Pols 1101—American Government

The University of North Georgia

Fall 2014; Three Credits- HYBRID (Classes will not meet on highlighted dates)

Section D1 MWF 10:00am-10:50am Young Hall 203

Section D2 MWF 1:15pm-2:05pm Young Hall 214
This course is clearly designated as a HYBRID course (which means that the course has a substantial online component). We will not meet for class on scheduled HYBRID days but you will be responsible for completing all assigned work outside of class (including exams, quizzes, and participation in online discussions).
Instructor: Maria Albo, MPA

Phone: 706- 867-1782 office

Email: maria.albo@ung.edu

Office: 314 Hansford Hall (located behind Price Memorial)

http://www.northgeorgia.edu/uploadedFiles/Campus_Info/CampusMap.pdf (building #32)

Office Hours: MW 2:30pm-5:30pm

**and by appointment

Undergraduate Bulletin Course Description: An intensive examination of the Constitution and the three governmental divisions. The course includes a study of the national government in its relation to the states. Examples from the government of Georgia are included.

course objectives: Surveys have shown that American’s know very little about how their government actually functions. As college students, it is imperative that you understand the basic structure of your government and outside influences on the political process. In this course, we will:

1. 
   Gain a better understanding of our government and the principles of democracy;
   
2. 
   Understand the intentions of the Founding Fathers in drafting the U.S. Constitution and their influence on the modern U.S. government;
   
3. 
   Develop essential knowledge of the structure of the U.S. government and its three branches;
   
4. 
   Discuss historical events and their influence on the political process and modern society;
   
5. 
   Discuss the impact of political socialization, political parties, interest groups, the bureaucracy and the media on the U.S. political system;
   
6. 
   Gain a better understanding of political ideologies;
   
7. 
   Explore the policy making process and discuss the current policy initiatives for the State of Georgia;
   
8. 
   Encourage you to participate in the political process and enable you to understand current political events;
   
9. 
   Learn how to articulate your political beliefs effectively and tolerate opinions that differ from your own;
   
10. 
    Develop the information literacy skills necessary to become fully engaged citizens.
    

Success in this Course

Carl D. Cavalli, ed. (2013). The Basics of American Government. Dahlonega, GA: North Georgia Press.

Grading in this class will be done on a point scale. There are 600 possible points that can be earned in this course. 

A: 600 – 540 Points

B: 539 – 480 Points

C: 479 – 420 Points

D: 419 – 360 Points

F: 359 – 000 Points

Total Possible Points: 600

1. 
   Exams 300
   
2. 
   Class Participation 75
   
3. 
   Online Discussion Board 75
   
4. 
   Midterm Essay 75
   
5. 
   Final Essay 75
   

• 
  Cover page with your full name, course number and title.
  
• 
  Times New Roman, 12 point font, double spaced, with page numbers.
  
• 
  Reference page.
  

All written work (midterm and final essay) must be submitted to turnitin.com.

It is imperative that your D2L account is fully functioning for this course. If you cannot resolve your problems with the above suggestions, you must call or visit the IT Helpdesk (located in the Library Technology Center, room 164).

Please note, “Technological Difficulties” will not be accepted as an excuse for missing an assignment deadline. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to allow for any “technological difficulties” and save your work frequently to avoid data loss.

If you experience “technological difficulties” while completing an assignment, I strongly recommend contacting the IT Helpdesk and opening a ticket prior to contacting me.

Opportunities for Extra Credit: I will not accept requests for extra credit from students, however, extra credit may be offered throughout the semester. All extra credit opportunities will be announced in class (or via D2L) and cannot be “made up”.

Individual vs. Collaborative Work Policy: Unless specifically stated otherwise, students should work individually on any and all assignments submitted for credit.

Cheating and Plagiarism: Any instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in a zero grade for the paper or exam and/or an “F” grade for the course at the discretion of the Instructor. All instances of cheating and plagiarism will be reported to the Honor Council.

Course Grades: Final grades are available on BANNER usually within 2 days after all finals have ended. I CANNOT communicate with you about your grades via e-mail or phone, so please do not ask. If you have a question about your grades, please come by my office during my office hours.
Classroom Etiquette: I expect all students to adhere to the Code of Conduct established by UNG.

Disrespectful and/or disruptive behaviors will not be tolerated. Violations will be dealt with by the instructor and may be elevated to the Departmental Chair and or Dean of Students for additional action.  All options remain open to the instructor up to and including an administrative withdrawal from this class.

While we may not always go to the end of class, we will begin every class period at the assigned start time. Please be prepared and in your seat at the scheduled start time. Please do not use cell phones in class and make sure all phones are turned to “silent”.* Please exhibit common courtesies to your Instructor and your classmates at all times. In addition, please note that political science is by nature a very political and emotional subject. We may at times discuss topics out of our comfort zones including issues such as: race, gender, political ideologies and unfortunate historical events. Please use this class as an opportunity to learn about yourself and others.

Note: Laptop computers and mobile devices are not permitted in this course.

*Please let me know if there is some sort of circumstance that requires you to monitor your phone.

Communication on discussion boards takes special consideration. Please read the short list of tips of network etiquette below:

• 
  Don't use all caps. It is the equivalent of screaming.
  
• 
  Be sensitive and reflective to what others are saying.
  
• 
  Don't flame - These are outbursts of extreme emotion or opinion.
  
• 
  Think before you hit the post (enter/reply) button. You can't take it back!
  
• 
  Don't use offensive language.
  
• 
  Use clear subject lines.
  
• 
  Don't use abbreviations or acronyms unless the entire class knows them.
  
• 
  Be forgiving. Anyone can make a mistake.
  
• 
  Keep the dialog collegial and professional.
  

SECTION D1: MONDAY, DECEMBER 8^TH AT 12:20PM