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4. Grading & Assignments Explanations…
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No Late work will be accepted. No Late
work will be graded. You will earn 0 points for all late work. ALL WORK
is posted on Canvas
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Student Statement (5) & Course
Project "1st Thesis" (5)
Class Participation
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10
30
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10 Quizzes) (10 each)
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100
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Course Project
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100
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Course Project "Working
References"
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20
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Course Project "Working
Thesis"
Course Project Poster & Presentation
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20
20
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Ugly English Example and Translation
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20
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Critical Thinking Project
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20
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Political Party ID Project
Candidate’s Ad
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20
20
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Political Contribution Project
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20
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Mid-Term Exam Paper
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50
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Final Exam (take home and in-class)
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50
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Total Possible Points
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500
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This class is transferable to UC and CSU
system.
This is a college level class. We have
no time for your drama, games, disruptions, nor for that matter, anything
that distracts from the class. You are expected be an adult.
Please do not involve me (nor the class)
in the drama that is your life!
NO EXCUSES! Here
is a list of real excuses sent to me from my online students. SPARE ME YOUR LAME EXCUSES!
As the great poetess said: "Be grow
or be gone."
For my grading rubric on the Course
Project, mid Term Exam Essay and the rest of the assignments, click
here .
Approximate Points-to-Letter Grade scale:
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A
500 - 450
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B
449 - 400
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C
399 - 350
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D
349 - 300
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F
Below 300
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I will not grant an incomplete. So
please do not ask!
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Work
associated with the Course Project:
PLEASE - Do Not use headers, etc. (on any
work for this class)
For your Course Project you will need to
READ any California Government Text. Buy it cheap,
online, read it in a few days... Use it for background information (DO NOT
CITE any textbooks, ever). They are all about 100 pages or less and you
will NEED the background that a California Governmental text book will
provide to do a good job on your Course Project.
The three assignments due before the
Course Project is due are to help you prepare and build a great paper which
is your Course Project.
Course Project "1st Thesis" in a sentence or two, you should be able to respond to one
of the four questions provided below. It should be clear, concise and have
a point worth making. It should also be clear which of the four questions
you are responding to. If you make a good faith attempt it can't really be
wrong. Keep in mind this thesis will probably change... maybe it should.
Course Project "Working
References" should be at least ten (10) college level
sources you will be using in your course project paper. Must be in APA
format.
Course Project "Working Thesis" will be one sentence that, at least at the
time this assignment is due, is currently the thesis statement of your
Course Project Paper.
Course Project Poster & Presentation where you make a Poster that helps as a
visual aide to talk about your Course Project for two minutes (on Course
Project Day).
Your Course Project In a well organized and well written
(at least) ten page paper, with APA citations, you
will show research and make an argument in response to one of the following
four questions about California state and local government policy:
1. What is the ONE (1) MOST
important problem facing California? State specifically what must be
done by the State of California (or a local government in California) to
"fix" or improve this one issue. Give specific examples of this
issue or problem and say what MUST BE DONE! Focus on one aspect of the solution
to the problem, no matter how small. What state policy would address this
issue positively? What can be done to improve the situation? What can be
done (or not done) to make things better for this issue?... Or even simply
to stop it from getting worse? Of course you
should use other's ideas, just cite them properly. Be specific. Be Bold.
But Be Realistic.
2. How can we improve some aspect
of the public educational system in California? Be specific. What is
ONE (1) proposal to “fix” some small area or issue within the state's
education system? Make an argument for a specific educational policy change
that will help improve some specific aspect of our state's educational
system. Of course you should use other's ideas,
just cite them properly. Be specific. Be Bold. But Be Realistic.
3. Identify the one (1) most
endangered element of our state government design that was inspired by, or
is a result of, the progressive reforms. Be specific as to how it is
endangered and what that might mean for California. What MUST be done NOW
to preserve, correct or improve upon that progressive reform to strengthen
democracy in California? Of course you should use
other's ideas, just cite them properly. Be specific. Be Bold. But Be
Realistic.
