*This course requires an email address and access to the Internet.

POLS 1101

American National Government

Web Course Syllabus and Guidelines- Fall 2008
Section #’: 80107 & 80356

East Georgia College - Statesboro Campus (GA)

Student Checklist

- *Please do not begin this course until you have received from me via e-mail the course “Welcome
Letter” which will be sent the day of or one day before the start of the semester and is here:
-Attend Mandatory Orientation meeting (see below).
- Have MS WORD and understand how to open, receive, and send MS WORD attachments.
- Receive via e-mail and read the course "Welcome Letter."
- Sign and return to me in person at the Orientation the Course Syllabus "Acknowledgement Form."

- If you do not already have an account on VISTA, go to www.ega.edu and establish an account.
One account serves all classes.
(NOTE: Please contact me once you have an account. You will not be able to view the course
site until classes begin).

Orientation

For the Fall 2008 semester, there will be a Mandatory Orientation, at the Statesboro Campus. Please go here:

I will also give you the date and time of the Orientation when I send to you via e-mail the course “Welcome Letter.” At the Orientation, I will need to visit with you to go over the course syllabus, address any questions you may have, attain your signed syllabus agreement form, and have you take a department mandated diagnostic pre-test. This meeting will take place in Statesboro, at the new East Georgia College Center. The Center is located at 1525-A Fair Road, between McDonalds and the Fire Department (look for the building with the Fountain out front). I also suggest you mapquest.com
the address and/or use GPS.

I. Instructor

Dr. Tom Caiazzo
Social Sciences Division
Phone: 912-486-7072
Email: tcaiazzo@ega.edu

If you experience problems in this course, you should contact me as soon as possible before your problems are compounded
and begin to affect your success in the course. E-mails will be answered as soon as possible. If you wish to speak in
person, you may call and schedule a time.

II. Course Description

In this course, we will examine the history, institutions, processes, documents, and players in the American political system.
The course will be taught via many different class formats including but not limited to: the Socratic method of instruction;
textbook and reserved readings; group activities; cyberspace and the virtual classroom; and, service learning.

III. Prerequisite

English 0097, 0098; Reading 0099. It is not recommended that you take this course until you have exited these learning support classes.

IV. Textbook

-Caiazzo, et.al, Understanding American Government - Revised 2nd edition, Horizon Publishing, 2005. The text is available at
both the Georgia Southern University and East Georgia College bookstores You MUST purchase this specific textbook.

V. Course Objectives and Outcomes

You should exit this course with a basic familiarity and understanding of the processes and institutions associated with the American political system. The course is taught from a theoretical and policy oriented perspective, meaning that you should be able to grasp and understand the underpinnings of the American political process. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of government as both an arena and arbiter among various groups vying for power in an environment of scarce resources. In this environment, government assumes the role of decision-maker. In a more practical sense, you should come away with a basic understanding of how government impacts your daily life, through the formulation and implementation of public policy, the study of how government decides who gets what. The course poses several philosophical questions:

1)	Do we really need government?
2)	If we do need government, how much power should it exercise over the lives of individuals?
3)	How should power be allocated among the various branches (executive, legislative and judicial) and levels (federal, state and local) of government?
4)	Whose interests should be served first? Those of the one, or the few and the many?
5)	How does the development of technology affect the answers to the first four questions?

You are expected to integrate the required readings with class lectures. East Georgia College assesses student learning based upon the achievement of eleven general education outcome electives. A list of these outcomes is available on the East Georgia College web page. Outcomes 1, 3, 6, and 9 are incorporated into the objectives of this course. The appropriate learning outcome is indicated at the end of each objective.

A)	Describe the historical background, process and results of the U.S. Constitutional convention and compare and contrast it with the Georgia state constitution (1,9).
B)	Identify the structure and processes of the three branches of the U.S. government and compare the U.S. system to other forms of government (1,3,4).
C)	Describe the non-institutional aspects of the U.S. system of government: public opinion, media, voting and elections, political parties and interest groups (1,6,9).
D)	Identify and describe major issues concerning civil liberties, civil rights and other public policy decisions on a local, national and global scale (1,3,6,9).
E)	E) Identify and describe the major institutions of local government as well as the Georgia State government (1,9).

