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POL 101 (Online Course)
Spring Semester 2009
American Political Institutions
1.0 Overview
There is no on-campus or online orientation associated with this
course. There is a general online orientation offered through
Cerritos College that you may want to take if this is your first
online course. You will find the general online orientation at
www.cerritos.edu/de/. If you are already familiar with online
education courses at Cerritos College, then you are ready to get
started in this course by thoroughly reading the syllabus.
Everything you need to know about getting started and what to expect
throughout the term can be found in the syllabus (see below).
2.0
Contact Information
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Dr. Bryan
Reece, Professor of Political Science
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Office: Office of Academic Affairs
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Phone: (562)
860-2451 x2219
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E-mail:
breece@cerritos.edu
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Office Hours (see semester schedule on
Reece home page)
3.0 Course Description
In the course of this
semester we will contrast democratic ideals with American politics,
discussing the extent to which the U.S. is realizing or not realizing these
ideals. In carrying out this task, we will analyze the American
public, five major American political institutions (the mass media,
political parties, interest groups, elections, and public opinion polling),
the three American governing institutions (the executive, legislative and
judicial branches).
I have
structured this course with some specific instructional goals in mind.
Through this course, it is my hope that students gain:
5.0
Required Course
Materials
The text you will be using for this course is
Government in America: People, Politics and Policy, 14th Edition, by
George Edwards, Martin Wattenberg and Robert Lineberry. The book is available through the Cerritos
College Bookstore and is required for the course.
You are also required
to purchase access to Mypoliscilab (details can be found at http://www.pearsoncustom.com/ca/cerritos_political_science/).
Mypoliscilab (MPSL) is the online supplement associated with the text and holds additional
content that is required throughout the term.
You may purchase used copies of the text; however,
you must purchase a unique (new) Mypoliscilab booklet for the course. I
recommend that you look for a shrink-wrapped package in the bookstore. A
shrink-wrapped package includes the book and the Mypoliscilab booklet in one
unit.
Make sure you purchase a new MyPoliSciLab booklet. A used one that has
already been registered will not work again.To save some money, the
Government in America text including all Mypoliscilab content can be
purchased as an e-book at almost half the price of the traditional hard copy
book. This can be purchased online at
http://www.pearsoncustom.com/ca/cerritos_political_science/. Note: you will
need the class ID number (cm881268)
and you will NOT be purchasing a physical copy of the book. With the e-book,
you will need to read the text online or print it out on your own printer.
All written materials submitted in digital format
(e.g., emailed attachments) must be submitted in Microsoft Office Word OR
Rich Text format.
Students are required to have access to a
computer with an Internet connection and multimedia capabilities. You must
be able to go online with the computer and watch or listen to streaming
media files. A significant amount of work in this class will be done online.
You may use the campus computers available to students in various computing
labs (e.g., Computer Assisted Instruction Lab) or any other computer (work
computer, home computer, etc.). If you plan to use campus computers, you
will need to purchase headphones in order to hear audio and video files.
Students must also have
an email account to complete this course. If you do not already have an
account, you can get a free email account through online services such as
Hotmail and Yahoo (see www.hotmail.com
or
www.yahoo.com).
6.0
Assignments and Grading
Your final grade in this course will be based on
the following:
Chapter
Readings
Each week you will be required to read from the text and take a
corresponding chapter exams online. Once you have purchased the required
text and corresponding Mypoliscilab booklet, you will have all the materials
you need to complete this course.
Videos
and Activities
Each week you will be required to watch at least one video and complete at
least one online activity. Each will have a corresponding quiz online.
Essay Assignment
You will be required to write one forma essay for
the course.
Discussion Forum
You are required to post at least two comments in
each course discussion forum. I will be posting discussion questions on a
regular basis. You can reply to my discussion questions directly or reply to
other student comments. You will be graded on the frequency and quality of
your submissions. For full credit, you must post two comments per module
that are thoughtful and grammatically correct. For full credit, each post
should be 3-4 sentences.
Weighting
of Exams and Assignments
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Online Chapter
Exams = 25% of Final Grade
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Online Video and Activity Quizzes =
25%
of Final Grade
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Essay Assignment
= 25% of Final Grade
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Discussion Forum = 25% of Final Grade
7.0 Assignments
Schedule
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Module One Assignments (Due April 4)
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General |
Register mypoliscilab with Class ID#
(cm881268).
