*COUSE SYLLABUS

ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGEDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences

POS 2041-1868-—American Government (3 credits)Fall 2018 (August 13—December 7)

Mondays & Wednesdays 9:30a.m.—10:45a.m.Classroom: SE-LI 119

Instructor: Bledar Prifti, Ph.D.Office: UP 240AOffice Hours: MW from 11:00a.m to 01:30p.m.

T/R from 10:00a.m. to 12:30p.m.Online at any time by appointment

Office Phone: 727-394-6273Contact: ONLY via myCourses e-mail

Administration1. Dr. Joseph Smiley, Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Office Location: Tarpon Springs Campus, PS 105 Office Phone: 727-712-5851

2. Dr. Douglas Rivero, Academic Department ChairOffice Location: Seminole Campus, UP 337-FOffice Phone: 727-394-6948

Welcome to American Government!

COURSE PREREQUISITESENC 0025 and REA 0017; orEAP 1695; orAppropriate score on the SPC placement test

COURSE DESCRIPTIONThis course is designed to give the student an understanding of the organization, structure and func-tions of the national government. You will gain knowledge of the historical events that led to the de-velopment of this unique form of government. You will gain an understanding of the interplay between the executive, legislative and judicial branches and the impact of their decisions on our daily lives. In the process of gaining an understanding of the structure of your government, you will be introduced to your civil liberties and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. You will gain an appreciation of the

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need for government, the various forms of government that exist in the world and how their actions im-pact the global community.

MAJOR LEARNING OUTCOMESUpon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Explain the purpose and types of government 2. Identify the importance of political ideologies3. Describe foundations and main features of the American federal system 4. Identify the rights and responsibilities that all individuals are subject to in America5. Explain the role of individuals and interest groups in American politics 6. Analyze the importance of campaign and elections7. Describe the historic development of the two-party system in America8. Explain the separation of powers and checks and balances system

COURSE OBJECTIVES IN PERFORMANCE TERMS1. The students will explain the purpose and types of government by:

a. discussing various functions of governmentb. identifying major goods and services provided by governmentc. explaining the differences between republic, democracy, theocracy, anarchy, oligarchy,

aristocracy, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism2. The students will identify the importance of political ideologies by:

a. assessing the role of ideology in dictating our view of the government and its rights and responsibilities

b. explaining the main principles of liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, and socialism 3. The students will describe foundations and main features of the American federal system by:

a. examining the impact of the Mayflower compact on American political theoryb. explaining the form of government under the Articles of Confederation and its major

weaknessesc. analyzing the process of creating, ratifying, and amending the U.S. Constitutiond. defining federalism and describing how it has evolved over the years.

4. The students will identify the rights and responsibilities that all individuals are subject to in America by:

a. analyzing the purpose of the Bill of Rights and the importance each of its amendments.b. explaining how the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is used to selec-

tively incorporate liberties in the Bill of Rights. 5. The students will explain the role of individuals and interest groups in American politics by:

a. describing individual participation in various movements to secure civil rights and liber-ties.

b. identifying various interest groups and their impact on American politicsc. describing the process of how interest groups impact politics and political decision-

making process.d. analyzing and critiquing lobbying

6. The students will analyze the importance of campaign and elections by:a. explaining political socialization and listing the agents/factors of political socializationb. identifying the main requirements to run for various offices c. describing primary elections and general electionsd. analyzing the role of the media during election campaign

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7. The students will describe the historic development of the two-party system in America by:a. explaining the birth of federalist and anti-federalist partiesb. analyzing major events that led to the transformation of the two partiesc. identifying the structure of the two modern political partiesd. analyzing of ideological bases of the Republican Party and Democratic Party today

8. The students will explain the separation of powers and checks and balances system by:1. identifying the structure of the Congress2. analyzing the many functions and powers of the Congress3. describing the many roles and powers of the President4. defining the court system and the powers of the Court5. analyzing how each branch of the government checks and balances the other two

branches.

