Poli. Sci. 1 - US Government Online - Fall 2008 - Sec # 1127

Prof. Joe Meyer, email: meyerjn@lacitycollege.edu

This is the Class Home Page ----- Class Status: Week ONE

Click Here for Assignment Page

HELLO! So here we Go!

We will use eTudes this semester. All Quizzes will be done on eTudes, as will the midterm exam and the class discussions.

You should get on etudes now, the first three weeks are there already.

Send me an email saying you have read the web pages and STILL want to stay in the class (unless you have already done that) or you will be dropped soon.

(If you want to add the class - send me an email with your name after you have read the web pages. You must COME TO MY OFFICE to pick up the add slip. Space is VERY short.)

Get on eTudes NOW. Go to the College web page, on the left, click on "classes/areas of study" - From there - look to the right - in the light blue area - see where it says "eTudes portal"? WELL - first click on "eTudes help" and take the tutorial and learn how to use eTudes. If you can't get on eTudes, maybe you shouldn't take an online class???

(FYI - if it says "Moodle" anywhere on my web pages - I should say eTudes. I changed from one to the other, so forgive me if I missed changing it on all my web pages.)

If you cannot attend all three MANDATORY class on campus meetings (1pm, 9/20, 12/6 and the final on 12/13, location TBA) YOU MUST DROP THE CLASS NOW!

I can't wait to see each of you in person - BRING A PICTURE ID - on Sept. 20, 1pm - location TBA.

Read this web page, and all the links, and if you still want to be in class, send me an email saying so. If not, drop the class now!

Read the Assignments Page (above) to see what you have gotten into.

Here's a few things to rememeber:

The week starts on Tuesday morning and runs through midnight Sunday (12am).  The week ends midnight Sunday. The Class Home Page will be changed every Monday (or Sunday). 

This is not an "instant class." It takes me a few days or a week to get through to all the emails.

You are expected to do the reading (from the text) and then click on the appropriate week's lecture page from eTudes. You can read ahead a little - but don't fall behind!

This is the same class as any on campus class - it is not "easier" or "less work." Most students tell me it ends up being more work and even harder than an on campus class because you have to have self motivation and self discipline.

INSTRUCTOR AVAILABILITY:  Come visit my on campus class on Mon. and Weds. at 1:45 pm. Room TBA.

OFFICE HOURS: Mon. & Weds. 9:30 - 12:00. JH 200 B x 2562

Or by appointment.

Take the student self assesment - click here - print it out and take it seriously. Do not share your answers with me - put them to work in your life!!!!!

GET YOUR BOOKS NOW and start reading.   You may be able to find a used copy online - get it now! (see the assignments page for text details). The custom edition in the bookstore comes with the Fields text in the back.

In order to be in the class you must (1) register at LACC,  AND (2) send me an email on or before the first week AND by the end of the second week of class - get on eTudes - or you will NOT BE IN THE CLASS.

You must attend all three MANDATORY class meetings or you will be dropped from the class.

Online classes are not for everyone - Not everyone succeeds in online classes.  

Ask your self - do you have SELF Discipline?   Can you motivate YOURSELF to finish tasks? Do you work well alone at the computer ?  Can you read and write at the college level? If so - than I bet you will love this course and do well in it (if you read the book and web pages and do the assignments, of course).  If not, maybe you should take another class.

This class is all about YOU - How much work are YOU going to do? (More than a regular class, that's for sure) How much can YOU motivate YOU?  Its all about YOU!!!!

This class is NOT LESS WORK than a so-called regular class.  In some ways it may be MORE WORK!  

The "class discussions" (on eTudes) are bulletin boards where you post your thoughts and can comment on others on five specific topics (see calender - to right).

The "student lounge"(on eTudes) is where students can stay in touch with each other, work together, plan stuff, etc.  You DO NOT have to sign in each week. But you have to SIGN IN on the First and Second week of class on Moodle.  You DO NOT have to check in each week - but feel free to email me about anything.

For the class discussions, the basic rule is - don't post anything - or email anything - that you would not want your Grandma to hear you say (assuming you have a "normal" Grandma). No anonymous posting or childish b.s. like that PLEASE!

Your Ugly English Example and Translation is quite easy - just find one (1) example of ugly English and translate it into normal or simple English - see the web page "Ugly English Assignment Explained" on the schedule page.  Also read the Orwell article.   Access the Orwell Article from the Schedule Page, click on the Orwell Article link.  The Orwell Links web page has three links, click on the top link. That Page is the easiest way to get to the George Orwell Article (entitled "Politics and the English Language") The article is on on the upper left hand corner of that Orwell Page.  It's a famous article that many professors use - in classes from debate to sociology - read it.  Yeah, he writes like "an old dead Englishman" - because he is.  His main point: that people use language to manipulate others - is as relevant today as it was in 1946 when he wrote this article.  Email it to me without an attachment!  

