Faculty Syllabus
GOVT-2305 United States Government
Joseph Isokpunwu
Credit Summer 2023
Section(s)
GOVT-2305-055 (63657)
LEC DIL ONL DIL
Course Requirements
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND SCHEDULES
There are Six components to your final grade:
- Exams = 47%
- Syllabus Quiz = 1%
- Self-introduction = 1%
- Discussion Question = 21%
- Weekly Quizzes = 20%
- Term Paper = 10%
- Total = 100%
1. Syllabus Quiz worth 100 points (1% of your final grade), and it is due the first week of class (6/04/23). It is something I introduced over the years because I realized that 30% of the reasons many students failed a class is because of missing assignments. Assignments are missed because students just skim through the syllabus and do not pay attention to the due dates on the syllabus.
Please read through the syllabus properly before attempting the syllabus quiz. Once you start, you must finish because it is timed for 30mins.
2. Self-Introduction that is worth 100 points (1% of your final grade). Please write at least a three-paragraph introduction about yourself. You should include information about your background, i.e., work experience, why you are taking this class, and/or something unique [personal] about yourself that you would not mind sharing with your classmates.
3. Four Exams that are worth 100 points each (47% of your final grade), Exam 1 (12%) covers chapters 1-5, Exam 2 (12%) covers chapters 5-10, Exam 3 (12%) covers chapters 11-15, and Exam 4 (11%) covers chapters 16-17. Each Exam will have multiple-choice items (objectives, True and False, and Identification). In addition, students will be asked to respond to words matching definitions, filling-in-the-blank, and short answer questions.
The exam will be taken online for 60mins on the blackboard in the comfort of your home. Once you start, you cannot stop until you complete the exam.
There is no do-over or make-over exam.
4. Ten Quizzes that are worth 100 points each (15% of your final grade) and are due on dates noted on the syllabus. These quizzes will be taken on the blackboard in the comfort of your home. Each quiz will consist of 20 multiple questions and will be timed for 40 minutes. You have until 11:59 pm to take the quiz on the due date, and after the due date, the quiz will no longer be available. There is no do-over or make-up for quizzes. Pay careful attention to your syllabus for quiz due dates.
You must take the exams and quizzes on a traditional desktop or laptop computer with a modern web browser and a reliable internet connection. The exams are not fully compatible with phones or tablets.
Contact me as soon as possible if you are unable to take an exam by the deadline.
The quizzes are over the chapters below:
- Quiz 1, will be over Chapters 1&2,
- Quiz 2, will be over Chapters 3&4,
- Quiz 3, will be over Chapter 5,
- Quiz 4, will be over Chapters 6&7,
- Quiz 5, will be over Chapters 8&9,
- Quiz 6, will be over Chapter 10.
- Quiz 7, will be over Chapters 11&12,
- Quiz 8, will be over Chapters 13&14,
- Quiz 9, will be over chapters 15, and
- Quiz 10, will be over Chapters 16 and 1
5. Three (3) Discussion Questions Assignments' (DQA) worth 100 points each (21 % of your final grade). You will use Blackboard’s discussion boards (available in the course’s left navigation bar under the Participation Topics link) to participate. Here is a brief guide to Using Discussion Boards.
