AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS COURSE SYLLABUS

Transcription

1 AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS COURSE SYLLABUS Instructor: Room: Website: COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course is divided into six segments. The first, Constitutional Underpinnings of the United States Government, is an overview of the form and function of the Constitution, including its historic foundations, ideological and philosophical traditions. The second, Political Beliefs and Behaviors, examines political socialization and applications in the US. Third, Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media looks at the influence of political institutions and American participation in those groups. The fourth topic, Institutions of National Government, studies the concept of federalism and separation of powers. Fifth, Public Policy, gives an overview of the interactions between all of the players in the United States Government, including the end product of those interactions. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, examines the Constitution in practice, the courts and the evolution of civic life in the US. The course is designed to instill a deeper understanding and appreciation for our system of government and the documents that created it. The course is also intended to prepare students in the course for success on the AP United States Government and Politics exam administered each May by the College Board. The course outline and proficiencies for Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics are consistent with the educational philosophy of Wood-Ridge School District, as well as current state requirements for social studies. REQUIRED TEXTS: Wilson, James and DiIulio, Jr., John. American Government, 10 th Edition. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, Benson, David and Waples, Karen. Fast Track to a Five: Preparing for the AP US Government and Politics Examination. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, Monk, Linda R. The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution. New York: Stonesong Press, 2003 SUGGESTED SUPPLEMENTS INCLUDE: Beeman, Richard. The Peguin Guide to the United States Constitution: A Fully Annotated Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Amendments, and Selected Federalist Papers. New York: Penguin Books, 2010.

2 Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania: The Washington Post: The New York Times: CNN: NPR: STUDENT EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITY: The work done in this course is college level and it is expected that all students will treat it as such. A significant amount of coursework shall be done outside the classroom. o Students are expected to participate fully, both in class and out, and to work diligently to get the most out of the course. The following are base expectations and responsibilities for all students: o Regular attendance is imperative. o Being in class guarantees that you will participate in an array of activities and discussion that cannot be done otherwise. o If class is missed for any reason, all material can be accessed on the course website. o All students are responsible with keeping up with the course on days of absence and must work diligently to not fall behind. On any snow days, the course will continue as scheduled. o Students are responsible for completing that day s lesson and any assignments provided on the course website. o On the day of return we will be moving on to the next lesson. All coursework will be submitted by the posted due date. o All late work must be cleared ahead of time with the instructor. o Students submitting any late work without instructor approval should not expect to receive full credit for the work. o Late work will not be accepted after one week beyond its due date. o Assigned readings, including textbook chapter readings, will be completed on time and students will be prepared for substantive discussions, both in class and online. Student work shall be done in conjunction with the notion that it benefits the whole. o Much of what we do in this class is collaborative and will be shared. Consider what you do to be an integral component of your classmates education in addition to your own. Students will spend ample time outside of class preparing for the AP United States Government and Politics exam. o This is done in supplementation to all coursework completed both in and out of class and will invariably help in understanding what we are doing in class.

3 COURSEWORK AND REQUIREMENTS: Textbook Readings: Students are to complete the assigned textbook chapters by reading and taking notes- Cornell style. (Cornell style note taking will be covered in class.) Notes will be checked at random. Supplemental Readings: In addition to the textbook, students will frequently be assigned additional readings relating to the current unit of study. Students will be assigned a portion of Words We Live By and must write a synopsis of their chapter and place on the class wiki. Vocabulary and Flash Cards: Vocabulary associated with American government and politics will be emphasized throughout the course. Students will be responsible through various assignments for incorporating and highlighting important vocabulary terms and applying them to real world contexts. Students will receive extra credit if they present Vocabulary cards with each unit test. Legal Briefs: Students will be expected to complete legal briefs, as per the example outlined, for all of the major Supreme Court cases discussed throughout the course. This will help to develop knowledge of the court case, along with the ability to write in a concise manner. Legal briefs will be assigned as we cover the material in class. In-Class Discussions: Students will participate and contribute substantively to discussions carried out in class. Controversial issues will be among the discussion topics and therefore students are to always follow the golden rule, THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK. Students are to remain cognizant of their peers opinions throughout course discussion and learn how to debate in an orderly and respectful manner. On-Line Discussions: Through the use of Piazza, the classroom will be extended to the virtual world through online discussions designed to enhance communication, collaboration, and the understanding of course concepts. Students will lead the discussion post on a rotating cycle. Discussions will take place on Piazza every other week. After the initial post students are expected to comment twice. Class Wiki: Students are expected to post a current event relating to the unit currently being discussed along with commentary on the story, to the class wiki. This will also be done on a rotating basis; two three students for every unit. Political data, graph, and cartoon analysis: Reading and interpreting charts, graphs, and data relevant to the political process is a fundamental skill that will be developed during this course. Understanding and interpreting political cartoons is also an important skill that will be utilized. These skills will be developed through class discussion, class work, readings, and unit tests. Short Essays: Students will be required to write short (1-2 page) pieces analyzing relevant concepts, issues and events. They will be assigned at random throughout the course. Project and Simulations: Students will have the opportunity to engage in research projects, presentations, debates, and simulations on various topics related to the course. Some projects will be individual while others will require a substantial amount of group collaboration. Research Project and Presentations: Once the AP exam has concluded students will work in pairs to research a timely topic or issue relevant to the course and create and deicer a presentation to the class. This is the culminating project for the course and is not in place of a final exam therefore exemptions are not available for this assignment.

