Contact Information
Name: Leigh Sink
Office: 415 Graham Building
Phone number: 336-476-6238
Office hours (if applicable): by appointment
Email address: alsink@uncg.edu
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
Explain the distinctive and “unusual “ features of America’s democracy.
Explain the importance of the Constitution as a foundation for the system.
Analyze the voting trends and participation in our elections.
Discuss the roles of our informal linkage institutions (parties, interest groups and the mass media) in our democracy.
Describe the legislative process.
Discuss the importance of the courts in America’s system. .
These goals will be accomplished through the class reading, written essay, class discussion, and other assignments.
Required Texts
Magleby, O’Brien, et al. Government By the People, Brief 6th Edition.
General Description of Course Activities
Weblinks. Part of students reading will be accomplished by weblinks inserted as part of the course text. Students are expected to read all the assigned weblinks. Some assignments will be directly related to the weblink reading.
As a start, check out this link of presidential campaign ads since the age of television:
http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us/index.php
Discussion forums. Discussion Forms will provide a major part of the class. Students are expected to answer questions and respond to the posts of other students.
Online journals. Online journals will allow you to respond to assignments one-on-one with the instructor.
Media (movies, videos, or other outside assignments). Video lectures and other videos provide part of the course content. The textbook is packaged with an interactive CD.
Other projects. The course includes several interactive learning objects. Students are expected to complete all interactive projects.
Papers. Several short papers will be assigned. Short is defined as 2-3 pages in a 10 or 12 point font, with one inch margins. Please also sign the UNCG Honor Code on every paper. You may simply write: I have abided by the UNCG Honor Code and digitally sign your name. You are expected to familiarize yourself with the Academic Integrity Policy, which is available here: http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu/violation/
Tests and/or self-tests. There will be three essay tests. Students will be expected to take the information they have gained and apply it in a thoughtful manner. Essays will be graded on content, thought and clarity.
How Graded
Each test will count 20% of your final grade. Participation in the online discussions and completing the media survey will be 20%. Each paper will be worth 10%. Substantial deductions will be taken for late work.
A. Leigh Sink
Dept. of Political Science
UNCG