Instructor: Professor Woodliff (name appears as Willblatt in opening; transcript uses both spellings).
Course: American Government.
All course content lives on Canvas: announcements, PowerPoints, assignments, and the textbook.
Home page updates: announcements about tests, papers, and upcoming assignments are posted on the home page and via announcements.
Email as primary contact: fastest way to reach the instructor; replies are usually quick, though very complex questions may take longer if many emails come in.
In-class time: introductions and getting-to-know-you activities planned; you’ll also introduce yourself to the class.
Textbook and Resources
Textbook is open educational resource (OER) and completely free; no purchase required.
Location: Canvas > Modules > Textbook > Table of Contents.
The textbook is accessible via Canvas and is described as free in the syllabus and modules.
Attendance and Participation
Attendance is taken every class day; incentives provided (attendance points).
You sign an attendance sheet each day (before, during, or after class); the instructor needs to record your attendance.
Excused absences: up to 3 excused absences allowed throughout the semester.
On the 4th absence, attendance points are affected (you’ll see blanks for days missed and a zero on the 4th absence).
Attendance value: 135 total attendance points.
Attendance can impact final grades; examples given: attendance points can raise grades (e.g., B to A) for consistent attendance.
Drops, Withdrawals, and Administrative Dates
Add/drop period ends on the 22nd (last day to drop/add for the term).
Withdrawal deadline: 10/25/2025.
Withdrawing protects your GPA from a failing grade (you’ll see a “W” on your transcript).
Advising recommendation: speak with an academic adviser (and financial aid) before withdrawing, as it can impact financial aid.
Anecdote: a former student had many Ws; the instructor cautions that Ws don’t help your GPA but protect it.
Course Requirements and Grading Overview
To pass, you must earn at least a grade of C or higher.
This course is a board-rule class, which requires a term paper.
Graded components and approximate point values:
News article discussions: 20 points
Group projects: 40 points
Papers: 100 points
Exams: 4 exams, 50 points each
Attendance: 135 points
Extra credit: 12 points total (three extra-credit questions per exam; see below)
Exam format: each exam has 53 questions (base 50 + 3 extra-credit questions).
FCLE (Florida Civics Literacy Exam) requirement: course meets the FCLE graduation requirement; separate exam not affecting course grade.
Florida Civics Literacy Exam (FCLE)
FCLE is an 80-question exam; passing score is 60/80.
It is a separate graduation requirement, not part of the course grade.
Free to take; can be taken multiple times at the testing center.
Instructor provides study materials; optional external courses (e.g., Doctor Fisk’s course at Dale Mandarin campus).
Advice: take the FCLE after completing the course when information is fresh; many students report passing after taking the class.
Advising tip: verify with an academic adviser that FCLE scores are recorded and meet graduation requirements, especially for students with financial aid.
Failure to take/pass FCLE can delay graduation; example given where students needed the FCLE to move on to the next institution.
FCLE coverage: includes history and American government topics; emphasis on the first ten amendments (Bill of Rights) and Supreme Court cases; not content-heavy within this course.
Reminders: exam reminders will be sent as we approach the end of the semester.
News Article Discussion (Assignment 1)
Value: 20 points.
Format:5–10 minute presentation (no more than 10 minutes).
Content: present on a news article related to government or politics (U.S. or another country); create a PowerPoint; present to class.
Scheduling: sign-up sheets are circulated; students sign up for one day; each student presents once; after a student presents, that topic is off-limits for future presentations to avoid repetition.
Late/make-up: late sign-ups or missed days allowed once; if a make-up is required, you will receive only half the credit (max 10/20).
Examples given: drag racing legislation in Florida; FDA restrictions on produce; hurricane as a topic precedent (to avoid repetition).
Purpose: spark discussion and student engagement; instructor will ask questions.
Paper: Electoral College (Assignment 2)
Topic: Electoral College; due on Wednesday,October8,2025 by midnight.
Prompt focus: history of the Electoral College; how it has changed election outcomes; is it necessary today given information availability about candidates?
Comparison: Electoral College vs. popular vote; Electoral College is an indirect election using state-delegates; popular vote is used in most other elections.
Rationale: explains why the Electoral College exists (balancing smaller states vs. larger states).
Positioning: allows for personal stance (e.g., whether you like it or think it’s necessary); it’s an opinion piece, but must be well-argued.
Scope and structure: six pages total (title page + works cited + four pages of text); must include introduction, thesis, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion.
Formatting and submission:
Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt; margins: 1′′; MLA format; page numbers bottom.
Separate title page and works cited page; content on title page includes name, date, course title, etc.
Four full pages of text (title and works cited excluded from the page count for the main body).
Works cited: at least three sources other than the textbook; no Wikipedia.
Submission: Word document on Canvas.
Late policy: up to 10/15/2025; late submission incurs a deduction of 10 points regardless of how late (even two hours late).
First-person usage: allowed in the paper.
Citations and Turnitin:
Turnitin will check for plagiarism; a green flag indicates acceptable similarity, while yellow/orange/red indicate potential issues.
You should cite all sources; a red flag indicates high similarity or plagiarism concerns.
