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Objectives and Format

POLS 1101 is a prerequisite to all POLS 3000/4000-level courses.
Outcomes: Students will analyze the complexity of human behavior as a function of the commonality and diversity within or between groups; analyze the interaction between culture and history or politics in the United States; and understand our system of constitutional government. Students will cover similar ground for Georgia.

Core IMPACTS course: Citizenship and Social Sciences areas. Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:

· Citizenship: How do I prepare for my responsibilities as an engaged citizen? Social Sciences: How do I understand human experiences and connections?

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome: Students will…

· (Citizenship) …demonstrate knowledge of the history of the United States and Georgia, and the provisions and principles their constitutions.

· (Social Sciences) …effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

· Citizenship: Critical Thinking; Intercultural Competence; Persuasion; Social Sciences: Intercultural Competence; Perspective-Taking; Persuasion

This course will utilize D2L online (also known as eLearning), but I like to keep things simple. We will not use any “modules”, etc. Instead, all course activity and communication take place via the announcement and discussion sections. We will engage in as much online discussion possible. To that end, you need to read the assignments before their due date. Be able to discuss and answer questions about them. The text lays out the basics (Though not required, you may take advantage of the text’s web site. We will start one or more new topics (usually each class) with the appropriate text chapter. We will also debate class topics and follow related current events in Google News articles. You will lead these activities online. In groups, all of you will present and discuss one or more (depending on class size) articles or debate topics. The articles will be posted in the appropriate D2L discussion topics. Of course, you all are responsible for all class readings. There will also be audio, video and other materials (linked in D2L discussions)—they do not require prior preparation, but you are responsible for them. Most weeks, a written assignment will end the topic. If you have test-taking anxiety, this is the course for you! No exams! Instead, you will be graded on the online discussions and presentations mentioned above, and written exercises scheduled for most weeks. Each assigned discussion and paper worth is 5% (5 points) of your final grade. Do not turn in late papers! If I accept late papers (and I may not!), you will lose 1 point of your paper grade for each day late. Additional work (written work or presentations) may be offered (see FAQs, below) or required. Your presentation or debate is 10% (10 points) of your grade. Use the table below to keep track of your grades and calculate your course grade:

Presentation	Point / %	Your Grade	D2L Discuss exercises	Point / %	Your Grade	Written exercises	Point / %	Your Grade	Grading
1. Founders	10 Points For each presenter	NOTE: If you are in more than the required number of presentations, your grade will be the average of all plus one point for each extra.	BAG 1, 2, 3	5	^________	1. Ideology Survey	5	^________
2. Lib./Cons.			BAG 4	5	^________	2. Media	5	^________
3. Interest Gps			BAG 5	5	^________	3. Interest Groups	5	^________
4. Parties/Elec.			BAG 6	5	^________	4. Political Parties	5	^________
5. Congress			BAG 7,	5	^________	5. Congress	5	^________
6. Presidency			BAG 8, 9	5	^________	6. Pres./Bur.	5	^________	90+ = A
7. Moot Court			BAG 10	5	^________	7. Judiciary	5	^________	80 to 89 = B
8. Affirm. Action			BAG 11	5	^________	8. Civ Lib / Civ Rts	5	^________	70 to 79 = C
9. Public Policy			BAG 12	5	^________	9. Public Policy	5	^________	60 to 69 = D
10. Foreign Pol.			BAG 14	5	^________	10. Foreign Policy	5	^________
Total:	10	^________	Total (one drop):	45	^________	Total (one drop):	45	^________	Your Total: ^____

I do not grade on a curve (You earn what you earn…I hope you all earn “A”s!). A typical class average is about a mid- to upper- “C” (“C” is average — not below average…“B” is above average). Just completing the requirements most likely earns a “C” (70-79). “B” (80-89) requires effort beyond just requirements. “A” (90-100) requires extraordinary performance.
Notes on “attendance”:
1. The UNG attendance policy (see the latest UNG Student Handbook, or Bulletin) applies to this course. While I will take attendance, I’m only interested in your general attendance. If you’re only absent once or twice, don’t worry. If you’re absent a lot (UNG does not recognize “cuts”), your grade will suffer (note also: late=absent!); and
2. Any in-class or D2L announcements are considered sufficient notice. So, attendance matters, and please check your email and D2L often.
^[1]Your debate/presentations will be by video. Every group member must be visually present in the video. You will post a video link to the appropriate D2L discussion topic.

CHEAT = FAIL:

Cheating/plagiarizing will result in a 0 for exams/assignments, a 0 for participation/attendance, and forfeiture of all extra credit. I may also pursue academic integrity charges and course failure. A.I. use is prohibited by the student code of conduct.

Students are bound by UNG's Integrity Code
“I will not lie, cheat, steal, plagiarize,
evade the truth or tolerate those that do.”

Plagiarism is a UNG academic intetrity
violation and will not be tolerated.

Additional Policies:
http://ung.edu/academic-affairs/policies-and-guidelines/supplemental-syllabus.php

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