Advanced Placement Government and Politics (U.S. & Comparative)
2016-2017 Syllabus
Mrs. Barton, Dominion High School
DHS Main Office – 571-434-4400
Course Description
Today’s increasingly interdependent world has made it necessary for students to think globally. It is imperative for young citizens to understand political processes and political events not just from our own country, but from a diversity of countries around the world. To gain understanding of international events we must examine political structures and perspectives of other nations and how they compare, affect, and interact with one another. Comparisons assist both in identifying problems and in analyzing policymaking.
Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics along with Advanced Placement Comparative Government provides a yearlong course on government. We focus on the United States along with six core comparative countries: the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Mexico, Nigeria, and Iran.
Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will:
· Be encouraged to get involved in the political process and our government
· Be introduced to the basics of American national government and develop an analytical perspective.
· Be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. and Comparative government and politics
· Be able to describe and be able to use for analytical purposes the major comparative political concepts, themes, and generalizations
· Be able to describe and analyze the government and politics of China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia
· Be able to describe and analyze current trends in democratization and globalization
Materials
Student Agenda/Planner, 3-ring binder/loose leaf paper, dividers, small spiral or composition notebook, folders, pens and pencils, USB Thumb drive, highlighters
Course Texts
James Wilson and John DiIulio. American Government: Institutions and Policies, 14th ed. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2015. (will also be available electronically)
Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger, and William Joseph. Introduction to Comparative Politics, 6th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2012. (will also be available electronically)
Supplemental Text
Annual Editions: Comparative Politics 09/10
Peter Woll. American Government: Readings and Cases, 15th ed. Pearson, Longman: 2004.
Online resources: The Washington Post, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Economist, Time, Newsweek
Recommended AP Comparative Study Guide: We recommend that students purchase a copy of the A.P. Comparative Government Study Guide by Ethel Wood. We will place a group order for the book at a price of $14.95 for the newly released 7th edition. Make a check payable to Dominion High School and bring it to me by September 15-16 th if you would like a copy.
Recommended AP U.S. Study Guide: 5 Steps to a 5 (written by an actual AP Reader.)
Organization/Class Requirements
Reading Questions- (Formative Assessment, checked for completion, not scored)
This is a “readings” course, you will do a lot of reading and you will learn a lot of information. You are responsible for reading at home and in class. You will be assigned a login for the online copies of both texts. Students will be expected to read assigned chapters in both texts, as well as supplemental readings, and complete study questions. Webquests will also be used to gather and learn information.
Reading Quizzes—(Summative Assessment, ~2 per week, ~10 points each)
Students will be given a quiz following each reading assignment. Your handwritten answers to Reading Questions may be used as an aid for quizzes.
Vocabulary Journal (Summative Assessment, 2-3 per quarter, ~ 25 points)
Students will keep a journal (small spiral or composition notebook) in which they will record key vocabulary terms, definitions and examples. Journals will be checked on the day of each unit test. Vocabulary Journals will be able to be used on quizzes.
In Class Activities/Homework (Formative/Summative Assessment, 2-4 per quarter, 5-20 points each)
Class Discussions - students will be expected to participate in class discussions which require them to analyze and evaluate the text, supplemental reading materials, and related graphs and charts. Creative Activities – students may make annotated maps, charts, posters, infographics, etc. Practice FRQs - students will be asked to complete written responses, using knowledge gained from class discussions/lecture, activities and research. Practice FRQs will be self or peer graded, using College Board rubrics.
Quarterly Writing Assignments—(Summative Assessment, 50-100 points)
There will be one major writing assignment per quarter.
· 1st quarter students will write a reflection on the 2016 Election, analyzing the actual results, DHS mock election results and their own political beliefs.
· 2nd quarter students will complete an annotated bibliography for their policy research paper.
· 3rd quarter students will draft a policy research paper.
· 4th quarter students will write a final policy research paper.
Project-Based Learning (Summative Assessment, 1 per semester, ~100 points)
Students will complete a project each semester involving significant content and important competencies, authentic problems, technology, collaboration and product presentations.
Tests (Summative Assessment, 2-3 per quarter, ~50 points)
Tests will be composed of questions similar to those students can anticipate seeing on the AP exam including multiple choice and free response questions. There will be an end-of-course, cumulative exam for US Government at the end of the 2nd quarter. There will be an end-of-course, cumulative exam for Comparative Government at the end of the 4th quarter.
*Assignments will be returned to students in the following manner: Quizzes and other formative assessments (1-2 blocks), Tests (2-3 blocks), Major projects and writing assignments (2-3 weeks). Student scores will be posted electronically within 2 weeks after the assignment is graded.
AP United States Exam is Thursday, May 4th 2017
The AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a 45 minute multiple choice section consisting of 60 questions and a 100 minute free response section consisting of 4 questions. This exam is administered in the morning.
