POLS 1000-04 (92726)

Syllabus

Download the most recent version of the Syllabus at:  

 SyllabusCSULAPOLS1000BeamerFA23-6.docx

(Current as of August 28, 2023)

Even though much basic info is below, the Syllabus has the final say on class rules and contents.  Please read it.  It is a contract between teacher and student.

Basic Info

Instructor:  Debito Beamer, Ph.D.

Email:  dbeamer@calstatela.edu

This is a large class capped at 94 students, and it is both Synchronous (meaning you see me lecture online in real time) and Asynchronous (meaning you work on your own time without supervision on Canvas). 

• The Synchronous portion of class meets ON ZOOM ONCE A WEEK on Mondays 12:15PM to 1:30PM. Attendance is taken (and counts for 10% of your grade).  I have another class right after this on campus, so I must start and finish on time.  The Class Zoom address for the semester is https://calstatela.zoom.us/j/3517197801.
• The Asynchronous portion of class means you read textbook chapters and lecture powerpoints, then take Weekly Quizzes on the units (which count for 20% of your grade).  Over the semester you will also be doing Online Discussions (20%), a Midterm (20%), an Opinion Paper (10%), and a Final Exam (20%).  Please be aware that this is the bulk of your work and you will have to be a self-starter on much of it. 

Office Hours (in person):  MWF 11AM-12PM,

MW will be in the Engineering & Technology Building (E&T) A520, phone (323) 343-2683. Friday’s Office Hour will be held in KH D1055.  Or by appointment made by email.

Required Textbooks (free)

Download the required textbook American Government 3e (updated version June 2023) for FREE in the "Textbook" page in the left-hand column of this page, or download a PDF from here.  Or, if you prefer a hard copy, you can get it as a print book from Amazon for $38.80.

Download the required textbook Governing California by Anagnoson et al. for FREE as a PDF at Governing_California_in_the_Twenty_First_Century_Seventh_Edition.pdf 

Accessing Your Grades

Info site on this at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-16532-4212829286. 

More on grade assessment in the Syllabus, linked above.

Class Communication and Feedback Guidelines

Contacting the Prof.:  You can email Prof. Beamer at any time, and you'll get a response usually within 24 hours on weekdays, or by Monday on weekends.  I am better reached by email than via Canvas messaging.

"Netiquette":  Rules for how to communicate with one another are best described in the Syllabus (see link for download above).  The basic rule is:  Be civil to one another and don't troll. More in the Syllabus.

Turnaround on Assignments:  Again, this is a large class of 94 students, and I am the only one grading it.  On rare occasions (usually multiple class grading crunches), it might take a week.  I generally grade everything in real time (meaning you get the grade right after I decide it) and take questions about it after I finish grading everyone.  Please be patient.