Course Notes: Chapter 1 and Online Class Essentials

Course Policies and Class Responsibilities

Withdrawal policy: I do not withdraw students who stop participating (i.e., stop visiting Canvas or submitting assignments). The student is not withdrawn by the instructor unless they choose to withdraw themselves.
Consequences of not completing: If a student stops participating, they may end up with zeros for submitted work and an F for the course, which can impact college progression and financial aid awards.
Action if not completing: If you choose not to finish, withdraw yourself to avoid negative outcomes.

Grading, Assignments, and Course Structure

The course uses a common college grading scale and includes various assignment types; major grades come from:
- Discussion boards that require substantive engagement with topics.
- Quizzes (open book and open notes).
- Other sources and the textbook readings provided throughout modules.
There are no traditional “big” exams; assessments are distributed across discussions and quizzes.
Weekly structure includes weekly review videos and announcements to recreate a face-to-face experience in an online format.
A heavy-weight research assignment (about members of Congress) is included; it will come with detailed directions when the time arrives.
Late submissions: There is guidance on late submissions and scenarios that may allow late work; review policy details in the course materials.
Note: Some references call quizzes “exams” in error; the correct term here is quizzes.
Quizzes require timeliness and depend on access to course materials; expect them to be open-book/open-notes with no proctoring required.

Assessments, Access, and Tools

Research assignment is heavily weighted and comes with detailed directions.
Quizzes: Open book, open notes; no traditional proctoring; use a lockdown browser in this course.
You will have access to weekly videos (including a welcome video) and additional videos within modules.
There is a course table mapping assignments to learning outcomes; changes to a course component may be announced at the instructor’s discretion.
Access and feedback in Canvas: guidance is provided on how to submit assignments, view feedback, and track grades.
Florida Civic Literacy Exam: The course notes that this class is one part of a two-part requirement under state law; read the section to determine if you need to take the exam in addition to this course.

Technology, Access, and Platform Tips

Device recommendations: A tablet, laptop, or desktop computer is essential; completing the course on a phone is challenging.
Browsers: Chrome is highly recommended; keep software up to date; enable pop-ups where needed.
Canvas navigation: If you’re unsure how to submit assignments or view feedback, review Canvas help resources and module instructions.
Office 365 access: Free to students on up to five devices; not required to purchase; includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, etc.
Canvas and platform tips are embedded throughout the course; use them if you’re new to Canvas or if you’re encountering unfamiliar features.

Academic Integrity, Plagiarism, and AI

Code of Conduct and Academic Honesty: Review sections on academic honesty and plagiarism.
AI and plagiarism: Common forms include taking someone else’s ideas without giving credit, even if you paraphrase with minimal word changes; ensure proper attribution.
This semester, multiple plagiarism checks and AI-detection tools will be used in Canvas; submit your own work and avoid misattribution.
If uncertain about proper attribution or paraphrasing, review the provided video resources.

Student Support Resources

Online tutoring: Accessible via the course page (availability may appear as cookies-related messages in some views).
Brainfuse: Writing and other tutoring support available; note that support levels vary by subject.
Librarians: Access library support via the left-side menu.
Atlas: Access to Atlas support; for advising or questions about the Atlas system.
Counseling and wellness: BayCare resources (free) and campus counselors are available for stress or overwhelm; contact information is provided in the course materials.
These supports are designed to mirror a face-to-face experience and to assist with academic success and well-being.

Chapter One: Overview and Learning Outcomes

Chapter one overview page presents the course learning outcomes (reviewable in multiple formats, including a downloadable list).
Read American Government 3E Chapter 1 and use the provided PowerPoint slides and chapter video to align with course content.
Modules: The course emphasizes working through modules in order; skipping readings or videos can hinder performance on high-point assignments.
Reading materials: Access readings in online or PDF format; take notes while reading.
Module navigation: The introduction page is intentionally concise; subsequent sections 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 cover key concepts; end-of-chapter terms, a summary, and self-check questions follow each section.
Self-checks: The review and critical-thinking questions are for personal study and are not graded as assignments.
Additional resources are provided beyond the textbook to aid understanding (open-access outlines, external resources, and additional readings).
The chapter includes optional dynamic resources such as interactive maps and data sources for democracy, freedom, and global comparisons.
Watch the Crash Course videos on government vs politics and political ideologies to supplement understanding.

Chapter One: Key Concepts and Distinctions

Civic engagement: Extends beyond voting to informed participation, including staying informed about government actions, sharing information, posting on social media, attending rallies, etc.; this concept will recur in the first discussion.
Government vs politics: Distinguish between the two:
- Government: The actual structure and system that divides power and determines how authority is wielded; the framework of power distribution.
- Politics: The ongoing struggle or competition for power and control of resources; the dynamics of influencing government power.
Democratic Republic context: The United States is described as a democratic republic; many nations have different forms of government.
Anarchy vs government: Anarchy would lack formal security, safety, law, and order; most people view it as undesirable. Even countries with non-democratic regimes still operate with defined power and authority structures.
Role of government in resource distribution and policy: Once government structure exists, the politics of who wields power and how resources (e.g., medical supplies) are distributed come into play.

Content Delivery and Supplemental Materials

Visuals: PowerPoint slides, embedded readings, and inset stories to enhance understanding.
Chapter navigation: Readers are encouraged to use the introduction page and the 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 subsections to explore key ideas.
In-text connections: The material links to broader discussions of democracy, civic engagement, and political ideologies.
Foundational philosophers: Videos on John Locke and Thomas Hobbes provide context for political theory; Crash Course videos cover core topics including ideologies.

Global Context and Comparative Data (Supplementary Resources)

Democracy and autocracy comparisons: A chart or interactive data (e.g., historical shifts between democracies and autocracies) helps illustrate long-term trends.
Freedom House data: Global freedom and internet access visuals show how freedom varies by country and over time; data may be incomplete in some regions (no data entries shown as gray on maps).
Global freedom methodology: Understanding what “global freedom” entails helps interpret the data accurately.
Geographic exploration: Interactive maps allow users to explore regional trends and current status of democracy and freedom.

Practical Study Tips and Course Alignment

Read chapters in order and complete accompanying readings and videos to maximize quiz performance.
Use the self-checks and critical thinking prompts to reinforce understanding before attempting quizzes.
Leverage additional open resources for alternative explanations if you need more clarity on government concepts.
Regularly review the learning outcomes and align your study with the expected competencies for quizzes and discussions.

Recap: Why These Concepts Matter

Civic engagement is central to participatory democracy and is explicitly tied to coursework like discussion boards and current events.
Understanding the distinction between government and politics helps analyze how power is structured and exercised in real-world scenarios.
The course combines theoretical foundations (Locke, Hobbes, ideologies) with practical tools (Canvas, tutoring, libraries) to equip you for college-level political science and civics.
The integration of online learning supports (tutoring, counseling, library services, and digital tools) aims to simulate an in-person experience while leveraging online accessibility.