Make sure you are able to access all content at MPSL.
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read chapter 1 on "Introducing Government in America"
and take the online chapter exam |
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Activities |
Complete the activity on "What Are
American Civic Values" and take the corresponding quiz. (All the
activities are located at mypoliscilab under the "Multimedia Library
Tab")
Complete the timeline activity on "Major
Technological Innovations that Have Change the Political Landscape"
and take the corresponding quiz. |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video on "Intent of the
Framers" and take the corresponding quiz. (All the videos are
located at mypoliscilab under the "News and Videos Tab") |
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News |
Read
PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum. (The
News Review is located at mypoliscilab under the "News and Videos Tab."
The discussion forum is located at the course website)
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Module Two Assignments (Due April 8)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read chapter 2 on "The Constitution" and take
the chapter quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the simulation activity on "You Are
Proposing a Constitutional Amendment" - no corresponding quiz.
Complete the timeline activity on "History of
Constitutional Amendments" and take the corresponding quiz. |
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Videos |
Watch the debate video on "Church and State" and
take the corresponding quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Paper |
Read "The Research Process" section in
Research Navigator at mypoliscilab and the "Research Paper"
assignment for the course at the course website.
Write a reflection paper letting me know
what you think about the section. What was most useful? Least
useful? Anything particularly surprising? ALSO, at the end of your
reflection paper, let me know which question you have chosen for
your research paper.
Make sure your paper header has a title,
your name and date. The reflection text should be double spaced and should not
exceed 250 words total. Use 12 point Arial font and 1 inch margins.
To submit the reflection paper, click on
assignment navigation button and use the add attachment feature. |
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Module Three Assignments (Due April 11)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter 3 on "Federalism" and take the
chapter quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "Comparing Federalism
and Unitary Systems" and take the corresponding quiz
Complete the timeline activity on "Federalism
and the Supreme Court" |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video on "Contemporary
Federalism" and take the corresponding quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum |
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Extra
Credit |
See the class discussion forum for extra credit assignment #1 |
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Module Four Assignments (Due April 15)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read chapter 21 on "The News Face of State and Local Government"
and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "You are a Restaurant
Owner" and take the quiz
Complete the activity "Comparing State and
Local Governments" and take the quiz
Complete the timeline "The Initiative and
Referendum" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
No video assignment due |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Paper |
Read "Finding Sources" section in Research
Navigator at mypoliscilab.
Write a reflection paper letting me know
what you think about the section. What was most useful? Least
useful? Anything particularly surprising? ALSO, at the end of your
reflection paper, submit 10 possible sources for your research
paper. You are only required to used 5 in the paper, but submit the
10 you are considering. Submit them in bibliography form.
Make sure your paper header has a title,
your name and date. The reflection text should be double spaced and should not
exceed 250 words total. Use 12 point Arial font and 1 inch margins.
To submit the reflection paper, click on
assignment navigation button and use the add attachment feature. |
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Module Five Assignments (Due April 18)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read chapter
4 on "Civil
Liberties and Public Policy" and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity on
"Comparative: Comparing Civil Rights" for chapter Five and take
the quiz
Complete the timeline "Civil
Liberties and National Security" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video "Hate Speech"
and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Extra
Credit |
See the class discussion forum for extra credit assignment #2 |
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Module Six Assignments (Due April 22)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read chapter 5 on "Civil Rights and Public Policy"
and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity
"Comparative: Comparing Civil Rights" for chapter Six and take
the quiz
Complete the timeline "The
Struggle for Equal Protection" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video "Civil Rights
Movement" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Paper |
Read "Start Writing" section in Research
Navigator at mypoliscilab.
Write a reflection paper letting me know
what you think about the section. What was most useful? Least
useful? Anything particularly surprising? ALSO, at the end of your
reflection paper, write a one paragraph summary of the five articles
you will use as part of your research paper.
Make sure your paper header has a title,
your name and date. The reflection text should be double spaced and should not
exceed 250 words total. Use 12 point Arial font and 1 inch margins.