VI. Course Evaluation

In most semesters, you will formally evaluate the course and the instructor (me) near the end of the semester
(not applicable for summer classes).

VII. Exam and Grading Policy

There will be two (2) major exams, two (2) sectional assignments, a Civic Engagement Project, and a
Current Event Discussion Board interaction this semester. All Sectional Assignments will be administered and completed on-line.
Your Mid-Term and Final Exam will be administered at the Statesboro Center (this may change, but still be prepared).
Thus, you will have to be on campus only three times all semester -
1) Take a Pre-test and turn-in your Syllabus Agreement Form; 2) Take your Mid-Term Exam;
and, 3) Take the Final Exam, to turn-in your Civic Engagement project, and to take the Post-test.

Assignment	Date	Location
1	Introduction to Politics, Government, and Democracy; Elected Officials; and, The U.S. Constitution and U.S. Federalism Due Date, expired	Online
2	The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches; Civil Liberties and Rights; Domestic and Foreign Policy; and Voting and Elections. Due Date: expired	Online
	Discussion Board Interaction	Online
	Civic Engagement Project	On campus

- Pre-Test/Syllabus Agreement Form: TBA
- Exam #1: expired
- Exam #2 (final): Monday – Wednesday, December 1-3 2008, 8:00am
- Civic Engagement Project – Due when you take your Final Exam
- Last Day to Withdraw: see official web site and/or
call the registrar's office to be sure)
- Graduation: see official web site and/or
call the registrar's office to be sure)

* All locations, dates, and times are subject to change. Please check your e-mail at
least once a day for such changes and all other class information.

a. Method of Instruction

All sectional assignments will be posted at my personal web site at: http://tomcaiazzo.com/gov1www_sectional.html. It will also be your
responsibility to go to East Georgia College's main page (http://www.ega.edu) and sign up for VISTA (create a log-in name and password).
Write this information down and please don’t lose it. We will use VISTA ONLY for class discussions and other academic material.

Each sectional assignment will have its own specific requirements and specifications. All assignments must be completed online
and the work will be conducted exclusively via the web. You must submit ALL assignments and exams to me via an attachment
in MS WORD to: tcaiazzo@ega.edu ! Do not send it to VISTA or in a Word Perfect format. Again, please send all exams, assignments,
and questions to my e-mail account as an attachment in MS WORD. VISTA will ONLY be used for viewing the assigned work and the
discussion board. No exceptions. Likewise, there is still a standard textbook for this course - sectional assignment material and especially
exam material will derive from the text. I also suggest that all assignments/exams you send to me you also "cc" them to your e-mail account/s.
At times, e-mails may get lost and deleted. As much as I value your honesty and "word" per se, no late assignments/exams or lost assignments/exams
will be accepted. Finally, I also suggest you keep a hand-written "log" of the dates and times you sent me your e-mail assignments/exams. Thus, in
case something unfortunate happens, you will have some solid proof.

Please keep in mind that even though this is a distance learning course, in no way will this course and the political science discipline be sacrificed.
Academic rigor will not be neglected. I have taught distance learning political science courses for more than eight (8) years, and have found
that students are challenged by this format. They also like the unorthodox approaches and techniques that are presented. The one point,
however, that often needs clarification, is that for some reason, students initially think that a Web-based course is just about "surfing the
net" or "talking in chat rooms." This is not categorically and unequivocally not true!

I can guarantee that you will be accomplishing the same educational objectives as those who enroll in a traditional academic setting.
Normative and empirical techniques, as well as the reading of the classics will be incorporated into the cyberspace technology. You will
be writing essays and writing a lot. If you have concerns about your writing, I suggest that you use the College's writing resources for
guidance. This combination will give you the student a thorough and complete introductory political science education.

You are also asked to still follow the rules and procedures of this course, which includes academic honesty as well as respecting due dates,
complete the readings, and always being prepared. Though we will meet only a few times this semester, I believe your web-based experience
will seem "just like we are in the classroom." I will combine your material with various discussion questions on Web CT, e-mail you with
questions and comments, and offer a vast array of challenging educational opportunities.