CRITERIA PERFORMANCE STANDARDUpon successful completion of this course, the student will demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures as described below.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK/RESOURCES O’Connor, Karen, and J Sabato. 2018. American Government and Politics Today: Roots

and Reform, 13th ed. New York, NY: Pearson. ISBN: ISBN-9780134648743 This course requires students to conduct additional research to complete particular assignments. Given the subject matter of this course, I expect you to be familiar with current events related

to the U.S. government. You should regularly read a quality national newspaper, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Tampa Bay Times, USA To-day, or similar newspapers. They are available online, free of charge.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS Students are expected to keep up with the reading and the corresponding assignments. This includes completing the assigned readings, reviewing the chapter notes, completing chapter and/or unit assign-ments, completing exams, and the research paper.

Writing RequirementsPOS 2041 is a Gordon Rule class, so there is a substantial writing requirement of a minimum of 2000 words. To satisfy this requirement, you will write a research paper of at least 1200 words and complete unit assignments online.

Important ALL assignments/exams completed through mycCourses must be submitted or completed

within the assignment folder/dropbox. o See each assignment folder/dropbox for additional requirements.

Do NOT email your assignments or other files to the instructor! Emailed assignments will NOT be accepted or graded. 

ONLY students with documented emergencies/accommodations will be allowed late submis-sions.

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Technical Issues If you experience a technical problem and it impedes your ability to submit the assignment/

exam properly, it must be documented and verified by the SPC technology helpdesk 727-341-HELP (727-341-4357). http://web.spcollege.edu/helpdesk/

Make sure to save a copy of all your work outside of myCourses BEFORE you submit it. SAVE A COPY OF ALL WORK SUBMITTED IN THIS COURSE. It is a good idea to save while you are working in case of technical problems.

APA Writing Format/Style You must use the APA citation style for all writing assignments in this course. You can access APA citation style handouts online through the SPC library online Web site. For information on the APA citation style, see the following link: http://spcollege.libguides.-

com/c.php?g=254132&p=1694864

Turnitin StatementAll course assignment will go through Turnitin.com. This tool/software is used to promote learning and flag similarity and mechanical issues in written work that merit review. Use of the service enables stu-dents and faculty to identify areas that can be strengthened through improved paraphrasing, integration of sources, or proper citation. Submitted assignments remain as source documents in the Turnitin data-base solely for the purpose of detecting originality. Students retain full copyright to their works. The Turnitin Usage Agreement can be reviewed at https://turnitin.com/agreement.aspp?.

IMPORTANT DUE DATES September 9, 2018 Unit I Exam (online) October 8, 2018 Unit II Exam (online) October 16, 2018 Due Date for the Civic Engagement/Awareness Part 1 October 24, 2018 Unit III Exam (online) November 27, 2018 Unit IV Exam (online) November 27, 2018 Due Date for the Civic Engagement/Awareness Part 2 December 3, 2018 Final Exam (In-class, LI119, from 10 to 11:50a.m.)

ASSESSMENTYour course grade will be determined by a combination of points earned for attending class meetings, making a class presentation, and completing a civic engagement project, four unit exams, eight chapter assignments, and a final exam.

Class Attendance (80 points)Class attendance and participation is crucial to your success in this course. You are expected to attend class in its entirety. A student who is late to class or leaves early by 15 minutes or more is considered absent. Each student is permitted four (4) unexcused absences. Any additional absence that is not a documented emergency will be penalized by ten (10) points. Thus, missing more than four meetings will significantly affect your final grade. If you will need to miss class due to observance of a religious holiday, you must notify the instructor, in writing, by the second week of classes.

The relationship between number of classes missed and the number of points deducted from the 80 points for class attendance is as follows:

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Missed Classes Points deducted

5 106 207 308 409 5010 6011 7012+ 80

Civic Engagement/Awareness Project (100 points)In this course, you are also required to perform a civic engagement or awareness research project, depending on your choice. This assignment is also listed in the main lessons section of the course site. Overall, the goal is for you, the student, to become more socially and civically connected to the needs of your community and to promote the importance of community engagement and community service.

