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POL 101 (Traditional)

American Political Institutions

 

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Overview

 

Make sure that you attend the first scheduled class meeting for this course. During the first meeting we will review the syllabus (see below) and take care of all add/drop requests.

 

Syllabus

Contact Information

  • Bryan Reece, Professor of Political Science

  • Office: Social Science Building, Room 14

  • Phone: (562) 860-2451 x2755

  • 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 their 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 (12th 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.

 

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 (9) online, open-book quizzes and (3) in-class (closed-book, no notes) exams.

 

Online Modules

There are nine modules that you must complete in the course. Each module contains required chapter readings, discussion forum participation, weekly reading of the news, online video viewing, and more. At the end of each module, you will be required to complete a comprehensive module quiz. Once you have purchased the required text and corresponding Mypoliscilab booklet, you will have all the materials you need to complete this course.

 

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.

  • First Exam: Modules 1-3 and corresponding lectures

  • Second Exam: Modules 4-6 and corresponding lectures

  • Third Exam (Final Exam): Modules 7-9 and corresponding lecture

Weighting of Exams and Assignments

  • Online Module Quizzes = 50% of Final Grade

  • In-Class Exams = 50% of Final Grade

Grading Scale

  • A = at least 90% of points possible

  • B = at least 80% of points possible

  • C = at least 70% of points possible

  • D = at least 60% of points possible

  • F = less than 60% of points possible

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Assignments Schedule

 

Module 1

This module starts on 1/9/06 and ends on 1/22/06. Make sure you have completed all module assignments by the end date.

 

Regular Weekly Activities

Administrative: Register Mypoliscilab with Course ID # reece15416

News: Read PoliSci News Review each week (posted every Monday)

Announcements: Check Mypoliscilab announcements for course updates. Vote on polling questions.

 

Topic: Introduction to Government in America

Readings: Read chapter 1

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Self Government"

        • Roundtable on "Intent of the Framers"

 

Topic: The Constitution

Readings: Read chapter 2

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Debate on "Church and State"

        • Roundtable on "Articles of Confederation"

 

Module Quiz

Quiz: Take Module Quiz. The quiz will cover PoliSci New Review, Chapter Readings, Debates and Roundtables.

 

Module 2

This module starts on 1/23/06 and ends on 2/5/06. Make sure you have completed all module assignments by the end date.

 

Regular Weekly Activities

News: Read PoliSci News Review each week (posted every Monday)

Announcements: Check Mypoliscilab announcements for course updates. Vote on polling questions.

 

Topic: Federalism

Readings: Read chapter 3

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Contemporary Federalism"

        • Debate on "Gun Control"

 

Topic: State and Local Government

Readings: Read chapter 21

 

Module Quiz

Quiz: Take Module Quiz. The quiz will cover PoliSci New Review, Chapter Readings, Debates and Roundtables.

 

Module 3

This module starts on 2/6/06 and ends on 2/19/06. Make sure you have completed all module assignments by the end date.

 

Regular Weekly Activities

News: Read PoliSci News Review each week (posted every Monday)

Announcements: Check Mypoliscilab announcements for course updates. Vote on polling questions.

 

Topic: Civil Liberties

Readings: Read chapter 4

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Hate Speech"

        • Roundtable on "Rights of the Accused"

 

Topic: Civil Rights

Readings: Read chapter 5

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Suspect Classifications"

        • Roundtable on "Civil Rights Movement"

 

Module Quiz

Quiz: Take Module Quiz. The quiz will cover PoliSci New Review, Chapter Readings, Debates and Roundtables.

 

In-Class Exam

Exam: The first in-class exam is scheduled for 2/21/06. This exam will focus on modules 1-3 and corresponding lectures.

 

Module 4

This module starts on 2/20/06 and ends on 3/5/06. Make sure you have completed all module assignments by the end date.

 

Regular Weekly Activities

News: Read PoliSci News Review each week (posted every Monday)

Announcements: Check Mypoliscilab announcements for course updates. Vote on polling questions.

 

Topic: Public Opinion and Political Action

Readings: Read chapter 6

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Political Knowledge"

        • Roundtable on "Public Opinion and Leadership"

 

Topic: The Mass Media and The Political Agenda

Readings: Read chapter 7

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Soft News vs. Hard News"

        • Debate on "Censorship and the FCC"

 

Module Quiz

Quiz: Take Module Quiz. The quiz will cover PoliSci New Review, Chapter Readings, Debates and Roundtables.

