Instructor: Melinda Pittman

Instructor Information:

My name is Melinda Pittman and I am a National Board Certified Teacher in Social Studies.

Currently, I am a teacher at Pontotoc High School. I teach AP United States History and regular United States History. I received both my Bachelor and Master in Social Studies at the University of Mississippi.

Contact Information:

If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the email link on the main Lessons page or in the "Communications & Tools" tab. NOTE: Replies to your emails will go to your go.olemiss.edu email account, so be sure to check it frequently.

Course Description:

American Government will provide students with an understanding of civic life, politics, and the constitutional process. It will also provide a basis for understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens and a framework for competent and active participation.

Required Textbook:

American Government 2e from OpenStax

Print ISBN 1947172654, Digital ISBN 1947172662

Good news: your textbook for this class is available for free online! If you prefer, you can also get a print version at a very low cost. Your book is available in web view and PDF for free.

You can also choose to purchase on iBooks or get a print version from OpenStax on Amazon.com. You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended – the responsive design works seamlessly on any device. If you buy on Amazon, make sure you use the link on your book page on openstax.org so you get the official OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high-quality.)

The .pdf version of each chapter of your required textbook is available for download in this course.

Course Objectives include (but are not limited to):

• Compare and contrast knowledge and application of the basic concepts of democracy.
• Evaluate the foundational American political principles and the historical events, documents, and philosophical ideas that shaped the formation of the United States.
• Differentiate the basic organization of the US government and explain the function of each branch of the US government.
• Analyze the role of federalism in addressing the distribution of power between the national, state, and local governments.
• Compare and contrast civil rights and civil liberties and explain how each have been interpreted and amended throughout American history.
• Describe the role and function of linkage institutions such as the media, interest groups, political parties, and political action committees, on the citizens and federal government.
• Describe and evaluate the role, rights, and responsibility of a citizen in the American democracy.

Course Outline:

This course consists of 17 instructional modules (or chapters). NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

Grading Scale:

93 - 100% = A
85 - 92% = B
75 - 84% = C
70 - 74% = D
Below 69% = F

The grading format is as follows:

Minor Grades: 50% (Discussion; Chapter Review Questions; Chapter Journals) 
Major Grades: 30% (Unit Quizzes; Project)
Exams: 20% (Mid-Term Exam; Final Exam)