Lastly since all educational activity will be via VISTA/e-mail and the web, please keep in mind that this technology may experience some
shortcomings. Meaning, the darn system might crash. E-mails may get lost. Power may go out, bobcats may eat your assignments, etc. Thus
be sure to make copies of all your assignments and as stated earlier, "cc" all assignments/exams to a secondary e-mail and keep a written l
og of all your e-mails.

Now, just so we are on the same page regarding “online” classes, and please don’t take the next three paragraphs personally, but I want
the best for your education. With this said, since I've been teaching online (since 1998), extensive research (if you want, I'll give you
a reference list) shows that online courses are more reliable (they teach what they're supposed to teach) and that student performances
are more valid (the students are really who they say they are, really doing their own work) when at least one proctored experience is
included in an online class. "Proctored" in this case means on campus, in a monitored environment. Logically, a large exam is the best time
to do this. Between 1 and 3 proctored experiences are the suggested norm (the usual method) for accomplishing this in online courses.
This is not "weird" or "mean" or "unfair" or "unreasonable." This is the nationally accepted standard of what is "best practice" in online teaching.

Maybe you've had online courses where you never had to step foot on campus. Well, all I can say is that teaching in college has a
fair amount of academic freedom—professors decide individually what to teach and how to teach. I have no control over anyone
else's class--but I do have a say so in how I manage my online courses. And mine have 2 to 3 proctored experiences because every
indication from my own experiences and from the experts who study this kind of teaching suggest that a proctored experience or two
makes for a better course--in terms of student learning and in terms of having a good course. If you disagree with this analysis and
approach withdraw from the class to protect the integrity of your academic records.

This course will combine two online/on-campus chapter exams with 2 (two) in-depth, writing intensive Sectional Assignments.
Let me repeat, two exams and two writing intensive sectional assignments. You will also complete a civic engagement project and
engage in weekly discussion board interaction. All of this is clearly stated in the syllabus.

The exams may involve multiple-choice and/or essay questions. There will be two (2) major exams this semester. Exams may be
issued on-line or on-campus at the Statesboro Campus. It is imperative that you be available to take these Exams on-campus in
Statesboro (no exceptions unless emergency situation – please let me know at Orientation) during the designated dates. When I issue
you the Exam information via e-mail, I will let you know if the Exam needs to be completed on campus in Statesboro or on-line.
Again, please view the designated Exam dates in the syllabus for your scheduling. Once again, please understand that I reserve the
right to administer your Exams via an on-line and/or on-campus format. Please keep the designated dates "open" on your calendar in
case you have to come on campus in Statesboro to take the Exam/s.

Too many students think a web class is “easy” and/or “simple.” This is not the case. I would NEVER be so reckless with your
education. I value your education and my discipline way too much. I am here for you and I want to make sure you leave this course
satisfying all my educational outcomes to make sure you are a more aware and informed citizen and student. I fully believe that you
agree with my goals, and you demand this rigor and challenge; and I will not let you down.J I am equally confident that if you give
110%, do the readings, participate with discussions, follow the rules and procedures, and turn all your work in on time, you will
undoubtedly succeed in this course.

EMERGENCY:

**If an emergency develops and your e-mail/the system/VISTA is down and/or inaccessible, please send the completed assignment to me
VIA FAX. Please title your fax with your name and applicable sectional assignment # - i.e. "Dr. Caiazzo, Sectional Assignment #_." My
fax # is: 912-486-7058. Likewise, you should title all e-mail assignments to me in the same manner and address me as either "Dr" or
"Professor" Caiazzo. I also receive many, many e-mails, so please respect this request. The e-mail address is once again: tcaiazzo@ega.edu.
My personal e-mail is: tomcaiazzo@yahoo.com. I suggest you use this e-mail to send assignments only if something are wrong with the
college server. You also need to call me if you plan on submitting material to this e-mail (I don't check it that often). Once again, my
phone number is: 912-486-7072. I also recommend that you have two e-mail accounts (yahoo and/or hotmail).

***You are also required to attend the mandatory Orientation. If you can't make it due to an emergency. please contact me in advance,
if possible.

