POLI 105

Web-Based

American National Government



Dr. L. T. Farley

Fall 2008


This course will introduce the student to the issues and theoretical frameworks that are central to understanding American government today.

Note: This course satisfies the General Education requirement for Government/Economics.

Visit Dr. Farley's homepage at http://www.lhup.edu/lfarley/home.htm

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the major concepts needed to describe and explain the role and function of American governments.

2. Discuss the role of democracy as the defining concept of our era.

3. Trace the problems inherent in the measurement of the will of the people through elections.

4. Identify the functions of the principal institutions of American government..

Students will:

Complete reading assignments from a range of sources.

Participate in discussions and group activities.

Write papers based upon original research.

Take two quizzes, a mid-term and a final exam.

 

COURSE MATERIALS

Required Reading:

David B. Magleby, David M. O'Brien, Paul C. Light, James Mac Gregor Burns, Jack W. Peltason, Thomas E. Cronin, Government by the People-Basic Version 21st Edition   ISBN: 0-13-192158-4  --  Order from LHU Bookstore (they will mail) or from online vendors.
or
Burns, Peltason, et. al. Government by the People--Basic Version 20th Edition (although the 19th Edition is acceptable) Order from online vendors.


Recommended Readings:
Ehrlichman, J. The China Card
Hoffer, E. The Ordeal of Change
Hofstadter, R. The American Political Tradition
White, T. The Making of the President 1960

Netiquette
The same rules apply online as they do in person.  Be respectful of other students.  Foul discourse will not be tolerated.  Please take a moment and read the following link concerning "netiquette".

http://www.albion.com/netiquette/
 

GRADING
Your final grade will be computed on the following basis:

Participation in the Threaded Discussions 15%
Quizzes 10%
Mid-Term Test 15%
Final Test 25%
Vote Smart Project 10%
ConCon 10%
Court House Project 10%
At the Professor's Discretion 5%

Note: All assignments and exercises must be satisfactorily completed to pass the course.

Spelling and Grammar:  College-level spelling and grammar are required in all work done for this course--including all assignments, email messages, and thread postings.   Repeated violation of this rather obvious rule will attract an "E" grade for the semester. 

ACADEMIC HONESTY

All students must always submit work that represents his or her original work, words, or ideas. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent origination from an individual student, the student must cite all relevant sources. The student should also document the extent to which such sources were used. Words or ideas that require citation include, but are not limited to, all hardcopies or electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an identifiable source. In an online course all submissions fall within the scope of words and ideas that require citations if used by someone other than the original author.

Academic dishonesty in an Online learning environment could involve:

  • Having a tutor or friend complete a portion of your assignments
  • Having a reviewer make extensive revisions to an assignment
  • Copying work submitted by another student to a public class meeting
  • Using information from online information services without proper citation

Failure to respect the intellectual property rights of other people will result in an automatic failing grade for the semester and in possible permanent dismissal from the University. Learn from other people! Build upon what they have learned! But don't steal from them!

Plagiarism Detection:
At the instructor's discretion, work presented in this course is subject to verification of originality, using the following service: www.turnitin.com.

The LHUP rules regarding classroom behavior apply to this course.  To see the rules go to http://www.lhup.edu/provost/Classroom%20Behavior.doc

Materials used in association with this course may be subject to copyright protection.

Here is a link to the LHU Library website:  http://www.lhup.edu/library/

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week of

August 25 Introduction to Course
Required Readings: Burns, Part 1 begin; examine the "Politics" and "Political Legitimacy" PP Lectures 

September 1  Required Readings: Burns, Part 1 continue; Basic Concepts 1 start; First Threaded Discussion opens

September 8  Required Readings: Basic Concepts 1 continue; examine the "Federal Unitary" and the "Absolute Constitutional" PP Lectures

September 15 Start Court House Research Project; examine "Power" and "Secular v. Nonsecular" PP Lectures
Required Readings: Burns, Part 1 finish; Second Threaded Discussion opens 

September 22  Quiz

September 29 Required Readings: Basic Concepts 2 start; Ideologies PP lectures

October 6 Required Readings: Basic Concepts 2 finish; Burns, Part 2 begin; Start Vote Smart Project; examine the "Head of State - Head of Government" and the "Democracy" PP Lectures; Review for Mid-Term Exam

October 13  Mid-Term Exam
Required Readings: Burns, Part 2 finish 


October 20 Required Readings: Burns, Part 3 begin; Third Threaded Discussion opens; examine the "Elections" and the "Gerrymander" PP Lectures 

October 27 Projects Work Week; re-examine "Ideologies 1," "Ideologies 2," and "Ideologies 3" PP Lectures 

November 3  Second quiz; Required Readings: Burns, Part 3 finish; Fourth Threaded Discussion opens 

November 10 ConCon Preparatory 
Required Readings: Burns, Part 4 start

November 17 ConCon begins
Required Readings: Burns, Part 4 finish; ConCon agenda and other ConCon materials

Courthouse and Vote-Smart Projects due no later than December 1

November 24 ConCon continues and concludes

December 1 Review for Final Exam

Final Exam