Agenda : Module 0 (Introduction) - Due March 23

• Complete Introduction and Syllabus Quiz Module

    - Introduction - Video 1
    - Navigating Canvas - Video 2
    - Reading: Course Syllabus
    - Course Outline/Procedures - Video 3
    - Study suggestions - Video 4
    - Questions - Discussion Board

Agenda: Module 1 - due March 30

    1 -  Please read the United States Citizenship Test found in Canvas Module 1
    2 - Course Overview - Video 5
    3 - What is government? - Video 6
    4 - Please read the United States Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Philippines Declaration of Independence found in Module 1 in Canvas
    5 - Constitutional Safeguards - Video 7
    6 - Questions - Discussion Board
    7 - Inquizitive for We the People Chapter 12: Congress
    8 - US Congress Part 1 - Video 7
    9 - US Congress Part 2 - Video 9
    10 - US Congress Part 3 - Video 10
    11 - Inquizitive for Governing Texas Chapter 7: The Legislature
    12 - Texas Legislature - Video 11
    13 - Ethics in Government - Video 12
    14 - Congressional Ethics - Video 13
    15 - Questions Discussion Board

Introduction

• Welcome to GOVT2305: US Government: Congress, President, and the Courts

• Instructor: Tom Hanna, MA

    - Office Hours: Monday 12:00 to 12:45 and Wednesday 2:45 to 3:45 US Central Standard Time 
    - Email: tlhanna@central.uh.edu

• TA: Roberto Alas, MA

    - Office: Phillip Guthrie Hoffman Hall
    - Office Hours: by appointment
    - Email: ralas@cougarnet.uh.edu

About me:

    - Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Houston
    - MA in Political Science from the University of Houston, BS in Political Science from the University of Houston
    - I have been teaching at the University of Houston since July 2022 and at Houston Community College since June 2023
    - Courses taught: Statistics for Political Scientists; Argument, Data, and Politics, Introduction to Comparative Politics, and this course at UH; Federal Government and Texas Government at HCC; State Government at OLLU.
    - Research: My research focuses on the international behavior of dictators. I have a specific interest in threats to freedom and modern liberal democracy (aka Madisonian republics). 
    - Second/third career - former business manager and owner.
    - cooking, camping, kayaking, and computer gaming
    

About you:

• Please introduce yourselves in the discussion board

    - Name
    - Major (if not data science)
    - What are your major career interests?
    - What are your hobbies?
    - Anything else you would like to share

• If possible, do this as a video introduction using the Canvas Studio tool

Video 2 - Navigating Canvas

• This can be found in the Introduction and Syllabus Quiz Module
• This video was produced for another section, but the concepts are the same
• Video 2 does not have slides, just the video of the Canvas environment
• After watching Video 2, return to these slides with Video 3

Major course expectations

• I do not expect you to be experts on the course material at the end

• I do expect you to:

    - Respect other people, starting with your classmates and myself
    - Do the work
    - Do your best
    - Take responsbility for the work you did or not do
    - Take some time to seriously consider the implications of the material for your own life and the lives of people you care about
    - Take this as an opportunity to practice study skills and critical thinking in a low stakes environment

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course

    - We will look at it now!

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course

• Please read the Syllabus

    - It is in Canvas! We will look at it now!

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course

• Please read the Syllabus

• Most of your work will be done through the Canvas Modules - this includes accessing the textbook

    - This is covered in Video 2

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course

• Please read the Syllabus

• Most of your work will be done through the Canvas Modules - this includes accessing the textbook

• Complete Modules in order or you will be locked out of later assignments

    - I will show you how now!

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course
• Please read the Syllabus
• Most of your work will be done through the Canvas Modules - this includes accessing the textbook
• Complete Modules in order or you will be locked out of later assignments
• You must pass the Syllabus Quiz with a perfect score to continue with the rest of the course!

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course
• Please read the Syllabus
• Most of your work will be done through the Canvas Modules - this includes accessing the textbook
• Complete Modules in order or you will be locked out of later assignments
• You must pass the Syllabus Quiz with a perfect score to continue with the rest of the course!

