SYLLABUS – PSCI 180 - American Government (ONLINE VERSION)

Please read the entire Syllabus and each link under this Syllabus (Course Outline, Grading Policies and Succeeding in This Course). Make sure you understand your responsibilities. Not reading each of these documents cannot be used as an excuse later on in the class or after final grades have been submitted.

Instructor: Margot Bowlby

Email: Use the Message link inside of our Blackboard course. This is an internal email system and keeps all of our emails within our class. You should check this often. My Announcements will be posted on our Homepage and also sent to your official college email address. For some, you may have this set to your smart phone as well. Do not respond to these external emails. They are announcements only. Please do not email use my external email at gwc.cccd.edu. Again, use the Message link INSIDE of our class. (Note: You may use the Student Forum inside the Discussion Board and ask a student if it’s a general question.)

Office Hours: Online using the Message link.

Course Materials: This course does not use a traditional textbook. Required Material - 1) The American Government ONLINE video lecture series 3rd edition published by Thinkwell publishing. You can purchase the required material through the Golden West Bookstore or go directly to www.thinkwell.com. You will be purchasing the subscription/access code ONLY as everything will made available to you (transcripts similar to an e-book, outlined notes, video lectures, and practice exercises/quizzes, etc) once you gain access to the Thinkwell American Government website. 2) Political news/media outlets. These may be online, print or television news outlets. It is highly recommended that you access DIFFERENT outlets with different political perspectives.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The successful student will be able to:

1. Identify the three branches of the national government and the constitutional powers which each branch is endowed with;

2. Examine the rights and liberties of individuals as articulated in the U.S. Constitution and federal court decisions;

3. Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues and operations in American government and politic.

Course Description:

This course examines the American political system. Topics include an examination of the history, constitutional framework, institutions, and functions of the American and California political systems and the principles, processes and issues that affect them. Additionally, this course will discuss current issues, examine the decision-making process and how these decisions affect society. This course satisfies the CSU requirement on the Constitution of the

United States and local government.UC Credit Limitations: Political Science G180 and G180H combined--maximum credit, one.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify and evaluate political institutions and processes structures at the national, state and local levels

2. Analyze the role of the American political culture, diversity and ideology in shaping public opinion

3. Explain the founding and development of the U.S. Constitution

4. Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues and operations in American government and politics

5. Examine the rights and liberties of individuals as articulated in the U.S. Constitution and federal court decisions

6. Describe California government and politics

Student Responsibilities

• Students must obtain the required course materials. • Students must complete the reading assignments, watch video lectures and

complete assignments including the quizzes, final exam and interactive assignments..

• Students must have access to a reliable computer and internet provider. GWC provides access to those enrolled students who do not have a home computer/labtop.

• Students must have access to Microsoft Word and PowerPoint software. • Students should also have basic computer skills and an understanding of how to

navigate through Blackboard Learn. Student Tutorials are available at www.onlinegwc.org. Students new to online and/or the Blackboard Learn environment are strongly encouraged to watch these short video tutorials. There is also a link on the left "Bb Help for Students". Your instructor will not be able to teach you the basics of Blackboard Learn. At www.onlinegwc.org, you may also click on HELP if you have trouble logging onto Blackboard Learn or for other technical assistance, but this helpdesk is not a tutorial center!

• Students MUST read through all of the Course Information, clicking on each link, to understand how this course is set-up and what their responsibilities are as students in this class.

Add/Drop and Withdraw Policy - Students must consult with their department regarding add/drop deadlines. As all interaction in this course is tracked, No-Shows are based on students who never access the course and will be dropped by the instructor prior to census. If you have accessed this course, it will be YOUR responsibility to withdraw from this class. The new withdraw policy requires that you withdraw before census (prior to the end of week one in an eight week class or week two in a sixteen week class). If you withdraw after the census date, it will be counted in the new Three Strikes rule. The Three Strikes rule only allows you to attempt this class 3 times. A “W” and/or a failing grade each count as an attempt!

Students requiring special accommodations - Students with verified disabilities requiring accommodation should make a specific request of the instructor in a timely manner, preferably at the beginning of the semester and at least one week prior to the identified need. There is both an ACE Midterm and ACE Final Exam. You must request permission to take these exams through the ACE Department. See: ACE’s Student Handbook @ http://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/ace/pdf/FinalACEHandbook.pdf

Please access additional pertinent information specific to this class in Grading Policies, Course Outline and Succeeding in this Course links.

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICIES:

This course adheres to the rules established by Golden West College Academic Senate. I take this very seriously. Any student thought to be cheating on any assignment, quiz and/or exam or who plagiarizes will receive ZERO points for that particular assignment and/or quiz/exam. If a second violation occurs, the student will FAIL this class.

