AP GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

COURSE OUTLINE

Mr. Edwards A 218

Harding University High School website:

Email Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday; 14:30-15:30

The Advanced Placement course in United States Government and Politics is designed to give students a critical perspective on politics and government. This course involves both the study of general concepts used to interpret United States politics and an examination of the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up American politics. The course is taught with college-level texts. Preparation for the A.P. test will be an integral part of the course.

Goals:

Examine the philosophical underpinnings and pragmatic realities of modern American democracy. Determine how the structure and function of federalism has changed over time and how those changes have affected policy making at the local, state, and national levels. Analyze the development of political equality and individual in order to formulate perspectives on contemporary civil rights and civil liberties issues. Analyze how popular sovereignty is exercised in modern American electoral politics through political parties, interest groups, and public opinion. Evaluate how the U.S. government exercises authority through the interaction of the three separate branches of government. Provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to take the A.P. test in U.S. Government.

Textbook: Magruder’s American Government 2002 Edition

  • 3-ring binder—REQUIRED DAILY (see instructions below)
  • blue or black pen—REQUIRED DAILY!
  • Composition Notebook-REQUIRED DAILY!
  • Positive Attitude

Organization is crucial in the academic setting. Without proper organization students will fall behind, misplace important documents, and be unable to fully prepare for Chapter Tests. Everything in the Notebook must be dated and labeled by Goal!!!

Notebooks should be organized as follows: 1. Course Outline, 2. Study Guides for Each Goal, 3. Chapter Handouts and Homework. EACH SECTION MUST BE IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER!! I.E.- CHAPTER 6, CHAPTER 7, CHAPTER 8, ETC.

Students must bring notebook to class everyday. Notebooks will be graded on a pass fail basis. If items are not secured, when checks are administered, then student will fail the notebook check. Notebook checks will be administered at teachers’ discretion.

Because a significant amount of material (including Lectures, Group Work, and Class Discussions) take place in class, regular attendance is critical to your understanding of the material and ultimately the successful completion of the course. Should you have an excused absence, you will be given five school days to turn in assignments without penalty. If you miss a test—with an excused absence—you will be given five school days to make up the test without penalty.

For tests missed with an UNEXCUSED absence the student can expect a “0.” In short, makeup work is YOUR responsibility.

Class participation is central to understanding the subject material. Group work and class discussions will be an integral part of your learning. When you are not in class you miss valuable information. Every effort should be made to attend class.

Your grade is determined by cumulative points gained throughout the year. On each graded assignment you will receive a grade in this format: 190/250. For your records you would note the following: Geography Quiz 190/250. Therefore, your grade at Progress Reports, the Quarter, and Semester should NEVER come as a surprise.

Additionally, as Harding employs the use of NC WISE, students should always be aware of their standing in the course.

Students should expect chapter tests along with quarterly examinations and semester examinations. Often times the quarter and semester examinations will include both previously covered material as well as new material.

The First Semester examination will be cumulative and will cover material through the examination date. A final cumulative examination will be given covering all material studied in class at the completion of the course.

The Advanced Placement exam is offered on Tuesday, May 15 this year. It will contain a multiple-choice section which students are given 45 minutes to complete. The exam also contains a written-response section in which students are given 100 minutes to write on four topics. As with other A.P. tests, the exam will be graded on a scale of 1 (no recommendation) to 5 (Extremely well qualified).

Occasionally a grade sheet will be posted in A 218; this grade sheet will allow students to view their grade by Student ID number.

Students will be graded using a variety of assessment tools including (but not limited to) short response papers, longer research papers, in-class speeches and debates, short quizzes, in-depth unit tests, and homework. Some in-class assignments will require student attendance for credit. Absences should be arranged with Mr. Edwards prior to the event if difficulties arise.

For all classwork and homework a student may use either a pen or pencil—unless instructed otherwise. When homework assignments are collected, students must turn in the ORIGINAL HANDOUT with their work clearly evident.

Social Studies Department Late Work Policy

The members of Harding's Social Studies Department have adopted the following guidelines regarding late work: Homework and other assignments are due as assigned in class. In accordance with CMS Policy, late assignments will be accepted by the instructor. However, also in accordance with CMS policy, the instructor has the authority to penalize such late work. In this course you should expect to receive no more than 75% if the assignment is turned in one day late, anything turned in after the 1st day late will receive a 50% (F) credit. The instructor will grade the work--and, as always,mark-off for errors, omissions, and incorrect or incomplete items--then assess the penalty. In all cases, no student will receive greater than 75% (F) on any late assignment. Learning and appreciating deadlines and due dates is an essential characteristic of all successful students.

