COURSE DESCRIPTIONS Junior State of America Summer School at Stanford University Palo Alto, California July 8 – 29, 2018
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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS Junior State of America Summer School at Stanford University Palo Alto, California July 8 – 29, 2018 Table of Contents Advanced Placement/Honors U.S. Government & Politics 3 Advanced Placement/Honors Macroeconomics 4 Honors International Relations 5 Honors Speech And Political Communication 6 Debate Workshop 7 Speakers Program 8 Administration 9 Faculty 10 Resident Assistant Staff 11 The Junior State Of America and The Junior State of America Foundation 12 2018 JSA Summer School at Stanford | 2 COURSE DESCRIPTION ADVANCED PLACEMENT/HONORS U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS This course is a college-level introduction to the dynamics of the American political system. It is designed to fulfill state educational requirements and to prepare students for the Advanced Placement examination in U.S. Government and Politics. This course has been authorized by the College Board to use the “AP” designation for the 2018-2019 school year. Through lectures, college texts, scholarly articles, national journals, selected chapters from outstanding works in political science, case studies, and small group discussions, students learn the basic operating principles of the United States government as well as several theoretical and analytic models for understanding the process of American politics at the state and national levels. Course activities prepare students for the College Board AP exam in U.S. Government and Politics with writing exercises similar focused on AP-style questions. In accordance with the AP course guidelines, specific topics include: - Constitutional Underpinnings - Public Policy - Political Beliefs and Behaviors - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties - Political Parties and Interest Groups - Institutions of National Government Throughout the course, students learn the historical origins and foundations of the United States political system. They practice critically analyzing the roles democracy, political thought, civil liberties, and the Constitution play in the American political system and political institutions. Students use case studies to examine the structure and function of Congress, the Presidency, the courts, mass media, interest groups, political parties, the federal bureaucracy, and the part each of these institutions plays in the policymaking process. After completing this course, students have the tools to analyze American economic and political systems, interpret data relating to U.S. governmental affairs, and will be able to explain the roots of patterns within the political processes. Summer School students in this course take two examinations and write an 8-12-page analytical paper of university caliber demonstrating their understanding of American government. The term paper involves original research and extensive use of the Stanford University Library. Faculty closely supervises all student research. Classroom material is augmented by a robust speakers program where students attend lectures from premier speakers in their fields. The course is offered for high school credit and is equivalent to a one-semester Advanced Placement course in U.S. Government & Politics. For students from high schools that do not offer Advanced Placement courses, this class also duplicates an Honors U.S. Government course. Classes are held six days a week. Students accumulate 85 classroom hours in the program. The assigned college-level textbook for the course is: Ginsberg, B., Lowi, T. J., Weir, M., Tolbert, C. J., & Spitzer, R. J. (2017). We the People: An th Introduction to American Politics (11 ed.). New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Co. 2018 JSA Summer School at Stanford | 3 In addition, students are assigned readings from a collection of scholarly articles, national journals, monographs and selected chapters from works in political science. COURSE DESCRIPTION ADVANCED PLACEMENT/HONORS MACROECONOMICS This course is comparable to a one-semester university economics course, covering major economic theories and public policy analysis. It is designed to fulfill state educational requirements and to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Examination in Macroeconomics. This course has been authorized by the College Board to use the “AP” designation for the 2018-2019 school year. Intended for students with little to no background in economics, the first part of the course covers general definitions, concepts, tools and methodological issues required for the analysis of societal and economic activities. After this introduction, macroeconomic theories are studied in depth and the course explores the application of economic models to selected fields. Through a highly participative course, students examine decision making by individuals, groups and organizations, with emphasis on how those decisions are made in a market economy. They review economic strategies and how voluntary exchanges between demanders and suppliers are seen as the foundation of the market system. Aspects of both fiscal and monetary policy are explored. The role of government is emphasized with discussion of economic performance measures, market failure and business cycles (swings in the economy's output rate, unemployment rate, foreign trade and inflation rate). Particular attention is focused on the macroeconomic impact of the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve System. Summer School students take two essay examinations and complete an 8-12-page analytic paper of university caliber demonstrating a thorough understanding of economic policy generation. The paper involves independent research and extensive use of the Stanford University Library. The Economics faculty closely supervises all student research. The class is offered for high school credit and is equivalent to a one-semester Advanced Placement or Honors Macroeconomics course. Students accumulate 85 classroom hours in the program. Classes are held six days a week. The assigned college-level textbook for the course is: Colander, D. (2018). Macroeconomics (10th ed.). Columbus, OH: McGraw-Hill. In addition, students are assigned selected articles and case studies from current issues of economic journals, magazines, and newspapers. 2018 JSA Summer School at Stanford | 4 COURSE DESCRIPTION HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS This is an introductory college-level course designed to give students the tools to analyze key conceptual issues in international relations. Students will learn about the key issues and actors in international relations. They will analyze the origins and evolution of the international system and the role of the state, the nation, international organizations, ethnic groups, and other non-state actors in global affairs. Through the use of case studies of specific international situations, students explore various themes in international relations including globalization and political economy, the use of force, state formation and failure, international institutions, diplomacy, and the structure of global civil society. They also analyze the dynamics of state relations and discuss why different historical experiences produce different outcomes. After completing this course, students will be able to think critically and conceptually about issues that affect U.S. interests in the short- and long-run. After completing this course, students will be able to use the conceptual frameworks they learned to analyze the relations between states. Having been exposed to many differing perspectives on world affairs, students will have a well-rounded exposure to the intricacies of international politics. Honors International Relations students take two examinations, give a presentation, and write an 8-12-page analytical paper of university caliber demonstrating a thorough understanding of international relations. The examinations are a combination multiple choice and written answer questions. Supervised by the International Relations faculty, the term paper involves original research and extensive use of the Stanford University Library. While the course is equivalent to a one-semester high school Honors International Relations course or an Honors Social Studies Elective, it is taught at a college level. Classes are held six days a week. Students accumulate a total of 85 classroom hours in the program. In addition to other supplemental readings, the assigned college-level textbook for the course is: Mingst, K. A., & Arreguin-Toft, I. M. (2016). Essentials of International Relations (7th ed.). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. 2018 JSA Summer School at Stanford | 5 COURSE DESCRIPTION HONORS SPEECH AND POLITICAL COMMUNICATION In three intensive weeks of instruction, Junior State of America Summer School students are exposed to the fundamental elements of speech communication through a university-level course emphasizing the practical use of communication theory through public speaking. Fundamentals of persuasion and argumentation are taught with emphasis on standards of logic and proof. In addition to perfecting speech delivery, Speech Communication students study the role of media in influencing the public, critical thinking, and audience analysis as part of their speech assignments. In this course, students learn how all forms of media (TV, radio, newspapers, Internet) influence the political process and the public's perception of reality. Students will evaluate media sources and learn to think critically about news coverage. This course is built around lecture, group discussions, readings, and in-class speech and presentation practice. Students give both prepared and