Civic engagement leads to higher social capital, which is the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively. Scientific stud-ies show that civic participation affects not just individuals, but entire communities. Neighborhoods with higher levels of civic participation have a greater sense of community, lower levels of crime, and citizens who are healthier and happier. States and countries with greater proportions of civically en-gaged citizens have lower rates of disease, mental illness, and suicide. They, too, have lower crime rates, as well as having greater economic prosperity, better-educated children, and more effective gov-ernments.

NOTE: This assignment is divided into two parts. Each part is worth 50 points.

Part 1 (50 Points) Select one of the two options below!

The Civic Engagement OptionFor this option, you are required to volunteer at a local non-profit organization or interest group that serves your community. Volunteer work at animal shelters does not qualify.

Part 1 Requirements: Provide a summary paragraph of your volunteer work in at least 200 words.

o The paragraph should specifically describe the organization that you volunteered for. It should also discuss some reasons as to why civic engagement is important. Support this paragraph with one to two academic sources in proper APA citation format. 

Complete five hours of volunteer work at a non-profit organization or interest group that pro-vides help to the people in need in your community. 

o Contact the organization of your choice and set up a meeting with the administrator in charge of handling volunteer management. (This can be completed over the phone for convenience);

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Provide signed SPC Release of Liability Form and the Log of Volunteer Hours form. Click on the hypertext links for each document.

o The Log of Hours form should include location, date/time, type of volunteer work, and name, official contact information and signature of the person who supervised your volunteer work.

Scan and Upload both documents in the assignment dropbox together with the summary para-graph in order to receive credits.

Complete the Engage for Change Survey: https://web.spcollege.edu/survey/9589 Failure to submit/complete any of the aforementioned documents will result in no credit being

given for the assignment.

The Civic Awareness OptionFor this option, you are required to write a research paper about a non-profit organization or interest group that serves your community. 

Part 1 Requirements An introductory paragraph in at least 200 words, introducing the non-profit organization

that you plan to conduct research about. o The penalty for not following this requirement may vary from 10 to 20 points.

An outline, which is the structure of a paper/essay that you usually write after brainstorming. See the following video for information on how to write an outline. https://youtu.be/_HVFdYzGihA

o The penalty for not following this requirement may vary from 10 to 20 points. An annotated bibliography with at least five sources, which is a list of references plus the

annotation for each, explaining what the article is about and how it will be used in the research paper. See the following video for information on how to write an annotated bibliogra-phy. https://youtu.be/R0Hsnx0l1q4

o The penalty for not following this requirement may vary from 10 to 30 points. TurnItIn similarity report below 30%. Revise and resubmit assignment within due dates if it

is necessary. Click on the following hyperlink to learn how to retrieve the report Retrieving Turnitin Originality Reports in MyCourses Student Tutorial

o The penalty for not following this requirement may vary from 10 to 30 points.

Part 1 Due Date Part 1 of the Civic Engagement/Awareness project is due on October 21st, 2018.

o Do not e-mail your assignment/documents! E-mailed assignments will not be consid-ered for grading.

____________________________________________________________________________

Part 2 (50 Points)You must complete Part 1 of the assignment in order to receive credit for Part 2.

The Civic Engagement OptionIn this part, you are required to submit a reflection paper on you civic engagement volunteer work. 

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Reflection Paper Requirements:

Your civic engagement final paper should be in at least 1000 words.o The penalty for not following the length requirement will range from 20% to 50%.

Describe the vision and mission of the organization you volunteered for. Describe the presenting issue facing the community. What did you learn about the specific community or societal concern? What kinds of leadership and civic engagement did you witness? Did you learn anything new about yourself after the experience? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this organization? Find 2 articles/sources (from Lib Page below) that discuss the significance and/or impact of

civic/community engagement OR interest groups on the surrounding community Summarize the findings of the articles Answer the following question:

o In your view, what is the most important aspect of civic engagement & what would you do to promote civic engagement to your friends & family?

Project Format

The length of your response paper must be of no less than 1000 words, excluding the title, ab-stract, and reference page(s).

Your project must be in double-spaced pages in a Microsoft Word Format, 12 font size, and 1(one) inch margins.

The project must be written in the APA Writing format.o Use the SPC Library APA Citation Assistance page for help with APA formatting.o The penalty for not following the APA writing format will range from 10% to

50%.

