GOVT 2306 Texas State and Local Government PCM (Personal Computer with Modem), Summer 2007

 

Instructor:       Kris S. Seago

Office:               2142 NRG

Office Hrs:       M-TH: 10:00 a.m. - Noon

                          And by appointment

email:                kseago@austincc.edu (preferred)

Phone:              (512) 223-4231 (secondary)

AIM:                 ksseago

Web page:        http://www.austincc.edu/kseago

 

COURSE GOALS

 

This course is an introduction to Texas state and local government. The course includes an introduction to a framework for analyzing Texas government and politics, the constitutional basis for Texas government and politics, the processes of Texas government and politics, the institutions of Texas government and politics, and the policies of Texas government and politics.

 

During the course of the semester I hope to convince you of the importance of state and local government, and more importantly, to pique your interest in becoming an informed, responsible, and critical citizen.

 

MANDATORY ONLINE ORIENTATION

 

You must complete an online orientation and submit an orientation form between Monday, July 9, and Thursday, July 12.

 

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

 

In addition to a basic technological prowess, there are certain technology requirements you’ll need to take full advantage of the resources used in this course.

 

• Email account: You’ll need an email account that you check regularly. I’ll send notices and supplemental readings on a regular basis.
• Modern web browser: You’ll need a modern web browser to see some of the online resources.
• PDF Reader: You’ll need a Portable Document Format (pdf) reader to read some of the supplemental readings. Adobe's Acrobat Reader is available free of charge from the Adobe Corporation for most modern operating systems.
• QuickTime Player: You’ll need Apple's QuickTime player (or a media player that will play QuickTime video) to view certain video files. QuickTime Player is available free of charge from Apple Computer.
• Windows Media Player: You’ll need Windows Media Player (or a player that will play Windows Media files). Windows Media Player is available free of charge from the Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh users can install Flip4Mac to view Windows Media files.

 

Expectations

 

Even though this is an introductory class that most (if not all) of you “have to” take, I expect high quality performance. You are responsible for the material covered, including information on deadlines and examinations. Successfully completing this course will require several hours of work per week, you should have 10 to 15 hours per week available to devote to the course.

 

Course Readings

 

Required readings are drawn from:

 

Keith, Haag. Texas Government: Continuity and Change. Longman, 2006. The textbook is available from multiple sources. A second edition of this text is soon to be released. Take care to get the first edition.

 

I’ll publish supplemental readings, notes, and audio or video files for each of the major topics. 

 

In addition, I expect you to keep up with current events in Texas state and local government by reading relevant stories in the Local and State section in one of the major Texas newspapers (Austin American Statesman, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Houston Chronicle, or the San Antonio Express News. I'll notify you via email with either full text or the URLs for stories I expect you to read.

 

COMMUNICATION

 

Email will be our primary form of correspondence. I read class-related email between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. If you send email outside these hours I may not reply until my normal email hours the next business day. I don't read class-related email on the weekends.

 

In addition, I'll be logged on to AOL Intstant Messenger (ksseago) and available by phone (512.223.4231) during my published "in-person" office hours.

 

Grades

 

There are three components to your final grade:

 

1. Exams

 

There are four exams. Each exam counts for 16.6% of your final grade. The fourth exam is NOT comprehensive.

 

Exams must be taken in person at one of ACC's Testing Centers at the Northridge, Rio Grande, Pinnacle, Cypress Creek, Riverside, Eastview, South Austin Campuses, at the San Marcos and Fredericksburg High Schools, or at the Round Rock Higher Education Learning Center. Visit the Testing Center website for hours and locations, policies and procedures and Frequently Asked Questions.

 

You must have an ACC Photo ID to take an exam in the Testing Centers.

 

Take the exams no later than the scheduled dates. Subsequent exams will be available after the deadline for the prior exam. For example, Exam 2 will be available after the deadline for Exam 1.

 

Objective portions of the exams (T/F and multiple choice) are graded by Testing Center personnel while you wait. The Testing Center will give you a Feedback Sheet to verify your test results. The Testing Center will send me your exams, I'll grade the essay and short answer questions, and I'll post your grades in Blackboard. It takes a week or so for exams to make it from Testing Centers to my home campus (Northridge) and I grade the exams after they've all arrived at my home campus. I'll advise you by email of my grading schedule.

