There are no prerequisites for this class. However, you should be able to read and write at the college level . Texts : Struggle For Democracy, Greenberg & Page (any edition) AND California Government, Mona Fields, any edition. The custom edition of the Greenberg and Page book comes with the Mona Fields book in the back and may be purchased only at the LACC bookstore. It also comes with the codes for mypoliscilab.com - SEE BELOW. (You may purchase older non-custom editions online at varsitybooks.com, amazon.com, half.com etc., but you also have to buy the code from the publisher. Make sure you also buy Fields text.) Course Objectives: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to discuss the following concepts: power, federalism, limited government, civil liberties, the pluralist and elite theories of U.S. government, the legislative process, the electoral process, interest groups, the independent judiciary, political parties, domestic and foreign policy and the role of the media in politics. Students will be able to write college level essays on all these topics. Students will be expected to analyze their own political beliefs and others'. Students will also learn to spot "ugly English." Course Learning Outcomes Martix:
The department-wide student learning outcome for the Social Science Department is that students do a reasearch paper with a works cited/bibliography page in a standard citation format. (All of the Course Projects qualify.) For this class, the APA format will be used for all work, unless other wise noted. We will be using eTudes for this semester - learn it - use it - get on it! NOW! - Go to the College Home Page - Click On "Classes/ Areas of Study" then, on lower right of that page, click on the eTudes help and learn all about eTudes before you use it. You are expected to do the reading (from the text) for each week... Then Go to the Home Page and click on the appropriate "Lecture Page" for each week. You can also access each week's lesson through eTudes . You can read ahead a little - but don't fall behind! (The week starts on Tuesday morning and runs through midnight Sunday (12am). The Class Home Page will be changed every Monday. The week ends midnight Sunday. Late work will be substantially graded down. When the week ends - if you haven't turned in the work due that week - its late! Turn it in asap - some points are better than none. GRADING:
*For all projects - simply email it to me in a "word" document. If you do the downtown project and you cannot include your pictures in "word," you can mail it to me at City College or drop it off in my mail box in FH 219 I. All may also drop off the course project in my office or in my box in FH 219 I. It is your responsibility to get it to me on the week itis due - before then end of the week (the week ends on Sunday midnight). Do not use lame excuses - just get it to me! NOTE WELL: You cannot earn a grade higher than a D in the class if you do not take the final or complete the course project or both. ALSO: you must attend the Final Exam Day, June 5, 2010, 1-4pm Location TBA Start reading your textbooks as soon as you get them. Read the Greenberg text each week. Make sure you have read the California State Government text (by Fields) (in the back of the custon edition text book from the LACC bookstore) by week nine. mypoliscilab.com: you are responsible for doing all the "pre-tests" "post-tests" and "chapter exams" for the 15 chapters we cover (no extra credit for more than that). Course Codes: (will be released soon) On Week 1 - Do everything on the "Week 1 checklist" and email Prof Meyer the "student statement" with your name and section number in the correct spaces. DO NOT ATTACH anything to the email - send it in regular email - cut and paste the "student statement" and fill in your correct name and section number. Email this to me asap during week 1. If you cannot do all you need to do one week one, than maybe you should drop the class.. meyerjn@lacitycollege.edu Class Bulletin Board: Get on eTudes. 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??? Posting work on the Class Bulletin Board (on eTudes ) serves several functions. First, it is an attempt to build a sense of "group" even if it is only "virtual." Second, it allows students to see if any other students are working on similar policy areas. You are encouraged to "make friends" and to work together whenever possible. Of course, every student has to do her or his own work. Third, posting work creates an open environment where we can help each other by sharing ideas. Fourth, it takes advantage being online in a way a traditional class could not. You will need to be able to access eTudes by the second week of class (at the latest). If you cannot get on eTudes by the end of week two you will be dropped from the class. I will leave the "Class Bulletin Board" open all semester for students to use to contact each other. ALSO Click here to see details about the Course Projects. Start thinking about which Course Project you will be doing for the semester. You must declare your choice by week 4. Week 2: You must read the Orwell Article and my explanation of the assignment and then start looking for Ugly English examples. Click here to go to Orwell & Ugly English Assignment Explained. The assignment is due on week 5. ALSO - CLASS DISCUSSIONS begin: Contribute to the discussions. All you do, really, is what you would do in class. Say what you think and why you think it. In a paragraph or two give your opinion and the reasons for it. When commenting on others' thoughts, don't just say "I agree," say why you agree. You can access the discussions, when they are open and active on eTudes . Remember to include your name and email address on everything you say, or you won't get credit. No anonymous postings, please. The class discussions are graded at the end of the year in their totality. You can earn up to 100 points by simply posting your opinion and responded to some one else's opinion (at least once each discussion). Do what is required and earn 100 points. Do less and earn less. The class discussions can be accessed on eTudes when they are open and active! Here