PS 1010: Introduction to American Government
Winter 2011
Instructor: Daniel Veale
[email protected]
Office:
602E Pray-Harrold
Class Hours:
Office Hours:
T, Th 9:30 – 10:45
303 Pray-Harrold
T, Th 10:45 – 11:45
Or by appointment
Course Objectives: This course is designed to introduce undergraduate students to the foundations of
American Government. The course is equal parts a study of theory, history, and the practical application
of government. No previous knowledge or coursework is assumed or required for this course. This
course can be counted toward fulfillment of the Area IV general education requirement.
Learning Outcomes
Students will learn fundamental concepts in American Government pertaining to history,
theory, and policy.
Students will be able to describe the general problem and relevant history for a number of
policy issues.
Students will become comfortable discussing controversial issues in an academic setting.
Students will display respect for competing opinions while learning how to better support
their own ideas.
Students will understand how issues are viewed differently depending upon fundamental
beliefs about freedom and order. Students will see that the solution to many problems differ
depending upon the framework in which it is viewed.
Students will produce an original piece of writing in which they further examine one of the
issues discussed in class.
Readings and Course Design: The Primary text for this course will be Keeping the Republic, 5th Brief
Edition, CQ Press 2013, by Barbour and Wright. Additional readings may be necessary for completion of
some assignments; these will be made available to you via email as needed. In large part, I will be
lecturing from the Barbour and Wright text. Copies of the lecture slides will be posted online before
each class, a good strategy is to print these out and bring them with you to take notes on.
Course Requirements: The course requirements consist of six exams and a cumulative final exam, as well
as one term paper and attendance.
Exams - (10% each, 40% total) There will be a total of six progress exams given during the
semester. Exams will consist of thirty multiple choice questions. At the end of the semester,
each student’s lowest two exam scores will be automatically dropped from their grade. There
are no make-ups for missed exams, although missed exams are eligible to be dropped. Dates of
exams are subject to change according to our progress through the material.
Final Exam – (25%) The final exam will contain questions from all of the topics studied this
semester. The exam will be 100 multiple choice questions and cannot be dropped. The final
exam date is Thursday April 24th from 9:00-10:30.
Term Paper – (30%) Students will prepare a term paper which examines a current issue in
American Government. A list of acceptable topics will be provided by the instructor, any topic
outside of those offered must be approved in writing by the instructor. These papers must be at
least 6 pages in length, double spaced with standard margins and font (1” margins, Times New
Roman 12 font). A separate grading rubric will be provided at a later date. Students will be
asked to examine both sides of a controversial issue, and then choose the side they feel is
correct. The issue will then be presented and discussed in class. More information on this will
be given a few weeks into the semester.
Attendance – (5%) Attendance is required for this course. Historically, students who attend
lecture obtain much higher final grades than those who don’t. Attendance will be taken each
class session. Students with five or fewer absences will earn full credit in this category, while
those with six or more absences will lost the 5% of the final grade which counts towards
attendance. Because a large number of allowable absences are built into the course, there is no
need to contact the professor to obtain an excused absence in the event of a missed class. All
absences, regardless of reason, are counted equally against the attendance total. Students who
encounter problems that will keep them out of class for long periods of time should immediately
contact the professor to discuss options regarding the completion of missed coursework.
Warnings and Accommodations
If you need to contact me outside of class, please do so by email. I am only infrequently in my
office, and thus only infrequently receive voice mail messages or other messages left in the
political science front office.
Academic dishonesty will be punished according to university policies. These policies can be
viewed on the Wayne State website. If you have questions about these policies, please see me.
This is an accommodations friendly class. If you have a disability and are registered with the
Educational Accessibility Services office, please see me during the first week of class so that we
can determine how I may assist you. Please bring your paperwork from EAS to our meeting.
Initially, computers will be allowed in the lecture hall. When used correctly, computers can
facilitate a streamlined learning environment for the student. However, if computers become a
distraction the instructor reserves the right to ban them from the lecture hall at any point during
the semester.
After the date of the final exam, the course is over, no additional make-up exams or late term
papers will be accepted after this date. The proper time to conference with me about grade
concerns or late work is well before final exam week.