Please keep the following policies in mind:

1) No late assignment/papers will be accepted (regardless of the reason), so please organize your time. Each assignment has a specific
due date (this is not a self-paced class). The due date is the last date that Sectional Assignments will be accepted. Any assignment may
be turned in early, but not late. If an emergency situation develops (see make-up policy below), I will allow you to complete a 10-12 page
research paper on a political science topic of my choosing to make up for any exam. As for Sectional Assignments, there are no make-ups
for the sectional assignments since you will have a plethora of time to complete these assignments. Only if an emergency situation develops
(see make-up policy below), I will accept a sectional assignment late with a fifty (50) point deduction and under conditions pre-approved in
advance. All is subject to written verification and documentation.

2) You will do your own work. When you use information from outside sources (like the internet), make sure that you cite them
(see http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sources/ - for information on how to cite sources and what constitutes plagiarism). If you do not, it is
plagiarism. Do not “cut and paste” information taken from the web. Please see the college's policy on plagiarism/cheating.
With respect to writing, here are my basic Writing Expectations: In this class, you are expected
to write at the college level. Written work must meet the following requirements:
-Double spaced (No double spaces between paragraphs)
-1 inch margins all the way around (top, bottom, left & right)
- 12 point font (Arial or Times New Roman only)
- Proper documentation of any sources that you cite. Please use parenthetical notation
within the text and a reference page at the end of the paper (APA/MLA style).
- All papers should be stapled in the upper left-hand corner; please no folders or
report covers.
- Please use APA/MLA style of documentation and citation. You can find reference books to guide you in using MLA/APA
style in the library or online. Incorrect citation WILL result in “points off” of your grade.

3) Collusion is intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to providing
a paper or project to another student, providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate during an
examination; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site, and allowing a classmate to copy answers.

4) Please refer to your Student Handbook regarding all other academic policies.

b. Evaluation and Grading Scale

-Two (2) Sectional Assignments at 100 points each.
-Two (2) Exams at 100 points each (on and/or off campus).
- Daily/Weekly Discussion Board Interaction at 50 points
- Civic Engagement Project at 50 points

Grading Scale:
500 - 450 = A (90-100%)
449 - 400 = B (80-89%)
399 - 350 = C (70-79%)
349 - 300 = D (60-69%)
299 - 0 = F (0 - 59%)

************CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT******************

Please complete the Civic Engagement Project below. The due date is: the day you turn-in your final exam and take the pos-test.

Civic Engagement Project: To view our government in action, you are asked to attend any local government meeting such
as the: Statesboro (or another city) City Council, Bulloch County (or another county) Commissioner's meeting, or Bulloch
County School Board (or another school board) Meeting, etc. You must physically attend the meeting. Once you arrive at the
meeting, secure an agenda sheet that shows the date of the meeting and items that will be discussed – you must attain this sheet.
You must then STAY for the ENTIRE meeting. Take notes, and even contribute if you desire. Once the meeting is over, you
MUST have one of the ELECTED officials sign the agenda sheet verifying attendance. Be cordial and nice, and even introduce
yourself; they will be glad you attended. I then want you to type a five paragraph descriptive essay about the process,
procedures, elected officials, agenda issues, and your experience and opinion of the meeting. You will hand deliver your final
paper typed with a cover sheet no later than the due date (see above). Please hang-on to your agenda sheet – I may ask you to bring
it to me on campus when you take the final exam.

VIII. Absence and Tardy Policy

Though this is a Web-based course:
1. a) You should make a conscious effort to continuously monitor VISTA, chat discussions, and e-mails. I will post items for discussion on the discussion board in VISTA and want everyone to contribute. At certain times, I will give extra credit for this participation.
b) Likewise, there are absolutely no make-ups allowed or partial credit points given for any assignment and exam/s.

2. You must complete all assigned reading material prior to scheduled discussions. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please e-mail and/or make an appointment to visit with me immediately. Do not wait until the day before or after an exam, or at the end of the semester. I am here for you, but I can't do the readings for you.

3. Please do not wait for the last minute to complete your projects. Diskettes can contain errors, printers can break down, computers may malfunction, wild boars may eat your assignments, etc., so please plan ahead. I will not accept any late sectional assignments or exams, so be smart and be academically responsible.

