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POL 101 (Tu/Th 8:00-9:30 AM)

American Political Institutions

Fall 2008

 

[Go Back to Reece's Main Page]

 

 

Syllabus

Contact Information

  • Dr. Bryan Reece, Professor of Political Science

  • Office: Academic Affairs Office

  • Phone: (562) 860-2451 x2219

  • E-mail: breece@cerritos.edu

  • Office Hours (see semester schedule on Reece home page)

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).

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Course Goals

 

I have structured this course with some specific instructional goals in mind. Through this course, it is my hope that students gain:

  • an understanding of American democratic ideals.

  • an understanding of the major documents, institutions, actors, policies and issues in American politics at the federal, state and local levels.

  • an understanding of the public policy making process in the US.

  • skills and knowledge necessary for analyzing American politics according to the ideals of American democracy.

  • skills necessary for critical thinking.

  • skills that improve abilities to apply technology to the learning process.

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Required Course Materials 

 

The text you will be using for this course is Government in America (13th edition) by George Edwards, Martin Wattenberg and Robert Lineberry.

 

You are also required to purchase access to Mypoliscilab 2.0 (MPSL) for this course. 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.mypoliscilab.com/first-time-students.html. Click on the "Mypoliscilab CourseCompass" hyperlink and follow the directions. Note: you will need the course ID number (reece48889) 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).

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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.

 

PoliSci News Review

Each week you will be required to read the PoliSci News Review. This is a summary of the news posted to mypoliscilab each week. You are NOT required to take the corresponding online quiz each week; however, questions from the news review will appear on the midterm exams..

 

Essay OR Video Production Assignment

You may choose between the essay assignment or the video production assignment (MyDemocracy Project). Both assignments are due on October 31, 2008. Handouts for both assignments will be provided in class. 

 

In-Class Exams

There are three exams you must complete during this course. Each examination will focus on lecture and module materials. The exams will be administered in-class as close-book examinations. The exams will not be comprehensive and will include multiple choice and essay questions. See the schedule of assignments below for exam dates.

 

Weighting of Exams and Assignments

  • Online Chapter Exams = 15% of Final Grade

  • Online Video and Activity Quizzes = 15% of Final Grade

  • Essay OR Video Production Assignment = 20% of Final Grade

  • In-Class Exams = 50% of Final Grade

Calculating Your Grade

  • 90% = A

  • 80% = B

  • 70% = C

  • 60% = D

  • Less than 60% =  F

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Assignment Schedule

 

Week One Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 8/25)

  • Register mypoliscilab with Course ID# reece48889

  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates

  • Read chapter 1 on "Introduction to American Government" and take the chapter quiz

  • Watch the roundtable on "Intent of the Framers" and take the corresponding quiz

  • Complete the activity "What Are American Civic Values" and take the corresponding quiz

Week Two Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 9/1)

  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates

  • Read chapter 2 on "The Constitution" and take the chapter quiz

  • Watch the roundtable on "Articles of Confederation" and take the corresponding quiz

  • Complete the simulation activity on "You are Proposing a Constitutional Amendment" - no corresponding quiz

  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Three Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 9/8)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates
  • Read chapter 3 on "Federalism" and take the chapter quiz
  • Complete the activity on "Comparing Federalism and Unitary Systems" and take the corresponding quiz
  • Watch the roundtable on "Contemporary Federalism" and take the corresponding quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)

Week Four Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 9/15)

  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates

  • Read Chapter 21 on "State and Local Government" and take the quiz

  • Complete the timeline on "The Initiative and Referendum" and take the quiz

  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)

Week Five Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 9/22)

  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates

  • Read chapter 4 on "Civil Liberties" and take the quiz

  • Complete the activity "Civil Liberties and National Security" and take the quiz

  • Watch the roundtable "Hate Speech" and take the quiz

  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Six Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 9/29)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates
  • Read chapter 5 on "Civil Rights" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "Comparative: Comparing Civil Rights" and take the quiz
  • Watch the roundtable "Civil Rights Movement" and take the quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Seven Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 10/6)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 6 on "Public Opinion and Political Action" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "Who are the Liberal and the Conservatives? What's the Difference?" and take the quiz
  • Watch the roundtable "Public Opinion and Leadership" and take the quiz
  • Video/Essay Assignment Due
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
  • Take In-Class Exam #1 (Covers All Materials and Lectures from Weeks 1 through 6)
Week Eight Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 10/13)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 7 "Media Bias and The Political Agenda" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "Are the Media Biased?" and take the quiz
  • Watch the roundtable "Soft News.vs. Hard News" and take the quiz
  • Read PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Nine Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 10/20)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 8 "Political Parties" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "Comparing Political Parties" and take the quiz
  • Watch the roundtable "Third Parties" and take the quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Ten Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 10/27)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 9 "Nominations and Campaigns" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "You are a Professional Campaign Manager" and take the quiz
  • Watch the roundtable "Campaign Finance Reform" and take the quiz
  • Read PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
  • The Mydemocracy/Essay assignment is due October 31, 2008.
Week Eleven Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 11/3)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 10 "Elections and Voting Behavior" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "The Electoral College" and take the quiz
  • Watch the debate "Compulsory Voting" and take the quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Twelve Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 11/10)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 11 "Interest Groups" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "You are a Lobbyist" and take the quiz
  • Watch the roundtable "Interest Groups and Representation" and take the quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Thirteen Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 11/17)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 12 " Congress" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "You are a Member of Congress" and take the quiz
  • Watch the debate "Congressional Leadership" and take the quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
  • Take In-Class Exam #2 (Covers All Materials and Lectures from Weeks 7 through 12)
Week Fourteen Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 11/24)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 13 " The Presidency" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "comparing Chief Executives" and take the quiz
  • Watch the roundtable " Presidential Greatness" and take the quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Fifteen Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 12/1)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 15 "The Federal Bureaucracy" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "You are a Federal Administrator" and take the quiz
  • Watch the roundtable "Bureaucratic Reform" and take the quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Sixteen Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 12/8)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter 16 "The Federal Courts" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "You are Appointing a Supreme Court Justice" and take the quiz
  • Watch the roundtable "Judicial Review" and take the quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Seventeen Assignments (All Online Quizzes Due 12/15)
  • Check mypoliscilab and email regularly for announcements and course updates and take the quiz
  • Read Chapter  18 "Social Welfare Reform" and take the quiz
  • Complete the activity "Making a Difference: Welfare Reform" and take the quiz
  • Watch the debate "Affirmative Action" and take the quiz
  • Read the PoliSci News Review (news quiz is not required, but some questions from the news quiz will appear on the midterm exam)
Week Eighteen Assignments
  • Take Final Exam (Covers All Materials and Lectures from Weeks 13 through 17)

 

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Registering and Navigating Mypoliscilab

 

The Mypoliscilab booklet comes with comprehensive registration and navigation instructions. To register for this course you need to use the Course ID # of reece48889. All other information regarding navigation can be found in the Student Starter Kit that comes with Mypoliscilab. The starter kit will tell you how to find and use all online resources. Look specifically for information related to:

  • Chapter Quizzes

  • Roundtables and Debates and Quizzes

  • The Weekly News Review and Quizzes

  • Chapter Activities and Quizzes

  • Course Assignments

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