Research Project Support Links POS2041 American National Government Lib Page  (for your research) SPC Library APA Citation Assistance page SPC Writing Studio Information

The Civic Awareness OptionFor Part 2 of this option, you are required to submit the complete paper and follow the require-ments below.

Be in at least 1500 words, excluding the cover page, abstract, and reference page. Annotated bibliography is not required in this part.

Discuss the mission, vision, objectives, and the legal foundation of the organization. Discuss the objectives and achievements/contribution of the organization in the community. Be

as specific as possible. Use at least 8 (eight) independent references of information from reputable sources, prefer-

ably from .org and .gov Web sites.  o Several pages from the same website will count only as one (1) reference

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Be in the APA writing format, including a cover page, abstract, in-text citations, and refer-ence page

Part 2 Due Date Part 2 of the Civic Engagement/Awareness project is due on November 27th, 2018.

Do not e-mail your documents and reflection paper! E-mailed materials will not be con-sidered for grading.

Grading

Look over the aforementioned assignment requirements and the Civic Engagement/Awareness Project Grading Rubric to understand how you will be scored.

Submission and Turnitin.com The Dropboxes utilize Turnitin.com to help detect plagiarism. If you experience a technical problem and it impedes your ability to submit the assignment/

exam properly, it must be documented and verified by the SPC technology helpdesk (727) 341-HELP. In addition, you must contact me before the due date/time to let me know if you have a technical problem.

Make sure to save a copy of all your work outside of MyCourses. It is a good idea to fre-quently save your work in case of technical problems.

You must submit the paper in Word (.doc or .docx), .rtf or .pdf document format.

Quizzes (80 points)There will be a total of eight quizzes throughout the semester, each worth ten (10) points. See the rele-vant modules and the schedule of assignments in MyCourses for information on due dates. All quizzes are scheduled to be taken online in MyCourses.

Unit Exams (400 points) There will be four (4) unit exams in this course. All exams will be taken online. You will have at least a week to complete all of the attempts on

each exam. Each exam will have 50 questions and will be worth up to 100 points. See the Course Schedule below and each unit module in MyCourse for information on exams

availability and due dates.

Final Exam (100 points) You are required to take the final exam, and it is worth 100 points toward your final grade. The exam will incorporate fifty multiple-choice questions from Chapters 2-7 and 9-12. The exam will be taken in class on December 3 in LI 119 from 10 to 11:50a.m..

Chapter Assignments (240 points) Within each unit module, there are two chapters that contain graded assignments.

o There are a total of eight of these assignments in the course, each worth 30 points.

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Once complete, students must submit their assignment within the folder by the due date listed on the course calendar.

Do not email your assignments! Emailed assignments will not be considered for grading.

GRADING WEIGHT AND SCALEThe grading weight and scale for this class are as follow:

Grading WeightClass Attendance 80 points 1 total = 80 pointsPart 1 of Civic Engagement Project 50 points 1 total = 50 pointsPart 2 of Civic Engagement Project 50 points 1 total = 50 pointsChapter Assignments 30 points each 8 total = 240 points Quizzes 10 points each 8 total = 80 pointsUnit Exams 100 points each 4 total = 400 points Final Exam 100 points 1 total = 100 pointsTOTAL 1000 points

Grading Scale900 - 1000 = A 600 - 699 = D800 - 899 = B 599 & below = F700 - 799 = C

ACADEMIC INTEGRITYSt. Petersburg College expects students to be honest in all of their academic work. By enrolling at the college, students agree to adhere to the high standards of academic honesty and integrity and under-stand that failure to comply with this pledge may result in academic and disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from the college. Cheating and plagiarism are strictly prohibited and will be dealt with accordingly. Go to http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/admit/honesty.htm and read the policy on academic honesty.