AP Comparative Exam is Thursday, May 11th 2017
The AP Comparative Government & Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a 45 minute multiple choice section consisting of 55 questions and a 100 minute free response section consisting of 5 short answer concept questions, 1 conceptual analysis question, and 2 country context questions.
Course Sequence (Based on A Day Dates) **Dates are subject to change**
Date / AP US GovernmentQuarter 1
Aug. 29 -
November 4 / Foundations for the Study of Government and Politics
· Power, Authority and Legitimacy
· Nations, States and Regimes
· Ideologies and Economies
· Comparative data introduction
· United States Constitution and Foundations
Key Dates and Assignments
· Summer Assignment Constitution Quiz – 8/31
· Summer Assignment Comp. Vocab Quiz – 9/2
· Unit 1 Test - 9/19
· Election 2016 Project work day – 9/21
· Election 2016 Project - DHS polls
Political Culture, Political Participation & Public Opinion
· Political Culture
· Political Ideologies, Social Movements & Political Change
· Political Participation
· Social Cleavages, Political Polls
Key Dates and Assignments
· Unit 3 Test - 10/5
· Election 2016 Project products due 10/7
· Election 2016 Project – post campaign posters, show ads
· Election 2016 Project – debates during Titan time
Linkage Institutions: Citizens in society and the state
· Elections
· Political Parties
· Interest Groups
· Media
Key Dates and Assignments
· Unit 4 Test - 11/1
· Election 2016 Project – DHS Votes!
Partnership Night Monday, November 7th
The General Election is Tuesday, November 8th
Quarter 2
November 9 - January 26 / Federalism
· Power Structures: Federal, Unitary, Confederal
· Federalism Timeline
Key Dates and Assignments
· Policy Paper topic statement – 11/11
· Federalism Quiz 11/15
· Election 2016 Reflection Paper - 11/17
Political Institutions of Deliberation (Legislative Branch)
· Congress: Powers and Activities
· Congressional Elections
· Policy Process: Fiscal Policy and Domestic Policy
Key Dates and Assignments
· Policy Paper source list – 11/28
· Unit 5 Test 12/6
Institutions of Enforcement and Executive Action (Executive Branch)
· Article II
· Bureaucracy
· Economic Policy
· Foreign Policy
Key Dates and Assignments
· Policy Paper annotated reference page & thesis – 12/14
· Unit 6 Test 12/20
Judiciary Branch & Civil Society
· Authority
· Organization of the court system
· Interpretations of the courts
· Civil liberties and civil rights
Key Dates and Assignments
· Classroom Debates 1/18
· End of Course Assessment 1/24
· Policy Paper annotated outline – 1/26
Second Semester – AP Comparative Politics & Government
Quarter 3
January 30 - April 6 / Comparative Concepts
· Democratization and globalization
· Comparative data lab
United Kingdom & European Union
· Power, Authority and Sovereignty
· Institutions
· Citizens, Society, and the State
· Political & Economic Change
Key Dates and Assignments
· Policy Paper Draft – 2/13
· UK/EU Test
Former Communist Regimes/Authoritarian Systems: Russia & China
· Communism
· Russia & China
o Power, Authority and Sovereignty
o Institutions
o Citizens, Society, and the State
o Political & Economic Change
Key Dates and Assignments
· Socratic Seminar – Putin’s Legacy
· Russia/China Test
· Policy Paper Final – 3/16
Transitional Democracies: Mexico & Nigeria
· Developing countries data
· Cleavages
· Mexico
o Power, Authority and Sovereignty
o Institutions
o Citizens, Society, and the State
o Political & Economic Change
· Nigeria
o Power, Authority and Sovereignty
o Institutions
o Citizens, Society, and the State
o Political & Economic Change
Key Dates and Assignments
· Mexico/Nigeria Test
Theocracy: Iran
· Iran
o Power, Authority and Sovereignty Citizens, Society, and the State
o Political & Economic Change
o Institutions
Key Dates and Assignments
· Iran Quiz
· End of Course Assessment
Quarter 4
April 17-
June 9 / Review
· US Government Review
· AP6 Review
Key Dates and Assignments
· AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT EXAM 5/4
· AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT EXAM 5/11
Post AP Exam
· Policy Paper Presentations
· Final Reflection
Sunday, June 11thth GRADUATION!!
AP US Government & Comparative Government Syllabus Acknowledgement
I have read the syllabus for AP US & Comparative Government and am aware of the class expectations and procedures. I have read the Dominion High School Academic Integrity Policy (located in the student agenda) and have reviewed it with my child. I also have been informed of the methods to contact the teacher should a concern arise.
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Parent Information
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Who should I contact first, if necessary? Best Phone Number:
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Does your student have access to the internet at home? _____ Yes
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