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.
- The background, principles and values of the US Constitution and national government (1-6, 17)
- The legislative branch: representing the people in the US national government. (7-9)
- The executive branch of the US national government: carrying out the laws of Congress and mandates of the people (10-13)
- The judicial branch of the US national government: interpreting and applying the law of the land (14-16)
- The constitutional civil rights and civil liberties given to the people to protect them from their government and other people. (18)
- 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.
- 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first assignment and have not made alternative arrangements with the instructor by the end of the second week will be withdrawn.
- Prior to the course midpoint, students who are inactive in the course for any two consecutive weeks will be withdrawn.
- Students who pass the midpoint of the class and do not complete the course will receive a failing grade.
- Students who are inactive in the course for any two consecutive weeks after the course midpoint will receive a failing grade.
Written Assignment Expectations
- We expect every student to produce his/her original, independent work for these assignments or a grade of 0 points will be given.
- 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.
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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. Unless approved by the instructor, 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