Honors Economics: Course Requirements

This serves as a survey of the political landscape of the United States and the structure of the federal government as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. American government is a multi-faceted institution and our approach will be multi-dimensional. Particular attention will be given to the three branches of government and the federal bureaucracy, but, we will also examine the role political parties, the media, and special interest groups play in the formation of public policy. The development of civil rights and civil liberties will also be explored in some detail along with important Supreme Court cases.

This is a demanding course and will not only require that the student do their reading assignments prior to the class in which the material will be covered, but also that the student do outside research on certain aspects of American Government and Politics. All students enrolled in AP United States Government and Politics must sit for the AP exam administered in May.

Relationship to School Mission and Philosophy:

The AP American Government course strives to promote the ideals of faith formation, inclusion, personal growth and community embodied in the mission. Students examine how government policies are formed and how they affect the individual. The academic standards for the course maintain the highest level of a college preparatory course of study.

Basic Skills Inherent in the Subject Area and Course:

The course develops students' analytical and critical thinking skills. Students expand their ability to use charts, graphs, maps and timelines. Writing is emphasized as part of this college preparatory curriculum.

Textbook:

MacGregor Burns. Government by the People; Prentice-Hall, 2006

Course Objectives:

1. Students will identify, cite, and discuss the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, The U.S. Constitution, and the Federalist Papers and explain the nature of their influence on American Government.

2. Students will identify significant features of governmental and political processes in the U.S. and select, analyze, and apply knowledge of the historical developments of these features including: federalism, the party system, the electoral, legislative, and judicial processes; and the presidency.

3. Students will compare the significant features of the American political system to those of Ancient Greece and Rome as well as past and present European systems.

4. Students will describe the major contributions of Enlightenment philosophers to the development of our current governmental structure particularly in the areas of individual rights, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

5. Students will summarize, discuss, analyze, and compare major Supreme Court decisions and explain their impact in U.S. history.

6. Students will summarize, discuss, and analyze, some of the important and continuing debates that run through American history, particularly those involving democracy, liberty, and equality, in light of Catholic Social teaching.

7. Students will synthesize information from various sources to reach a conclusion.

8. Students will write an analytical research paper on an issue of social concern, present on it, and develop a course of action aimed at addressing the issue.

9. Students will construct original timelines, charts and graphs utilizing related elements with relation to cause and effect.

10. Students will evaluate the impact of change in a particular era/time/civilization and evaluate the degree to which one era or society influences subsequent developments.

11. Students will draw conclusions on what dates and/or events are significant and valid.

12. Students will critique the values, needs, and ideas of a society and produce value judgments both on the values of a society and the way values are expressed.

13. Students will offer value judgments as to the worth and benefits of particular types of technology for society.

14. Students will work in groups to utilize advanced technological skills in the presentation of projects related to the curriculum.

15. Students will work in groups to develop, present and defend simple arguments regarding specific course material.

16. Students will work in groups to develop solutions to real-world problems related to the curriculum.

17. Students will recognize and interpret human error in all aspects of history and civilization, and identify and apply theories of correction aimed at both the origin of the error and present society.

18. Students will recognize and apply the need for individual and communal human action in maintaining moral, responsible, social order in government.

19. Students will analyze and apply the historical importance of religions in human history, and demonstrate its role in aiding individual, local and global community.

20. Students will demonstrate means of compromise to meet the needs of the majority of interest groups.

21. Students will respond in writing and orally under test conditions in order to demonstrate comprehension of course material.

22. Prepare for and successfully pass the Advanced Placement Exam

Course of Study: Topics to be covered

Declaration of Independence

Articles of Confederation

U.S. Constitution/Bill of Rights

Concurrent Powers and Powers denied to the states

Amending the Constitution

Federalist Papers

Federalism

Political Party Process (including 2 party system & 3rd party influence)

Electoral, Legislative, Judicial Processes

Executive Branch and its powers

Legislative Branch and its powers

Judicial Branch and its powers

Continuing Debates in American History (democracy, liberty, equality)

Political Beliefs & Behaviors of American citizenry

Public Opinion & Voting behaviors

Government Policy development

Role of Governmental Bureaucracy

Media Influence on the Political Process

Role of Special Interest Groups in the Political Process

Supreme Court decisions and influence

Civil Rights & Civil Liberties in America

Teaching Strategies and Methods:

· Lectures

· Class discussions, debates, simulations

· Student project presentations

· Cooperative learning

· Required Papers (MLA format will be required for all writing assignments)

· Examinations

Criterion for Credit:

Student must meet academic criteria set forth by Archbishop McCarthy and obtain a passing grade for the course.

Grading Policies:

Grades are determined by a points/percentage system and will be divided into two major categories. The “Exams/Projects/Papers” category will constitute 80% of the student’s grade (not including semester/final exams). The “Participation/Quizzes/Homework” category will constitute 20% of the student’s grade (not including semester/final exams).

