Dr. Carolyn M. Shrewsbury

Professor: Political Science
Program faculty member: Gerontology and Women's Studies
Address: 109 Morris Hall Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: 507-389-6939 ; fax: 507-389-6377
Office: MH 204C
e-mail: cbury@mankato.msus.edu
web site: http://krypton.mankato.msus.edu/~cbury/web/

Course assistants
James Andresen
MH 212A 389-6424
Office Hours TR 10:15-11:45; W by appointment
e-mail: james.andresen@mnsu.edu

Matt Osmundson
MH 212A 389-389-6424
e-mail: matthew.osmundson@mnsu.edu

Course Purpose: An informed, thoughtful, and skilled public is essential for a democratic society. We will examine the strengths and weaknesses of government and politics in the United States and we will improve our skills as citizens.

Objectives:

Subject Matter
1. become familiar with US national government and politics
2. learn key terms, concepts, facts and theories about US government.
3. become acquainted with some perspectives on and values judgments about US Government.
4. appreciate the importance of US government and the citizen's role.

Higher order thinking
5. Develop ability to apply principles and generalizations already learned to new situations.
6. Develop the ability to distinguish between fact and opinion.

Basic Academic Success Skills
7. Improve memory, listening speaking, reading , writing and information technology skills
8. Develop and improve study skills, strategies and habits.

Liberal Arts and Academic Values
9. Develop an openness to new ideas
10. Develop a more informed historical perspective
11. Increase awareness of political experience of minorities and women

Work and Career Preparation
12. Improve ability to follow directions, instructions and plans
13. Develop a commitment to personal achievement
14. Improve ability to organize and use time effectively

: Personal Development
15. become a more informed consumer of political news.
16. Develop capacity to think for one's self.
17. Develop a commitment to one's own values.
18. Cultivate a sense of responsibility for one's own behavior
19. Develop respect for others.

Learning Outcomes

General Ed Category #5: Social and Behavioral Sciences
1. use the methods and data that political scientists and historians use to investigate politics.
2. examine US political institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
3. use and critique alternative political theories and explanatory systems.
4. develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.

General Ed Category #9: Ethical and Civic Responsibilities
1. examine, articulate & apply their own ethical views relevant to US politics.
2. analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of political issues.
3. recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests of others.
4. understand/apply core political concepts to specific issues.
5. identify ways to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Text:

O'Connor & Sabato Essentials of American Government
The web site companion for the text is at http://occ.awlonline.com/bookbind/pubbooks/oconnoressentials_awl/
You will be expected to work extensively from this site. You will also be asked to read numerous articles accessed from this site.

In addition, we use Intrakal as our course management program. You must establish an account at http://ical.mnsu.edu/v3/Welcome.html and then register for this course. You will need your e-mail address to do this and will need to create a user id and a password. Do not forget those. You will be able to check your grades on your assignments from this site. Other course materials will be available at this site. You will also be asked to use the message center at this site.

Requirements:

Total points 150 Anticipated scale A= 135-150; B= 120-134; C=105-119; D=90-104
3 Exams 30 points each total 90 points
For each chapter, web explorations as assigned 10 highest scores will count for a possible maximum of 30 points
For each chapter, Try it Exercise (or alternate as assigned). 10 highest scores will count for a possible maximum of 30.

Missed exams can only be made up with documented acceptable excuses. I must be notified prior to the conclusion of the class period in which the exam is given that you have an official excuse. Make-ups will be held during the scheduled final exam period. (Not being able to study the night before a test is not an acceptable excuse. You should be studying throughout the term.)

Late work is penalized. Extremely late work is not accepted.
Three bonus points are possible (see schedule.)

Notes: Anyone needing special accommodations should visit with me early in the semester. If you are a student with a documented disability, please see me as early in the semester as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations, and/or contact the Disability Services Office at 507-389-2825 (V) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY).

You are invited to visit with the instructor if you are having difficulties, have questions, wish to discuss materials more, or have comments about the class. E-mail is also an effective way t ask questions or to relay information.

Submitting work not your own will result in a zero of that component of the course. For example, any Try It Exercise submitted that is not your work would result in a zero for the entire Try It Exercise component (0 out of 30). Don't gamble. It is, however, appropriate and often useful to discuss you web exploration and try it exercises with each other.

Schedule:
I assume that you have read the assigned reading prior to class. If you have not, you will have trouble understanding the lecture and participating in discussion. You should only be taking this course if you intend to be fully involved in it.

