Course Syllabus
Welcome to PLSC 001: Introduction to American National Government
Overview
| CATEGORY | INFORMATION |
|---|---|
| Credits | 3 |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Delivery | Web (Canvas, https://psu.instructure.com) |
| Dates | See the Calendar. |
| Instructor | See the Orientation module under the Modules tab. |
Description
This course takes a broad look at American national government and American politics. It begins with a discussion of founding principles and documents and concludes by looking at how government uses its power. Readings and lectures cover the governing institutions-Congress, Executive, and Courts-and the institutions that link the American people to these-political parties, interest groups, and the media. Contemporary political events are placed in the context of the theories, concepts, and arguments presented. By the end of the course students should have an understanding of how American national government is organized and the functions it carries out. PLSC 001 will help you build a foundation for further in-depth study of government and politics, and will prepare you to make more informed choices in the political arena.
Objectives
- Define key concepts important for understanding the American legal process
- Understand the American form of constitutional democracy and the political institutions established by the Constitution of the United States.
- Have knowledge about the American national political system: how the system works; the political issues of the day; and the means by which you, as an individual, can interact with and influence the political system of the United States.
- Develop an appreciation-as an informed citizen-of the wide range of political issues facing the United States, the complexity of the American political system to solve those difficult and competing issues, and the requirement for active participation and leadership in the political process.
- Improve your ability to read and think critically and to argue your views effectively.
Organization
This course consists of eleven lessons and an end period for the current event project and final exam. Please note that Lesson 1 is an orientation that will help you become acquainted with the course site. Lessons 2 through 11 require a weekly quiz. You are required to submit an analysis of a current event of your choice applying the information you learn during the course. This current event must be identified in Lesson 4. There are two examinations—a mid-course examination and a final examination.
For a typical lesson, you will complete the following activities and assignments:
- Read the material in the textbooks that constitutes the lesson.
- Explore online course content. These lectures complement the assigned readings. They are designed to provide you with more detailed information about a particular set of topics that are covered within the lesson. Please read the assigned text before reading the lectures.
- Learning Objectives and Key Terms. These help you focus on the most important points in the lesson. Use them to refresh your memory at the end of a lesson and before an exam.
- Complete the Lesson Quiz to be taken online. Most quizzes consist of ten questions (5 each of true-false and multiple choice).
Online Learning and Attendance
This course has been developed to promote asynchronous learning. The instructor and students do NOT meet on a designated day and time each week. For each lesson, there is a timeframe to complete all activities and assignments, and you may work at your own pace within that timeframe. However, you must adhere to the due dates outlined on the Calendar. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) You should log into the course daily to check for updates, review lessons, and participate in activities.
Materials
Texts
There is one required text. There are also readings and supplemental information provided in the lessons.
- Lowi, Theodore J., Benjamin Ginsberg, and Kenneth A. Shepsle. 2018. American Government: Power and Purpose, 15th Edition. New York: W. W. Norton and Company. ISBN: 978-0-393-67499-6. eBook: 978-0-393-67501-6
For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website at https://bncvirtual.com/psude
The primary textbook, American Government: Power and Purpose, written by Theodore J. Lowi, Benjamin Ginsberg, and Kenneth A. Shepsle, is used by many leading universities. You should also read a major newspaper such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, or the Philadelphia Inquirer supplemented by a weekly news magazine such as U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, Time, or The Week or their affiliated web pages to observe the dynamics of the current political process.
You can also enhance your understanding of current American politics and your lessons by watching programs on television such as the evening news on all stations, Washington Week in Review on PBS, Nightline on ABC, Fox News, and CNN. National Public Radio's Morning Edition and All Things Considered (in the afternoon) provide comprehensive coverage of daily political events. You can watch live coverage of Congress on the C-SPAN cable channel (C-SPAN 1 for the House and C-SPAN 2 for the Senate).
Library Services
Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide at http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library! The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.
Grading
Final letter grades will be assigned based on the scale below.
Scale
| LETTER GRADE |
PERCENT |
|---|---|
| A | 95-100 |
| A- | 90-94.9 |
| B+ | 87.7-89.9 |
| B | 83.33-87.6 |
| B- | 80-83.32 |
| C+ | 75-79.9 |
| C | 70-74.9 |
| D | 60-69.9 |
| F | Below 60 |
Due Dates
All assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit assignments accordingly. If you are outside of the ET time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas Guide at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10622.
As a general rule, you will NOT be able to go back and make up missed assignments. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments. Students with an excused absence (hospitalization, jury duty, or family emergency) may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.
Note on Late Assignments: Late assignments will lose the point equivalent of ten PERCENT per calendar day, and they will not be accepted later than Ten calendar days after the deadline.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g. upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Notes
- To Do List: Some assignments may not appear in the To Do list under the Home tab. Use the Calendar or Syllabus to ensure that you are fully aware of assignment due dates.
