Course Syllabus


Print Syllabus
Course ID: POS110
Title: American National Government
Modality: Mixed Media
Credit Hours: 3.00

Course Section Information

Institution: Rio Salado College

Section: 20452

Term: Spring 2015

Start Date: 1/12/2015

Weeks: 12

Last date to withdraw: None

Instructor: Candida Kirkpatrick

Course Materials

Be sure that you have all the necessary materials prior to the start date of your course.

Required Textbook:

Title: Government by the People
Author: Magleby/O'Brien/Light/Peltason/Cronin
ISBN:  0536508542

Rio Salado College has developed a unique Textbook Savings Program that uses customized textbooks and saves students up to 50% off the original price of textbooks. This textbook is included in the Textbook Savings Program and has been customized specifically for this course at Rio Salado College by Pearson Custom Publishing so that it contains information most relevant to the course. Your course materials are available through the Rio Salado College Bookstore. All materials should be verified by ISBN before purchasing at the Rio Salado Bookstore (480-517-8710 or 1-800-584-8775 or http://learnatrio.com/RL-bookstore) or from another seller.

DVD: Included with the book is an additional resource for this course.

NOTE:

  • This course utilizes Scantrons and Blue Books for various assignments, quizzes and/or exams.

  • If your assignment requires Scantrons or Blue Books it will be notated in the “Submitting Assignment” instructions for that particular assignment.

  • These Scantrons, Blue Books and preaddressed mailing envelopes will be mailed to you by Rio Salado College Course Support.

  • Should you not receive these materials contact Course Support at 480-517-8243.

Course Description and Competencies

Official Course Description

Study of the historical backgrounds, governing principles, and institutions of the national government of the United States.

Official Course Prerequisites

None.

Arizona Shared Unique Number

(http://www.azsunsystem.com/) POS 1110

Official Course Competencies

  1. State the causes of the American Revolution.
  2. Explain why the American Revolution is consistent with British constitutional values.
  3. List the main weaknesses of the government of the United States that operated under the Articles of Confederation.
  4. Identify three historians who interpreted the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, and state briefly their main concepts or theories.
  5. Identify the four major compromises agreed to by the participants at the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention.
  6. Indicate the votes in the “big four” states for and against the adoption of the new constitution.
  7. State the titles held by persons elected to leadership positions in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
  8. Trace the steps involved when a bill becomes a law in the U.S. Congress.
  9. State the main aspects of the Congressional support staff and describe their general duties.
  10. Identify constitutional duties of the chief executive officer of the United States, and indicate whether they make high, moderate, or low demands on the office.
  11. Identify the five major support systems of the President of the United States.
  12. List the major steps involved in the formation of the U.S. national budget from its beginning in the Office of Management and Budget to its final passage by Congress.
  13. Describe the composition of a “typical” U.S. board or commission, and the general powers given to such a board or commission by congress.
  14. Explain the process by which a person is nominated and appointed to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court bench.
  15. Present the main points in the judicial review case, Marbury vs. Madison.
  16. Describe the structure of the lower federal courts.
  17. Explain how an amendment is added to the U.S. Constitution.
  18. Explain how procedural rights differ from substantive rights.
  19. Indicate values held by each of the two major political parties in the United States.

Course Requirements

  • You must complete all assignments in the course to get a passing grade.

  • Examinations: The Midterm and Final are required At-Home Exams for this course. Please check the Calendar of Due Dates.

  • You must earn an average of 60% on the exam(s) in order to pass the course.

Note: Keep a copy of all your assignments!

Time Requirements

Three Credit Class

Remember that this is a three credit-hour class. As such, you will need to dedicate significant time to this course. Plan to spend at least three hours on course content and at least six hours on homework for a total of at least nine hours each week. Be prepared to double your weekly class and study time if you choose an accelerated calendar.

Grading Procedure and Scale

Grading Procedure

There are 450 possible points for this course.
Lesson Assessments: = 250 Points
Midterm Exam: = 100 Points
Final Exam: = 100 Points
Total Possible = 450 Points

Grading Scale

Letter grades for assignments, examinations, and the course will be determined by the following scale:

405 - 450 points = A (90% - 100%)
360 - 404 points = B (80% - 89%)
315 - 359 points = C (70% - 79%)
270 - 314 points = D (60% - 69%)
0 - 269 points = F (0% - 59%)
Note: The grading procedure for this course is based on the total number of points possible.