I will post a discussion question weekly worth 7% each (for the eight weeks of the class) in the discussion boards over the semester
You will participate in each question. You must post at least two (2) times on each question for full credit. You must post: 1) a substantial (150-word minimum) original answer to the question by Thursday of the week; and 2) a substantial (50-word minimum) reply to a colleague by Sunday of every week. You have until 11:59 pm to post your responses according to the due There is no do-over or make-up for DQAs. Pay careful attention to your syllabus for due dates
Take care to formulate arguments, not simple declarative statements. An argument is a well-developed, clearly stated line of reasoning aimed at convincing others of the truth or fallacy of a statement
“Reasoned” means you have thought about the question and coherently presented your ideas. It does not mean that I or your classmates agree with you
You will encounter a variety of viewpoints on volatile topics over the semester. You may disagree, perhaps strongly, with opinions expressed by your classmates (and almost certainly, me)
If we treat each other with respect, these differences enhance discussion and create an atmosphere where we learn from each other. Your grades will not be influenced by beliefs or ideas expressed on the discussion boards if they are expressed reasonably and respectfully
Participation is graded on whether your comments are thoughtful and coherent, respond directly to the question (or another post on the board), contribute something new to the discussion, reflect an effort to move the discussion along, bring some evidence to your argument, and reflect an understanding of the course materials
6. A Term Paper that is worth 100 points (10% of your final grade). Topics of the term paper will be given on the first day of class that relates to US government (see topics under Term Paper), and you are expected to write a term paper for the topic chosen (Please chose and write on one topic only, if you write on two topics, I will not grade your paper). You are to adhere to the following rules for full grade
- 700-word doubled spaced not more than Four pages (including work cited page),
- Must use a minimum 2 in-text citations,
- Must use a minimum 2 academic sources (your textbook must be one of the sources),
- Must use 12 Times Roman Numeral font,
- Must have work cited page (making FOUR pages in all)
- The term paper must be written according to MLA style and format of writing
The term paper is due on or before 7/30/23 as stated on the syllabus. The paper will be submitted on the blackboard under Term Paper. Late papers will not be accepted. Your Paper may be turned in early and you are encouraged to do so
You will submit your Term Paper via SafeAssign—a plagiarism checker. You may compose the Paper at your leisure but must submit them by the deadline. Please write the paper in your own words as much as possible, because I will not accept a paper that has more than 20% on SafeAssign Originality Report when the paper is turned in. A percentage of 20% in an originality report means that 20% of the paper is not originally your words, and the higher this number is the more you tend towards plagiarism.
This paper should reflect your thought on our study of the US government, and the times in which we live. Everybody has the reserved right to use examples that may be in affirmation or contrary to the point of view of the original meaning of the Question
Students must document direct quotes or paraphrased information that are/is included in the papers in the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. For information about the MLA style, or how to cite internet sources, consult the ACC Learning Resource Service’s MLA Documentation Guide at http://library.austincc.edu/help/MLA/
BEWARE: I take spelling, grammar, and composition into account when grading your work. Your work must be well-written to receive full credit. You use Grammarly at www.grammarly.com for grammar correction. Grammarly is an American cloud-based typing assistant. It reviews spelling, grammar, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery mistakes in English texts detects plagiarism, and suggests replacements for the identified errors. It also allows users to customize their style, tone, and context-specific language. IT IS FREE
Readings
American Government 3e by OpenStax™ Hardcover: ISBN-13: 978-1-711493-96-1, Paperback: ISBN-13: 978-1-711493-95-4, Digital: ISBN-13: 978-1-951693-38-1
Course Subjects
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
Faculty in the Government Department offers course work that ensures that students learn, in both general and specific ways, the material included in the Department's general learning outcomes for GOVT 2305, are listed below:
- Constitutional Foundations: The student will understand the foundations, development, and features of the United States Constitution.
- Linkage Institutions: The student will understand how media, interest groups, and political parties serve as institutions to connect people to governments.
- Political Learning: The student will understand how political values, attitudes, and behaviors are learned, organized, and expressed.
- Campaigns and Elections: The student will understand the operation of a political campaign, the types of elections, and the factors that affect election outcomes.
- Institutions of Government: The student will understand the structure, functions, and operations of the institutions of the United States government.
- Civil Liberties and Civil Rights: The student will understand how civil liberties and civil rights protect both the individual and categories of people.
- Public Policy: The student will understand the development and implementation of both foreign and domestic policies.
Office Hours
M T W Th F S 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Online
NOTE By appointmentPublished: 05/30/2023 15:14:42