4 Unit Tests: Each unit concludes with a test that comprises of multiple choice questions and at least one free- response question. All questions are modeled on those asked on the AP exam. COURSE OUTLINE UNIT LESSON TOPICS READINGS * ASSIGNMENTS** Constitutional Underpinnings and the Federal System September 5- September Philosophical Roots of American Government 2. Federalists vs. Anti-federalists 3. The Constitution 4. Bill of Rights and Amendments 5. The Federal System 6. Federalism in Action Wilson, Chapter 1, 2, & 3 Piazza Discussion 1: September 10 Comments September 15 September 20 Event Post: September 18-September 23 Unit Test: September 25 Piazza Discussion 2: September 24 Comments- September 29 Political Beliefs and Behaviors September 26- October 29 Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media 1. American Political Culture 2. Political Beliefs & Political Spectrum 3. Political Participation 4. Public Opinion and Polling 5. Political Typology 6. Using and Interpreting Political Data 1. Parties and the Two Party System Wilson, Chapter 4, 7, 8, Piazza Discussion 3: October 1 Comments October 6 October 24 Event Post: October 20-October October 24 Unit Test: October 29 Piazza Discussion 4: October 15 Comments- October 20 Wilson, Chapter 9-12 Piazza Discussion 5: November 3 Comments

5 October 30- December 9 Institutions of National Government: Congress December 10- January 12 Institutions of National Government: The Presidency January 13- February 6 2. Congressional Elections 3. Primaries and Party Conventions 4. Analyzing Campaign Commercials 5. The Electoral College 6. Divided Government 7. Campaign Finance, PACs and 527s 8. Interest Groups 9. The Mass Media 1. Introduction to the Legislative Branch 2. Congress simulation 3. Overview of the Senate 4. The Filibuster 5. Issues of Congress and the Legislative Process 1. Role and Powers of the President 2. Limits on Presidential Power 3. War-making Powers 4. Presidential Decision- November 7 November 24 Event Post: November 20-December 3 Unit Test: December 9 Piazza Discussion 6: November 17 Comments- November 20 Piazza Discussion 7: December 1 Comments- December 4 Wilson, Chapter 13 Piazza Discussion 8: December 15 Comments December 18 January 5 Event Post: December 29-January 7 Unit Test: January 12 Piazza Discussion 9: January 6 Comments- January 9 Wilson, Chapter 14 Piazza Discussion 10: January 26 Comments January 29 Midterm Exam: January 20 January 30

6 Institutions of National Government: The Bureaucracy February 9- February 24 Institutions of National Government: The Judiciary February 25- March 13 Public Policy March 17- March 31 making 5. Office of the President 6. Process of Presidential Appointments 7. Impeachment 1. Into to the Bureaucracy 2. Nature of the Federal Bureaucracy 3. The Bureaucracy in Context 1. Intro to the Judiciary 2. The Supreme Court 3. Supreme Court Confirmation Process 4. Judicial Activism, Judicial Restraint 5. Supreme Court Decisions in Context 1. Overview of Public Policy 2. Influencing Public Policy 3. Economic Policy 4. Social Policy 5. Foreign Policy 6. Environmental Policy 7. The Federal Budget and Public Policy Event Post: January 23- January 30 Unit Test: February 6 Wilson, Chapter 15 Piazza Discussion 11: February 10 Comments February 13 February 20 Event Post: February 18-February 23 Unit Test: February 24 Wilson, Chapter 16 Piazza Discussion 12: February 27 Comments March 3 March 10 Event Post: March 2- March 9 Unit Test: March 13 Wilson, Chapters Piazza Discussion 13: March 19 Comments March 24 March 24 Event Post: March 23- March 27 Unit Test: March 31

