Email: mikeriley@carlalbert.edu
I. THE CLASSROOM
POLITICAL SCIENCE 1113 is a lecture course, but students should ask questions and participate in discussions. DO NOT bring children or visitors to class. DO NOT BRING FOOD, DRINKS, OR TOBACCO PRODUCTS into the classroom.
Students are to be in the classroom and seated at the time the class is to begin. All talk is to stop when roll call begins.
II. ATTENDANCE
Twenty percent of the grade will be based on attendance. Students will begin the summer session with 100 points for an attendance grade. After the third absence, ten points will be deducted for each absence, and five points will be deducted for each tardy. Students who are tardy are responsible for informing the instructor of their presence after class so that they receive credit. THE ONLY EXCUSED ABSENCES ARE THOSE FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH I RECEIVE A MEMO. No late assignments will be accepted, and no make-up exams will be given.
III. OUTSIDE ASSIGNMENTS
There will be two outside assignments or reports that can count for twenty percent of your grade. Each report is worth 50 points if done correctly and turned in on time. A written (typed) report must be handed in at the beginning of class on Wednesday, October 16, or Thursday, October 17 and the final report must be handed in at the beginning of class on Thursday, November 21 or Friday, November 22.
IV. TESTING
There will be four major exams. Each exam will consist of fifty questions. Fifty minutes will be allowed to take the exam. The final is not comprehensive. Each exam will count 100 points for a total of 400 possible on all exams.
Exams are graded by scantron. It is the responsibility of the student to bring an UNBENT scantron answer sheet to class on exam day. Each student must also bring a pencil and eraser. Scantron sheets can be purchased at the bookstore. Instructions should be read carefully because the answer sheets will not be checked by hand.
If a student misses an exam, no make-up exam will be given.
Although there will be no curve on tests, quizzes or special assignments may be given to raise test scores. The value of quizzes or special assignments will depend on the highest grade made on the exam.
Students should read the text before it is discussed in class and take notes on the Class lectures. The lecture notes should be studied nightly. Test and quiz questions will be drawn from BOTH the lectures and the textbook
V. GRADING
A total of 500 points is possible in the following ways: Attendance, 100 points; final, 100 points; Next three highest scores on tests or reports, 300 points. The lowest score from the first three exams and the report will be dropped. The following grading scale will be used.
450 to 500 points = A
400 to 449 points = B
350 to 399 points = C
300 to 349 points = D
Below 300 points = F
VI. BEHAVIOR
Students are expected to exhibit COLLEGIATE BEHAVIOR in the classroom. Behavior problems may be punishable by warning, expelling from the classroom, or other disciplinary action at the instructor’s discretion. Unacceptable behavior includes:
A. Talking during roll call, lecture or audio-visual presentation.
B. Bringing food, drink, or tobacco products into the classroom.
C. Making noises or creating a disturbance during class.
D. Sleeping during lecture or audio-visual.
E. Working on anything from another class or reading during class.
F. Cheating on an exam.
VII. CASC complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special accommodations should make their requests in the following ways:
1. Talk with your instructor after class or during office hours about your disability or special needs related to the work in the class.
2. Complete the request for special accommodation form with the Student Support Services Coordinator/ADA Coordinator.
VIII. TENTATIVE OUTLINE OF THE COURSE
The course will be broken into four units or sections:
UNIT ONE…………………….CHAPTERS 1-5
UNIT TWO…………………....CHAPTERS 6-10
UNIT THREE………………….CHAPTERS 11-13
UNIT FOUR…………………...CHAPTERS 14-17
Required Textbook: WE THE PEOPLE: MCGRAW/HILL PUBLISHERS
IX. REPORTS
The reports should have four parts: Title Page, Body, Works Cited Page, and copies of all sources or material used—
A. Title page: The Title Page should include four things:
1. The Student’s name.
2. The name and number of the class—POLITICAL SCIENCE 1113
3. FALL SEMESTER 2002
4. The title of the Report
B. The Body—
Set the FONT NUMBER AT 12—The body of the report must be a minimum of two pages, but not longer than three pages. All of the report must be typed and the body must be double-spaced—The margin should be ONE inch at the TOP, BOTTOM and ON EACH SIDE.
When writing your report INCLUDE YOUR OPINION, BUT LIMIT IT TO NO MORE THAN ONE PARAGRAPH AT THE END OF YOUR REPORT. Also, DO NOT COPY FROM THE SOURCE—This is PLAGIARISM and is not acceptable in college—Write the report in YOUR OWN WORDS—Do not use any textbook as a source of information—The only encyclopedia that may be used is the Encyclopedia of World Biography-TWO SOURCES OF INFORMATION MUST BE USED—The INTERNET is a good source of information and both sources can be from it.
Do not use footnotes or endnotes.
Do not provide an outline or contents page.
C. Works Cited Page— On a separate sheet (after the body) list all works used and include the page number or the website.
D. Attach a copy of all sources of materials used for the report—
No more than six pages are necessary, and this should be placed at the end of the report AFTER the works cited page.
Do not put the report in a folder—just staple it all together (including the copies of the material used) or use a paper clip—
A list of acceptable report topics can be distributed for you to choose the subject of your report. If you prefer to write on a subject not on the list, simply clear it with your instructor after class or during office hours.