you stimulated.  In spite of this, Government 2305 should not be too difficult for you if YOU KEEP UP WITH THE ASSIGNED READINGS!

 

Class lectures and discussions will NOT necessarily cover the same material as in the text.  Periodically, handouts will be used to present concepts, applications and examination of selected materials to achieve course learning outcomes.  However, examinations will be derived from class lectures, handouts, assignments and the text.

 

Textbook: Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir. We the People. Sixth Edition, WW Norton & Co., New York, 2007.

 

ADA Statement:

Blinn College would like to help students with disabilities achieve their highest potential in college.  In order to receive accommodations on exams or assignments, proper documentation must first be provided to the Office of Disability Services located in Room 104 on the 1st floor of the Administration Building (phone 830-4157).  You must then self-identify and conference with me during my posted office hours to begin receiving accommodations in the class.

 

Attendance Policy:     The College District believes that class attendance is essential for student success; therefore, students are required to promptly and regularly attend all their classes. Each class meeting builds the foundation for subsequent class meetings. Without full participation and regular class attendance, students shall find themselves at a severe disadvantage for achieving success in college. Class participation shall constitute at least ten percent of the final course grade. It is the responsibility of each faculty member, in consultation with the division chair, to determine how participation is achieved in his or her class. Faculty will require students to regularly attend class and will keep a record of attendance from the first day of class and/or the first day the student’s name appears on the roster through final examinations. If a student has one week’s worth of unexcused absences during the semester, he/she will be sent an e-mail by the College requiring the student to contact his/her instructor and schedule a conference immediately to discuss his/her attendance issues. Should a student accumulates two weeks worth of unexcused absences, he/she will be administratively withdrawn from class.

 

Should you decide to stop attending a class, it is your responsibility to drop; if you do not, you will stay enrolled and receive a final grade of "F".  The last day to drop with a "W" is November 14, 2008.

 

Civility Statement: Members of the Blinn College community, which includes faculty, staff and students, are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all aspects of campus life. Blinn College holds all members accountable for their actions and words. Therefore, all members should commit themselves to behave in a manner that recognizes personal respect and demonstrates concern for the personal dignity, rights, and freedoms of every member of the College community, including respect for College property and the physical and intellectual property of others.

 

If a student is asked to leave the classroom because of uncivil behavior, the student may not return to that class until he or she arranges a conference with the instructor; it is the student’s responsibility to arrange for this conference.

 

Administrative Information:  Food, Drinks and Tobacco products are NOT allowed in the classroom. 

 

Cell Phones & Pagers: To maintain order, please turn them off or to silent ring while in classroom.  During class time, use them only in case of an emergency.

 

Cheating:  Blinn College does not tolerate cheating, plagiarism or collusion.  Procedures for dealing with these acts are outlined in the Scholastic Dishonesty Policy.

 

Examinations: It is the instructor's policy that all students take the exams at the scheduled time.  All deviations must be excused in advance.  In instances of emergencies, the STUDENT MUST inform the instructor as soon as possible.  It is the instructor's decision whether an absence is excused.  Failure to take an exam at the scheduled time without and excuse will result in a score of zero (0).  Exams (including the comprehensive final) will be primarily multiple choice, true false and fill-in-the-blank. However, if the instructor decides to allow a makeup exam, the student should expect an essay exam. 

 

Semester project: you will complete a semester project approved by the professor for a grade of up to 100 points.

 

Note quizzes: There will be 6 unannounced quizzes taken during the semester worth 5 points each.  They will generally cover notes given that day or recently in the class or some other topic of discussion.  Note quizzes are designed to reward students for being present and actively learning in class.  There are no makeups for note quizzes unless the student produces proof that they had an excused absence on the day of the note quiz.

 

Tentative Class Calendar:

Date

 

Lesson

Readings

Topic

8/26-9/16   

Section 1

Chapters 2, 3

Historical origins/ Constitution/

9/18         

Exam 1

 

Multiple Choice/ Fill-in-the-blank/ Essay

9/22-10/14

Section 2

Chs. 4, 13   

Bill of Rights, President, Politics

10/16

Exam 2

 

MC/FB/Essay

10/21-11/6   

Section 3

Chs. 12, 11

Congress,

Special interests

11/11         

Exam 3

 

MC/FB/Essay

11/13-12/4  

Section 4

Ch 15, 17

Judiciary, policy

TBD   

Final Exam

 

Multiple Choice

                                                           

 

Grading Method:

 

Three Major Exams (16% each)-         48%

Comprehensive Final                          16%

Semester project                                  16%

8 Chapter quizzes (drop 1)                  14%

6 Note quizzes                                    6%

__________________________________

Total                                                    100%

Track your grades here:

 

Exam   #1:       ____

Exam   #2:       ____

Exam   #3:       ____

Total                                                                                                                ____

 

Final Exam                                                                                                      ____

 

Semester project                                                                                              ___

Chapter Quizzes          ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___

Total (keep only top 7)                                                                                    ___

 

Note quizzes    ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___                                                 ___

 

Bonus points earned during semester                                                             ___

 

Total (maximum of 600 points)                                                                      ____

 

 

Grading scale:

 

540 or more:                                                                                                    A

480-539:                                                                                                          B

420-479:                                                                                                          C

360-419:                                                                                                          D

Less than 360 points:                          F