are the topics: Discussion One: What should Pres. Obama NOW? Discussion Two: What should be our College's main focus and mission? Discussion Three: What's the state of education in our state? Discussion Four: What can be done to "fix" the LAPD and LA Sheriff's? Week 3: Our First class Quiz! The quizzes will be posted and can be accessed through eTudes (in the Modules section) on the week they are due. You simply follow the directions and email me the answers. Give me a week to get back to you on how you did. They are all based on the Greenberg text. Do not attach anything to the email - I will not open your attachments for the quizzes!!!! Just follow the directions and send the answers via email without attachments. Due Week 4: YOUR COURSE PROJECT DECLARATION is one page (typed, double spaced) stating which project you picked and the following information, depending upon your choice. Each Project has slightly different information you must tell me on your Declaration. For CP #1 - briefly describe the problem and level of government. For CP #2 - tell what date you are planning on going downtown. For CP #3 - list the films you will watch for the project. For CP #4 - tell exactly which local government you will use for your project. Send this via email: meyerjn@lacitycollege.edu Once you have chosen a course project you CANNOT change it - just make up your mind early and stick with it! The choices for Course Project are discussed in greater detail at the link below, but briefly they are: 1. The Policy Argument - where you propose and argue for a specific government policy at a specific level of government. 2. The Downtown LA Project - where you turn downtown LA and write on what "revitalize downtown LA" means to you. 3. The Leadership Project - where you investigate what "leadership" means in our complex democracy. 4. The State Government Project - where you answers questions about state government and investigate your own State Assembly and State Senate districts. 5. The State Government Project - where you find out about your state government and answer questions and essays. 6. The ASO Project - where you learn about LACC's student government, the ASO and attend some meetings and discuss the problems and positives of LACC or the ASO. Click here to see details about the Course Projects. Due Week 5: 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. Here's what to do: 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 t.v. 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 click here to go to Orwell & Ugly English Assignment Explained. The Ugly English assignment must be emailed to me by the end of week 5. If you find an example, attempt a translation, and email it to me when it is due, you get 50 points. (It's kind of like a gift!) Due Week 6: The Critical Thinking Op-Ed 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 - DO NOT ATTACH anything to the email - JUST SEND IT IN NORMAL EMAIL! Click here to learn more about Critical Thinking and the Project Week 7: Our second class Quiz! Due Week 8: The Political Contribution Project: The Political Contribution Project - click here for more details - You have a million dollars to give to either five or ten political groups. This can be done on the web and just might be fun - check it out. Send this via email - do not attach anything - just follow the directions and you'll earn the fifty points!!! Due Week 9: 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 via email - do not attach anything - just follow the directions and you will earn the 50 points!!! Week10: The MidTerm Exam: Will be essay questions about state government. You will take it via email, like the quizzes. I will post it and you will email the answers without attachments. Make sure you have read the California State Government text (by Fields) before the midterm. Week 12: Our third class Quiz! Due Week 13: The Course Project Click here to see details about the Course Projects. You will email me your course project in word or a program I can read. You may attach the document to an email . For the downtown report or any other use of pictures, if you can incorporate those pictures and captions in a word document great. If not, you must you may mail it to me or drop it off in my office or mail box in FH 219. Week 15: Our Last class Quiz! Final Exam Day is Sat., Dec., 11, 2010, 1- 3 pm, location FH-tba. The FINAL EXAM Notice it is worth 200 points! 100 points for 50 multiple guess questions (scantron), taken from thepublisher's test bank on the US Gov. text. The second half will be (my choice of) TWO ESSAYS from the list provided by clicking here. You may take the final with either of my on campus classes with prior appointment. The Final CAN NOT be taken early nor late. If you cannot attend Dec. 11, 1-3 pm. DROP THE CLASS NOW!!!! NOTE WELL: You cannot earn better than a D in this course if you do not take the final or you do not turn in the Course project or both. Students are responsible to live up to, and adhere to, all rules and regulations listed in the Student Handbook, the College Catalog, the College Schedule of Classes, and the various regulations, requirements and rules of the College and the District. Students with disabilities or who need any assistance or reasonable accommodation should contact the instructor. Such students are encouraged to contact the Office of Disabled Student Services Note Well: Plagiarism is the serious ethical and legal violation of presenting other people's words or ideas as your own. Plagiarism or any other form of cheating can result in a failing grade for the paper, a failing grade for the course, and a formal report to the dean of students. See the student conduct code in the Catalog and Schedule of Classes. Students are encouraged to form and work in study groups. However each student must do her or his own work. Students who copy, cheat, plagiarize or in other fashion violate the spirit or letter (or both) of the rules of the College or the District (or both) may be excluded from this class, at a minimum. Please do not ask for an incomplete. I will not grant it. Any questions - please email me: meyerjn@lacitycollege.edu |
