Psci 203 American Government Examination

Psci 203 American Governmentexaminationseach Examination Will Consist

PSCI 203 American Government Examinations Each examination will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions. The examination will cover material from the start of the course up to the date of the examination. The exams will appear on Blackboard under the “Exams” link. The professor will email students via Blackboard the password and which of the four exams the student is assigned prior to the exam start time. The exams are scheduled and must be taken during the normal course time.

Any exceptions for the exam time must be arranged with the professor at least 24 hours before the exam and will be scheduled after the regularly scheduled exam. The exams permit open notes, lectures, or whatever resources used to study for the course, so long as the exam is taken on an individual basis. Keep in mind, because of this, the exam questions are specific to the assigned readings. If one has not completed readings AND understood the content, the exams will be very challenging. The exam question difficulty/content will be reflected in the reading levels.

The majority of the exam questions will come from the “C” level readings. The remaining questions will be based on the “A” and “B” level readings.

Paper For Above instruction

The examination structure for PSCI 203, American Government, is designed to assess students' understanding of the course material through a comprehensive multiple-choice format. With 50 questions per exam, students are tested on knowledge accumulated from the beginning of the course up to the date of each exam, emphasizing a cumulative understanding of American political institutions, processes, and policies. This format not only evaluates factual recall but also gauges students' ability to interpret and analyze core concepts within the political framework.

Access to the exams is facilitated through Blackboard, a widely used online learning management system. Students are informed of their specific exam assignment and the corresponding password via email from the instructor prior to the exam, ensuring a secure and organized testing environment. The scheduled exam times align with the regular course schedule, emphasizing the importance of timely participation. However, provisions are made for students requiring exceptions; such cases must be approved at least 24 hours in advance and scheduled outside the standard exam timeframe.

A notable feature of these exams is their open-resource policy. Students may use notes, lecture materials, or other study resources, provided the exam is completed individually. This policy encourages thorough preparation and a nuanced understanding of the material, rewarding students who engage deeply with the readings. Since the questions are directly based on assigned readings, mastery of these texts is essential for success. The readings are stratified into levels: “A,” “B,” and “C,” with the majority of questions derived from the “C” level, representing foundational content. The remaining questions, which cover more advanced concepts, come from “A” and “B” level readings. This distribution ensures that students are tested on basic knowledge as well as their ability to engage with more complex and analytical material in American government studies.

Overall, the structured approach to examinations in PSCI 203 promotes comprehensive learning, critical thinking, and academic integrity. The open-note policy and detailed reading requirements foster a serious engagement with the course content, preparing students for both the exams and broader understanding of American political science.

References

• Downs, A. (1957). An Economic Theory of Democracy. Harper.
• Edelman, M. (1988). Political Language: Words that Succeed and Policies that Fail. Academic Press.
• Key, V. O. (1961). Politics, Parties, and Pressure Groups. Crowell.
• Palmer, R. R. (2018). Government and Politics in America. Cengage Learning.
• Shively, W. H., & De Lulu, J. J. (2018). American Government: Readings and Cases. Cengage Learning.
• Smith, S. S. (2019). Understanding American Politics. Routledge.
• Smith, S., & Stockton, L. (2020). Essentials of American Government. Cengage Learning.
• Verba, S., Schlozman, K. L., & Brady, H. E. (1995). Voice and Equality: Civic Voluntarism and American Politics. Harvard University Press.
• Wilson, J. Q. (2018). American Government: Institutions and Policies. Cengage Learning.
• Zaller, J. (1992). The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion. Cambridge University Press.