GOVT 2305, Fall 2015, CRN 71006
TR 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., San Jacinto 342
3 semester credit hours, 48 contact hours, 16 weeks, lecture course, no lab hours
Government 2305 is a core curriculum course that focuses on American national government.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, each student will be able to:
· Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.
· Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system.
· Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
· Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
· Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
· Analyze the election process.
· Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
· Analyze issues and policies in U.S. politics.

Instructor

Dr. Neal Tannahill, neal.tannahill@hccs.edu[->0]; 713 718-6248
Office: Central Campus, San Jacinto Building 328
Office Hours: TR: 7:30-8:30 a.m., 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Learning Web Site: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/neal.tannahill includes the following learning resources:

· Lecture notes
· Review questions based on the text chapters
· Lecture videos
· Podcasts
· PowerPoint slides
· Interactive learning games

Prerequisites

Students should have either successfully completed or be currently enrolled in ENGL 1301.

Textbook
The textbook for this course is John G. Geer, Wendy J. Schiller, Richard Herrera, and Jeffrey Segal, Gateways to Democracy, 3rd ed. (Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2016), ISBN 9781285852904.
Do not attempt to take this course without access to a textbook because that is a recipe for failure. If money is a problem, look for used books or earlier editions of the assigned text.
Here are your purchase options:
1. You can purchase a bound paperback copy of the text with MindTap access code from an HCC Bookstore for $122.
2. You can purchase online access directly from the publisher at www.cengagebrain.com[->1] for $76.00.
3. You can rent the textbook at Chegg.com for around $46 and they give you access to the online textbook until your book arrives.
4. You can buy an older edition for less money, sometimes MUCH less money. The downside is that all of the information will not be the same and the page numbers I reference in study questions won’t match.
If you are on financial aid and waiting for money for the textbook to come through, get to work on the other course resources. The tests are drawn from the textbook AND the lectures. You can master lecture material without a textbook.

MindTap
MindTap is a digital resource with a full ebook with note taking, highlighting, and voice reader capability. There are activities and quizzes in MindTap that are proven to help you learn the material and study for chapter tests. There are also study tools such as flash cards that again, will help you make sure you understand the content of the course.
Access to MindTap is free with your textbook. To register, simply go to www.cengagebrain.com[->2] and follow the steps provided. You will need your access code and my course key for this course:
MTPP-52CP-3CPC
You will be asked to create a login and password. Once you have registered, you will be able to download the free MindTap mobile app for your iPhone or android if you would like to be able to study from your mobile device.
Government Program Student Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and describe the institutions of American national government.
2. Identify and describe the institutions of the State of Texas government.
3. Identify and evaluate information sources for political news, data, and opinion.
4. Analyze the effects of the historical, social, political, economic, and cultural forces on politics and government.
5. Recognize and assume the responsibilities of citizenship by developing one’s critical thinking skills, engaging in public discourse, and by obtaining information through the news media.

Core Competencies

The Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) mandates that the core curriculum must ensure that students will develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, in a career, in their communities, and in life. Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning.

Students enrolled in GOVT 2305/2306 core curriculum courses will complete assessments designed to measure the following core objectives:

· Critical Thinking Skills—to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
· Communication Skills—to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication
· Personal Responsibility—to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making
· Social Responsibility—to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making

Student assessment of proficiencies mandated by THECB may include testing, projects, or assignments.

Course Calendar

Day and Date|Topic|Text Assignment|
Tues., Aug. 25|Government, Politics, and Democracy|Ch. 1|
Thurs., Aug. 27|American People |Ch. 1|
Tues., Sept. 1|U.S. Economy|Ch. 1|
Thurs., Sept. 3|Background of the Constitution|Ch. 2|
Tues., Sept. 8|Constitutional Principles|Ch. 2|
Thurs., Sept. 10|Constitutional Federalism|Ch. 3|
Tues., Sept. 15|Federalism Today|Ch. 3|
Thurs., Sept. 17|Civil Liberties|Ch. 4|
Tues., Sept. 22|Test 1 on materials covered since August 25|
Thurs., Sept. 24|Civil Rights|Ch. 5|
Tues., Sept. 29|Civil Rights|Ch. 5|
Thurs., Oct. 1|Public Opinion|Ch. 6|
Tues., Oct. 6|News Media|Ch. 7|
Thurs., Oct. 8|Interest Groups |Ch. 8|
Tues., Oct. 13|Political Parties|Ch. 9|
Thurs., Oct. 15|Test 2 on materials covered since September 22|
Tues., Oct. 20|Election Fundamentals|Ch. 10|
Thurs., Oct. 22|Presidential Elections|Ch. 11|
Tues., Oct. 27|Organization of Congress|Ch. 12|
Thurs., Oct. 29|Legislative Process|Ch. 12|
Tues., Nov. 3|Constitutional Presidency|Ch. 13|
Thurs., Nov. 5|Presidential Powers|Ch. 13|
Tues., Nov. 10|Test 3 on materials covered since October 15|
Thurs., Nov. 12|Federal Bureaucracy|Ch. 14|
Tues., Nov. 17|Federal Courts|Ch. 15|
Thurs., Nov. 19|Goals of Economic Policy|Ch. 16|
Tues., Nov. 24|Tax Policy||Ch. 16|
Thurs., Nov. 26|Thanksgiving|
Tues., Dec. 1|Social Programs|Ch. 16|
Thurs. Dec. 3|Foreign and Defense Policy|Ch. 16|
Thurs., Dec. 10, 8 a.m.|Test 4 on materials covered since November 10|

