AP Government & Politics Syllabus
Mr. Crandall
“In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”
–Thomas Jefferson
“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.”
–Abraham Lincoln
Course Description
This yearlong, college-level course prepares students to take two AP exams: United States Government & Politics and Comparative Government and Politics. The course is designed to teach students to understand and be able to critically analyze important concepts in both U.S. and comparative politics through the study of six core countries from AP Comparative Government (the United Kingdom, Mexico, Nigeria, Iran, Russia, and China) and more in-depth study of American government and politics. In addition, students will learn the skills necessary to perform well on the AP tests. The first semester of this course will be devoted to the study of American government and politics. The second semester will cover comparative politics.
As a college-level course, this class is rigorous and demanding. It requires that students put forth their best effort on a daily basis, both in class and in reading and listening to the news outside of class. Reading will be extensive and not all information will be discussed in class. Students MUST keep up with assigned readings to do well in the course, as well as on the AP exams. Students will also be tested on their understanding of readings in weekly quizzes.
The following is the syllabus for the first semester of the course, AP American Government & Politics. The syllabus covering the second semester (AP Comparative Government & Politics) will be very similar and will be distributed at the beginning of second semester in the spring.
The Exam
The date for both the AP US Government and Politics Exam and the Comparative Government and Politics Exam is Tuesday, May 10. The AP US 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. The unit tests will all resemble the actual AP test, they will consist of both multiple choice questions and free response questions similar to those on the AP exam. There will also be in-class and take-home free response essays throughout the year in order to gain more practice in writing such essays. Students will take a cumulative exam in class that will be similar in format to the AP Exam, which will be given immediately prior to the actual AP Exam.
Text and Materials
1. Edwards, Wattenberg, Lineberry, Government in America, 14th edition.
2. Assigned and used in class: articles from current newspapers, such as the New York Times and the Washington Post; news magazine excerpts from Time, Newsweek, and the Economist; news footage and documentaries; C-SPAN’s coverage of current events; ABC News Video Case Studies (the DVDs included in the textbook); and numerous websites.
Grading System
Grading will come from a points system. The points will come from tests, free responses, homework, quizzes, projects, class work, participation/habits of work, and debates. Grades will be based on the following grading scale:
100%-90% A
89%-80% B
79%-70% C
69%-60% D
59%-0% F
As for the semester breakdown, the entire semester is 85% of your final grade, and your final exam is worth 15% of your final grade.
Projects/Long-Term Assignments
· Chapter Reading Quizzes – We will not have a chance to discuss everything in the reading. Therefore, we will have chapter reading quizzes based upon the textbook. The chapter reading quizzes will include key concepts and vocabulary. These quizzes will be announced ahead of time, unless the need arises to change this policy. It is imperative that you read the assigned readings closely and take good notes because this will play a very significant role in how well you do in this course and on the AP test. Students will sometimes be allowed to use their notes on these quizzes, SO TAKE GOOD NOTES!
· News Assignments – Because of the importance of keeping up with political news, you will have several assignments based on the news. You will turn in a summary of political news stories. These stories can come from newspapers, journals, magazines, or the Internet (as long as they are from reputable news agencies). For each story you will write a detailed analysis/explanation of how the article ties into the political landscape, which should include your thoughts and opinions on the topic. As time allows, we will discuss the articles and your opinions in class on the days that they are due. More information will follow when such work is assigned.
· Cartoon Analysis Assignment – Approximately once a month you will turn in a political cartoon that you will have analyzed in regards to current political topics and themes covered in this class. As time allows, you may get the opportunity to share your political cartoon with the class. More specific information will be provided in a separate handout.
· US Supreme Court Landmark Cases Project – The goal of this project is to allow each student to do in depth research on a landmark Supreme Court case and write a legal brief on that case. Then each student will present their case to the class in order to provide all students with a background in each important Supreme Court case that could appear on the AP test.
· Debates/Discussions – We will have debates over various controversial issues throughout the school year. It is important to come prepared for such debates so that you can contribute meaningful arguments and support your opinion. We will also have numerous in-depth discussions. You will know about such debates and discussions well ahead of time, so you will have ample time to develop an informed opinion on the issue at hand.
· Wiki – There is a wiki for this course. The purpose of this wiki will be for the class to communicate thoughts and ideas about a wide range of political topics outside of class time. Your participation on the wiki will be counted as part of your homework grade. Specific information about assignments and the course will also be posted to the wiki. The 2-week calendars will be posted on the wiki, so you can always know what’s going on. The address for the course wiki is: http://crandall.wikispaces.com/
Expectations
Homework/Classwork:
· Students will have nightly homework assignments, primarily out of the textbook and from selected articles from the aforementioned supplementary materials, such as newspapers and news magazines. The students will also be required to read and analyze primary source materials, such as The Federalist Papers and the United States Constitution. All readings will be clearly stated in the two-week calendars and students are expected to complete each assignment/reading as assigned.