 

Contact me as soon as possible if you are unable to take an exam by the deadline.

 

2. Participation

 

Participation counts for 16.6% of your final grade. You will use Blackboard's discussion boards (available in the course's left navigation bar) to participate.

 

I’ll post four questions (worth 4.15% each) in the discussion boards over the course of the semester. You must reply in a reasoned way, either in response to the forum question itself or in response to something one of your classmates has posted. “Reasoned” means you've thought about the question and present your ideas in a coherent fashion. It does not mean that I or your classmates agree with you.

 

You will encounter a variety of viewpoints on volatile topics over the course of the semester. You may disagree, perhaps strongly, with opinions expressed by your classmates.

 

As long as we treat each other with respect, these differences enhance class discussion and create an atmosphere where we learn from each other. Rest assured that your grades will not be influenced by beliefs or ideas expressed on the discussion boards.

 

And though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?

 

Milton, Aeropagitica, 1643

 

Participation is graded on whether your comments are thoughtful and coherent, respond directly to the question (or another post in the board), contribute something new to the discussion, reflect an effort to move the discussion along, and reflect an understanding of the course materials.

 

3. Political weblog ("blog")

 

Establishing a Texas-oriented political blog counts for 16.6% of your final grade. You'll display your knowledge and ability to think critically about Texas government during this process. You'll develop your blog in four discrete stages.

 

Stage One (due Friday, July 20)

 

Create a blog using Google's Blogger service. Name your blog something meaningful and socially acceptable. Choose a template that allows you to display these elements: a meaningful title, individual articles, comments on those articles, and a recommended blogs list (a blogroll). Use the "Suggested sources" listed below to create your initial blogroll. Feel free to add other sources to your blogroll. Write a brief introduction and create a link to an article (news, editorial, or commentary) about Texas State and Local government from one of the suggested sources below. Tell your readers why you think the article is worth reading. Send me the link to your blog via Blackboard's Assignment feature before the deadline.

 

Stage Two (due Friday, July 27)

 

Publish a blogroll consisting of links to your classmate's blogs. The blog names and URLs are here GOVT 2306-072 or here GOVT 2306-074.

 

Comment on or criticize an article (news, editorial, or commentary) about Texas State and Local government from one of the Suggested Sources below. A guide to critical thinking is available under the Handouts link in Blackboard. Publish your commentary or criticism to your blog. Remember that you are writing for an academic audience.

 

Send me the link to your article using Blackboard's Assignment feature before the deadline.

 

Stage Three (due Friday, August 3)

 

Write a substantial editorial or commentary about Texas State and Local government. Publish this article to your blog. Send me the link to your article via Blackboard's Assignment feature before the deadline.

 

Stage Four (due Friday, August 10)

 

Write a constructive and reasoned criticism or commentary on one of your classmate's editorial or commentary published in Stage Three. Follow the guidelines suggested for the participation exercises. Post this article to your blog AND as a comment in your classmate's blog. Send me the direct link to the posting on your blog article using Blackboard's Assignment feature before the deadline.

 

Suggested sources

 

Newspapers

 

Austin American Statesman

Dallas Morning News

Fort Worth Star Telegram

Houston Chronicle

San Antonio Express News

 

Political blogs (arranged alphabetically, not ideologically)

 

Burka Blog
Burnt Orange Report
Capitol Annex
Grits for Breakfast

In the Pink Texas
Inside the Texas Capitol
Lone Star Rising

Lone Star Times

Off the Kuff

One Hundred Monkeys Typing

Pink Dome
Vaqueros and Wonkeros

 

Grading

 

I will grade your blogs on their content, not their aesthetic presentation. Write for a formal academic audience when writing your introductions, commentaries, and articles. Think of these as papers submitted and published by new media instead of ink and paper (or toner and paper). Use proper English and grammar. Be respectful of others. I'll be glad to offer feedback given 48 hours notice before the deadline. If you want feedback, request it by email, with a link to the article for which you desire feedback. I'll offer feedback via email or as a comment in your blog.

