Prerequisite: POLS 1101.
Outcomes: Students will understand the history and structure of the presidency, understand the processes by which the President directs the administration of law, and understand the presidents' behaviors as a function of their goals and environmental constraints.

The substance of this course consists of information from several sources. In class, we will engage in as much discussion and as little lecture as possible. To that end, you need to do the readings before their assigned date. Be familiar enough with them to discuss and answer questions about them. We will also examine recent and upcoming presidential/executive activities to get a "current" view. Therefore, you must also stay informed of the progress of these events. We will follow current events mainly as covered in the Google News/Politics web site.

In addition to the assigned readings, we will review Google News/Politics articles (or articles from other sources) each week. You will present and lead class discussions of these. Together, we will select articles that complement class topics. So in a real sense, you will help to shape course content! Of course, you all are responsible for all assigned articles, text, and any other materials. In presenting these articles, I would like each of you to assume a particular role (e.g., presidential advisors, members of Congress, the press). This helps us gain particular insights into different perspectives on presidential issues. A list of roles appears in the POLS 4111 Role Page.

For most weeks, the class meets Tuesdays only. Online discussion replaces most Thursday classes: We will begin new topics and readings after each Tuesday class. You are required to post comments on that material to our Desire2Learn (D2L) discussion site. You are required to post at least one substantive response (1. not just "I liked...", or "I didn't like" or similar words; 2. analytical, not judgmental) to discussion/notes I will post on D2L each week and at least one substantive original comment. Treat online discussions as required readings – you are responsible for, and may be tested on them. There may be videos to view or other activities assigned as part of these discussions.

There are two ‘mid-term’ exams and a final. Each is 15% of your grade. They consist of three essay questions. A few days before the exam, I will give you five essay questions. On the day of the exam, I will select three of these questions for you to answer. Please do not miss exams (you know our schedule now, so plan your schedule well ahead). I will not give makeups unless you 1) notify me or the department in advance (no exceptions); and 2) verify a family/medical emergency in writing. Note: I will not give any makeups after the graded exams are handed back in class. An individual or group project of 12+-21+ pages (depending on group size), due no later than [Date TBA], is another 10% of your grade. The format and topics are covered on our web site, but you must consult me before proceeding. To prepare you for the project, an annotated bibliography is due by [Date TBA], and an annotated outline is due by [Date TBA]. Together, these are worth 5% of your grade. A revision worth 10% of your grade is due during the last two weeks (see schedule). Do not turn in late papers! If I accept them (and I may not!), you will lose either 5% or 1 point of your paper grade (whichever is greater) for each day late. Your online posts are another 20% of your grade. Finally, a presentation of your project during the last two weeks is another 10%.

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; 2. Any class or D2L announcements are considered sufficient notice. So, attendance matters. Please check your email and D2L often.

Information Literacy (IL): Our class project addresses IL Outcomes #1-4. Using turnitin.com meets #5.