Semester Grade Distribution: (not including semester exams)

Exams/Projects/Papers: 80%

Homework/Participation: 20%

Technology Requirements:

Students will utilize available technology for research and presentations. Use of internet, CD-roms, word processing and PowerPoint will be utilized in a manner to complement student learning.

Homework Policy:

“The Social Studies homework policy is aimed at providing students with meaningful work that supports/reinforces the requirements of the department’s curriculum. Thus, homework of some sort is given nearly every day. This homework generally takes one of several forms. The most prevalent and consistent form of Social Studies homework is nightly reading assignments (with accompanying questions, worksheets, and/or maps) which serve as a precursor to the following day’s classroom activities. The department also requires the ongoing development of projects (both group and individual) which frequently must be worked on at home. Papers and/or annotated article reviews are required of most students as well. Frequently homework related to such projects/papers must be managed alongside the nightly readings. Ultimately, the department does not assign busywork for the sake of assigning homework. Thus, in spite of homework being assigned on most nights, there are rare occasions where students might have a night off.”

Group Projects :

During the semester, students will be required to complete six (6) major group projects. Two (2) of these projects will involve creating & teaching lessons on assigned economic topics & issues. Such group teaching projects will be assigned once each quarter. Three (3) of the remaining four group projects will require groups to research/analyze a political topic/issue, formulate a position/argument with regard to the topic and defend this position within the format of a class debate. The final group project will involve researching governmental policy issues/topics and the presentation of an oral/ technology production during the fourth (4^th) quarter.

Individual Projects:

During the semester, students will be required to keep a weekly current events notebook/journal in which they will collect news articles and provide student annotations (critical reflections and comments on the articles collected). Annotated article reviews are expected to be produced three (3) times per week. One typed article review (and accompanying photocopied article) will be submitted on alternate weeks throughout the semester. In addition to the current events notebook/journal, students will also be required to develop, write, and submit a major research thesis paper during the course of the semester. This paper will involve the research and evaluation of a specific political issue/topic currently being discussed in news publications. While the current events notebook/journal and associated annotated article reviews are expected to provide considerable research content for this term paper, additional historical research into the chosen topic will also be required in order to provide appropriate context for the student’s critical evaluation of policy recommendations.

Exams:

Four (4) exams will be given during the semester. Exams will cover any and all material covered in class as well as assigned readings. ** NOTE: All exams will include assigned reading material NOT covered in class. “A” grades will not be awarded to those who have not kept up with assigned readings.

Reading Assignments:

Weekly reading assignments are provided on the course calendar along with due dates of other assignments. Reading assignments are expected to have been completed prior to the week in which they are listed and will be crucial to in-class discussions as well as exams/projects.

Participation:
Class participation will be divided into two (2) categories. With regard to in-class activities, participation refers to closely following (1) individual assignments, (2) video-viewing, and (3) group work. Frequent learning group activities will be assigned to reinforce and further understanding of material introduced in class (and readings). Groups will be permanent and duties within the groups should be rotated (i.e. continued reliance on one person will not be acceptable). Group members will have the opportunity to anonymously and confidentially evaluate each other’s contributions and, thus, influence participation grades.

In-Class Discussions:

With regard to in-class discussion, participation refers to voluntary contributions relevant to course material and generally includes clarification questions, insightful questions, and/or insightful comments. Participation records will be maintained weekly during each quarter and will then be assessed for grading purposes.

Make-up/Incomplete Work:
All projects, papers, or annotated articles not submitted by their assigned due date will receive a grade of zero unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor. Missed exams will be made up according to school policy and may be comprised entirely of essay questions (students will not be allowed to take the same exam that was missed).

Extra Credit:
Extra credit is not awarded.

Academic Dishonesty:
Any exam, project, article review, paper, or homework assignment which exhibits plagiarism will receive a grade of zero. Other school policies will be invoked (see Student-Parent Handbook for specifics). For the purposes of this course, plagiarism is defined as a student portraying anyone else’s ideas, words, or answers as his/her own. Any student who shares information with another students when such is not explicitly permitted by the instructor is also considered to be cheating. Students will be asked to sign a “no cheating” policy and to adhere to this honor code throughout the year.

**Note: please see Mr. Sandoe’s Cheating Policy Statement for additional details.

Discipline:

Students are expected to arrive on time and take their seats prior to the bell. Everyone is expected to treat each other with respect and courtesy. Behavior which promotes a learning environment for all students in the classroom is required. Although students are encouraged to share their opinions and observations, all comments must be appropriate for the classroom. All school policies will be enforced (see student handbook for specifics).

Classroom Rules and Regulations:

Rule Consequence

* Raise your hand to speak. Don’t talk while others * You will be warned one time. After that

are responding. Don’t be disruptive. detentions will be assigned.

* Bring all necessary materials to class each day. * Reduction in class participation.

* The only excuse for being tardy is a pass from another * Detention

teacher or an administrator

* Turn in all assignments on time * Score of zero

* If absent the day of a test, you must make up the test * Score of zero

according to policy as outlined in Student/Parent

handbook.

* No cheating/plagiarizing * Score of zero