Note to students: You must earn an average of 60% on the Midterm and Final Exams in order to pass the course, regardless of your grades on the other quizzes and assignments.

Writing Competencies and Assessments

In order to accomplish the above course competencies, you need to demonstrate college-level writing skills.

A significant component of POS110 is writing. For a resource on how to write college-level essays and exams, refer to Appendix C in this course materials package.

General Course Competencies

Below is a general summary and topics of the specific MCCCD course competencies listed above. Following each general competency is the number of the specific competency that it addresses.

  1. The background, principles and values of the US Constitution and national government (1-6, 17)
  2. The legislative branch: representing the people in the US national government. (7-9)
  3. The executive branch of the US national government: carrying out the laws of Congress and mandates of the people (10-13)
  4. The judicial branch of the US national government: interpreting and applying the law of the land (14-16)
  5. The constitutional civil rights and civil liberties given to the people to protect them from their government and other people. (18)
  6. The people, institutions and political parties that influence the national government. (19)

Due Date Policies

To successfully complete the course, plan your study time so that you finish a lesson and submit an assignment each week. While it is up to you to decide how to plan your time, do not let more than two weeks pass between submitting assignments.

Keep in mind that there are 12 lessons, a Midterm Exam, and a Final Exam. So, plan your study time accordingly. By completing at least one lesson each week you will easily be able to finish all lessons by the course end date.

As you are managing your due dates and working through the course, please keep the following important policies in mind. If you find that at any time you are falling behind in the course, contact your instructor immediately to develop an alternative plan for successful completion of the course.

  1. Students who do not complete the first assignment and have not made alternative arrangements with the instructor by the end of the second week will be withdrawn.

  2. Prior to the course midpoint, students who are inactive in the course for any two consecutive weeks will be withdrawn.

  3. Students who pass the midpoint of the class and do not complete the course will receive a failing grade.

  4. Students who are inactive in the course for any two consecutive weeks after the course midpoint will receive a failing grade.

Written Assignment Expectations

  1. We expect every student to produce his/her original, independent work for these assignments or a grade of 0 points will be given.

  2. The following are the expectations used to evaluate your Written Assignments:

  • Completeness: Answers to each question should be in the 150 – 250 word range. Be sure to carefully read each question to assure that each part is answered with the appropriate depth and detail.

  • Knowledge: The clearest way to display knowledge is to provide depth and detail. Use key terms and provide definitions. Use detailed examples to illustrate concepts. Be specific and avoid generalizations.

  • Critical Thinking: Critical thinking is the mental process of clearly and logically evaluating information and applying it to the world around us. It is the process of getting beyond “surface” meaning, to inquire, to question, and to offer divergent opinions with the goal of reaching deeper meaning and understanding.

  • Writing: Answers must be in paragraph format, unless the question specifically indicates otherwise. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence. Answers must be free of spelling and grammar errors.

Exams

A Midterm and Final are required for this course. Please review the "Grading Procedure and Scale" portion of your syllabus for details. Your course materials may give specific information about these exams and make suggestions for test preparation. The exam is open book.

Hints for Success

This course requires the student to complete assignments each week. The quizzes cover material in the textbook. In order to remain current, you need to spread your work over the entire week.

A final note regarding the midterm and final exams. The material you will be tested on, in these two exams, will come from the textbook. The “Key Words” and “Assessing Your Learning” sections will provide you with specifics to study and know for the midterm and final exams. You will take the midterm and final exams through Rio Salado’s Testing Center. You must take both the midterm and final exams in order to pass this course.

If you are experiencing any difficulties during this course, contact your instructor for more hints and assistance in fulfilling the requirements. You may accelerate your work assignments and turn them in early to your instructor if you have the time.

Final Grade Options

  • Letter grade (A, B, C, D, F): Awarded if the student completes all work, including the final exams.

