PLS 120, Introduction to Political Science, will be taught at the Annandale campus as a hybrid course, during the 2008 Fall Semester. This hybrid course is 50 % class lectures and 50% on line assignments. This course will introduce five sub areas of political science through novels, films and popular culture. Fiction will be used as a theme to explain concepts in politics. Because 2008 is an election year, class discussion will include the status and progress of presidential campaigns. For inquiries about this course, you can contact the instructor through email or cell phone above.

Text: Douglas A. Van Belle, Kenneth M. Mash, A Novel Approach to Politics, Introducing Politics through Books, Movies, and Popular Culture. CQ Press, 2007. You can purchase this text only at the Annandale Bookstore. Please purchase a packet of scantron sheets when you purchase your texts. Form 882 E

1. Office Hours and Email: Office hours will be on Wednesday,immediately before class. Please use NVCC email to contact the instructor, or my cell phone. Please send email with the course number and assignment in the subject line. Please do not use attachments.

2. Blackboard is a course management system which will be used to help teach this course. When you register for this course, you will be automatically enrolled in Blackboard. Go to Nova's homepage and find your user name and password. Check Blackboard at least twice a week for course announcements. Students are responsible for navigating Blackboard. If you are using blackboard for the first time, please go to this site for orientation and tutorial. Learning about Blackboard.

3. Assignments: Students will submit hybrid assignments via email. Assignments received after the due date will have a late penalties. Hybrid assignments will constitute your attendance in class for that week.

4. Attendance in this course. The College has strict attendance requirements and students will be administratively withdrawn by the last refund date for non attendance. Please check college policy on attendance on its web site. Attendance is required for all classes in this course. There is also an attendance grade of 80 points.

5. Exams: There will be two exams: Midterm and Final Exam. Both exams will cover lecture material and the text in a multiple choice format. Exams will cover videos shown in class. Bring a scantron sheet with you for exams.

The following studying strategy is recommended for taking exams.
1. Read and take notes on the chapter reading looking for major themes before class.
2. Pay special attention to the bold faced terms in your reading. These terms are repeated at the end of the chapter.
3. Study films in class for the underlying dynamic and why it was chose to illustrate dynamics of politics.

6. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the submission of work that you have copied. It is dishonest, and will not be tolerated in this course. The bar is set very low and a few words can constitute plagiarism. Use your own words and avoid severe penalties.

Final grades will be based on the following scale:

A = 90 -100% = 400 - 360 points
B = 80 - 89% = 359 -320 points
C = 70 - 79% = 280 - 319 points
D = 60 - 69% = 279 - 240 points
F = Below 60% = 239 - 0 points

Withdrawals: The student always has the option of withdrawing up to the last date for withdrawal through NovaConnect. See college calendar. Withdrawals after this date or at the end of the course are not permitted unless the student has documented evidence of mitigating circumstances. The student must complete Form NVCC 125-047and send supporting documentation to the instructor.

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. See student handbook for penalties.

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