To submit the reflection paper, click on
assignment navigation button and use the add attachment feature. |
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Module
Seven Assignments (Due April 25)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read
chapter 6 on "Public Opinion
and Political Action" and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "Who are
Liberals and Conservatives? What's the Difference?" and take the
quiz
Complete the timeline "The Power
of the Speaker of the House" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video "Political
Knowledge" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Extra
Credit |
See the class discussion forum for extra credit assignment #3 |
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Module
Eight Assignments (Due April 29)
|
General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter 7 " The Mass Media and the Political Agenda"
and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "Are the
Media Biased" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video ""Soft News
vs. Hard News" and take the quiz
Watch the debate video "Censorship and
the FCC" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Paper |
Read "Endnotes and Bibliography" section
in Research Navigator at mypoliscilab.
Write a reflection paper letting me know
what you think about the section. What was most useful? Least
useful? Anything particularly surprising?
Make sure your paper header has a title,
your name and date. The text should be double spaced and should not
exceed 250 words total. Use 12 point Arial font and 1 inch margins.
To submit the reflection paper, click on
assignment navigation button and use the add attachment feature. |
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Module
Nine Assignments (Due May 2)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read
Chapter 8 "Political
Parties" and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "Comparing
Political Parties" and take the quiz
Complete the timeline "Third
Parties in American History" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video "Third
Parties" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Extra
Credit |
See the class discussion forum for extra credit assignment #4 |
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Module
Ten Assignments (Not Required)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter 9 "Nominations and Campaigns"
and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "You are a
Professional Campaign Manager" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video " Campaign
Finance Reform" and take the quiz
Watch the debate video "2000
Presidential Election" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Paper |
To submit the first draft, click on
the assignment navigation button and use the add attachment feature.
The research paper assignment at the the course
website has more details on this assignment. |
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Module
Eleven Assignments (Due May 6)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter 10 "Elections
and Voting Behavior" and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "The
Electoral College" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the debate video "Compulsory
Voting" and take the quiz
Watch the roundtable video "Electoral
College" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Extra
Credit
and
Paper |
See the class discussion forum for extra credit assignment #5
Turn in the first draft of your paper. To submit the first draft,
click on
the assignment navigation button and use the add attachment feature.
The research paper assignment at the the course
website has more details on this assignment. |
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Module
Twelve Assignments (Not Required)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter 11 "Interest Groups"
and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "You are a
Lobbyist" and take the quiz
Complete the timeline "Interest
Group and Campaign Finance" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the debate video "Political Action
Committees" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Paper |
No paper assignment due |
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Module
Thirteen Assignments (Due May 9)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter
12 "Congress" and take
the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "You are a
Member of Congress" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video
"Congressional Leadership" and take the quiz
Watch the debate video "Congressional
Partisanship" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Extra
Credit |
See the class discussion forum for extra credit assignment #6 |
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Module
Fourteen Assignments (Due May 13)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter 13 "The Presidency"
and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "Comparing
Chief Executives" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video "Presidential
Greatness" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Paper |
Turn in the final draft of your paper. To submit the final draft,
click on
the assignment navigation button and use the add attachment feature. The research paper assignment at the the course
website has more details on this assignment. |
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Module
Fifteen Assignments (Not Required)
|
General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter
15 "The Federal Bureaucracy"
and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the timeline "Evolution
of the Federal Bureaucracy" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video "Bureaucratic
Reform" and take the quiz
Watch the debate video "The Merit
System" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Extra
Credit |
See the class discussion forum for extra credit assignment #7 |
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Module
Sixteen Assignments (Due May 16)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter 16 "The Federal Courts"
and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "You are
Appointing a Supreme Court Justice" and take the quiz
Complete the timeline "the Chief
Justice of the United States" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the roundtable video "Judicial
Review" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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Module
Seventeen Assignments (Not Required)
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General |
Check the course website and your email
regularly for announcements and course updates |
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Readings |
Read Chapter 18 "Social Welfare
Policymaking" and take the quiz |
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Activities |
Complete the activity "Making a
Difference: Welfare Reform" and take the quiz
Complete the timeline "The
Evolution of Social Welfare Policy" and take the quiz |
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Videos |
Watch the debate video
"Affirmative Action" and take the quiz |
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News |
Read PoliSci News Review Articles from the
week and submit at least two responses in the discussion forum
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