  • Extension (in lieu of Incomplete grade) - Students may request an extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. The instructor will define the requirements and timelines to complete the course.
    Please Note: Instructors are not obligated to give extensions.

  • Withdrawal: Students may submit a withdrawal request on or prior to the “Deadline for Student to Withdraw with Guaranteed Grade of W” indicated in the college catalog.

    Students should not contact their instructor to request a withdrawal. A student wishing to withdraw from a class within the stated timeline must do so by visiting my.maricopa.edu or by calling Student Enrollment Services at 480.517.8540 (1.800.729.1197 toll-free). In extreme circumstances, students do have the option of requesting a complete withdrawal from the college by providing Student Enrollment Services with appropriate documentation.

  • Credit/No Credit Option (P/Z): This course may not be taken on a credit/no credit basis.

Late or Missing Assignments

Assignments that have due dates are due on time according to the due dates. If you need to request an extension for an assignment, a request must be made to your instructor by voicemail at least one week prior to the due date.

Late points may be deducted at the instructor's discretion.

Copyright Acknowledgements

Some images used in courses are licensed as follows: Accunet/AP Multimedia Archive, http://www.clipart.com, http://www.jupiterimages.com, EBSCO Image Collection.

Untitled Document

Submitting Assignments

All assignments are listed under the "Reading Assignment" box and in the "Assessing Your Learning" section.

Note to students: Keep a copy of everything that you submit. That way if your work is lost you can submit your copy for grading. If you don’t receive your graded assignment or quiz results within two or three weeks after submitting it, please contact your instructor.

The due date listed in your course calendar is the last date on which an assignment can be delivered to the Course Support Office, or postmarked.

Distance Learning Drop Box

Distance Learning students can now drop off class assignments (in an appropriately addressed envelope) and return library books, videotapes and/or cassettes at the Distance Learning Drop Box.

The Drop Box is conveniently located along the curb in front of the Rio Salado building at 2323 W. 14th  Street in Tempe.

Mailed Assignments

All mailed assignments must be properly addressed and mailed with adequate postage. Please remember all correspondence to Rio Salado College must have a return address, an addressee, and the correct postage. The U.S. Postal Service may refuse delivery if any of these three are missing. All items placed in the Rio drop box must have a return address and an addressee. Please keep a copy of all work turned in to your instructor. Assignments will not be accepted if postage is due. If you are unsure of the postage required, take the item to the post office and have it weighed.

Include the course section number and assignment identifier on the envelope below your name and return address. Envelopes that are labeled incorrectly can cause a delay in processing your work. Address your envelope as shown in this example:

From:

Your Name:  Jane Q. Doe
Your Address:   1234 Anywhere Street, Anytown, AZ
Course and Section Numbers:   GPH111, Section ______
Assignment Identifier:   Essay 1

To:

The Course Support Office Rio Salado College
P. O. Box 63310
Phoenix, AZ 85082-3310
Attn: (Write your instructor’s name here)

Your section number can be found in your "Welcome Letter".

The Course Support staff cannot answer questions about the receipt of specific mail-in assignments. Only your instructor can do so.

Note to students: Please submit only one assignment in each envelope. The special envelopes provided to you by Rio Salado are only for computer answer sheets. Please mail all other assignments in separate envelopes.

Note to students: The U.S. Post Office no longer offers Sunday or holiday mail posting, and pick-up does not automatically mean that your envelope will be posted the same day. To be safe, allow extra time: mail early.

Faxed Assignments

Assignments may be faxed to (480) 377-4728 for print and mixed media courses. Your name, your instructor's name, and the course name and section numbers must appear at the top of every page. When the Course Support Office receives assignments, they are sent to your instructor for evaluation. Once your instructor has graded your assignment, he or she will return it to you.

Protect your hard work. Again, clearly label every page of your assignment with your name, the course and section numbers, your instructors name, and the name of the assignment as it appears in the syllabus.

Course Completion Policy

A student who registers for a Print or Multimedia course is assigned a start date and an end date. It is the student's responsibility to note due dates for assignments and to keep up with the course work.

Students may request an extension because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, if they have been doing acceptable work. The instructor will define the requirements and timelines to complete the course.