IX. Dr. Caiazzo's Office Hours and Contact Information

                                            Office: East Georgia College Campus, 1525-A Fair Road, Statesboro, 30460.
                                              Office: East Georgia College Campus, 1525-A Fair Road, Statesboro, 30460.
                                              Office Hours: 8:00am – 10:30am, M-R; and, e-mail me anytime.
                                              Office Phone: 912-486-7072        E-mail: tcaiazzo@ega.edu

Although this is a web based course and most interaction will be via the discussion board, chat rooms,
and e-mail, I also highly recommend that you visit with me in my office to discuss any and all concerns you
have regarding your academic progress and/or status in this course.

X. Make-Up Policy

You are required to turn-in all sectional assignments and take both exams when scheduled. If you fail to turn the sectional assignments in on time and/or complete the exam as scheduled, you will receive zero (0) points. If your explanation meets the rare criteria below, please e-mail me immediately or visit with me during my office hours to schedule a make-up (I will determine the scope of the make-up). As for the make-up, you will need to provide appropriate documentation/paperwork. Likewise, there are no early examinations given and the make-up policy for this course is given only under the following conditions:

A. You are ill and present an official letter from a physician stating specifically that you were physically unable to do online academic work. In addition, if possible, you must contact me before missing the exams, labs, projects, and other assignments. Regardless, the physician’s letter (with a clear address and phone contact) must be submitted the first day you can contact me online. In case your other professors need this document as well, be sure to make copies.

B. You are scheduled to participate in some college-sponsored activity (an athletic event, theatre presentation, music audition, etc (not a cruise trip, friend’s wedding, cousin’s baptism, etc) which conflicts with the exam, project, assignment, and/or lab schedule. In this case, you should check course schedule and let me know of the activity in writing by the second week of class. This is your responsibility and not that of your athletic coach and/or extra-curricular instructor. Do not have them send me a schedule and/or e-mail regarding the activity/event. You must personally type me a memo stating the aforementioned and applicable dates. If the activity is not currently scheduled, you will not be excused.

C. In accordance with the Georgia Education Code I will allow you, because you were absent from class for the observance of a religious holiday, to take an exam or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time. You are required to file a written request with me within the first fifteen (15) days of the semester to qualify for an excused absence. A copy of the state rules and procedures regarding holy days and the form for notification of absence from class should be available from the Admissions and Records Office.

D. If you are involved in some "emergency" situation, I will determine whether the situation warrants having missed the exam or sectional assignment without notice. "Emergency" means a major computer virus or illness. These situations are also subject to written verification. Proper documentation should be immediately provided upon returning to class online.

E. Absolutely no other exceptions will be made and please do not try to haggle, or negotiate with me regarding this academic policy. Individual accountability, responsibility, decency, and respect are implied.

XI. Policy Regarding Taping of the Class

Although this doesn't apply to a web-based course, you are allowed to download all my notes and use them as a study aid.

XII. Plagiarism

Besides the college’s policy on cheating and plagiarism, my academic honesty policy goes further:
A) The use or transfer of another student’s examinations for so-called studying or reviewing purposes is viewed as academic dishonesty. So, do not give any student your tests or sectional assignments. This is your private personal property, and no one should be allowed to view it. Also, simply, in order to avoid the charge that work contains plagiarized materials the following rules must be adhered to strictly:
a. A direct quotation (whether a single word or a phrase, sentence, paragraph, or series of paragraphs) must always be identified by quotation marks, or by indenting and single spacing, and a footnote/end note/parenthetical reference must be used to state the exact source.
b. A paraphrase of the work of another must be acknowledged as such by a note stating the source.
c. Indebtedness to the specific ideas of others, the summarizing of several pages, even though expressed in different words, must be acknowledged by a note stating the source.
d. Every instance of the use of another student’s laboratory reports, computer programs, or a note must acknowledge other material.
e. Even the use of your own previous work must be acknowledged; you must obtain the prior permission of all professors concerned before submitting substantially the same paper in more than one course.
B. Though this is a web based course, you can't simply "cut and paste" material taken from the Internet. Please cite accordingly.
C) You are to do your OWN work.

XIII. ADA Regulations

If you have special needs because of a learning disability or physical disability, you should discuss this problem with me immediately. I will make every reasonable effort to accommodate you. Learning disabled students must be officially tested and diagnosed as such by East Georgia College Counseling Services and bring the paperwork to me before accommodations can be made.