 

 

Read the text. Then Read the web lectures for each week.
  CLASS SCHEDULE

Week - Reading - Lecture - Work Due

- 1 - Chap. 1 - Intro - email Prof Meyer and get on eTudes Class

- 2 - Ch. 2 - Back then... - Sign in on "Week 2 Check-in Class Discussion" (on eTudes. )

- 3 - Ch. 3 - Federalism - QUIZ 1 on eTudes. (First Class Discussion on eTudes starts)

*1st MANDATORY On Campus Meeting - Sat. 9/20 - 1 pm - location TBA.

NOTE: the above three chapters are for preview. Students will access eTudes and from there, you will access my web page lectures.

- 4 - Ch. 4 & 5 - What is an American and How do we know? - Methodology - Course Project Declaration Due. (First Class Discussion ends at end of week)

- 5 - Ch. 6 - Media - Ugly English assignment Due. (Second Class Discussion starts)

- 6 - Ch. 7 - Protests QUIZ 2 on eTudes. (Second Class Discussion ends)

- 7 - Ch. 8 Interest Groups. Pol. Contrib. Project Due. (Third Class Discussion starts)

- 8 - Chs. 9 - Parties, etc. - Party ID Project Due (Third Class Discussion ends)

- 9 - Ch. 11 - Congress - MIDTERM EXAM on eTudes (Read the Cal. Gov. text by M. Fields)

There is no Chapter 10 in the custom edition - so we will skip it!

- 10 - Ch. 12 - Presidency - QUIZ 3 on eTudes (Fourth Class Discussion starts)

- 11 - Ch. 13 - Bureaucracy - (Fourth Class Discussion on ends)

- 12 - Ch. 14 - Courts - (Fifth Class Discussion starts)

- 13 - Ch. 15 - Civil Lib. - QUIZ 4 On eTudes. (Fifth Class Discussion ends)

- 14 - Ch. 16 - Civil Rights -

*2nd MANDATORY On Campus Meeting - Sat. 12/6 - 1pm - location TBA - Course Project and Poster Presentation Day (Bring a snack, nosh or goodies for the class!) - Course Project Due & Poster Due!

- 15 - No text Reading. - Conclusions and why you need to care. QUIZ 5 on eTudes. .

FINAL Exam: (3rd Mandatory On Campus meeting) - 12/13 - 1pm, location TBA. You may also take the final exam with either of my on campus classes - with prior permission from ME, Mon & Weds, 7:25am and 1:50 pm - in JH TBA

NOTE WELL:   You can not get better than a grade of D in the course if you do not take the final or do not complete the Course Project, or both, by the date of the Final Exam. If you do not attend all three MANDATORY class meetings, you will recieve an F in the course.

Late work will be substantially graded down. You loose points each week its late, so turn it in on time.

When you read each week's lecture pages, you will find many links.  When they appear in italics (like this type).  That's a link to an OUTSIDE web page that I think you may find of interest or it may help further elaborate upon or enhance your understanding of a concept or word.  If it says: "click here" or "click here to see..." that is a link to my own web pages.  They generally have my "Political Science, POWER & You" logo on them as well.  You should READ ALL MY WEB SITES.  The links to outside sources are for your enrichment and are optional.   Also, I will tell you about and link you to many of the activities we do in class - most are group activities. You don't have to do any of the activities unless you want to (some of them really can't be done by yourself, but you can pretend you are in a group, I guess).

I put a great deal of time and effort into my web pages and I think they answer all your questions about how the class works.

Each week you visit the eTudes page and from there you will be linked to the lecture from each week and this home page. I'll have a little message each week. and then go read that week's "lecture."  You have to read the book, do the class discussions and the other assignments.   Many students drop the class, but those who stick it out often discover how easy and fun online classes are - just do the work each week - don't fall behind - it's hard to catch up.

Not everyone succeeds in online classes.  But those who stick with it often earn an A!

It's never too early to start thinking about your Course Project - check out your options on the assignments page.  Your Course Project Declaration is where you tell me which course project you have chosen.  Each one is a little different in the information you need to give me for your Course Project Declaration - so read the Course Project Web Page (access is from the assignments page) and follow the directions.  Your Course Project is as Fun as you want to make it - and the MORE YOU PUT INTO IT - THE MORE FUN IT WILL BE!  Make sure you include all the information you are supposed to include in your Course Project Declaration.

Remember - email (and the internet) are NOT PERFECT - so if after a few days you have not heard back from me about work you emailed me - send it again!!!! (with a little note saying you are resending it and you won't lose points).