Failure to follow the SPC Academic Honesty policy may lead to academic penalties, which may in-clude failing the course and reporting the case to SPC authorities for further disciplinary actions.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT POLICIESStudents are responsible for all assignments due and material covered during the semester. It is the re-sponsibility of the student to remain in contact with the instructor if any problem of concern arises. If you are having trouble completing the obligations of this course, it is up to you to contact the instructor immediately. If a student neglects to contact the instructor and online activity by the student has ceased, the instructor may determine at any time that the student is NOT maintaining continuous active participation. Students are encouraged to remain in contact with the instructor via email, phone or by setting up an on campus appointment.

Since this course touches on various political subjects and the sometimes-controversial dynamics of American Government, it is essential for us to maintain a civil online environment. Whether on the course discussion board, exchanging emails or during online chats students are expected to show the utmost respect and courtesy for peers with similar AND differing viewpoints.

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If you experience a problem with another student regarding discussion board postings – please contact your instructor immediately.  Each student is expected to respect the views of others without attacking the individual.  You are expected to be diplomatic in every on line exchange.  Please proof read each of your messages before you decide to post them, making sure that you are saying what you would like to say in the manner in which you would like it read. 

In addition, it is important to remember that on line discussion is quite different from face to face inter-action.  There are only the written words and the imagination of the reader as to what was “meant” by certain phrasings – so please be considerate of others to make sure that your messages seek to discuss why you have a certain opinion rather than personal attacks.  Again, this is a course about politics, so there will be many viewpoints that will spark lively discussion in which academic exchange can take place. 

SPC’S DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR POLICYStudents are not allowed to use any electronic device without a documented accommodation or permission from the instructor.Each student’s behavior in the classroom or Web course is expected to contribute to a positive learn-ing/teaching environment, respecting the rights of others and their opportunity to learn. No student has the right to interfere with the teaching/learning process, including the posting of inappropriate materi-als on the discussion boards or other spaces within the ANGEL course site.

The instructor has the authority to ask a disruptive student to leave the classroom, lab, or Web course and to file disciplinary charges if disruptive behavior continues.

STUDENT CONDUCTSPC students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will reflect credit to the college, the community and themselves. Each student, by registering, assumes the responsibility to become famil-iar with and abide by these general regulations and rules of conduct. It is highly important to visit https://www.spcollege.edu/studentconduct/ for more information. If found guilty of violation of any of these rules, a student may be subject to the placing of a hold on their student record, the withholding of grades, credits, transcripts, or diplomas, disciplinary probation, suspension or dismissal, in accordance with prescribed rules for the handling of disciplinary cases. Visit https://www.spcollege.edu/student-conduct/ for more information on applicable procedures.

COURSE WITHDRAWALStudents should familiarize themselves with the policies and procedures contained in the student handbook. Students who simply discontinue attending class without officially withdrawing from the course will receive a grade based upon the total points they have accumulate in the course. Ordinarily, the result will be a grade of “F.” Please visit the following website for more information and useful links http://www.spcollege.edu/handbook/. PAYING BACK FINANCIAL AID MONEYStudents who have received financial aid this semester should not drop or withdrawal from this class without first talking with someone in the financial aid department.  Dropping or withdrawing may require you to repay the financial aid you received for this class, including all federal and state aid, both grants and loans.  This is especially true for Bright Futures and Pell Grant recipients. Visit http://www.spcollege.edu/withdrawal/ for more information.

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STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICESMany support systems are available under the student support services. Visit http://www.spcollege.edu/sss/ for online assistance and contact information on Student Support Services programs.STUDENT RESOURCES (Highly Important)College Calendar - www.spcollege.edu/calendar/ M.M. Bennett Libraries - www.spcollege.edu/libraries/ Career Services - www.spcollege.edu/careerservices/ International Student Services - www.spcollege.edu/internationalstudents/ Learning Support Commons (Tutorial Services) - www.spcollege.edu/tutoring/ SPC Veteran Affairs - www.spcollege.edu/veterans/  TECHNICAL SKILLS REQUIREDYou should be comfortable with the following:

using a word processor (changing font, spell check) using presentation software (i.e. PowerPoint) using email for communication sending an email attachment navigating the Internet using an Internet search engine

ACCESSIBILITY SERVICESThis course is designed to be welcoming to, accessible to, and usable by everyone, including students who are English-language learners, have a variety of learning styles, have disabilities, or are new to online learning. Be sure to let me know immediately if you encounter a required element or resource in the course that is not accessible to you. Also, let me know of changes I can make to the course so that it is more welcoming to, accessible to, or usable by students who take this course in the future.