 Other guidelines (How to do well in this class)

 

1. Visit ACC’s Distance Learning Passport to Success workshop. Passport to Success is an interactive workshop providing basic information about Distance Learning at ACC. The workshop explores what is expected of students in a DL course, offers study tips and strategies on how to complete a DL course successfully, and gives direct links to Distance Learning and ACC support services available online and on-site.

 

2. Set aside enough time to be successful. I estimate you’ll need to devote 10-15 hours per week to complete this course successfully.

 

3. Stay on top of deadlines. This class moves very quickly, and missed deadlines impair your ability to pass the course.

 

4. Make-up exams are granted only under extraordinary circumstances, such as a family emergency or illness severe enough to require a visit to a health professional.

 

5. Scholastic dishonesty is not acceptable. In accordance with ACC policy, I will issue a grade of "F" to any student caught engaging in academic dishonesty.

 

Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarism (using another author'’s words or arguments without attribution), and collusion (the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of any course requirement).

 

Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression. Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes (whether taken electronically or on paper), projects (either individual or group), classroom presentations, papers, and homework.

 

If a student commits any of the above actions, the instructor will seek disciplinary action in the form of an academic penalty (which will include a zero on the academic work in question and may include a course grade of “F”). Such disciplinary action will be at the discretion of the instructor following College procedures outlined in the Student Handbook.

 

6. Incompletes

 

I will assign a temporary grade of “I” under the following conditions: (a) you have a valid reason for requesting an incomplete and have completed at least three-quarters of the course requirements; (b) you request an Incomplete and complete the required form; and, (c) you agree to complete the course by the deadline established on the Report of Incomplete Grade form.

 

7. Withdrawing from the course

 

The last day to withdraw is Tuesday, July 31, 2007. I will not process withdrawals for students. You must withdraw on your own. Failure to withdraw combined with failure to complete the course requirements will result in an “F.”

 

8. Office for Students with Disabilities

 

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical, cognitive, or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.

 

 

Course schedule. Follow the links to access supplemental materials.

Date	Topic (supplemental material)	Textbook readings
July 9 - July 12	Mandatory online orientation
	Why study state and local government?
	A brief review of Texas history	Textbook, Pages 1-13
	Political culture, socialization, and ideology (Skip Sections 2 & 7)	Textbook, Pages 14-24
	Constitutions	Textbook, Chapter 2
	Texas’ Constitutions
Monday, July 16	Exam 1 deadline
Thursday, July 19	Participation topic 1 due
Friday, July 20	Blog stage 1 due
	Political parties in Texas	Textbook, Pages 61-73
	Partisanship in Texas Whither Democrats? What makes a Red State Blue?
	Interest groups in Texas	Textbook, Pages 73-79
	Mass Media in Texas Texas Blogs Cultivation theory Media ownership
	Campaigns	Textbook, Pages 81-93
	Elections	Textbook, Pages 79-81
Monday, July 23	Exam 2 deadline
Thursday, July 26	Participation topic 2 due
Friday, July 27	Blog stage 2 due
	The Texas Governor	Textbook, Chapter 5
	The Texas Judiciary	Textbook, Chapter 6
	The Texas Legislature	Textbook, Chapter 4
Monday, July 30	Exam 3 deadline
Tuesday, July 31	Last day to withdraw
Thursday, August 2	Participation topic 3 due
Friday, August 3	Blog stage 3 due
	City government	Textbook, 200-203; 210-220
	County and municipal government	Textbook, 204-210; 220-224
	Financing Texas government	Pages 228-232; 232-244
	Texas’ Social Policy	Pages 244-263
	Criminal Corrections (Section 5.5 - 7)
	Medical and Mental Health Services
	Texas’ Natural Resources
	Texas’ Transportation Issues
	Texas’ Contemporary Problems (pdf)
Monday, August 6	Exam 4 Deadline
Thursday, August 9	Participation topic 4 due
Friday, August 10	Blog stage 4 due