Social Studies Department "Failure is not an Option" Policy

The Social Studies Department believes that student mastery is an essential component in creating and maintaining high academic expectations. As such, any studentwho scores below a 77% (D) on a test has the option to retake the test with a "qualifier." In all Social Studies classes,a student meets the qualifier requirement whenhe/she has spent a total of one (1) hour in a remediation / re-teaching session conducted by the teacher (or his/her team designee). While in this remediation / re-teaching session students will adhere to established classroom rules and will be held accountable for the work that is undertaken in the session. Additionally, the student should complete this one (1) hour within five (5) school days following the return of the test.

Students will not be allowed to leave the room to collect their homework or other assignments—it should be brought with the student to class.

Students will have homework every night. Homework will be checked on a regular basis. Students should not only complete the work assigned but also the student should be studying every night.

Student will receive a homework grade roughly every three weeks. If the student does not complete homework on a regular basis the student will fail!

Keeping with Harding’s Zero Tolerance Policy for cheating and plagiarism, students are expected to follow a high standard of integrity in the classroom and in all work completed while at Harding. For all assignments completed in this course it is expected that the student turn in ORIGINAL work. Work that has been copied or plagiarized—including homework—will receive a permanent zero “0” (see next page).

Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:

  • Giving or receiving unauthorized verbal or written help during a testing period.
  • Removing test items from the classroom.
  • Using unauthorized materials during a test.
  • Copying another student’s work on an open-ended assignment, unless instructed by the teacher to work as a group.
  • Plagiarism, as defined below.

Plagiarism is a particular type of cheating that has no place in the academic community. Plagiarism is defined as the copying of the language, structure, ideas, and/or thoughts of another author or individual and representing it as one’s own work. Plagiarism is most easily avoided by learning proper documentation techniques.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:

  • Copy information word for word from a source and not containing it in quotation marks or block quotation form and citing the source properly.
  • Paraphrasing information from a source without proper citation.

Consequences for cheating include, but are not limited to:

First Offense: Permanent zero (see below) on the assignment or assessment; student/teacher conference, documented by student signature on a copy of this policy; phone call to parent; referral to guidance.

Second and Subsequent Offenses: Permanent zero on assignment or assessment; parental contact by administrator; referral to administration, at which point the cheating offenses become cumulative by documentation on the student’s disciplinary referral card.

“Permanent Zero” does not allow the student to re-do the assignment or assessment for a grade.

Other inappropriate behaviors, which are unethical and constitute cheating include:

  • Informing students in another class period of the same class test items.
  • Having unauthorized materials out, but not using them, during a test period.
  • Talking and/or communicating during testing or examination periods.

Students will abide by all Harding University High School rules. In addition, students should observe my classroom rules.

  • Respect me.
  • Respect each other.
  • Respect yourself.
  • Speak proper English.

Failure to abide by my classroom rules and Harding’s rules will result in disciplinary action. Disciplinary actions include, but are not limited to: warning, removal from the classroom, parent contact, and referral to administration.

Students MAY NOT bring and/or consume food or drink in the classroom. Also, students MAY NOT chew gum in the classroom.

Students are not permitted to move desk, except for when they are doing group work.

Laziness will not be permitted, ever, in my classroom! If you are lazy, fake it, pretend to be interested for an hour and eighteen minutes in my class!

Students will ALWAYS have work to do upon entering the classroom. Class begins immediately when the bell rings and students should be in their assigned seat ready for the daily lesson.

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DETACH AND SUBMIT TO INSTRUCTOR

DUE DATE: Thursday August 26, 2009

I have read the course syllabus and understand what is expected of both student and parent. I understand that I must maintain nightly readings, be responsible for all makeup work, homework, and test dates. Failure to do so will result in a substantially lower grade.

Furthermore, I have read and understand the district, school, and instructor’s policy regarding academic integrity.

Student Name PRINTED: ______

Student Name SIGNED: ______

Parent Name PRINTED: ______

Parent Name SIGNED: ______

Parent email:______

Parent phone #:______

*RETURN & EMAILME FOR FIRST TEST GRADE*

*YOUR CHILD MUST PASS THIS COURSE

TO GRADUATE*

Donations are welcome: Donations will supply our students with much needed supplies that will promote growth and learning at Harding University High School. Your child’s classroom could benefit with the following supplies:

COLORED PAPER, BOLD MARKERS; EX. CRAYOLA MARKERS

SOLID WHITE PRINTER PAPER, BOXES OF TISSUE

PLASTIC CONTAINERS TO HOLD SUPPLIES

IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT STUDENTS PURCHASE A FLASHDRIVE FOR SCHOOL. Students will be creating many digital projects in this class