XV. Extra Credit Options

For extra credit, you will be allowed to complete both of the civic engagement tasks below All requirements are stated below but will be discussed and outlined in detail at the Orientation. They are due at the time/date that you take your final exam. Each task is worth 10 (ten) total points.

a. Community Volunteerism: As part of my commitment to service learning, I am asking you to be an engaged scholar in your community. You will have to serve twenty-five (25) hours of civic engagement/volunteerism, at an organization pre-approved by the both of us IN ADVANCE; such as a local political campaign, social organization, or other non-profit associations that provides for the community. You MUST visit with me to get approval PRIOR to doing this task. You must then keep a log sheet of the days/hours worked. I then want you to type at least a two-three paragraph descriptive essay about your experience and opinion. Turn your paper in, attached to your log sheet, with a cover page stating your name and class section by the due date we agree upon.
b. Book Discussion: In an effort to better understand political campaigns, I want you to purchase and read the following book: Politics of Hope - A Failed Strategy. Once you complete the book, please visit with me during my office hours and/or by appointment to discuss your findings and orally answer some questions. It should take no more than thirty minutes.

Appendix A

ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM POLICIES
1. The posting of your grades are prohibited by the:
a) Buckley Amendment and the Families in Education Right To Privacy Act. FERPA (1974) is a federal law that grants students the right to inspect, to obtain copies, to challenge, and to a degree control the release of information contained in his or her education records. In general, no personally identifiable information from a student’s education record will be disclosed to a third party without consent from the student. Several exceptions may be made; therefore students are urged to acquaint themselves with the guidelines. The act and regulations are lengthy, and for that reason the college has issued guidelines that are available from the Registrar’s Office. Also, the Privacy Act of 1974 states that agencies may not make their files on an individual available to other agencies without that individual's consent (exempted are law enforcement agencies, the CIA, and the secret service, and certain filed pertaining to federal employment – you should also be familiar with the PATRIOT Act).

2. Via e-mails, chat rooms, and discussion boards, this course encourages and is designed for your participation. You should, however, participate without rancor, inappropriate behavior, or harassment of any type. Rancor is defined as: deep hatred, intense ill will, antagonism, animosity, antipathy, enmity, and hostility. So please no rancor. This expression will not be permitted, and if violated you will be asked to leave this web-based course. I do support your freedom of speech and crave your opinions and comments in class but when it is rancorous, we must respect for the law. However, and I want you to be clear about this fact, the discipline of political science deals with controversial and opposing viewpoints which are healthy to analytical classroom discussions. If you are easily offended by this constitutionally protected speech, it is highly recommended that you reconsider taking this course. Controversial ideas, which are framed in an academic and appropriate manner, are coveted and needed to promote thought and stimulate dialogue. It is imperative that you are both tolerant and understanding of opposing viewpoints. This policy is not intended to hinder academic thought, but rather respect the civil liberties and rights of all students and the instructor.

I also suggest that you do not share your assignments and your grades with anyone else. Not only is this a violation of your educational policy, but a breech of academic confidentiality between you and me. Your academic efforts are no other person's business. The same goes for your passwords, telephone contact, and other significant personal information.

3. If you need a progress report or personal sheet signed by me regarding your progress (for athletics, employment, etc, purposes), please visit with me during my office hours. Due to time restraints and other academic matters before/after class, I will be glad to accommodate you during my office hours. If you are on another campus, e-mail me the form as an attachment and/or fax it to me. Just please let me know of this in advance.

4. Per policy, all academic and professional e-mail correspondence must go to my college e-mail address. The "yahoo" e-mail address located on the main page of my website is only for informal inquiry.

5. About a week before the official drop date, if you think your performance may be inadequate, feel free to schedule a meeting with me during my office hours.

6. Consultation: You are encouraged to discuss with me any academic concerns you have regarding the course. Please visit with me during my

Disclaimer: Course syllabus is subject to change. Students will be advised of any such changes in advance, when possible.

*******************************************************************************************
Course Syllabus "Acknowledgement Form"

Please hand-deliver and return to me the information below at the mentioned above Orientation.

I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD THE COURSE SYLLABUS AND AGREE
TO ABIDE BY ITS PROVISIONS.

_____________________________ _______________________________ ____________________

Signature Clearly Print Name Date