If you have documentation of a disability or feel you may have a disability:St. Petersburg College recognizes the importance of equal access to learning opportunities for all students. Accessibility Services (AS) is the campus office that works with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations. Students registered with AS, who are requesting accommodations, are encouraged to contact their instructor by the first week of the semester. Students who have, or think they may have, a disability (e.g. learning disability, ADD/ADHD, psychiatric, medical/orthopedic, vision, and/or hearing), are invited to contact the Accessibility Coordinator (AC) that serves your campus for a confidential discussion.

Any student whose disability falls within the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations should contact the Learning Specialist on campus. If you have a documented hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing at (727) 791-2628. If you expect to need assistance in the event of an emergency classroom evacuation, please contact your campus Learning Specialist immediately about arrangements for your safety. The Office of Accessibility Services can be reached at (727) 791-2628 or (727) 791-2710 (CL), (727) 341-4758 (SP/G), (727) 394-6108 (SE), (727) 712-5789 (TS) or (727) 341-4532 (AC). Accommodations will not be provided without documentation in writing from the appropriate St Petersburg College office. To find your AC for your specific campus, please go to the college-wide Accessibility Services website: https://www.spcollege.edu/accessibility

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SEXUAL PREDATOR INFORMATIONFederal and State law requires a person designated as a “sexual predator or offender” to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The FDLE is then required to notify the local law enforcement agency where the registrant resides, attends, or is employed by an institution of higher learning. Information regarding sexual predators or offenders attending or employed by an insti-tution of higher learning may be obtained from the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the particular campus by calling the FDLE hotline (1-888-FL-PREDATOR) or (1-888-357-7332), or by visiting the FDLE website athttp://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/homepage.do  A list of sexual offenders or predators registered for classes at SPC is available here: http://www.spcol-lege.edu/CampusSafety/#tab=4 

CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITYFor information on campus safety and security policies please contact 727-791-2560. If there are ques-tions or concerns regarding personal safety, please contact the Provost, Associate Provost, Campus Se-curity Officer, or Site Administrator on your campus. www.spcollege.edu/CampusSafety/ 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURESPlease, familiarize yourself with the emergency procedures and evacuation routes located in the build-ings you use frequently. Located in each classroom is an Emergency Response Guide (flip-chart) that contains information for proper actions in response to emergencies. You should be prepared to assess situations quickly and use good judgment in determining a course of action. You should evacuate to assembly areas in an orderly manner when an alarm sounds or when directed to do so by college fac-ulty or staff or emergency personnel. You may access additional emergency information by going to www.spcollege.edu/security.

INSTRUCTIONAL CONTINUITY PLAN The College realizes that it is possible for a significant natural disaster to compromise SPC campus fa-cilities sufficiently to disrupt the delivery of classes on campus(es) for an extended period of time. In the event of such emergencies, online courses will continue as normal. For courses taught in the class-room, a standard copy of this course will be made available online in myCourses.

DUAL ENROLLEMENT, EARLY ADMISSIONS, AND EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTSA Dual Enrollment, Early Admissions, or Early College student may not withdraw from any college course without permission from the Early College/Dual Enrollment office. Withdrawal from a course may jeopardize the student's graduation from high school. The Dual Enrollment office can be reached at 727 712-5281 (TS), 727 791-5970 (CL) or 727 394-6164 (SE). www.spcollege.edu/central/de/in-dex.htm  

COMMUNICATIONWhen communicating, you should always:

treat everyone with respect in every communication use your professor’s proper title: Dr. or Prof., or if you are in doubt use Mr. or Ms. use clear and concise language use correct grammar, whether written or spoken. Avoid slang. use correct spelling and avoid texting abbreviations avoid using the caps lock feature as it can be interpreted as yelling online

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be cautious when using humor or sarcasm as tone is sometimes lost in an email or discussion post and, even when spoken, your message might be misunderstood

When you send an email to your instructor, department chair, dean, or classmates, you should: use a subject line that describes what you are writing about avoid attachments unless you are sure your recipients can open them be clear, concise, and courteous and sign your message with your name use your SPC email account to ensure delivery.