As we are meeting in an overlarge classroom this semester, please observe the following
courtesies toward your fellow students:
o If you come to class late, please sit towards the back of the room, or generally where
you can be seated without disrupting other students.
o Students with computers who are using them for something other than note-taking,
please sit towards the back of the room.
o Absolutely no cell phone use/ texting/ etc. during lecture. This is distracting to everyone
around you, including the instructor. You will be asked to leave.
o
Eastern Michigan University Model Statements
Weather
If class session or laboratory is canceled due to bad weather or instructor absence, students are
still responsible for all the readings and assignments listed on the syllabus.
Religious Holidays
Students must provide advance notice by in writing to their instructors in order to be allowed to
make up work, including examinations, that they miss as a result of absence from class due to
observance of religious holidays.
Student and Exchange Visitor Statement (SEVIS)
The Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) requires F and J students to report
the following to the Office of International Students (OIS) 244 EMU Student Center within ten
(10) days of the event of changes in:
Name or residential address
Academic status
Academic major or program of study
Source of funding (including employment or graduate assistant position)
Degree completion date
Degree level (ex: Bachelors to Masters)
SEVIS further requires F and J students to report the following to the Office of International
Students (OIS) 244 EMU Student Center within ten (10) days:
Intent to transfer to another school
Probation or disciplinary action due to a criminal conviction
Prior permission from OIS is required for:
Carrying or dropping below minimum credit hours or dropping all courses;
Employment on or off-campus; including volunteer and observation positions.
Registering for more than one online course per term (F and J visa)
Endorsing I-20 or DS-2019 for re-entry into the USA.
Failure to report may result in the termination of your SEVIS record and even loss of status. If
you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of International Students at 734.487.3116.
Accessibility for all
It is my goal that this class be an accessible and welcoming experience for all students, including
those with disabilities that may affect their learning in this class. If you believe you may have
trouble participating or effectively demonstrating learning in this course, please meet with me
(with or without an accommodation letter from the Disability Resource Center) to discuss
reasonable options or adjustments. During our discussion, I may suggest the possibility/necessity
of your contacting the DRC (240 Student Center; (734) 487-2470; [email protected]) to
talk about academic accommodations. You are welcome to talk to me at any point in the
semester about such issues, but it is best if we can talk at least one week prior to the need for any
modifications.
In addition: EMU Board of Regents Policy 8.3 requires that anyone wishing accommodation for
a disability first registers with the Disabilities Resource Center (DRC) in 240 EMU Student
Center, telephone: (734) 487-2470. Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with the
DRC promptly as you will only be accommodated from the date you register. No retroactive
accommodations are possible.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designated to protect
the privacy of a student’s education records and academic work. The law applies to all schools
and universities which receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of
Education and is applicable to students at EMU. All files, records, and academic work completed
within this course are considered educational records and are protected under FERPA. It is your
right as a student in this course to expect that any materials you submit in this course as well as
your name and other identifying information will not be viewable by guests or other individuals
permitted access to the course. The exception will be only when you have given explicit, written,
signed consent. Verbal consent or email is insufficient.
Academic Dishonesty and Classroom Conduct
Any successful learning experience requires mutual respect. Neither instructor nor student should
be subject to behavior that is rude, disruptive, intimidating, or demeaning. Views may differ on
what counts as rudeness or courtesy. If you are not sure what constitutes good conduct in this
classroom, ask the instructor. The instructor has primary responsibility for and control over
classroom behavior and maintenance of academic integrity.
Statement on Plagiarism: Plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately passes off another's
words or ideas without acknowledging their source. For example, turning another's work as your
own is plagiarism. If you plagiarize in this class, you will likely fail the assignment on which you
are working and your case may be passed to the university for additional disciplinary action.
Because of the design and nature of this course, it will take as much (or more) work for you to
plagiarize in it than it will to actually complete the work of the class.
Plagiarism is different from misuse of sources, occasions when a writer does not properly cite a
source, misuses quotations, includes too much of an original source in a paraphrase or summary,
or commits similar unintentional violations of academic protocol. If you misuse sources, we will
work together on appropriately incorporating and/or citing the sources. Note that some
audiences/instructors will consider misuse of sources to be plagiarism; for this reason, it is
extreme important for you to identify the conventions associated with source use and citations in
any class (or writing situation).