Instructional Methods

· My goal is for every student to complete the class successfully, having mastered course material and as a result earned a good grade.
· I see the class as a team in which everyone works together for the success of the group. Please respect one another, listen to one another, and learn from one another. I encourage students to study together and make new friends.
· Class time is important. Come every class if at all possible. Come on time, don’t leave early, stay awake, listen, take notes, and think.
· I run a participatory classroom. I ask questions and lead discussions. Sometimes I call on students individually. My goal is for you to think about the subject matter so that you understand it.
· I am not interested in your memorizing information so much as understanding concepts and their relationship to one another. I want students to understand as well as remember. I ask test questions that require you to apply information.
· You need to spend significant time reading and studying outside the classroom. I see actual class time as the tip of the iceberg. Most learning takes place outside the classroom. Therefore, you must be a good manager of your time.
· I do my best to encourage students to begin following the news about government and politics because educated people are informed about the world in which they live. Moreover, each exam will include a current events bonus question.
· I want students to know what to expect on exams. I never try to trick students. I tell you what I expect and then I test on that.
· I use the learning web a great deal. I post class materials there, including class notes and test study guides. You would be wise to check my learning web site often for test review information.
· I do my best to be accessible to students by e-mail, phone, and in person during office hours. Don’t be bashful if you have questions or need more explanation.

Student Assignments

Student grades will be based on four tests and a term project, each of which will be worth 100 points as follows:
· Test 1 100 pts.
· Test 2 100 pts.
· Test 3 100 pts.
· Test 4 100 pts.
· Term project (due Nov. 19) 100 pts.
· Total 500 pts.

I will pass out and explain the term project during the second week of the semester.

Make-up Project

Students who miss an exam can make up the missing grade by completing a make-up project. Students who do not miss exams can use the make-up project grade to substitute for their lowest test grade or even for their research project.

HCC Policy Statement – ADA

Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities are encouraged to contact the Central College disabilities counselor at 713-718-6164 to make necessary arrangements. Faculty members are authorized to provide accommodations only by the Disability Support Service Office

HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty

Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.

Cheating on a test includes:
· Copying from another students’ test paper;
· Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
· Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;
· Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of a test that has not been administered; and
· Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.

Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit.

Collusion mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit. Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System. (See the Student Handbook)

HCC Policy Statements

Class Attendance - It is important that you come to class! Attending class regularly is the best way to succeed. Poor attendance records tend to correlate with poor grades. If you miss any class, including the first week, you are responsible for all material missed. Information posted on the learning web will prove helpful to you in catching up with missed material.

HCC Course Withdrawal Policy

If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to withdraw from the course prior to the final date of withdrawal. The last day to withdraw this semester is October 30, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade. Before you withdraw from the course, please take the time to meet with me to discuss why you feel it is necessary to withdraw. I may be able to provide you with suggestions that will enable you to complete the course. State law limits students to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree.

To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which I may alert you and HCC counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
College policy allows instructors to drop students who miss more than 12.5 percent of total class time, which is six hours for this course. I am somewhat flexible in terms of enforcing the policy, but if I perceive that you have vanished from the course or that you are not making a good faith effort to succeed, I will drop you. If you find that you are unable to complete the course, you should officially withdraw yourself rather than assume that I will drop you.
If you are an international student on an F-1 student visa, you must maintain a full load of 12 semester hours in a long semester. Withdrawing from or being dropped from this course because of a failure to attend may result in your losing your visa. Please contact the International Student Office at 713 718-8520 if you have questions about your visa status and other transfer issues.
Repeat Course Fee

The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed classes. To increase student success, students who repeat the same course more than once, are required to pay extra tuition. The purpose of this extra tuition fee is to encourage students to pass their courses and to graduate. HCC charges a higher tuition rate to students registering the third or subsequent time for a course. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.

Grading Scale

Your grade will be based on the standard grading scale as follows:

450-500 points A
400-449 points B
350-399 points C
300-349 points D
< 300 points F

The exams will be a mixture of multiple-choice, matching, and short answer questions. You should prepare by completing assigned readings, studying your class notes, and using the various study materials posted online.

Cheat Sheets

On class day, you will be allowed to use a cheat sheet, a single sheet of 8.5 x 11 inch paper on which you have written notes, front and back, to help you succeed on the test. Preparing the cheat sheet should be a good learning device because it will force you to organize the lesson material, deciding what is most important to know. I am also hopeful that the cheat sheet will reduce testing stress.

Please help keep our newly remodeled building looking good. No eating or drinking in the classroom other than clear bottled water.

FYI
The chair of the Government Department is Evelyn Ballard. evelyn.ballard@hccs.edu 713-718-2490

[->0] - mailto:neal.tannahill@hccs.edu
[->1] - https://webmail.hccs.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=wbZw3WygSk-wOUCUQza4U8of7FDartIImUGy20Ix8idgdAd04_f4pP0bRUL0oNZpITugVcBLCCU.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cengagebrain.com
[->2] - https://webmail.hccs.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=EfFq8afRr0G-rvYQhafVcWBFkZrHhtIIuU2de0HijfbKSCHV5mFjvLzfpLKDUCk5kjcAnSMNY-E.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.cengagebrain.com