SYLLABUS FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE 102

 

American Institutions and History—Instructor: Joseph Chirra

 

Fall 2010 – Class Number 2422 – MW 9:30am – 11:15am – Room OC3104

Fall 2010 – Class Number 2428 – MW 1:30pm – 3:15pm – Room OC3104

 

The texts for this course are:

 

            Government By The People, (23rd  Edition), Magleby et al.    

            California Government and Politics Today, (12th  ed.), Field

            Twentieth-Century America, Thomas C. Reeves

 

Earlier editions of these texts are not suitable for this class. You should not use them.

 

In addition to the assigned texts, each student is required to be aware of current political events. Students will be picked at random each day to provide a current event for analysis and discussion.

 

Quiz hints and other course materials will be published online in a course management program,  i.e.,  Blackboard.    Up to 13% of this course may be offered online.

 

You will be held responsible for the lecture material, any outside or online work you may be assigned, and the material in the assigned readings. All assigned chapters in the texts must be read whether or not a lecture is delivered on them.

 

Course Objectives:

 

My primary objectives in teaching this course are: 1. to instruct students at an academic level which is commensurate with the first two years of higher education; 2. to explore concepts, ideas, and information which will help students better understand some of the important principles in political science; and 3. to help students achieve, among others, these specific learning outcomes:

A. Students will be able to describe the system of checks and balances in American government and evaluate how it affects legislation.

B. Students will be able to identify, compare and contrast the various positions on the ideological spectrum, and apply the core values and beliefs of each position to contemporary political issues.

C.  Students will be able to describe different instruments of US foreign policy, give examples of their use, explain the role of different institutions in crafting foreign policy, describe different explanations for why a particular policy was made, and evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of that policy.

 

How to reach me:

 

            by mail at Mail Station 8B

            by email at jchirra@miracosta.edu

Please visit my home page at http://www.miracosta.edu/home/jchirra/

Evaluative Process

 

There will be fourteen (14) weekly quizzes, each worth twenty-five (25) points. There will be one (1) video quiz worth thirty (30) points during the last week of the semester. There are no make-up quizzes. However, the lowest weekly quiz grade will be dropped.

 

There will be one (1) critical thinking exercise, worth one hundred (100) points. There will be thirteen (13) weekly brief critical thinking writings, worth one hundred thirty (130) points. Evaluation guidelines include (a) my overall view of the quality of the writing; (b) how well you support your conclusions with reasoning; and (c) how little b.s. and redundancy is found in the writing. There are no make-ups on any of the  critical thinking exercises.

 

There will be a comprehensive final exam worth 100 points. There is no make-up final exam. NOTE: The final exam will be given only on the date and time shown in the course schedule. Do not request a different date to take the exam for any reason. If you cannot be present for the final exam, you should not take this course.     There is no extra credit.

 

The maximum number of points is 685 (325 points for the weekly quizzes, 230 points for the critical thinking exercises, 30 points for the video quiz, and 100 points for the final exam). Your final grade is computed by dividing the total points you receive by 685. No extra credit.

 

The grading scale is:

A         100 – 90%

B            89 - 80%

C           79 - 70%

D           69 - 60%

F          below 60%

 

No Extra Credit. None.

 
 

                                    Points               Percent of Grade

 

Quizzes                        355                  52%

Brief Writings               130                  19%

C.T. Exercise               100                  14%

Final Exam                   100                  15%

 

                                    685                  100%
 
 


 

Students seeking an I (incomplete) grade must file a petition with the instructor citing “unforeseeable, emergency, and justifiable” reasons.

 

The department’s course of study (detailing the learning outcomes plus writing/critical thinking expectations for this class) is available at the LRC.

 

Please note: A student with a verified disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations under governing law. Please contact your instructor, or call DSPS at 760-795-6658. When these accommodations necessitate the use of recording of my lectures, please be aware that I retain all rights to my intellectual property and that I require the appropriate acknowledgement form from DSPS to be signed by the student. I make every effort to respect the confidentiality and privacy of all students in these matters.

 

Some thoughts about the study of political science

 

            There is an appalling lack of critical thinking occurring among the electorate, the political pundits, and elected officials themselves. The danger to our democracy cannot be overstated. More than ever, it is important that United States citizens and other students studying American political institutions and history think carefully about our system of government.

