This is the Class Home Page for all three sections

Political Science 1, US Government, J. Meyer - Spring 2012 - Sections 0254, 0408, 1129.

Prof. Joe Meyer, email: meyerjn@lacitycollege.edu, please, always put your section number and first and last name on all emails!

There is only one mandatory meeting - the Final Exam on June 2, 2012 at noon. If you can not make it - DROP THE CLASS NOW!

Click here for the Welcome Message. (Must read).

The week starts on Monday and runs through midnight Sunday.  The week ends Sunday 11:59pm.

You MUST visit Prof. Meyer in his office or your grade will suffer. Make the effort to introduce yourself to him BEFORE the day of the final. Contact him and make an appointment or just stop by during office hours!

Always include your FULL NAME and section number in all emails, so I can keep my records correct - thanks.

Please do not communicate with Prof. Meyer using Facebook or any other social networking. Use his campus email address only. Or use a phone. See office hours. He will not respond to any "friend" requests, nor any communication using any social networking. He will be offended by them. Please leave him his vitural privacy.

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

Week (DATE) - Reading - Lecture - Work Due

- 1 - (2/6-2/12) Chap. 1 - Intro - after you have done all the steps on the "week 1 checklist" you email me the "student statement" to verify you are still in the class. Do this asap, during week 1, But wait 'til week 1. - Please include your section number , it helps in record keeping, thanks!

- 2 - (2/13-2/19) Ch. 2 - Back then... -

- 3 - (2/20-2/26) Ch. 3 - Federalism - (The First Class Discussion on eTudes starts - DO NOT START A NEW TOPIC - just respond to my post).

NOTE: the above three chapters are for preview. After week 3, you will access eTudes and from there, you will access my web page lectures.

(Read the Cal. Gov. text by M. Fields by at least the end of week 9. Week 10 has the midterm, which is about California State Government).

- 4 - (2/27-3/4) Ch. 4 - What is an American & Are You Rich?Course Project Declaration Due. (First Class Discussion week two on eTudes).

- 5 - (3/5-3/11) Ch. 5 - Methodology (or How do we know anything?) Ugly English assignment Due. (First Class Discussion ends at end of week).

- 6 - (3/12-3/18) Ch. 6 - Media - The Critical Thinking Op-Ed Project due. (Second Class Discussion starts on eTudes).

- 7 - (3/19-3/25) Ch. 7 - Interest Groups. QUIZ 1 (chs. 1- 7) posted on eTudes, you answer via email. (Second Class Discussion week two).

- 8 - (3/26- 3/31) Ch. 8 - Social Movements - Pol. Contrib. Project Due via email. (Second Class Discussion ends at end of week)

(4/1-4/9) Spring Break!!!!!!!!!!

.- 9 - (4/9-4/15) Ch. 9 - Poltical Parties - Party ID Project Due via email. (Third Class Discussion starts). There is no Chapter 10 in the custom edition - so we will skip it!

- 10 - (4/16-4/22) Ch. 11 - Congress - Californai Government Essays, (DO NOT SEND EARLY) you answer via email. USE APA! (Third Class Discussion starts on eTudes).

- 11 - (4/23-4/29) Ch. 12 - Presidency - (Third Class Discussion week two).

- 12 - (4/30 - 5/6) Ch. 13 - Bureaucracy - QUIZ 2 (Chs. 8-12) posted on eTudes, you answer via email. (Third Class Discussion ends).

- 13- (5/7 -5/13)(Ch. 14 - Courts - Course Project DUE via email, drop off, or mail. (Fourth Class Discussion starts).

- 14 - (5/14-5/20) Ch. 15 - Civil Lib. - (Fourth Class Discussion week two ).

- 15 - (5/21-5/27) Ch. 16 - Civil Rights - (Fourth Class Discussion ends).

FINAL EXAM DAY (3 Hours):

The Final Exam is 50 multiple choice questions and two essay (click here) .

Saturday, June 2 , 2010, 12pm NOON - Bring a picture ID for the Final Exam will take no more than 2 hours total.

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 the only MANDATORY class meeting, the final, 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!

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!  

Take the student self assessment - click here - print it out and take it seriously. Do not share your answers with me - put them to work in your life!!!!! Do this each semester and see how you have grown!

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

Please - DO NOT START A NEW TOPIC - just respond to my posts!

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 feel free to email me about anything or use eTudes (or email) to talk to your classmates.

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! You should respond to others' postings and put forth your own ideas - both are all part of contributing to a discussion, and that's how you earn participation points in the class.

Here's a few things to remember:

1. The week runs from Monday through Sunday and ends at midnight Sunday. So all work received after that is LATE and points will be reduced.

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

3. 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!

4. 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 and you work mostly alone.

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! 

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).