· All homework must be handed in ON THE DESIGNATED DUE DATE. Turning in assignments after the official submission date will result in a ZERO. I do not accept ANY late homework assignments. If an assignment is collected on a day that you are absent, it is to be handed in at the start of the first day that you return to class. Failure to do so will result in a zero for that assignment.
· All students are expected to complete essays or projects on time. These assignments will be reduced one letter grade for each day late, since they are worth more points and are more significant parts of your overall grade.
· Working together on class work will sometimes be allowed but each student is responsible for doing his or her own work and copying will not be tolerated—this applies to study guides. Both parties involved in copying or cheating will be penalized with ZEROS on the assignment or quiz or test. Plagiarism is entirely unacceptable and the minimum punishment will be a zero. If such behavior occurs more than once you may be dropped from the course.
Binder:
· All students must have a binder that will help to keep all materials for the class together. This will be extremely useful when you begin studying material from 1st semester before the AP Exams in May.
· You must get a three-ring binder in which you will keep all of your notes, homework, quizzes, FRQs, and two-week calendars. This way when you go to study, all of the necessary materials will be in one central location and this will ensure that all of the hard work you do during 1st semester won’t be wasted because you lose everything by the time May comes along. Your binder should be for AP Government & Politics only. Because this is a college-level course I will not do frequent binder checks, it is your responsibility to stay organized. However, I will periodically check binders as a part of your Habits of Work grade and as an extra incentive to keep everything together.
· Your binder must have at least 6 tabs, one for each unit in 1st semester. The units are listed below.
Habits of Work:
· Each quarter every student will be given a Habits of Work grade. There are six areas that make up a students’ Habits of Work grade. They include the following: Active Listening, Attendance, Respectful Attitude/Behavior, Preparation for Class and Use of Materials, Contributions to Class, On Task During Independent Work Time.
· Each student will be evaluated throughout the semester. This includes having your necessary materials with you every day.
· Points will be deducted from your Habits of Work grade each time you violate one of the Course Expectations (see below).
· Thoughtful contributions to in-class debates/discussions and the wiki discussions will also count toward your Habits of Work grade.
Tardiness:
· Tardiness is unacceptable. Tardiness constitutes arriving after the bell rings. You must be IN YOUR SEAT WHEN THE BELL RINGS or you will be tardy. I will follow the school policy regarding tardies. Plus, for each tardy you will lose 5 points from your Habits of Work grade.
Excused Absence:
· The work may be made up for full credit for all excused absences. For every day that you are absent you will have one day to complete and submit the assignment.
· You are responsible for getting the work you missed.
o You should always know what the assignments are when you are absent because they will be detailed on the calendars you will receive every two weeks.
o You will be expected to take any missed quiz or test during a study period in your schedule or before or after school.
o Since you will always know about quizzes and tests ahead of time, you will be expected to make up any missed quiz or test within one day of returning to school. Failure to do so could result in a zero on that missed quiz or test.
o Also, always feel free to email me any questions when you’re absent at .
Unexcused Absence:
· Each unexcused absence will result in 15 points off of your Habits of Work grade. I will follow the school policy regarding unexcused absences.
· Unexcused absences will result in TOTAL LOSS OF POINTS for work missed on that day (including TESTS). NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
Units
The year will be broken into US Government and Politics first semester and Comparative Government and Politics second semester. The units for first semester have been broken down into six general topics, which we will deal with in relationship to how much of each topic may appear on the actual AP exam. The College Board supplies percentages for each topic, which coincide with the actual amount of information that will be on the exam. The units for second semester will be distributed at the beginning of second semester.
FIRST SEMESTER: US Government & Politics
I. Constitutional Underpinnings of Democracy in the United States
5-15% of AP test
A. Considerations influencing the adoption of the Constitution
B. Separation of powers
C. Federalism
D. Theories of democratic government
Text: Chapter 1 – Constitutional Democracy
Chapter 2 – The Living Constitution
Chapter 3 – American Federalism
II. Political Beliefs and Behaviors and Mass Media
10-20% of AP test
A. Beliefs citizens hold about government and leaders
B. Processes by which citizens learn about politics
C. The nature, sources and consequences of public opinions
D. The ways in which citizens participate in political life
E. Factors that influence citizens to differ politically
F. The changing role of the American media
Text: Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 10
III. Political Parties and Interest Groups
10-20% of AP test
A. Political parties and elections
B. Interest groups and PACs
C. Electoral laws and systems
Text: Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 11
IV. The President, Congress, Judiciary, and Bureaucracy
35-45% of AP test
A. Formal and informal institutional arrangements of powers
B. Relationships between the four institutions
C. Links between these institutions and parties, interest groups, media, and the public
D. Policy making processes
Text: Chapter 12 – Congress
Chapter 13 – Presidency
Chapter 14 – Congress, the President, and the Budget