AMERICAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT on-line
Sandra D. Keough, Ph.D.
Phillips Community College
Helena, AR 72342
American Federal Government will provide the student with an understanding of the national system of government. The course looks at the historic events, documents and people who shaped our system of government.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students will understand the historic influences which shaped our system of
government.
Students will understand the roles of the media , political parties and interest
groups in shaping public opinion.
Students will understand the roles of the media, political parties and interest
groups in determining nominations of candidates and their impact on elections.
Students will know the three branches of government, the functions of each
branch, the checks on each branch. The student will also know the
constitutional requirements for members of each branch.
Students will identify the rights of the individual and the protections of those
rights.
Students will understand the processes of public policy.
TEXT:
Walter Volkomer, American Government, 12th
ed. ISBN 0-13-236455-7
EVALUATION: exams, response questions
Three exams:
First exam period Sept. 29-Oct. 5 covering Chapters 1-6
Second exam
period Oct. 27-Nov. 2 covering Chapters 7-10
Third exam period Nov. 29- Dec. 2 covering
Chapters 11-14
Form of exam: each exam will consist of short answer questions, there will be 50 questions, the exams will be taken on WebCT and students will have 65/60 minutes to take the exam. Each exam is worth 100 points. A total of 300 points for the exams. The testing period is scheduled over weekends. Be sure to note the dates on your calendars, Tests can not be taken after the scheduled time.
Missed Exams: At the discretion of the instructor.
Student Responsibilities: The student is to go to WebCT and read the Welcome and other introduction materials ( Discussion board/email/webpage). The student is to be aware of all assignment dates and exam dates. The student is to have access to a backup computer in case of computer problems. The student is to know how to save documents in a Rich Text format( if they do not have Microsoft Word), how to attach documents. The student is to participate in the Discussion board* two times a week. The student is the know how to navigate WebCT.
* The Discussion Board questions are not the class work/homework/Response questions.
Response questions: Students will write response questions based on readings in the text book and on-line.
The questions for Part 1
will be due June 12 (Thurs. 12:00 noon) and worth 60 points;
questions for Part 2 will be due June 19 (
Thurs. 12:00 noon) and worth 60 points;
questions for Part 3 will be due July 10
(Thurs. 12:00 noon)
and worth 80 points;
questions for Part 4 will be due July 17 (Thurs. 12:00 noon)
and worth 40 points;
questions for Part 5 will be due July 24 (Thurs. 12:00 noon)
and worth 40 points.
The Response questions are a total of 280 points. Details regarding response
questions are found on each on-line Chapter page. Writing
Guide: Introduction a new link, good advice on writing
Grading Scale:
580 – 522 points= A
521-- 464 points= B
463 – 406 points= C
405 -- 348 points= D
347 points or less=F
Class Discussion: Students will access WebCT and on the American Federal Government Page and there you will find a button for Discussion/Bulletin Board. On the Discussion/Bulletin Board you will find questions I have posted and you will answer, you will also post your own questions about the materials you have been reading. This is our class discussion and everyone should visit the Discussion/Bulletin Board at least two times a week in order to be a part of the class. Visiting the Discussion/Bulletin Board is an indicator of your class attendance. Your participation here may be a decider if your grade is borderline.
ADA POLICY: Lynn Boone, the Vice Chancellor for Student Services, serves as the ADA Compliance Officer. If you reside in Arkansas County you may contact Vice Chancellor Carolyn Turner (DeWitt) or Dr. Susan Luebke (Stuttgart). The process of student referral under the Americans with Disabilities Act can be found in the Student Handbook. You should contact the ADA Compliance Officer on your home campus is you are a student through Hope or Batesville.
FERPA POLICY
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. A student has the right to inspect and review all of his/her records that meet the definition of educational records. No third party has the right to review student records.
ACTS
The Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS)
contains information about the transferability
of courses within Arkansas Public Colleges and universities. Students
are guaranteed the
transfer of applicable credits and the equitable treatment in the
application of credits for the
admission and degree requirements. Course transferability is not
guaranteed for courses
listed in ACTS as “No Comparable Course.” Additionally, courses with
a “D” frequently do not
transfer and institutional policies may vary. ACTS may be accessed on
the Internet by going
to the ADHE Website and selecting Course Transfer.
http://www.adhe.edu/
(Click) Arkansas CourseTransfer System
On-line classes offer the advantage of not having to attend class at a scheduled time three days a week. HOWEVER, on-line classes require a great deal more of the student’s time. The student must go to the various pages and read, the student must go to the numerous links that are found on each page and read the material on those links.( Some links can have as little as a paragraph or some links can consist of tens of pages). Not only must the student read the material, but the student will need to take notes from the materials read. Simply printing out the pages and links does the student no good. The material must be read, important facts recognized, links/connections between/among events and persons must be made. The student has to make those connections.
The student can not wait until the night before the exam to begin reading the materials. There will be too much material to read the night before the exam. In addition, it is difficult to study materials that have only been read once.
Students who require considerable guidance from an instructor should reconsider taking a class on-line. The on-line class is designed for the student who is well-organized, manages their time, self-directed, capable of working alone with little instruction