Source: http://www.emich.edu/english/fycomp/curriculum/kit.htm
Resources: Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS):
http://www.emich.edu/studentconduct/facultylinks.php
in particular the Faculty Liability Checklist on that page. On civility:
http://www.emich.edu/studentconduct/facultylinks/civility.php
College of Business Ethos Statement:
http://www.cob.emich.edu/include/templatesubpage.cfm?id=1137
http://ctlclassmgmt.project.mnscu.edu/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={C0469830-953B4603-9D44-91EF353C2134}
For plagiarism, see: http://www.emich.edu/facdev/campusservices.php#plagiarism
EMU Writing Support
The University Writing Center (115 Halle Library) offers one-to-one writing consulting for both
undergraduate and graduate students. Students can make appointments or drop in between the
hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.
Students should bring a draft of what they’re working on and their assignment. The UWC opens
for the Fall 2011 semester on Wednesday, Sept. 7 and will close on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011.
The UWC also offers small group workshops on various topics related to writing (e.g., Reading
in College: Tips and Strategies; Incorporating Evidence; Revising Your Writing). Workshops are
offered at various times Monday through Friday in the UWC. To register for a workshop, click
the "Register" link from the UWC page at http://www.emich.edu/english/writing-center.
The UWC also has several satellite sites across campus—in Sill Hall for COT students; in
Marshall for CHHS students; in Pray-Harrold for CAS students; in Porter for CHHS and COE
students; and in Owen for COB students. The locations of these sites and their hours will be
posted on the UWC web site http://www.emich.edu/english/writing-center.
The Academic Projects Center (116 Halle Library) offers one-to-one consulting for students on
writing, research, or technology-related issues. No appointment is required – students can just
drop in. The APC is open 11-5 Monday-Thursday. Additional information about the APC can be
found at http://www.emich.edu/apc. Students visiting the Academic Projects Center should also
bring with them a draft of what they’re working on and their assignment sheet.
International Student Resource Center (200 Alexander Building)
http://www.emich.edu/worldlanguages/esl/isrc.htm is a service of the World Languages
Department for EMU students who need help with their non-native English language for
academic assignments. Help is provided for reading and comprehension, listening and notetaking, improvement of grammatical accuracy, compositions, study skills, and conversation.
Note, this is not the Office of International Students.
Assignments
January 7th – Introductory Lecture, Course Overview
January 9th – Chapter 1 Power and Citizenship in American Politics
January 14th – Chapter 2 The Politics of the Founding
January 16th – Chapter 3 Federalism
January 21th – Chapter 4 Civil Liberties
January 23rd – 1st Progress Exam, Ch. 1,2,3
January 28th – Chapter 5 Civil Rights
February 4th – Chapter 10 Public Opinion
February 6th – 2nd Progress Exam, Ch. 4,5,10
February 11th – Chapter 11 Interest Groups
February 13th – Chapter 13 Media and Politics
February 18th – Chapter 11 (cont.) Political Parties
February 20th – 3rd Progress Exam, Ch. 11, 13
March 4th
– Chapter 12 Voting and Participation
th
March 6
– Chapter 12 (cont.) Campaigns and Elections
March 11th
– Chapter 6 Congress
th
March 13
– Review or catch-up day
March 18th – 4th Progress Exam Ch. 6, 12
March 20th –Chapter 7 The Presidency
March 25th – Chapter 8 The Federal Bureaucracy
March 27th – Chapter 9 The Judiciary
April 1st
-- 5th Progress Exam Ch. 7,8,9
rd
April 3
– Term Paper due, issue presentations and debate
April 8th
– Chapter 14 Economic Policy
April 10th
– Chapter 14 (cont.) Social Policy
April 15th
– Chapter 14 (cont.) Foreign Policy
th
April 17
– 6th Progress Exam Ch. 16,17,18
April 24th
– Final Exam 1:20- 3:50
* Schedule subject to change. Schedule changes will be announced in class.