Course Outline/Procedures (Continued)

• Check the Syllabus and Canvas Announcements if you have questions about assignments, tests, etc.
• Read assignment instructions carefully

Syllabus Quiz

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

• You must get 100%

• You can retake it until you get 100%

• If it is not completed by the Official Reporting Date (March 23), you will likely be dropped from the course and not readmitted

Course Policies: Basics

• Number 1 Rule: Respect for other people

Course Policies: Basics

• Number 1 Rule: Respect for other people

• The policies exist to help me help you

    - 44 students in this class, 622 students in my classes at UH 
    - I have other classes and other professional commitments, so I can not exceed the time allotted for this course
    - Fortunately, we have an excellent TA who will be available to help me with grading your journals and some other assistance

Course Policies: Basics

• Number 1 Rule: Respect for other people
• The policies exist to help me help you
  
• I may update policies if things are not working

Course Policies: Basics

• Number 1 Rule: Respect for other people
• The policies exist to help me help you
  
• I may update policies if things are not working
• You are responsible for keeping track of due dates and assignments

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Without accreditation a UH degree is worthless

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

• Without accreditation a UH degree is worthless

• According to SACSCOC:

    - 1 credit hour = 1 hour in class + 2 hours out of class

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

• Without accreditation a UH degree is worthless

• According to SACSCOC:

    - 1 credit hour = 1 hour in class + 2 hours out of class
    - 3 credit hour class = 3 hours in class + 6 hours out of class

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

• Without accreditation a UH degree is worthless

• According to SACSCOC:

    - 1 credit hour = 1 hour in class + 2 hours out of class
    - 3 credit hour class = 3 hours in class + 6 hours out of class
    - 3 credit hour class = 9 hours a week
    - This is a minimum, but the institution (UH) may set a higher standard!

https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2019/08/Credit-Hours.pdf

Time Commitment

• Because this is an online course, you may be able to save some time by doing the readings and chapter assignments, then previewing the slides, and watching the parts of the videos where you are confused. However…

• Some of the videos are topics not covered in the book including but not limited:

    - 100% of the Ethics videos
    - 100% of the "What is government?" videos
    - The Constitutional Safeguards video is an overview of material covered in Chapters we will not cover (Chapters 1 to 5 of We the People)

Time Commitment

• if you have not already had the companion course (GOVT 2306), you may need to review Chapters 1 to 5 of We the People to get the background you need to understand the rest of the material
• You should expect to spend between 100 and 135 hours over the course of this class to maximize your potential

Professionalism

• Professionalism is a graded component of this class.

Professionalism

• Professionalism is a graded component of this class.

• A major hallmark of professionalism is taking responsibility for doing what is expected of you and not blaming others for the consequences if you do not.

    - In other words, if you don't put in the effort...
    - If you don't read the things I ask...
    - If you don't do your journals...
    - If you don't watch the videos, read the slides, or both...
    - If you don't do the assignments...
    - If you don't study for the exams...

Professionalism

• Professionalism is a graded component of this class.

• A major hallmark of professionalism is taking responsibility for doing what is expected of you and not blaming others for the consequences if you do not.

    - In other words, if you don't put in the effort...
    - If you don't read the things I ask...
    - If you don't do your journals...
    - If you don't watch the videos, read the slides, or both...
    - If you don't do the assignments...
    - If you don't study for the exams...

Your grade is on you!

Professionalism

• If you do the things you’re supposed to do and you earn an A or B

The achievement is yours

Professionalism

• Professionalism is a graded component of this class.

• A major hallmark of professionalism is taking responsibility for doing what is expected of you and not blaming others for the consequences if you do not.

• You are responsible for:

    - Being in class to hear announcements and reading Canvas Announcements
  - Time management
    - Your own learning
    - Studying as needed including making study guides as needed 
    - Doing the assignments (or accepting the zero)
    - Doing the assignments on time (or accepting the consequences)
    - Showing up and engaging
    - Applying brainpower
    - Working on the material
    - Following through on commitments
    - Taking responsibility for your own work and results!

Professionalism

• I am responsible for

    - Providing you a structured environment to learn
    - Providing alternate explanations to help you understand the material
    - Setting standards and goals
    - Challenging you to do your best
    - Holding you accountable
    - Providing you with resources to succeed
    - Assessing you fairly based on the standards and goals provided
    - Being available during office hours, 1 hour a week to offer suggestions to help you improve your work (I will normally be available twice this much)

Professionalism

• I am not responsible for:

    - Forcing you to work
    - Doing your work for you including making study guides
    - Navigating the UH bureaucracy for you *
    - Making you read announcements
    - Making you read, do the homework, complete your journals, or watch videos
    - Anything your other professors require of you that may interfere with this class    
    - Giving credit for work that is not submitted or is submitted incorrectly or past deadline
    - Granting extensions, makeups, or other exceptions to the syllabus
    - Negotiating excuses
    - Negotiating grades

• *You will have unusual needs in this regard that I can not help with but either the International Students Office or your program director at Bauer are more likely to be able to help you.

