Political Science/POLSCI 10

American Government

Fall, 2008

Course Syllabus

 

Instructor

Jennifer Gardner

gardnersjb@chater.net  707-487-0165

Welcome:

Welcome to American Government online. This site is for students who are considering this course or have already registered for the class.

Course Description:

Addresses both the philosophic roots and the contemporary operation of American national, state, and local government. Specific topics include constitutional development, federal-state relations, and the rights and obligations of citizens under both the federal and the California constitution. 

Required Textbooks/Materials:

The Challenge of Democracy ,  Brief Edition ,  6/e
Janda, Kenneth
Berry, Jeffrey M.
Goldman, Jerry
Hula, Kevin W.
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-50353-7, ©2006
ISBN-10: 0-618-50353-6

California Government ,  4/e
Korey, John L.
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-45234-7, ©2006
ISBN-10: 0-618-45234-6

Both books are required.  Please purchase books prior to the first day of class.

Course Availability:

The course will become available the weekend before CR classes begin in the Fall.

Instructor Contact:

You may contact me at the email address listed above. During the academic year: On weekdays I usually respond within a few hours. At other times, including weekends, I usually check my email once a day. My home phone is 707-487-0165 and my cell is 707-218-5177 where you can also leave a voice-mail message.

Student Contact:

It is very important that College of the Redwoods has your current email address. You can confirm or update your email address by going to WebAdvisor from the CR homepage, logon, and choose the "student" option. Click on address/phone/email update.

On-Campus Requirement:

There are no requirements to attend on-campus meetings. All exams will be online.

Student Requirements:

Prerequisite:  None

Recommended: English 150

Computer Set-Up and Skills

Your Computer Skills: Online courses require adequate computer skills. You should be able to navigate websites, open and download files, use a word processor and be able to convert files into rich text format, and submit files to Blackboard. Familiarity with Blackboard is recommended.

Computer Requirements: Most computers and internet providers are adequate. I would recommend broadband services through cable, DSL, or satellite providers.  You need to have regular access to the internet at least twice a week for 15 weeks.

Online Commitment: 

Your commitment will require at least as much time as you would dedicate to a traditional class. A typical 3 credit hour class will require about 9 hours per week of your time. You will need to read posted lectures, read text chapters, participate in online discussions, complete weekly quizzes, write and submit papers, and take online final exams. Plan to be online at least 2-3 times each week.

Registration:

Registration is easiest online using web advisor. The class capacity is set at 50 students.  If the class is closed, please do not contact me as I will direct you to web advisor and encourage you to keep trying to add the class. The class will open and close during the summer months depending on the number of students who drop the class before the semester begins. 

Accommodations:  

If you need accommodations to succeed in this online class you should contact Disabled and Student Services Program at 707-476-4280 and the instructor. This course is designed to be accessible to students who have visual or auditory impairments.

Classroom "Time": 

This online class requires weekly participation consistent with the College’s semester schedule. The class will be available at any hour with no requirements to participate at any given time, but will include deadlines for discussion posts, assignments, quizzes, and tests.

Getting Started: 

 

On or shortly after the first day of class go to the Blackboard login site at http://bb.redwoods.edu/   Username and password instructions are available at this site. After you login you will find a link to the class where you will receive detailed instructions on how to proceed. You must participate fully by the end of the first week (Sunday) or you may be dropped from the class.