United States Civics and Government Syllabus
La Quinta High School Civics Fall 2017
Instructor: Mr. D. Geil
Contact:
“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who
express their choice are prepared to choose wisely.
The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is
education.”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence –
is the key to unlocking our potential.”
-Winston Churchill
“The qualifications for self-government in society are not innate. They are the result of habit and long training.”
-Thomas Jefferson (1824)
Course Description and Goals
“This course is the culmination of the civic literacy strand of history-social studies that prepares students to vote, and to be informed, skilled, and engaged participants in civic life. As this course progresses, students will learn about the responsibilities they have or will soon have as voting members of an informed electorate . . . They’ll learn about the benefits to democracy of an electorate willing to compromise, practice genuine tolerance and respect of others, and actively engage in an ethical and civil society. They’ll discover that all citizens have the power to elect and change their representatives —a power protected by free speech, thought, and assembly guarantees.”
-California History and Social Science Framework, Ch. 17 (2016)
As the final history and social science class that many students will take in their lifetimes, and a bridge between school and childhood, and adulthood and responsibility; this class must prepare students to participate in civic life and society. In order to achieve this goal, students will engage with exploration, inquiry, deliberation, debate, and informed action on the principles, foundations, and issues of American government at the national, state, and local level. Students will engage with primary source documents, political and legal theory, and current events to read, understand, analyze, evaluate, and find evidence to inform and support views and actions on issues of consequence to themselves, their communities, and country.
Through this course of study students will be empowered to participate in the civic life of their community, state, and nation, and the various ways that they can access and participate in the governing of their country. Students will demonstrate this through the completion of a civic learning project.
This course will provide students with the fundamental knowledge of American Government and Politics so that they will be able to:
●Explain the fundamental nature of politics through an analysis of the federal, state and local systems of government.
●Understand the differences between the competing political ideologies found in the American system of government and how those ideologies shape political debates and public policies.
●Analyze the issues and motivations behind political campaigning, participation and voting.
●Describe the institutional elements of national, state, and local governments.
●Comprehend the historical and cultural relationship between the American political system and individual participation through an examination of civil liberties and civil rights.
●Identify political issues that will continue to shape federal, state, and local governments.
●Identify, research, and take informed civic action on a current issue affecting their community at the local, state, or national level.
Required Materials
- Textbook: Magruders American Government
Suggested Materials
- A spiral notebook or 3-Ring binder just for this class
- Blue or black pens, pencil, and highlighters
*Please remain organized and be sure to bring ALL materials to class every day. The textbook is the only exception unless otherwise requested in advance by me.
Course Expectations
- Come to class every day, on time, and prepared to learn with an open mind.
- Be a participant and active contributor in class.
- Complete all homework/projects assigned using good time management.
- Be respectful at all times. This includes to your peers, to your teacher, of the classroom environment, and most importantly, yourself!
Student Behavior:
There is one primary principle in the classroom:
Nothing shall interfere with teaching and learning.
In addition, organization, time management, punctuality and excellent attendance are required and necessary to succeed in this class. All school rules apply in the classroom.
Moreover, students must become self-advocates. This means that a student needs to take full responsibility for his performance in the class. Students should immediately communicate with their teacher should any issues arise—such as illness, sporting events, family emergencies/vacations, difficulties with the class—that interfere with class attendance and completion of assignments. Students should contact the teacher if/when he will be absent on the day of a quiz, unit test, midterm or final exam or if/when an assignment will not be completed by the deadline. Students can speak with their teacher before/after school or in class, at lunch and via email if there is any problem. The best thing to do is to communicate as soon as possible if a student foresees an inability to complete an assignment or be prepared for a quiz.
All students are expected to behave in a manner appropriate to a college setting. Those who do not can expect fair, consistent, and natural disciplinary consequences for their inappropriate actions or attitudes. Typical consequences include but are not limited to warnings, detentions, referrals, parent phone calls, parent conferences, and behavior contracts.
Digital Devices: You have more access to information through a device that fits in your pocket than any human being has ever had access to in the history of the world. It is a powerful tool that can be used with the express permission of Mr. Geil. Any other use will result in the enforcement of the school’s cell phone policy (see student handbook).
Grading Scale and Policies
A= 90%-100% B=80%-89% C=70%-79% D=60%-69% F=59% and below
Grading Categories
Summative Assessments (Unit Tests, Midterm, Final, Projects) = 60%
Formative Assessments (Quizzes) = 30%
Homework (Assignments) = 10%
*Please be sure to check grades regularly through Aeries
Homework and Test Make-Up/Late Policy:
Homework: Late work is only accepted in the case of an excused absence or if the student has pre-arranged with the teacher to turn the work in late. Students have the same amount of days they are excused absent to turn in the late work. So if you are absent for one day, you have one day to turn it in (ex. Absent on Monday, turn in on Wednesday).
Tests and Quizzes: Tests and quizzes can only be made up if the absence is excused. It is the student’s responsibility to set up a make-up time with the instructor. No more than a week can go by after the absence for a student to make up a test or quiz
Plagiarism: While students are encouraged to help each other and work together, cheating will not be tolerated. According to the La Quinta Discipline Code, cheating is defined as, but not limited to “using or giving any form of aid(s) in completing the assigned work and/or tests for a class.” Plagiarism is defined as but not limited to “taking the ideas/work/writings from another source and offering them as your own.” Any student found committing any type of the above academic dishonesty will be given a score of zero (which will not be dropped in the case of an exam) on whatever assignment was compromised. He/she will likely also be suspended from class pending a parent conference.
Teacher Biography
Mr. Geil is an Orange County local from Fountain Valley. He loves to empower his students to engage with and in debates that affect their lives from the local community to the national level through the study of history and social science. Mr. Geil attended UC Berkeley where he majored in History and Native American Studies. It was there that he realized he wanted to be a teacher. After completing his B.A. he moved back down to Southern California to earn his teaching credential at Cal State Long Beach. Mr. Geil completed his teacher training at Pacifica High School and has been teaching at La Quinta since 2013. He still resides locally and enjoys reading, travel, music, camping, hiking, rock climbing, trying new foods, and spending time with his family (which includes Mr. G. Geil, who you may know from the English department).
Disclaimer
The instructors reserve the sole and complete right to modify this syllabus at any time and in anyway they see fit.
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