Los Angeles City College

Spring 2010

Political Science 1 - U.S Government

email: meyerjn@lacitycollege.edu Click here for lectures from Mr. Meyer's online class

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. If you purchase the text from the LACC bookstore you get the online access and the California Text. If you buy a used book, you must still purchase the access code for "mypoliscilab course compass" & California Government, Mona Fields, any edition (Latest edition comes in the bookstore package).

For mypoliscilab.com the class code: ????? You must take the pre-test, post tests and chapter exams of all the chapters we cover on the week we cover the chapter in order to get the maximum extra credit points.

NO WORK from this class will be accepted via email.

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."  

Student learning outcomes matrix:    

Please silence your pagers and turn off your cell phones.

Students must be prepared for class: This includes, but is not limited to: reading the assigned material, visiting the class web site and other related sites, downloading, printing and preparing any activity materials needed for class from the class web sites or others'.

NO WORK will be accepted via email for this class - TURN IT IN - in person!

Please be on time for class and ready to start. All work is due at the beginning of class. Don't show up late and expect us to ignore your insulting behavior. Show up on time or drop the class.

GRADING:     

*You cannot earn better than a "D" in this course if you do not complete and turn in the Course Project and take the final exam.

Late work will be substantially down graded! So turn it in asap - some points are better than none!

Students MUST attend every class.

Students MUST BE ON TIME for every class.

Students must be prepared for each class day.  

NO WORK from this class will be accepted via email - TURN IT IN - IN CLASS!

             Course Schedule

Date   - Reading      -    Class Discussion   - Work Due

1 2/8 - none - "52 Cards" & What is Political Science?  

- 2/10 -  Self Regulation Skills Self Assesment (Fill it out - Bring it to class)

2 2/15 - No Class - College Closed - President's Day

- 2/17 - Library Day - meet in front of MLK Library @9am sharp!

3 2/22 - Orwell Article   -   Ugly English & Orwell Assign. Explained

- 2/24 - Ch. 1 - Pluralism & The Elite Theory in America & Critical Thinking Assignment Explained

4 3/1 - no reading - Video #1 - "Revolution"

- 3/3 - Ch. 2 - Who's My Founding Father & Video Essay #1 Due

5 3/8 - “Instant Grade-ifcation” of Ugly Eng. Ex. & Trans.

- 3/17 - Ch. 3 - New, Newer, and Newest Federalism.

6 - 3/15 - Ch. 4 - What is an American? & Are You Rich?

- 3/17 - Ch. 5 - What is an American and how do we know? QUIZ 1 (Chs 1-5)

7 3/22 - no reading - Video #2 - "The Persuaders" Course Project Declaration DUE!!!!!!!!

3/24 - Ch. 6   “Setting the Agenda” & Should We Run It? Video Essay #2 Due

3/29 - 4/4 SPRING BREAK!

8   - 4/5 - Chs. 7 & 8 - Protests Movements & Political Contribution Project   DUE!!!!

- 4/7 - Chs. 8 - Interest Groups and Iron triangles

9 - 4/12 - - no reading - QUIZ 2 (Chs 6-8)

- 4/14 - Ch. 9  -    Where's the (Political) Party?  & Political Party ID Project DUE!!!  

10 4/19 - Elections, Campaigns & Create your cand.  (There is no chapter 10 in the custom edition.)

- 4/21 - “Instant Grade-ifcation” of Your Candidate's Ad

11 4/26 - - Ch. 11     "...and three or more is a Congress..."  

- 4/28 - - Ch. 12   "He's just the President"  

12 5/3 - Crisis in Cuba - Should We invade? Critical Thinking Op-Ed Project DUE

- 5/5 - - -  no reading - QUIZ 3 (Chs 9, 11, 12)

13 5/10 - Ch. 13 -   The Bureaucratic Theory of Government.

- 5/12 - - Ch. 14 “…And justice for all”? The Courts.

14 5/17 - Course Project Day! - Course Project, Poster and Presentation DUE!!!!

-5/19 - - Ch. 15 Civil Liberties (Protections FROM Government)

15 5/24 - Ch. 16 & Civil Rights (Government AS Protector)

- 5/26 - - no reading - QUIZ 4 (Chs 13 & 14)

FINAL EXAM WEEK: 50 Multiple choice and two essays.

THE VIDEO ESSAYS are to be typed, double spaced, 2-5 pages, no cover sheet, name on upper right hand corner, staple in upper left corner. In a cogent essay (with a thesis statement and supporting paragraphs, etc), discuss the question for each video.  

#1 - How do YOU feel the effects of slavery today?

#2 - Who are "the persuaders" and how do they effect YOU?

  These essays are due on THE NEXT CLASS DAY after the video.

NO WORK from this class will be accepted via email -

TURN all work in...IN CLASS ONLY! (The assignment web pages are setup for my online classes - they email everything - But students in this class MAY NOT email any work! We meet often enough...

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.   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. Each student will read her/his example to the class and receive instant grade-ification! View the online explanation.

The "POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION PROJECT" is 3-5 pages, (typed, double spaced, staple on upper left side, name and class on upper right corner) should be written in prose (not bullets nor an outline). Tell the reader a little about each organization you chose to give money to and why you chose to give them the amount you chose. Also, provide a list of the organizations you chose with their web address, street address and phone numbers. Also you MUST include a chart or graph (e.g. pie chart, bar chart, rows and columns, etc) to graphically demonstrate who you gave money to and how much to each.  Please follow the directions on the web page - click here for further details on the Political Contribution Project.

The POLITICAL PARTY IDENTIFICATION PROJECT involves you asking people you know what political party they most identify with and recording your results.  You must ask at least 25 people and put them into at least three different demographic groups .  You then report your results in a one page graph (also include the list of names, ages and gender of people you asked on a separate page(s))  Click here for details on the Political Party ID Project.

“YOUR CANDIDATE'S AD” will be for a candidate you will have created. You are the Campaign Manager.   Your ad (one page - 81/2 by 11) will respond to a crisis in your campaign.   Keep it tasteful and appropriate.   This is will shared with the class for instant-grade-ification.

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 .

THE COURSE PROJECT: click here for more details on each choice:

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 tour downtown LA and write what "revitalize downtown LA" means to you.

3. The Leadership Project - where you investigate what "leadership" means in our complex democracy by watching films.

4.  The Local Government Project - where you focus on a local government (city, county or school board) where you live.

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.

YOUR COURSE PROJECT DECLARATION is one page (typed, double spaced) stating which project you picked and the following information, depending upon your choice. 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.

THE COURSE PROJECT POSTER: will be displayed for the class, and you will have to do a five minute oral presentation on your poster, on Course Project Day. The Poster simply displays what you have done for your Course Project. Use a standard Poster size board (or a "scientific" or tri-board) and make it visually interesting.

The FINAL EXAM will be 50 multiple choice questions taken from the quizzes (and other test bank questions like them) and two essay questions. Notice it is worth 200 points! The final exam must be taken on the day and time assigned to the class in which the student is enrolled.   The Final CAN NOT be taken late.  

I will not grant an incomplete - so please do not ask!

Your PARTICIPATION GRADE will be based on your active and positive participation in class. Of course your attendance and punctuality are a prerequisite for participation.   Students need to be on time and attend all class meetings.   Roll will be taken at the beginning of class.   If you are not present when roll is taken you will be marked absent unless you see the instructor after class.   Tardiness is simply rude and disrespectful.

Students with disabilities or who need any assistance or reasonable accommodation should contact the instructor.   Such students are encouraged to contact Disabled Student Services.

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.

Any questions - please email me: meyerjn@lacitycollege.edu