4. Looking at crime and the
criminal justice system of California (state or local), identify one (1)
area or problem that can be "fixed" or at least improved, by some
specific state or local government policy. Something that is being done
that can be improved. Something that isn't being done but should be, or
something that is being done that shouldn't be...What must be done NOW to
improve some aspect of crime fighting and prevention or the rest of our
state criminal justice system or? Of course you
should use other's ideas, just cite them properly. Be specific. Be Bold But Be Realistic. Be specific.
The Body of Your Paper should be MORE THAN ten
(10) pages AT LEAST! With more than 15 sources, properly used and cited. (Of course the title page and etc
does NOT count in the page count).
Other
Assignments for this class:
Quizzes These are essays tied to the text book. You can
find the words and concepts to answer in the text book but the
understanding has to come from you. You are expected to use the vocabulary
and concepts in the book to answer the essay questions asked about you,
your politics, your beliefs, your knowledge, etc... they will always be
open on Canvas when scheduled. Use the vocabulary from the text and
lectures. Make the vocabulary words your own words...You need to write MORE
than 500 words for each question (about two pages, typed, double spaced, or
about three solid college level paragraphs.
DO MORE than the minimum…do less than the minimum and earn far
less...
The UGLY ENGLISH EXAMPLE AND TRANSLATION simply involves finding an example of what
Orwell calls "ugly English." Then translate your example it into
"standard" or "simplified" English. First, Click
Here.
Then: Find an example (a word or phrase) and type it in quotes. Note
the source. Provide the simplified "translation" of how the
author (or speaker or whatever) could have better made the point. You can
use newspapers, magazines, text books, radio or TV broadcasts, even things
you hear people. All these are places to find examples of inappropriate
jargon, obtuse verbiage, over-used expressions, inappropriate foreign terms
and the like. Be creative, this just might be fun! For further information
and examples:
The Critical Thinking Op-Ed (Commentary) Project: First, choose the op-ed piece
or article you will be analyzing. You can use an opinion piece or article
from any newspaper, magazine, web site, etc... It does not have to be about
politics, but wouldn't it make more sense if it were? A traditional
opinion/editorial is an argument by someone who is clearly identified, paid
to write it, and qualified to have an opinion on the subject. DO NOT use
editorials (they have no "by line." - they are written by a
staff). DO NOT use "letters to the editor." DO NOT USE BLOGS -
unless the piece conforms to the standards of a traditional op-ed piece
(from 250 - 1500 words, clearly on one topic, expert, etc).
The web page explains the eight answers you must provide about the op-ed
piece. Just fill in the blanks, with bullet points or brief clauses, do not
copy the question - Post answers on Canvas in the assignment section. Click here to learn more about Critical
Thinking and the Project
The Party Identification (ID) Project: The
Party Identification (ID) Project - click here for details - You are forced to look around your world and find
which political party people around you identify with. Then you share
our results on Canvas. Just follow the directions and you will earn the max
points!!! You DO NOT have to post the
names of the people you asked - just discuss the results.
Your Candidate’s Ad: This can In class,
you will construct a Candidate and a message, after learning your
opponent’s strategy you have to choice to stay with your original message
or respond… This is done in class.
The Political Contribution Project: The
Political Contribution Project - click here for more details - You have a million dollars to
give to either five political groups. This can be done on the web and
just might be fun - check it out. Post work on Canvas in
assignment section - just follow the directions and you'll earn the max
points!!
The Mid-Term Essay Exam: On Canvas, you will post a 5 -8 page paper responding to one of four prompts taken
from the “Some Things To Think About” at the bottom of each lecture. Click here for details of Mid-Term Exam Paper
The FINAL EXAM 25 points for (my choice of)
One or two of the ESSAYS from the list provided by clicking
here. and
one or two "short answer" questions (1-3 paragraphs) based on the
“Some Things to Think about” questions.
The Final cannot be taken early. No work will be accepted after the
final closes. The Final CAN NOT be taken late..
Click Here To See Potential
Final Exam LONG Essay Questions.
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