Please Note: It is the prerogative of the instructor to decide whether or not to grant the request.

Library Services

The Rio Salado Library is committed to student success and provides a variety of materials and services to enhance student learning.  Utilizing Rio’s online library for your research is the best way to ensure that your sources are validated, authoritative, and appropriate for college-level coursework. Librarians are available to help you at all times via our Ask a Librarian live chat service. You can access all library services at www.riosalado.edu/library.

Academic Misconduct

Academic Misconduct includes cheating, conspiring to cheat, soliciting to cheat, attempting to cheat, plagiarism, fabrication on an assignment, or other forms of dishonest presentation.

Posting assessments on an unauthorized web site, soliciting assessment answers and the unauthorized acquisition of assessments, assessment answers, or other academic material is cheating. Turning in content created by essay generators or other types of artificial intelligence platforms is also academic misconduct.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling or sharing of term papers or other academic materials. Information gathered from the Internet and not properly identified is also considered plagiarism.

We expect every student to produce his/her original, independent work. Any student whose work indicates a violation of the MCCCD Academic Misconduct Policy at https://district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/section-2/2-3#11 (including cheating and plagiarism) can expect sanctions as specified in the college catalog.

Rio Salado College uses software that uncovers plagiarism from student to student and other data sources on the Internet. If a student is found to have plagiarized content, grade consequences will be applied in accordance with departmental policies.

Civility Policy

The faculty of Rio Salado place a high value on the importance of general ethical standards of academic behavior and expect that communication between students and instructors or among students shall maintain the level of formality and mutual respect appropriate to any college teaching/learning situation.

Language or behavior that is rude, abusive, profane, disruptive, or threatening will not be tolerated. Activity of this type is Academic Misconduct as defined in MCCCD Policy AR 2.3.11. Students engaging in such behavior will be removed from the course with a failing grade. Additional sanctions may be applied pursuant to AR 2.3.11.

Requirement for Active Class Participation

Please note that students may be withdrawn from class for non-participation.

If you receive financial aid of any kind, it is your responsibility to protect your eligibility to receive financial aid by meeting the active participation requirements of this class.

Change of Address

Please notify Course Support at (480) 517-8243 1-800-729-1197 or by email at course.support@riosalado.edu. Please include your name, student number, phone number, and new address including city, state, and zip code.

Classroom Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and its associated colleges are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical). Visit district.maricopa.edu/mandatory-drs-title-ix-syllabus-statements for more information.

Religious Accommodations

Rio Salado College will reasonably accommodate the religious needs, observances, and practices of their students, when requested and the requests are made in accordance with the procedures set forth in ND-4. Any student may request a religious accommodation by making a written request for an accommodation to the appropriate faculty member using the Religious Accommodation Request form. To the extent possible, requests must be made at least two (2) weeks before the requested absence from class due to religious holiday or day of observance.

Disclaimer

Course content may vary from this outline to meet the needs of this particular group.

Student Solution Center

Rio Salado College is dedicated to a quality learning experience and has provided the Student Solution Center webpage, https://learnatrio.com/3DGKHTz, as a resource for students to raise issues to our attention. We look forward to the opportunity to provide an equitable solution to all involved parties. For grading or instructional issues, students should first contact their faculty member(s) in accordance with the Instructional Grievance Process at district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/appendices/students/s-6, as published in the college catalog. For non-instructional complaints, students may contact Institutional Integrity and Compliance by submitting the non-instructional complaint form, emailing studentcomplaints@riosalado.edu, or calling 480-517-8505. Students may also contact their state regulatory agency (www.riosalado.edu/about/research-planning/state-authorization/Pages/Agency.aspx); the Arizona SARA Council at azsara.arizona.edu or by email at ldueck.azsara@riosalado.edu; and/or the Higher Learning Commission by telephone at 1-800-621-7440, or email at complaints@hlcommission.org to escalate their concerns.

Contact Rio Salado College

Advisement 480-517-8580, Fax: 480-377-4899
http://learnatrio.com/RL-advisement

Bookstore 480-517-8710 or 1-800-584-8775 Fax: 480-517-8356

The RSC Bookstore does not accept credit cards over the phone. If you want to purchase textbooks with a credit card, including a Citi Prepaid Visa Card, you must either order your books online (http://learnatrio.com/RL-bookstore) or visit the store in person. The bookstore is located in the Conference Center at 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe, AZ 85281. (Major cross streets are Broadway and Priest).

