Course Syllabus
Course Code
American Government
Semester Year
Name of Institution
3 Credits
Professor Name
Office Location
Office Hours
Phone
REQUIRED TEXT:
Krutz, Glen, and Sylvie Waskiewicz. American Government 3e. OpenStax. Digital version available at no cost online at https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government-3e
(Information about purchasing a print version can also be found at the above address.)
ISBN (Digital): 978-1-951693-38-1
ISBN (Print): 978-1-711493-96-1
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This three-credit introductory course surveys the rise, development, structure, operations, and problems of American government. It offers an analysis of the historical and intellectual forces shaping government in America, as well as providing an analytical framework to help the student understand the structure, functions, and problems of American federal government.
OFFICIAL COLLEGE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this course are to:
- To analyze the rise, development, structure, operations, and problems of American government, with an emphasis on American national government
- To offer an analysis of the historical and intellectual forces which have shaped the formation of government in America from the colonial era to modern America
- To analyze the framework supporting the structure of government in America, as well as review the many functions of government, from the local level to the national level
- To review and analyze the major documents creating government, including the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, in order to identify and understand the philosophical and intellectual influences shaping these documents; included in this review is the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 – the Constitutional Convention – and the dynamics of that gathering which gave the Constitution its unique structure, powers, and controversy
- To analyze the origins and development of political parties and their appeal and impact upon the whole spectrum of American political history
- To critique the varied issues confronting Americans today, derived from such topics as civil liberties, civil rights, and what they mean; the separation of powers and the concomitant issue of the balance of powers among the three branches of government – as well as the balance of power between federal government and state government
- To practice reading/comprehension skills essential for successful work both inside and outside of college
- To practice writing/communication skills demanded by today’s world, regardless of where an individual chooses to go
- To conduct critical thinking and analytical skills; to enable one to identify and understand the cognitive and causal relationships existing among many of the components of knowledge and to apply these skills with confidence as one journeys through life
- To cultivate the literacy expected from individuals, regardless of the path one chooses
COURSE METHOD:
Students are expected to read the text and any sources provided and be actively engaged in course activities, particularly discussion forums. More importantly, though, students will be expected to think. History is much more than memorizing names, dates, and facts, and it is only through critical thought that true learning can take place.
Please remember that everyone is entitled to an opinion. As such, no one has the right to attack others (instructor included) or insult others’ opinions. Disagreements and arguments are likely to arise, but these must occur in a professional manner. The instructor does not tolerate attacks and/or disrespectful behavior, and behaving in such a manner will result in disciplinary action.
Students are advised to electronically save all assignments submitted for this course. This can be done with a USB drive, a cloud-based storage program, etc.
Due to the condensed nature of this online course, a large amount of material will be covered each week. Students are strongly advised to be in the practice of completing some element of coursework (including logging into Canvas and participating in discussion forums) on a daily basis. If, at any time, a student is confused, overwhelmed, etc., they are encouraged to contact the instructor for a one-on-one meeting (either in person or online).
REQUIREMENTS/EVALUATION:
Student progress will be assessed through a combination of online discussion forums, orientation activities, content quizzes, and periodic writing assignments.
Writing assignments are to be typed in Times New Roman, size 12, with 1” margins on all sides, double-spaced throughout. Penalties apply if these guidelines are not adhered to. Assignments are required to be uploaded electronically to Canvas; files must be uploaded as a Microsoft Word document (.doc, .docx) or a PDF. Assignments are not accepted via email.
Students must check their Lackawanna College email and Canvas messages regularly (ideally daily); this is the default method of communication with students.
EXTRA CREDIT POLICY:
The instructor may offer extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. However, students cannot earn these points if they have “skipped” other required assignments. Extra credit is not guaranteed; students should not depend on it, as it is only offered at the instructor’s discretion.
GRADING:
The breakdown of grades is as follows:
|
Assignment |
Point Value |
|
Chapter Quizzes (varying point values) |
420 points |
|
Writing Assignments (15 points each) |
105 points |
|
Discussion Forums (15 points each) |
210 points |
|
Introductory Assignments (varying point values) |
65 points |
|
Possible Point Total |
800 points |
The following guidelines will be used to determine students’ final grades:
|
Letter Grade |
Numeric Range |
Quality Points |
|
A |
96-100 |
4.0 |
|
A- |
90-95 |
3.67 |
|
B+ |
87-89 |
3.33 |
|
B |
83-86 |
3.0 |
|
B- |
80-82 |
2.67 |
|
C+ |
77-79 |
2.33 |
|
C |
73-76 |
2.0 |
|
C- |
70-72 |
1.67 |
|
D+ |
67-69 |
1.33 |
|
D |
60-66 |
1.0 |
|
F |
0-59 |
0.0 |
MAKE-UP POLICY/MISSED ASSIGNMENT POLICY:
Make-ups are solely at the instructor’s discretion; if a student misses a posted assignment, they are advised to contact the instructor as soon as possible.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
Late assignments are only accepted under extenuating circumstances; students are advised to contact the instructor in advance if they feel they will be unable to complete work by its posted due date. Any work that is accepted late is subject to a penalty of one letter grade per day.
SEQUENCE OF TOPICS:
Schedule is tentative and subject to change. Chapter readings should be completed prior to their corresponding modules. Specific due dates and any additional reading assignments will be found on Canvas.
|
|
Content Being Covered |
Objective |
Corresponding Assignments |
|
Week 1 |
Module 0: Getting Started |
7, 8, 9, 10 |
Warm-Up Assignments
|
|
Week 2 |
Module 1: Our Government and its Origins |
1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
|
|
Week 3 |
Module 2: Article I (Congress) |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
|
|
Week 4 |
Module 3: Article II (The Presidency) and Article III (The Courts) |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
|
|
Week 5 |
Module 4: Federalism and the Balance of Power |
1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
|
|
Week 6 |
Module 5: Political Parties, Elections, and Voting |
1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
|
|
Week 7 |
Module 6: Civil Liberties |
1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
|
|
Week 8 |
Module 7: Civil Rights |
1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
|