Dr. Cash S 2015-2016 Honors Civics

Dr. Cash’s 2015-2016 Honors Civics [email protected] / 706.865.0727 http://cashcivics.wikispaces.com What Steps Do You Personally Intend To Take This Year To Change The World?

In this class, you will discover the tools needed to become a global citizen so that you can be competent and confident in analyzing any problem. Our year will be based on four points: The Present: Where are we now? The Past: How & Why did we get here? The Alternatives: Who else has a better way? The Future: How do we create even better answers to revolutionize tomorrow’s world? Honors Civics is an advanced course that is an in depth analysis of the components of citizenship and civic responsibilities. Entrance into this course was contingent upon the following: students should have had an “A” in Georgia History, be enrolled in Honors English or Honors Physical Science, and have a middle school teacher recommendation. I will implement new classroom structures and programs in the Honors Civics class weeks before other classes, so you must be ready to learn and adapt quickly to all situations that come your way. Students must be able to synthesize historic context, current issues, and the standards outlined in the United States Constitution to address topics concerning social justice, 21st century learning, economic issues, as well as domestic and international interaction. Classroom Behavior: It is expected that all students behave in manner that reflects your level of maturity and commitment to your studies. All Academy rules will apply in this classroom. BE ON TIME BE PREPARED BE RESPONSIBLE BE RESPECTFUL Warm Up: At the beginning of each period, students will find an assignment or political cartoon for the day on the screen. Students are expected to begin the task immediately. Most Daily Discussion Questions (DDQ’s) should be completed quickly and usually within the first few minutes of class we will go over the assignment together. Unless otherwise instructed, all assignments will be individual—do not share answers. All daily class work and homework assignments are to be kept in a three ring binder as study aids for test preparation.

Absences: Attendance is essential in order to receive the full benefit of the class. If you are absent from class it is YOUR responsibility to complete all makeup work in a timely fashion. When you are absent, check my website for any missed homework assignments. More than 3 will disqualify you from Final Exam Exemption. If you miss a quiz or exam, you will have a zero entered into the grade book (unless it is one week prior to midterms going out). This zero will remain in the grade book until YOU come schedule at time to make up your test. The zero will hopefully be a prompt that you will see on Infinite Campus to remind you to make up your missed exam. You may not make up tests during other teachers’ classes or during my instruction time. Students who participate in field trips are not exempt from turning in major assignments due to the trip. You must come to me in order to arrive on a good time to submit your assignments Computation of Grades: Formal Assessments (60%) Unit Tests

Papers & Projects Accompanied with a rubric, projects and papers, like section and unit tests, are considered major assessments. You are required to complete and turn in any 6 in-class projects this year. You may turn in all assigned projects (there will be 8 total). There will also be NON-OPTIONAL projects that you may NOT count towards your optional 6 turn-ins; you are expected to turn these in. You must work on the project during class time as if you were turning it in however. Failure to participate in class will result in disciplinary action,

Wiki On assigned weeks, you are responsible for a submission of a response to the question on our Civics Wiki. Your submissions must be worthy of a course of honors (parameters will be given later). Hot Topics You are expected to bring with you on assigned Fridays a typed Hot Topic. This can be an article that you read in the newspaper or on-line. I will specify the topic of the class. We will operate our discussions in a formal parliamentary format. Parliamentary Procedures and Roberts Rules of Order will be discussed in class, but you will be conducting the format so I suggest well-formatted synopses and reflections. Informal Assessments (20%) Class work Class work will consist of individual, partner, or group activities done during classroom time. Homework Homework can be assigned either in class or through the class Wiki site. Participation Participation will be entered on a random basis. Scores and criteria include: Score Criteria Participates in a positive academic context with the instructor and other classmates (at least three times a 10 class period) and displays an engaged attitude in all classroom activities Sometimes participates in an academic context with the instructor and other classmates (at least one time a 7 class period) and sometimes displays an engaged attitude in all classroom activities 0 or Rarely or never participates in an academic context with the instructor and other classmates and rarely or 5 never displays an engaged attitude in classroom activities Grades will be determined as follows: Formal Grades: 60% Informal Grades: 20% Final Exam 20% Total: 100% A= 90-100 (Outstanding); B= 89-80 (Satisfactory); C=79-70 (Average); F=69.4 and Below (Failing)

Checking grades and missed homework/class work assignments: Students are responsible for checking my wiki or website on a daily basis to determine homework reading assignments and InfiniteCampus to check grade progress. If a student does not have access to a computer at home or during the day then he/she will need to use Freshman Focus/ELT time to print materials. Checking grades and missed homework/class work assignments: Students are responsible for checking my website on a daily basis to determine homework reading assignments and InfiniteCampus to check grade progress. If a student does not have access to a computer at home or during the day then he/she will need to use Freshman Focus/ELT time to print materials. Academic Honesty Policy: All students are expected to uphold the highest standard in the student code of conduct. Academic dishonesty includes the following: plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to school materials, misrepresentation/falsification of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification. Violation of Academic Honesty is a serious offense; it not only shatters trust, but these actions can follow a student throughout his/her entire academic career. Any violations will be subject to the punishments and reprimands of the Administration as well as receiving a 0 for the assignment. Students will submit papers into Turnitin.com in order to ensure academic integrity. How to Be Successful in Honors Civics, taken from Seven Habits of Highly Successful Students:

1) Be Proactive. a. See challenges coming, and take steps to face them before they overwhelm you. b. Keep and maintain a schedule. Study your notes every night c. Get organized! Manage your time wisely

2) Begin with the end in mind. a. Set goals based upon class expectations. b. Keep your energy and efforts focused on achieving your goals. Don’t forget the “basics”

3) Put first things first. a. Set priorities to help you achieve your goals. DO THE READINGS. You are responsible for knowing the information provided in your textbook, INCLUDING THOSE NOT DISCUSSED IT IN CLASS b. Tie your schedule into your goals.

4) Think win/win. a. Look for the potential benefits in your work and your relationships in class. b. Remember that experience in one area reinforces experience in others.

5) Seek first to understand, then to be understood. a. Listen to others before you criticize them. Participate in class discussions b. See how others’ ideas reinforce or conflict with your own. c. Make your point clearly and concisely so that others can understand you.

6) Synergize. a. Look at how things fit together. Keep up on current events b. Put your current experience to work for you in new endeavors.

7) Sharpen the saw. a. Evaluate your actions. After a test or quiz, write out the questions you missed with the correct answers b. Look for areas of improvement. Form study groups c. Set goals to achieve improvements, and follow them. ·After a test or quiz, write out the questions you missed with the correct answers ·Form study groups & manage your time wisely

OTHER RULES NOT SPECIFICALLY STATED IN THIS SYLLABUS WILL ALSO BE ENFORCED. THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE MODIFIED AT THE TEACHER’S DESCRETION AT ANY TIME THROUGH THE YEAR.