You may also purchase textbooks using the online ordering system.

Cashier's Office 480-517-8334, 480-517-8330, Fax: 480-517-8359

College Safety 480-377-4555 (www.riosalado.edu/about/news-resources/Pages/Safety.aspx)

Computer Labs 480-517-8450 (www.riosalado.edu/locations/Pages/labs.aspx)

Information about Rio Salado College computer labs located throughout the valley. The computer labs are open to registered students and have a variety of software available. Computer courses can also be taken from your home or office if you have the appropriate hardware and software. Some RSC locations have either Knowledge Commons or staff-supported and monitored Computer Labs.

Counseling 480-517-8785 (www.riosalado.edu/counseling)

Counseling for personal concerns that are interfering with your academic success, scholarship information, career planning, job hunting skills, and information or referrals to community services.

Course Support 480-517-8243

Course Support produces and distributes introductory materials such as welcome letters and instruction on how to access their courses to distance learning students and faculty.

Dental Hygiene 480-517-8020 (www.riosalado.edu/programs/dental_hygiene)

The facility is located at 2250 W. 14th St., Tempe, AZ 85281.

Disability Resources & Services 480-517-8562 (www.riosalado.edu/disability_services)

Provides support and services to students with documented disabilities.

Financial Aid Toll-Free: 1-855-622-2332 Fax: 480-377-4702 (http://learnatrio.com/RL-fin_aid)

Grants and scholarships are available to assist eligible students with college expenses. To be eligible for federal financial aid, students must meet application criteria and select a program of study. Applying for financial aid will take at least eight weeks, so begin early!

Grades (www.riosalado.edu/grades)

Honors 480-517-8656 (www.riosalado.edu/honors)

Includes the President's Honor Roll, Phi Theta Kappa, and Honors Program classes with award stipends for eligible students.

Instructional Helpdesk 480-517-8380, Toll Free 1-866-511-8380 (www.riosalado.edu/help/instructional/Pages/default.aspx)

Available to answer questions about your course, help you contact your instructor or your faculty chair, provide Successful Start information, and to help you work through instructional issues that may arise during your course.

Library Services 480-517-8424, Toll Free 1-800-729-1197, Fax 480-517-8449 (http://learnatrio.com/RL-libr)

Library books, DVDs, online databases of magazine and newspaper articles, online encyclopedias, image collections, e-books, reference assistance (phone, in-person, or e-mail).

Registration & Transcripts 480-517-8540, Toll Free 1-800-729-1197, Fax 480-517-8199 (www.riosalado.edu/registration)

Public Safety 480-377-4555

Student Enrollment Services/Student Affairs 480-517-8540 (www.riosalado.edu/current)

Ask for a Student Enrollment Representative to assist with general college information, registration and records information, tuition and fee payment information, transcript requests, pre-requisite approvals, basic course selection, or waivers.

Ask for a Student Enrollment Advisor for assistance with: educational goals and objectives, transcript evaluation, disability services and resources, advisement issues, scholarship and financial aid options, program and admissions information.

Sun Sounds 480-517-8300 http://www.sunsounds.org/

Technology Helpdesk 480-517-8600 http://learnatrio.com/RL-help

Available to help you work through any technological barriers that may come up during your "Online Experience."

Testing 480-517-8560 or Toll Free 1-866-517-8560 http://learnatrio.com/RL-testing

Distance learning midterm/final exams; testing sites, directions, business hours and schedules; exam proctoring for out-of-county students; disability services; placement testing; GED; prior learning assessment; national exams: CLEP, DANTES; degree specific exams.

Testing Information (recorded), 480-517-8558

Tutoring Services 480-517-8247 http://learnatrio.com/RL-tutoring

Tutors help Rio Salado Community College students prepare for tests, learn new concepts, improve study techniques, and answer questions about assignments.

Veteran Affairs 480-517-8153 https://learnatrio.com/RL-military-advisement