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SS 415: Advanced Placement American Government 2008-2009
REQUIRED MATERIALS 1. FILLIN \* MERGEFORMAT Textbook: American Government, James Q, Wilson, John J Dilulio, Jr., 10th Edition 2. The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity, Fourth Edition 3. Notebook, divided into 4 sections, to be labeled: a. Warm Ups You may divide your notebook by chapters with a separate section for b. Notes your Warm Ups. c. Handouts OR d. Homework 4. Highlighter in your preferred color(s). 5. Black ink pens or #2 pencils for all written work. Please, no colored ink pens. 6. Folder with pockets for class handouts and readings. This should be a part of your notebook.
This course is designed to enable students to develop a critical perspective of government and politics in the United States. The nature of the American political system, its development over the past two centuries, and how it works today are examined. Both general concepts and specific case studies are stressed. Emphasis will be placed on increasing the techniques of evaluating, refuting, comparing, contrasting, analyzing, and documenting and supporting ideas. AP Government is a highly structured, very demanding college-level course. Students are required not only to thoroughly read the college-level text, also to augment this material through research and reading of supplemental articles and then critically apply the findings to the political nature of current governmental policies and analyze the ramifications of these policies. One of the primary objectives of this course is to expose students to all areas of information covered on the AP Examination. Thus it is imperative that a high-level academic environment exist and that the student is dedicated to learning, is highly motivated, and is willing to put forth both in and outside of the classroom the time and effort required for a course of this intensity.
COURSE STANDARDS: 1. Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy. 2. Students evaluate the scope and limits of civil rights and obligations as democratic citizens, the relationships among them, and how they are secured. 3. Students evaluate the fundamental values and principles of civil society (i.e., the autonomous sphere of voluntary personal, social, and economic relations that are not part of government), their interdependence, and the meaning and importance of those values and principles for a free society. 4. Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution. 5. Students summarize landmark U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution and its amendments. 6. Students evaluate issues regarding national, state and local elective offices. 7. Students analyze and compare the powers and procedures of the national, state, and local governments. 8. Students evaluate the influence of the media on American political life. 9. Students analyze the origins, characteristics, and development of different political systems across time, with emphasis on the quest for political democracy, its advances, and its obstacles. 10. Students formulate questions about and defend their analyses of tensions within our constitutional democracy and the importance of maintaining a balance between the following concepts: majority rule and individual rights; liberty and equality; state and national authority in a federal system; civil disobedience and the rule of law; freedom of the press and the right to a fair trial; the relationship of religion and government.
REQUIREMENTS: 1. To adhere to all SMR House Rules. 2. To actively participate in group discussions and cooperative group activities. 3. To obtain all work from the teacher in the event of a pre-scheduled absence. 4. To uphold criteria established in the student-parent handbook on attendance, electronic devices, and cheating/plagiarism as defined by the SMR Honor Code. 5. To visit the teacher website if you have misplaced you syllabus or have been absent, and to check the See Me page regularly. http://www.smrhs.org/socialstudies/lcarr/index.htm 6. To bring all required and needed materials to class each day. 7. To complete the assigned readings prior to class and to prepare to participate in class discussions and activities. 8. To type all research/project assignments. 9. It is the student’s responsibility to complete all work missed due to absences in a timely manner, and to schedule time with the teacher if further clarification is needed. Work missed as a result of tardiness, cuts, or suspension will receive a zero and cannot be made up. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. 10. To have access to and read a reputable newspaper (Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, or New York Times) either in hard copy or via the internet.
EVALUATION: Regular class attendance is expected and is necessary to be successful in this course. I expect all students to arrive in class promptly to begin the daily Warm Up activity. Late arrivals receive a zero on the Warm Up activity. Additionally, students who keep up with the readings and other assignments will do much better on unit exams than those who try to complete everything one or two days before!
Class time is not used to go over assigned readings. Instead text and supplemental readings are intended to serve as the point of departure for class sessions and discussions. Therefore it is imperative for students to compete the assigned reading before a topic is taken up in class.
All assignments are due by the date given. No late work (including homework) will be accepted unless the teacher can verify a reasonable and acceptable explanation. All written homework assignments will be reviewed (although not necessarily collected) but their completion will be necessary for success in class participation/ discussions, tests and quizzes.
In the event of absence, work is to be handed in on the day the student returns to class. The student will be required to take any missed test or quiz the first day of return to school (after one week any missed work will be assigned a zero). It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the missed test or quiz. Late work is the last to be graded by the teacher. If you know that you will need extended time on your tests, please plan to stay after school on test days.
Grades will be a reflection of the student’s grades on tests, quizzes, homework assignments, projects, group work, class participation/discussion, attendance, and attitude. No individual extra credit will be given – no exception!
EXAMINATIONS:
The Mid-Term Exam will
count as 20% of your 1st Semester grade.
* CONFERENCES AND ASSISTANCE: I am available before and after class for short meetings. Conferences should be scheduled for before and after school hours. I am always willing to discuss your concerns.
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