In order to successfully complete this course, you must demonstrate your understanding of the course materials by:
Here is an overview of all of the different types of assignments in the course. You can find detailed directions for the assignments and the grading rubrics in the module where they are assigned.
This is a "paced" course which means that all weekly assignments are due the week they are assigned by 11:59 PM on the last day of the week. All Discussion Forum postings meet the same weekly deadline as other course assignments. The forum is an opportunity for students to dialogue with one another about the issues we are studying that week.
Students learn to make sharp arguments by formulating a one sentence thesis that sets out exactly what they intend to argue and provide factual evidence from their reading to support the thesis. Argument is a valuable thing to learn; it is an organized attempt to support a point of view. All thesis statements are arguments because you are advancing and supporting a point of view. You endeavor to persuade a reader to take a side on an issue. Arguments support opinions; arguments are not right or wrong, but well or poorly supported. Good arguments focus on facts, not emotions. You learn to anticipate and defuse opposing arguments and make the counterargument. Using outside sources, students weave the source material into their writing. If students use quotes, they must "unwrap" the quote for the reader to reveal the meaning and the significance to your argument. The challenge is to incorporate your sources, yet remain the author, the single dominant voice in your essay. Argument is the basis for how your work will be graded in this course. Assignments vary, but your purpose is to take a position and support that position.
Students read and examine articles and the text and post their thoughts using critical thinking skills to evaluate and reflect on the issue addressed in each module. Students consider implications and conclusions of alternative points of view and respond to the ideas of classmates. Posts define the political issue addressed in the Discussion Forum, explain the relevant and specific policy elements and questions impacting the topic, relate the importance of the issue to our study each week, and address the totality of the issue using critical thinking skills.
There are four special assignments in the course. They allow students to select and examine various issues in U.S. government policies and procedures via two memorandums, a review of a political quote, and a concise and focused PowerPoint briefing.
Now Showing is a feature of this course encouraging you to view any or all of the film choices in each module. You are required to select two films from the entire film list in the course and answer the two reflection questions on each film. Reflection questions connect issues or events in the film to their significance to course content in that week’s module. Films marked SWANK are available through the NOVA library. All other films must be located and viewed from other sources available to the student. (Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.) Students may have viewed some of these featured films in the past. Students may submit the two films any week of the course before the end of the course.
There are two proctored assessments in this course. Please find the information on how to take a proctored assessment in the Taking Proctored Assessments section of the syllabus.
Assessments will consist of short answer identification and significance of terms, True/False questions, and essays. Assessment questions will cover a broad range of material consisting of discussion topics, information from your reading and assignments. You will be expected to apply the concepts you learn in this course and show evidence of critical thinking skills in response to assessment questions.