The text web site includes objectives for that chapter. Be sure to read those before you start the chapter. Those objectives can help guide your reading.

The text web site also includes quizzes for each chapter. You should take the multiple choice quiz after reading the chapter to check your understanding. You'll find the true-false and the essay questions will also help you monitor your learning. You'll note on the syllabus that I ask you to submit your quiz score for some chapters. Your score does not become part of your grade but allows me to see how the class and you are doing. You can earn 3 bonus points by submitting the requested test results by the required date.

A note on due dates. All web explorations and Try It Exercises are due prior to the date a new chapter is assigned. That means that the chapter one materials are due prior to January 25. The Chapter two materials are due prior to January 29 and so forth. Since it is to your benefit to complete them before beginning a new topic, you should aim to have them in the last class day that we discuss that chapter. Thus, chapter one materials should be in by January 23, even though they are not counted as late until the 25th.

A word of advice. Keyboard your answers to be submitted online first into your word processor. This allows you to spell-check. It also protects you should you not have time to finish an assignment. And if something happens, you've saved your work. When you're ready to submit, just paste it in the submit boxes.

Week 1
Jan 16. Introductions

Jan. 18 Ch 1 American Democracy
Web Exploration Do #s 1, 4, 7, 8, 9 Besides submitting your results to the instructor, I suggest you also e-mail them to yourself as the site allows.
Try It Exercise Do the exercise and submit a one to two page discussion of your current ideology (using the PEW categories) and how consistent or inconsistent you are in applying that ideology to positions on several political issues.

Week 2
Jan. 23 Ch. 1 continued

Jan. 25 Ch. 2 Constitution
Web exploration #s 2,4,5 (Besides submitting these I will ask you to share some of your findings in #5 in class)
Try It Exercise Do one of the sections and submit. (be sure though to read the intros and questions in all three sections).

Week 3
Jan. 29 Ch. 3 Federalism
Web exploration #s 2, 4 and one additional of your choice
Substitute exercise on federalism

Feb. 1 more on federalism with a special note on the 2000 Presidential election
Submit results of multiple choice quiz for this chapter by Feb. 2.

Week 4
Feb. 6 Ch 4 Civil Liberties
Web exploration #s2,3,4,5
Try It Exercise Submit your responses to the questions asked after exploring the issue.

Feb. 8 Civil liberties continued

Week 5
Feb. 13 Ch, 5 Civil Rights
Web exploration There are a number of sites you need to explore here. Credit for #s 1,3,,4,5,6 under web exploration points and for #s 8,10,11,12,13 under Try It exercise points. Submit these together.

Feb. 15 more on civil rights

Week 6
Feb. 20 Exam 1

Feb. 22 optional class to go over the exam

Week 7
Feb. 27 Ch. 6 Congress
Web exploration #s 2,5 Be prepared to share your work on 5 in class on Thursday
Try it Exercise do and submit

Mar. 1 more on Congress

Week 8
Mar. 6 Ch. 7 the President
Web exploration #s 1 and any 2 others
Do and submit the Try It Exercise
Submit result on multiple choice quiz for this chapter prior to March 20

Mar. 8 more on the President

Week 9
Mar. 20 Ch. 8 The bureaucracy
Web exploration #s 1, 2
Alternative exercise on federal government jobs

Mar. 22 more on bureaucracy

Week 10
Mar. 27 Ch. 9 the Judiciary
Web exploration Do # 2 and one other of your choice.

Mar. 29 more on the courts

Week 11
Apr. 3 Exam 2

Apr. 5 Ch. 10 Public opinion and media
Web exploration #s 1,2,4
Do Try it Exercise # 2 (If you need too do another exercise because you missed previous ones, you could also do #1)

Week 12
Apr. 10 more on Ch. 10

Apr. 12 Ch. 11 Parties
Web exploration again there are several sites to explore. Do #s 1,2,3,4 for web exploration points and #s5,6,7 for exercise points. Submit together.
Submit results of multiple choice quiz on this chapter by Apr. 23

Week 13
Apr. 17 Interest groups

Apr. 19 Instructor is at a Conference No Class. Use this time to get ahead in your work. Finals come sooner than you think!

Week 14
Apr. 23 Ch. 12 Campaigns and elections
Web exploration # 3,4
Submit Try It Exercise

Apr. 26 more on Ch 12

Week 15
May 1 Policy Portfolio pp 365-374

May 3 More on policy

Final Exam: Wednesday May 9 at 8:00

Last revised: 1/24/01

Return to Carolyn Shrewsbury home page