Assignments
Basic information about each assignment group is provided below. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information under the Modules tab.
You can expect meaningful feedback on all written assignments within one week of their due date. Students may review their quiz results one day after the assessment period ends. Quiz review will be shut down during the Midterm and Final exams.
| ASSIGNMENT GROUP |
% OF GRADE |
|---|---|
| Weekly Online Quizzes | 30% |
| Current Event Project | 20% |
| Interview Discussions | 10% |
| Mid-Term Exam | 20% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Weekly Online Quizzes
Value: 30% of total grade
Each Lesson Quiz will be taken online as part of your Canvas lesson. For Lessons 2-11, you will have a quiz with ten or twenty questions. These are the most important assignments that you will have to complete for the course.
Current Event Project
Value: 20% of total grade
You will be required to prepare a brief analysis of a current event in U.S. government during the course. This assignment involves selecting an issue in current American politics that is likely to be highly visible during the time you are taking the course. The topic will be tracked in the print media, especially The New York Times, The Washington Post, or the Philadelphia Inquirer supplemented by weekly news magazines, and the Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, all located in most local libraries. You may also want to use the Internet to gain news articles from The New York Times and the Washington Post.
Interview Discussions
Value: 10% of total grade
Some lessons within the course contain interview videos conducted with Penn State experts. After viewing the videos students will engage in a discussion of the interview main points.
You have two required posts for each discussion. An initial reply post is due by Wednesday of the lesson week, and a reply to a classmate is due by Sunday of the lesson week.
Mid-Term Exam
Value: 20% of total grade
The mid-course examination will be given after Lesson 6 and will cover the first two parts of the course. The midterm exams each consist of 10 true/false items worth 1 point each and 20 multiple choice items worth 3 points each, similar to the questions on the lesson quizzes. Part 2 Consists of 2 essay questions related to the lesson objectives in each unit. Each essay response is worth 15 points.
Final Exam
Value: 20% of total grade
The final examination will be given after completion of Lesson 11 and cover the last two parts of the course.The final exams each consist of 10 true/false items worth 1 point each and 20 multiple choice items worth 3 points each, similar to the questions on the lesson quizzes. Part 2 consists of 2 essay questions related to the lesson objectives in each unit. Each essay response is worth 15 points.
University Policies
Academic Integrity
Penn State defines academic integrity as “the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner.” (Senate Policy 49-20). Dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated in this course. Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without permission from the instructor or tampering with the academic work of other students. Students facing allegations of academic misconduct who drop the course will be returned and will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines until the allegations are dismissed and the drop is permitted. Students responsible for academic misconduct often receive academic sanctions, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for disciplinary sanctions assigned by the University's Office of Student Conduct (see Senate Policy G-9).
Unless your instructor tells you otherwise:
- Always include an in-text citation that includes the author(s) last name(s) and the year the source was published at the end of any sentence or below any image that includes words, images, or ideas you found in a source, always included quoted text within quotation marks, and always include a reference for any source at the end of your paper (ask your instructor about the format you should use).
- All of your graded coursework must be created by you without help from anyone in the course or otherwise. If you have questions about this, you should ask your instructor before submitting work for evaluation.
- All course materials you receive or access are protected by copyright laws. You may use course materials and make copies for your own use, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct and/or liable under Federal and State laws.
Disability Access
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for every Penn State campus at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/disability-coordinator. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation described at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/applying-for-services. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office offers residential and distance-based Penn State students non-emergency mental health services in the form of case management, community resource referrals, supportive listening, care giver support, and much more.
Students may request assistance from CAPS regarding a variety of common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. CAPS services are designed to enhance students' ability to fully benefit from the University environment and academic experience. Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday EST) or submit an inquiry online at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/form/caps-contact-form to schedule an appointment with a mental health advocate, who can help you address mental health concerns that may interfere with your academic progress or social development. This appointment will include a one-on-one session that can be conducted via telephone, teleconference (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or locally at Penn State University Park. For more information on services provided through CAPS, please visit the Penn State CAPS website at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/. Students enrolled at the World Campus are also encouraged to visit its Mental Health Services page at http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/student-services/mental-health-services.
Reminder: These services are for non-emergencies only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local crisis center or 911.
Nondiscrimination
Penn State is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University's educational mission, and will not be tolerated. For further information, please visit the Affirmative Action Office website at https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/.
Reporting a Bias Incident
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage at http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/.
TEACH Act
The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.
University Emergency Procedure
In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.
In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website at https://www.psu.edu or Penn State News website at https://news.psu.edu.
To register with PSUAlert, a service designed to alert the Penn State community when situations arise that affect the ability of a campus to function normally, please go to the PSU Alert website at https://psualert.psu.edu/. Subscribers can receive alerts by text message to cell phones, and also can elect to have alerts sent to an email address.
Syllabus Subject to Change
The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|