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face online is the best communication for in depth discussion:

    - Unfortunately my main office hours are 12:45 to 1:45 AM and 3:45 to 4:45 AM your time. 
    - I will set office hours appointments for late morning your time based on my availability, usually Friday and Saturday mornings your time. 
    - The TA may set up office hours by appointment.

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication
• Announcements: Canvas

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication
• Announcements: Canvas
• Email announcements
• Video announcements

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication

• Announcements: Canvas

• Email announcements

• Emails to me

    - must come from your official email (uh.edu) to my official email (uh.edu) - this is to protect your privacy
    - must have a subject line that includes the course number and section
    - Do not email about late work or makeup exams - it is not necessary, ever. 

Course Policies: Late Work and Makeups

• Late work is automatically accepted

    - 10% per day penalty
    - No exceptions, no excuses
    - No need to email
    - No need to apologize or explain
    - All late work must be turned in by the 5th of May, 2025

No exceptions! No exceptions! No exceptions!

Course Policies: Late Work and Makeups

• Late work is automatically accepted with penalty
  

• Makeups for exams

    - There are multiple days for each exam, two weekday and two weekend days
    - Unless you are sick for 4 days, it is almost imporssible to miss every day for an exam
    - The final is your makeup if you do miss one or more exams
    - You will get the percentage score for the final applied to any missed exam
    - No excuses, no exceptions
    - This is completely automatic

No exceptions! No exceptions! No exceptions!

Course Policies: Late Work and Makeups

• Late work is automatically accepted with penalty
• Makeups for exams - the final is the makeup, automatic!

No exceptions! No exceptions! No exceptions!

Course Policies: Academic Integrity

• Academic integrity is non-negotiable

• Specific issues:

    - Not doing your own homework
    - Lying to me or any member of the faculty or administration about your work
    - Not completing the Journal assignments yourself
    - Using AI to replace your own original thinking and work in the journal assignments
    - Cheating on exams

You are responsible for following the full UH Academic Integrity Policy

Exams - Respondus Lockdown Browser with Webcam Monitor

• Directions in Canvas in the Introduction Module
• Required practice quiz in Canvas in the Introduction Module

Grade Weights

• Syllabus Quiz: 5%
• Professionalism: 5%
• Journaling: 20%
• Inquizitive Exercises (Textbook or Chapter assignments): 25%
• Three Midterm Exams (10%) and one Final Exam (15%): 45%
• Extra credit: Not more than 5%

Grade rounding

At the end of the semester I may:

• curve grades for the entire class in the students’ favor
• round grades up up to 0.5% for students who completed all Inquizitives, in class work, exams, and extra credit opportunities.
• Emailing asking for a grade increase beyond this is unprofessional and professionalism is a graded component of this course

Study suggestions: The forgetting curve

The Forgetting Curve

Conquer the Forgetting Curve

• Following these tips is even more important in the short time period we have for what is normally a 15 week course

• Study a few minutes a few times a week instead of 6 hours right before the test

• Start the Inquizitives early (see Syllabus for suggestions)

    - You have one and a half weeks to do each set of 3 to 6 chapter assignments
    - Finish them ahead of schedule then use them to study by...
    - Revisiting the Inquizitives several times between finishing them and the exam to review

• Use the Flashcards a few minutes, a few times a week

Use a good notetaking system

• Use the lecture slides to organize your notes

    - Do not take pictures of the slides - they are published in Canvas with a PDF download option available

• Try rewriting concepts in your own words

    - If you don't understand something, use the index in the book to find more
    - Use a reputable dictionary such as https://www.merriam-webster.com/ or https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/ to look up words you don't understand
    - Come to office hours and ask
    - Ask in discussion boards - Feel free to answer others!
    - Use the Flashcards to help you understand the material
    - Use the notes you take here to finish the journal assignments

Use a good notetaking system

• Use a good notetaking system such as Cornell Notes

• Make a study guide: Making a study guide yourself (using a system like Cornell Notes) is much more effective than staring at a study guide prepared for you

• Take advantage of the Practice Exams after you do these other things

Major course expectations - revisit

I sincerely hope that all of you will succeed in this course. Especially since this is a completely online course with no scheduled meetings, you will get out of this course what you put into it, both in learning and your final grade.

Authorship and License

• Author: Tom Hanna

• Website: tomhanna.me

• License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Tom Leard Hanna