7 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties April 1- April The Fourteenth Amendment 2. Civil Liberties & Selective Incorporation 3. Freedom of Religion 4. Freedom of Speech and Press 5. Fourth Amendment and Privacy 6. Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment Freedoms 7. The Civil Rights Movement 8. Modern Civil Rights Exam Prep Wilson, Chapter 5, 6 Piazza Discussion 14: April 6 Comments April 9 April 13 Event Post: April 15- April 24 Unit Test: April 29 Piazza Discussion 15: April 20 Comments- April 23 Review April 30- May 12 Final Project Political Issues June 3- June 10 Project ** There will be other projects, readings, essays, and assessments throughout the course. All dates are subject to change. * Supplemental readings will be assigned throughout the course though they are not listed here. Test Date: May 12, 2015

8 EXAMPLE LEGAL BRIEF OUTLINE Your Name My Name US History I 4 February, 2010 Marbury v. Madison 5 U.S. 137 (1803) The Facts Presented: What are the highlights or main facts of the case. This should be a summery. No extra wording. 5-7 sentences max. The Issue in Question: What is the main question or questions. Answer Yes or No to each question. Holding: What was the final decision the court gave. The Opinion of the Court: List their reasoning for their holding or decision. Significance of the Case: This is an addition I would like you to have in here. Nothing lengthy. Just tell me why this case was important. **Another example can be found on the course website.

9 CLASS WIKI CURRENT EVENT POST Current events are an integral component to studying and applying the fundamentals of United States government and the political system. Not to mention these are the events and occurrences that affect our day-to-day lives and will shape YOUR future. You will follow important events and issues arising in the United States and provide commentary and insight, making connections to AP United States Government and Politics course content. Directions: You will be assigned a unit on a rotating basis. Each student will post a current events new article on the wiki along with their own commentary. This is a collaborative effort and each student will be responsible for two units. Each post must include the following: Title Group Member Names Link to Article Picture Synopsis- general summary of article- Minimum of 1 paragraph Analysis- your own insight on the issue of the article or the article itself. - Minimum of 2 paragraphs Connection to Course Material You may only choose an article from one of the websites listed under the supplemental reading sources (CNN, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post) OR NO EXPECTIONS. The dates listed on the above outline are the EARLIEST to LATEST you may post. You must do so within that time frame. You will be assigned your post- you MAY NOT choose your own.

10 POLITICAL ISSUES FINAL PROJECT The final project affords students the opportunity to research and examine in-depth a particular political issue that is both timely and relevant and to lead fellow students in, in-depth discussion on that issue. This project is the final project but is NOT to be confused with a final EXAM- No EXEMPTIONS! Directions: You will work with a partner or two to research, analyze, and lead a discussion on a significant political issue. Your discussion must include the following: A strong way to introduce your topics. Background information on the issue (a brief history, relevant statistics, etc.) Arguments/Debates over the issue. Relevance of the issue to American government and society (connections to any relevant course concepts). Well-developed questions to ask the class as a way of leading the discussion in the direction (s) you want it to go in. REMEMBER, this is not a presentation; it is a discussion where you must elicit whole-class conversation. The above requirements do not need to be presented in order. Instead, plan your discussion in a way that will eventually address those requirements. How you go about leading this discussion is completely up to you and your partners. You can use any supplemental materials you need to best lead this discussion. Discussions must be minutes each. The issues to be examined using a focus question as the basis are as follows: 1. Should American adopt public financing of political campaigns? 2. Does Affirmative Action advance racial equality? 3. Do we need national health insurance? 4. Are Americans overtaxed? 5. Should border security come first in stopping illegal immigration? 6. Is indefinite detention of suspected terrorists justified? 7. Is the use of torture against terrorist suspects ever justified? 8. Does the Tea Party represent a revival of America s revolutionary ideals? 9. Should the United States reassert themselves in Middle Eastern affairs? 10. Should the death penalty be abolished? 11. Should homosexuals be allowed to marry? Topics are derived from McKenna & Feingold, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues, 17ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012)