            I realize that one semester is a very brief time to assimilate the broad scope of the subject matter at hand. Accordingly, I will make every effort to keep our time together as interesting as possible. Your active participation in class will make my job easier and make your experience more rewarding. My former students will tell you that I encourage student input during class discussions and I particularly encourage students to be forceful in stating their views. Lively debate is a hallmark of a vital society.

            At the same time, unconsidered expression (otherwise known as b.s.) quickly becomes boring. That’s why keeping up with the reading and keeping up with current political events is so important. The assigned readings provide plenty of material to weave articulate arguments on a wide variety of issues. As important, the readings will help you develop the historical perspective that is necessary to understand the political dynamic of our times.

            If you do the work in this class, you will be part of the attentive public for the rest of your life.

 

Some thoughts about the use of laptops in class:     Laptops may NOT be used in class.

 

ASSIGNED READINGS

 

Readings for the week must be completed before the first class of each week.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY and OFFICE HOURS

 

Class begins promptly and I expect every student to attend every hour of every class meeting. Any student may be withdrawn if she or he has missed more than five class hours. I encourage you to visit me during my scheduled office hours to talk about your progress in the class and about any other relevant matters.

 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

 

Any student has the right to a grade of W if a withdrawal is initiated before 75% of the semester has elapsed. State law prohibits giving a W after the 75% point. Students remaining in class beyond that time will receive the grade earned at the end of the course. It is the student’s responsibility to know when the 75% date is.

Any student contemplating withdrawal is strongly encouraged to talk with me first. It may not be as bad as you think.

I reserve the right to initiate the withdrawal of any student at any time for dishonesty, misconduct, rudeness, class disruption, or poor attendance pursuant to the stated attendance policy. Further, I reserve the right to assign a grade other than a W if the withdrawal is initiated for any of these reasons.

 

Semester Schedule – Fall 2010

 

WEEK

NUMBER

WEEK

    OF

 

MAGLEBY

(M)

REEVES

(R)

FIELD

(F)

Writing
Opp. No.

WEEKLY

QUIZ

QUIZ
TOPICS

OFFICE

HOUR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      1

8-23

 

1 & FP#10 &

 Dec. of Ind.

 

 

Critical Thinking

Assignment is on

BlackBoard

 

 

Location: T430

Associate Faculty

Office

      2

8-30

 

2 & F.P. #51

& #78 & Const.

1

1

 

1

M1 etc.

plus lecture

 

      3

9-6

Wed only

 

3

2

2

1

2

M2R1F1 etc.
 plus lecture

Wednesday

Office Hours

11:30am-1:30pm

      4

9-13

 

4 and 5

 

3

 

3

 

2

3

M3R2F2
plus lecture

 

Monday

Office Hours

11:30am-1:30pm

      5

9-20

 

6

Critical

4

Thinking

4

Draft

3

Due

4

Wed 9-22

M4andM5R3F3
plus lecture

 

Monday

Office Hours

11:30am-1:30pm

      6

9-27

 

7

5

5

4

5

M6R4F4
plus lecture

Monday

Office Hours

11:30am-1:30pm

      7

10-4

 

8

6

6

5

6

M7R5F5
plus lecture

Monday

Office Hours

11:30am-1:30pm

      8

10-11

 

9 and 10

7
 

7

 

6

7

M8R6F6
plus lecture

Monday

Office Hours

11:30am-1:30pm

      9

10-18

 

11
 Critical

8 and 9

Thinking

8 and 9

Paper

7

Due

8

Wed 10-20

M9andM10R7F7

plus lecture

Monday

Office Hours

11:30am-1:30pm

     10

10-25

 

12 and 13

 

10

 

10

 

8

 

9

 

M11R8,9F8,9
plus lecture

Monday

Office Hours

11:30am-1:30pm

     11

11-1

 

14

11

11

9

10

M12,13R10F10
plus lecture

 

     12

11-8

 

15

 

12

12

10

 

11

M14R11F11
plus lecture

 

     13

11-15

 

16

13

13

11

12

M15R12F12
plus lecture

 

     14

11-22

 

17 and 18

14

14

12

13

M16R13F13
plus lecture

 

     15

11-29

 

19 and 20

15

15

13

 

14

M17,18R14F14
plus lecture

 

     16

 

12-6

 

Lecture and
Video

 

 

 

 

Video Quiz

 

 

12-13

 

     FINAL

EXAM

  for

AM

SECTION

 

Mon DEC 13

9:30 A.M.

 

 

12-15

     FINAL

EXAM

  for

PM

SECTION

 

Wed DEC 15

1:00 P.M.