Grading rubric (approximate):
Title page: 2 points
Thesis, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion: 2 points
Punctuation and grammar: 10 points
Works Cited: 15 points
Overall formatting compliance and page requirements: integrated into rubric
Important note: teacher emphasizes quality over mere submission; plan ahead to avoid late penalties.
Group Project: Supreme Court Case (Assignment 3)
Group size: 3–4 students.
Topic: present a Supreme Court case not previously covered in class (must be approved by instructor if not on provided list).
Deliverable: PowerPoint presentation OR a creative delivery (e.g., acting out the case, video submission, Kahoot game with candy prizes).
Length: 10–15 minutes; more creativity yields more points.
Points: 40 points.
Scheduling and group formation: on a designated Wednesday, you’ll sign up for either the November 19 or December 1 presentation slot; each group must present a unique case.
Group formation support: instructor will help assign groups if needed.
Case Suggestions and Resources
Instructor provides a list of Supreme Court case suggestions; you may propose alternative cases with approval.
Emphasis on learning about cases not already discussed in class to broaden understanding of the Court’s impact.
Instructor Background and Teaching Perspective
Education: Bachelor’s degree from USF in local science (as described in transcript); Master’s in Applied American Politics and Policy from FSU.
Early career: Worked for state representative Brock Poppol (spelled variably in transcript) and later for representative Sandy Adams.
District work: Brevard County region (Titusville) in Florida; roles included door-to-door outreach, signs, events, and fundraising.
Transition to national level: Worked as a legislative assistant for Congresswoman Adams in DC; later returned to district work due to cost of living.
District and DC offices: Constituent services, VA benefits assistance, Social Security, Medicare, and letters of recommendation for military academies (e.g., West Point, Naval Academy).
Personal life: Married with two children (Aiden, 11; Logan, 7); husband a JAG attorney currently at Fort Leavenworth (Kansas) for a year due to promotion to major; family dynamics and moving for political roles discussed.
Reflections on politics: Enjoys sharing political experiences and teaching; believes teaching allows discussion of real-world experiences that aren’t feasible to pursue full-time in politics right now.
Career observations: Notes that many former staffers become lobbyists; emphasizes the importance of networking and campaign experience for political advancement.
Student Introductions (Class Activity)
Every student will introduce themselves with the following:
Name
Major
Grade level/year (e.g., first year, second year, dual enrollment, nearing graduation)
An interesting fact about themselves
Example introductions included a range of majors (nursing, IT, paralegal studies, criminology, psychology, political science, etc.) and diverse experiences (military service, living abroad, clubs, and personal hobbies).
Quick Reference: Important Dates (From Transcript)
Add/Drop period ends: 04/22/2025?? (context indicates late April; verify exact year in syllabus)
Exam 2: chapters 4–7; exam reviews provided in Canvas.
Exam 3: chapters 8–11; exam reviews provided in Canvas.
Exam 4: chapters 12–15; exam reviews provided in Canvas.
News article discussion sign-up: ongoing; sign up on the Wednesday session.
Electoral College paper due: 10/08/2025 by midnight; late submission allowed until 10/15/2025 with a 10-point penalty.
Group project presentation windows: 11/19/2025 or 12/01/2025 (presentation scheduled on Wednesday).
FCLE (Florida Civics Literacy Exam): optional, 80 questions; pass with 60; completed at the testing center; separate from course grade; free; multiple attempts allowed.
Notes on Study Strategy and Class Culture
Exam prep recommendation: use exam reviews for chapters, create note cards for vocabulary, and review the vocabulary and questions listed in each exam’s review.
Practice tips: bring a Scantron and pencil to exams; library provides some for free; extra Scantrons cost 5 each on exam day if needed.
Classroom culture: aims to be engaging and approachable; activities like news article presentations and group projects are designed to encourage participation and active learning.
Accessibility and accommodations: students are encouraged to contact the instructor via email for any accommodations or questions related to attendance or assignments.
Ethics and academic integrity: Turnitin is used for plagiarism checks; students must cite sources and avoid AI-generated content without proper attribution; a green flag indicates acceptable similarity; red flag indicates potential plagiarism issues.
How to Contact and Stay Informed
Check Canvas announcements regularly for updates on assignments, tests, and reminders.
Use the provided email for quick questions or to share more detailed concerns; keep in mind response times may vary with email volume.
Attend class and sign the attendance sheet to avoid missing attendance points; remember three excused absences are allowed without penalty.
Summary of Key Takeaways
The course uses a structured, multi-component grading system (exams, news article discussion, paper, group project, and attendance) with a strong emphasis on writing and critical analysis of government topics.
The FCLE is a separate graduation requirement, not affecting your grade, but essential for degree progress; plan to take it after the course.
The Electoral College paper combines history, analysis of outcomes, and personal perspective, requiring MLA formatting, a title page and works cited, and Turnitin submission.
Attendance and participation matter: regular attendance adds valuable points that can influence overall grades; plan absences carefully and use excused absences strategically.
The instructor brings real-world political experience and encourages active participation, creativity, and thoughtful discussion of government issues.
Student introductions set a collaborative tone for the class, illustrating diverse backgrounds and interests.