Instructor Response TimeI will respond to your MyCourses e-mails within 24 hours.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

08/13: Course Introduction

08/15: New students must enroll before 11:15a.m.

08/15: Unit 1 Begins –Foundations of Government, Constitution, and FederalismChapter 1: American Government: Roots, Context, and Culture

08/20: Chapter 2: The Constitution

08/17: Last Day to Drop and Receive Refund

08/22: Chapter 2: The ConstitutionChapter 1 Quiz due by 11:59p.m.

08/27: Chapter 3: Federalism

08/29: Chapter 3: FederalismChapter 2 online written assignment due by 11:59p.m.Chapter 2 Quiz due by 11:59p.m.

09/03: College Closed—Happy Labor Day!

09/05: Unit 2 Begins—Congress, Presidency, and BureaucracyChapter 6: CongressChapter 3 quiz due online by 11:59p.m.Review for the Unit 1 Exam (Chs. 1-3)

09/09: Unit 1 Exam Due Online by 11:59p.m.

09/10: Chapter 6: Congress

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09/12: Chapter 7: The PresidentChapter 3 online written assignment due by 11: 55p.m.

09/17: Chapter 7: The President

09/19: Chapter 8: The Bureaucracy of the Executive BranchChapter 6 Quiz due online by 11:59p.m.

09/24: Chapter 8: The Bureaucracy of the Executive Branch

09/26: Unit III Begins – The Judiciary, Civil Liberties, Civil RightsChapter 9: The JudiciaryChapter 6 online written assignment due by 11: 55p.m.Chapter 7 Quiz due online by 11:59p.m.

10/01: Chapter 9: The Judiciary

10/03: Chapter 4: Civil LibertiesChapter 7 online written assignment due by 11: 55p.m.Chapter 9 Quiz due online by 11:59p.m.

10/08: Chapter 4: Civil LibertiesUnit 2 Exam Due Online by 11:59p.m.

10/10: Chapter 5: Civil RightsChapter 9 online written assignment due by 11: 55p.m.Chapter 4 Quiz due online by 11:59p.m.

10/15: Chapter 5: Civil Rights

10/17: Unit 4 Begins –Public Opinion and Political Socialization, Political Parties, Campaigns and Elections, and Interest GroupsChapter 10—Public Opinion and Socialization Chapter 5 Quiz due online by 11:59p.m.Chapter 4 online written assignment due by 11:59p.m.

10/16: Civic Engagement Part 1 due by 11:59p.m.NOTE: Civic Engagement reflection paper is not due on this date. See below.

10/22: Chapter 10—Public Opinion and Political Socialization

10/18: Last Day to Withdraw with Grade of “W”If you completely withdraw from the college anytime on or before the dates of your session, you may incur repayment of financial Assistance funds. See for financial aid withdraw deadlines. http://www.spcollege.edu/pages/dynamic.aspx?id=793

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10/24: Chapter 11: Political PartiesUnit 3 Exam Due Online by 11:59p.m.

10/29: Chapter 11: Political Parties

10/31: Chapter 12: Campaigns, Voting, and ElectionsChapter 10 online assignment due by 11:59p.m.

10/05: Chapter 12: Campaigns, Voting, and Elections

11/07: Chapter 14 – Interest Groups

11/12: College Closed—Happy Veteran’s Day!

11/14: Unit 4 EndsChapter 14 – Interest Groups and Review for Final Exam

11/19: Discussion on Civic Engagement and Review for Final ExamChapter 11 online assignment due by 11:59p.m.

11/21-11/25: College Closed—Happy Thanksgiving!

11/27: Unit 4 Exam due Online by 11:59p.m.Civic Engagement Research Paper due online by 11:59p.m.

11/28: Review for Final Exam

12/03: Final Exam (Chs. 2-7, 9-12) In LI 119 from 10:00a.m. to 11:50a.m.

*Course syllabus is subject to change.

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