VIOLATIONS OF ACADEMIC HONESTY

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Cheating

1. Obtaining information from another student during an examination.

2. Communicating information to another student during an examination.

3. Knowingly allowing another student to copy one’s work.

4. Offering another person’s work as one’s own.

5. Taking an examination for another student or having someone take an examination for oneself.

6. Sharing answers for a take-home examination unless specifically authorized by the instructor.

7. Using unauthorized material during an examination.

8. Altering a graded examination or assignment and returning it for additional credit.

9. Having another person or a company do the research and/or writing of an assigned paper or report.

10. Misreporting or altering the data in laboratory or research projects.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is to present as one’s own the ideas, words, or creative product of another. Credit must be given to the source for direct quotations, paraphrases, ideas, and facts which are not common knowledge.

Stephen Wilhoit’s article titled "Helping Students Avoid Plagiarism" in College Teaching (Fall 1994, pages161-164) lists the following types of plagiarism:

Buying a paper for a research service or term paper mill.

Turning in another student's work without that student's knowledge.

Turning in a paper a peer has written for the student.

Copying a paper from a source text without proper acknowledgment.

Copying materials from a source text, supplying proper documentation, but leaving out quotation marks.

Paraphrasing materials from a source text without appropriate documentation.

And, now with the Internet, we need to add another type of plagiarism:

Turning in a paper from a "free term paper" website.

I recommend the Purdue Owl website for information on paraphrasing, proper in-text citation and creating a Works Cited page.

All interactive assignments are run through SafeAssign. This program will report on any and all elements of an assignment that are plagiarized.

Other Dishonest Conduct

• Stealing or attempting to steal an examination or answer key.

• Stealing or attempting to change official academic records.

• Forging or altering grade change cards.

• Submitting all or part of the same work for credit in more than one course without consulting all instructors involved.

• Intentionally impairing the performance of other students and/or a faculty member, for example, by adulterating laboratory samples or reagents, by altering musical or athletic equipment, or by creating a distraction meant to impair performance.

• Forging or altering attendance records. Collusion occurs when any student knowingly or intentionally helps another student perform an act of academic dishonesty.

Collusion

Collusion occurs when any student knowingly or intentionally helps another student perform an act of academic dishonesty. Collusion in an act of academic dishonesty will be disciplined in the same manner as the act itself.

Note: Students are not allowed to collaborate when taking the quizzes or exams

Academic Honesty Policy - Responsibilities

Golden West College has the responsibility to ensure that grades assigned are indicative of the knowledge and skill level of each student. Acts of academic dishonesty make it impossible to fulfill this responsibility, and they weaken our society. Faculty, students, administrators, and classified staff share responsibility for ensuring academic honesty in our college community and will make a concerted effort to fulfill the following responsibilities.

Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty have a responsibility to ensure that academic honesty is maintained in their classroom. In the absence of academic honesty it is impossible to assign accurate grades and to ensure that honest students are not at a competitive disadvantage. Faculty members are expected to:

1. Explain the meaning of academic honesty to their students.

2. Conduct their classes in a way that makes cheating, plagiarism and other dishonest conduct nearly impossible.

3. Confront students suspected of academic dishonesty and take appropriate disciplinary action in a timely manner (see “Procedures for Dealing with Academic Dishonesty” which follow).

Student Responsibilities

Students share the responsibility for maintaining academic honesty. Students are expected to:

1. Refrain from acts of academic dishonesty (as outlined above).

2. Refuse to aid or abet any form of academic dishonesty.

3. Notify instructors and/or appropriate administrators about observed incidents of academic dishonesty.

Administration Responsibilities

1. Disseminate the academic honesty policy and the philosophical principles upon which it is based to faculty, students, and staff.

2. Provide facilities, class enrollments, and/or support personnel which make it practical for faculty and students to make cheating, plagiarism and other dishonest conduct nearly impossible.

3. Support faculty and students in their efforts to maintain academic honesty.

Classified Staff Responsibilities

1. Support faculty, students, and administration in their efforts to make cheating, plagiarism and other dishonest conduct nearly impossible.

2. Notify instructors and/or appropriate administrators about observed incidents of academic dishonesty.

PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH VIOLATIONS OF ACADEMIC HONESTY

Action by the Instructor

1. An instructor who has evidence that an act of academic dishonesty has occurred shall, after speaking with the student, take one or more of the following disciplinary actions:

• Issue an oral reprimand (for example, in cases where there is reasonable doubt that the student knew that the action violated the standards of academic honesty).

• Give the student an “F” grade, zero points, this is my policy, or a reduced number of points on all or part of a particular paper, project, or examination (for example, for a first time occurrence of a relatively minor nature).

• Assign an “F” for the course (for example, in cases where the dishonesty is more serious, premeditated, or a repeat offense).

2. For any incident of academic dishonesty which is sufficiently serious for the instructor to take disciplinary action which can lower the student’s grade (for example, an “F” given for all or part of an assignment), the instructor shall report the incident to the Vice President of Student Services on an “Academic Dishonesty Report” form.

NOTE: A grade of “F” assigned to a student for academic dishonesty is final and shall be placed on the transcript. If the student withdraws from the course, a “W” will not replace an “F” assigned for academic dishonesty. Academic disciplinary actions taken by the instructor based on alleged cheating may be appealed as specified in the College’s Instructional Grievance Policy.

