Week 1 -intro presentation POL 120

• 1. POL 120American NationalGovernment and PoliticsIntroductory PresentationFall 2014Web courseProf. Kimberly A. Saks McManawayUniversity of Michigan Flint

2. About me I have a complicated name, I know. You can call meProfessor McManaway or Prof. M. I like letters behind my name and going to school. I have myBachelors of Arts in Political Science and French fromEastern Michigan University, my Juris Doctor (law degree)from the University of Detroit Mercy and my Masters ofArts in Political Science from Wayne State University. I amcurrently pursuing my PhD in Political Science from WayneState. I am interested in political behavior. Things like voting,running for office, and public opinion are part of myresearch along with gender. I enjoy good lawyer jokes. I practiced law for six years priorto teaching full time and still hold my law license. I am busy, just like you. I live in Royal Oak with my husband,twin daughters, two cats and a dogin a tiny house. I loveinternet memes, reruns of The Golden Girls, Seinfeld andThe Big Bang Theory. I do not like long walks on thebeachsand is tricky to walk on for any length of time.Follow me on Twitter@profmcmanaway 3. Structure of CourseBasicRequirements INTERNET. Seems obvious, but not everyone realizes it. Thisis a web course and there are no in-person class meetings.Other than your books, everything is online. BLACKBOARD AND EMAIL. Blackboard and your UM Flintemail will be used regularly. It is YOUR responsibility tocheck your email frequently and respond to discussions onBlackboard. ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION. All of your assignments will besubmitted through Blackboard. If you have problems usingthe SafeAssign feature on Blackboard, you MUST contactme ASAP and send a duplicate submission via email. 4. Course Materials Your knowledge will begained from threesources: (1) the textbook readings(Fiorina book, Penguinstyle cover) (2)the supplementalreadings from our reader(Hess book, green) and onBlackboard (underCourse Content; and, (3) the PowerPointpresentations providedonline that will includeaudio, links and text.Textbook Reader 5. Our goals1. Create a basic understandingof our governmentsstructure, institutions andprocedures;2. Strengthen and develop theability to critically evaluateissues of local, state andnational importance; and,3. Provide exposure tounderlying primarydocuments involvingAmerican government andpolitics. 6. ParticipationWeekly DiscussionBoards...lets make this easy and fun.What you postThere will be a prompt each week that relates toour reading but also requires you to think aboutyour own part in the political process in America.Feel free to respectfully debate one another andchallenge ideas. Also feel free to post links,videos, songs, memes and more. Be creative!When you postYour first post MUST be up NO LATER THAN 11:59 pmon WEDNESDAY evening each week to ensure properdiscussion and debate. Then follow up with at leastTWO of your classmates posts by the end of the week(Sunday night at 11:59 pm). 7. Academic honestyPlagiarism is the taking ofcredit for someone elseswork or ideas or submitting apiece of work which is notentirely the students ownwork without fully andaccurately attributing thosesame portions to their correctsource.CITE EVERYTHING THAT YOUDIDNT WRITE! 8. GradingPoint based systemHighest value items: participation, Position Paper ExamsNone of the work is extremely hard and it should all be interestingbecause you will be either discussing your beliefs (or lack thereof)or issues of your choosing. 9. Examsyes, we must Non-cumulative (but maybuild on previous material) Timedtwo hours tocomplete each exam. Short answer, multiplechoice, fill in the blank,true/false (all non-essay) You have one week tocomplete the exam and theAnalytical Essay for that unit(for Essays 1 and 2) 10. An alternative to essays onthe timed exam. Graded on your ability tounderstand the subjectmatter and conciselyanswer the question usingour course material. Based heavily onsupplemental readings(the readings outside ofFiorina). No outside researchnecessary.Analytical Essays 11. Civic engagement assignment Active communityengagement through anactivity and briefpapernot hard at all andvery rewarding! Three possibilities: Attend an event Write a letter to the editor Watch and review a documentary All have an activity + writtenresponse component 12. Position paper Four to six page paper thatreplaces the essays for Exams 3and 4. You will choose a current politicaland/or social issue that interestsyou and present a paper thatprovides: (1) background on the topic; (2) a review of the current US policy on thematter; and (3) a critique of the US policy, including aproposed solution. This is the only paper that willrequire the use of outside sources.(Remember to cite!) 13. Common readEXTRA CREDIT University-wide readingproject with events,discussions and an authorvisit Extra credit opportunities: Read the book and do ashort review (see syllabus) Attend a Common Readprogram on campus andwrite a one pagesummary/review. 14. Other considerations LATE ASSIGNMENTS. Due dates are firm and remain unchangedfrom the syllabus unless announced on Blackboard. Penalties forlate assignments are found in the class syllabus and will beenforced. ACADEMIC HONESTY. Plagiarism will NOT BE TOLERATED. Do notattempt it. If you have a question as to whether somethingconstitutes plagiarism, ASK. RESPECT. Respect is required and disrespect will not be tolerated.Web-based environments tend to make people bolder in theircriticism of one another. While it is important to engage indiscussion, it is just as important to remain respectful of otherpeople and their ideas. Disrespect will not be tolerated and maylead to your failing this course. 15. Final noteI am aware that some of you live near or on campuswhile others may not live in the state at all. I amavailable to you in many ways, including email(preferred), phone, in person meetings or we can evenset up an online chat if need be. My goal for you in thiscourse is that you get useful information out of it andthat you enjoy it. Some of you may even go on to studygovernment, politics or policy. I am open to discussingyour future options with you as well. If you have anyquestions, please feel free to ask. 16. Presentations Your presentations will contain audio with a link. Youmust click on it for the audio to play. All audio linkswill look like this one. Click on it to test if the audioplays. Please let me know ASAP if the audio does notplay. 17. Its going to be a great semester!Email: [email protected]: @profmcmanawayOffice: 220M French Hall