 

Module 5

This module starts on 3/6/06 and ends on 3/19/06. Make sure you have completed all module assignments by the end date.

 

Regular Weekly Activities

News: Read PoliSci News Review each week (posted every Monday)

Announcements: Check Mypoliscilab announcements for course updates. Vote on polling questions.

 

Topic: Political Parties

Readings: Read chapter 8

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Third Parties"

        • Roundtable on "Declining Political Parties"

 

Topic: Nominations and Campaigns

Readings: Read chapter 9

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Campaign Finance Reform";

        • Debate on "2000 Presidential Election";

 

Module Quiz

Quiz: Take Module Quiz. The quiz will cover PoliSci New Review, Chapter Readings, Debates and Roundtables.

 

Module 6

This module starts on 3/20/06 and ends on 4/2/06. Make sure you have completed all module assignments by the end date.

 

Regular Weekly Activities

News: Read PoliSci News Review each week (posted every Monday)

Announcements: Check Mypoliscilab announcements for course updates. Vote on polling questions.

 

Topic: Elections and Voting Behavior

Readings: Read chapter 10

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Campaign Finance Reform"

        • Rountable on "Electoral College"

 

Topic: Interest Groups

Readings: Read chapter 11

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Interest Groups and Representation";

        • Debate on "Political Action Committees";

 

Module Quiz

Quiz: Take Module Quiz. The quiz will cover PoliSci New Review, Chapter Readings, Debates and Roundtables.

 

In-Class Exam

Exam: The second in-class exam is scheduled for 4/4/06. This exam will focus on modules 4-6 and corresponding lectures.

 

Module 7

This module starts on 4/3/06 and ends on 4/16/06. Make sure you have completed all module assignments by the end date.

 

Regular Weekly Activities

News: Read PoliSci News Review each week (posted every Monday)

Announcements: Check Mypoliscilab announcements for course updates. Vote on polling questions.

 

Topic: Congress

Readings: Read chapter 12

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Debate on "Congressional Partisanship"

        • Roundtable on "Congressional Leadership"

 

Topic: The Presidency

Readings: Read chapter 13

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Debate on "Presidential Power";

        • Roundtable on "Presidential Greatness"

 

Module Quiz

Quiz: Take Module Quiz. The quiz will cover PoliSci New Review, Chapter Readings, Debates and Roundtables.

 

Module 8

This module starts on 4/7/06 and ends on 4/30/06. Make sure you have completed all module assignments by the end date.

 

Regular Weekly Activities

News: Read PoliSci News Review each week (posted every Monday)

Announcements: Check Mypoliscilab announcements for course updates. Vote on polling questions.

 

Topic: The Federal Bureaucracy

Readings: Read chapter 15

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Roundtable on "Bureaucratic Reform";

        • Debate on "The Merit System"

 

Topic: The Federal Courts

Readings: Read chapter 16

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Debate on "Popular Election of Judges";

        • Roundtable on "Judicial Review"

 

Module Quiz

Quiz: Take Module Quiz. The quiz will cover PoliSci New Review, Chapter Readings, Debates and Roundtables.

 

Module 9

This module starts on 5/1/06 and ends on 5/14/06. Make sure you have completed all module assignments by the end date.

 

Regular Weekly Activities

News: Read PoliSci News Review each week (posted every Monday)

Announcements: Check Mypoliscilab announcements for course updates. Vote on polling questions.

 

Topic: Social Welfare Policy

Readings: Read chapter 18

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Debate on "Affirmative Action";

        • Debate on "Poverty and Political Parties";

 

Topic: National Security Policy

Readings: Read chapter 20

Roundtables and Debates: Watch/listen to the following:

        • Debate on "Patriot Act"

        • Debate on "Americans in Iraq"

 

Module Quiz

Quiz: Take Module Quiz. The quiz will cover PoliSci New Review, Chapter Readings, Debates and Roundtables.

 

In-Class Exam

Exam: The third in-class exam (final exam) is scheduled for 5/16/06 or 5/17/06 (The official final exam schedule will not be produced until later in the semester). This exam will focus on modules 7-9 and corresponding lectures.

 

 

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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 reece15285. 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

  • The Weekly News Review and Quizzes

  • Chapter Activities

  • The Course Discussion Forum

  • Course Assignments

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