Action by the Administration

Upon receipt of the first “Academic Dishonesty Report” form concerning a student, the Vice President of Student Services shall send a letter of reprimand to the student which will inform the student that:

• He/she will be on academic disciplinary probation for the remainder of his/her career at Golden West College.

• Another incident of academic dishonesty reported by any instructor shall result in a one year suspension from the College.

Upon receipt of a second reported incident of cheating by the student, the Vice President of Student Services shall suspend the student for one calendar year (two full semesters and one summer session). For more serious incidents of academic dishonesty the student shall be suspended from the College on the first offense for one calendar year. Offenses warranting suspension on the first offense include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Taking an examination for another student or having someone take an examination for oneself.

• Altering a graded examination or assignment and returning it for additional credit.

• Having another person or a company do the research and/or writing of an assigned paper or report.

• Stealing or attempting to steal an examination or answer key.

• Stealing or attempting to change official academic records.

• Forging or altering grades.

If, after a student returns from a suspension for Academic Dishonesty, the Vice President of Student Services receives yet another “Academic Dishonesty Report” form, he/she shall recommend to the Coast Community College District Board of Trustees that the student be expelled from the District.

NOTE: Disciplinary actions taken by the Vice President of Student Services based on alleged cheating may be appealed as specified in the College’s Disciplinary Grievance Policy.

Portions adapted from the academic honesty policies of University of California Irvine, Cypress College, and California State University Long Beach as published in their catalogs.

Website: http://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/admissions/honesty.html

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

http://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/admissions/codeofconduct.html

Public Safety Contact Information:

24 Hour Phone: (714) 895-8924 Emergency Numbers: (714) 895-8999 or Dial 911 Website: http://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/publicsafety/

Copyright Notice: This course website may contain copyrighted materials that are used in compliance with U.S. Copyright Law. Under that law, materials may not be saved to your computer, revised, copied, or distributed without permission. They are to be used in support of instructional activity as part of this course only and shall be limited to the duration of the course, unless otherwise specified by the instructor or owner of the material. You may only download to print materials at the direction of your instructor, who knows which materials are copyrighted and which are not.

Course Outline with Due Dates The following are due dates for the Interactive Assignment, Quizzes, and Final Exam. The due dates are based on Pacific Standard Time and submissions must be received by 11:59 PM on the due date. Please read Grading Policies and Succeeding in the Course for additional information concerning the Interactive Assignment, Quizzes and Final Exam.

PRINT THESE OUT. REFER TO THESE OFTEN. No additional Announcements or Reminders will be posted.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS, QUIZZES OR EXAM ARE GENERALLY NOT ACCEPTED. Not having the required material is not an accepted excuse. (See Late Policy Below)

DUE DATES Introductions – January 29th

MODULE 1

Quiz #1 - opened for 24 hours* on Sunday, February 9th (example: Opens at Midnight on Sunday and closes at 11:55 PM on Sunday.)

MODULE 2

Quiz #2 - opened for 24 hours* on Sunday, February 23rd

MODULE 3

Quiz #3 - opened for 24 hours* on Sunday, March 9th

MODULE 4

Quiz #4 - opened for 24 hours* on Sunday, March 23rd

Interactive Assignment - due Sunday, April 6th (Noon for initial post, 11:59 PM for responses)

MODULE 5

Quiz #5 - opened for 24 hours* on Sunday, April 20th

MODULE 6

Quiz #6 - opened for 24 hours* on Sunday, May 4th

FINAL EXAM – Opened for 48 hours* on Saturday, May 17th through Sunday May 18th

*Open time is 12:00 AM (Midnight); close time is 11:59 PM.

DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Each Module’s readings will take a significant amount of time to complete.

LATE Interactive Assignments, Quizzes and Final Exams ARE NOT ACCEPTED WITHOUT A DOCUMENTED EXCUSE

1. Lateness/Absences will be considered excused in documented cases of medical illness, death in the immediate family, court appearances, military leave, and in those instances when the student is officially representing the College off-campus. If there is a problem with Blackboard, I will be notified and this will be accepted as an exception to the late policy. If a student knows that s/he will miss an interactive assignment, quiz or final exam with an excused absence, please inform me, your professor, as soon as possible.

2. Lateness/Absences will be considered unexcused when the student does not submit a quiz or Final Exam or post his/her interactive assignment on time and does not offer a justifiable and documented excuse for his/her absence. Work, family obligations, vacation, etc are not accepted as excuses. Not having access to the Thinkwell material is NOT accepted as an excuse. Not having access to a reliable computer and/or internet access is NOT accepted as an excuse. Golden West provides free use of computers, as do many other locations (local libraries, etc). There is no credit for unexcused late quizzes, assignments or Final Exam.

NOTE: The quizzes and Final Exam are timed and may only be accessed ONE time. Any computer failure not related to an official problem noted by the Online Instruction team (www.onlinegwc.org) is NOT excused. That means that you must have a reliable computer and reliable internet access while taking these quizzes and/or final exam. If you get “locked-out” during a quiz or the Final Exam, you will not be allowed to re-access it without documentation from GWC's Online Instruction team.