Keith Country Day School 2013-2014
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
I. Course Description, Goals, and Skills AP U.S. Government is a challenging course taught first semester, beginning in August and ending in December. The class will serve as an introduction to American politics through an exploration of the origins, structure, and function of the American political system, the part citizens play in the political process, and the issues and debates animating American politics today. A fundamental understanding of the internal workings of American government and politics will be explored. Students will be encouraged to think conceptually about the strengths and weaknesses of American government, various theories about how a democracy should be run, and identify potential threats to the democratic system. All major themes of U.S. government will be examined, including federalism, elections, political parties, the media, the bureaucracy, public policy, interest groups, civil rights and liberties, Congress, the judiciary, and the presidency.
This course approximates a college freshman experience in both its expectations and its grading standards. It uses a standard college textbook and though it emphasizes lecture and classroom discussion, critical reading, analytical writing, and use of primary sources, it also incorporates creative in-class activities and simulation. Because this is a college-level course, you should be willing to devote a substantial amount of time to completing reading and other assignments on time and with care. Successful completion of this course will provide students with the skills needed on the national Advanced Placement examination. All students enrolled in AP U.S. Government and Politics will be required to take the AP exam on Wed., May 14, 2014.
The specific skills you will develop in this course include:
the ability to comprehend and recall the material in a college-level textbook; the ability to express yourself in writing with clarity and precision; the ability to develop a complex and specific thesis and then to support that thesis with evidence from primary and secondary sources in a coherent, focused essay; the ability to express yourself orally with clarity and precision through discussions and debates; the ability to read historical and current events materials in a critical way, including the ability to identify the point of view, bias, and tone of the author; the ability to analyze and interpret a range of data, including maps, statistical tables, pictures, and graphs; the ability to understand political change over time, identifying causes, results, and significance; the ability to be proficient note-takers from printed materials, lectures, and discussions; the ability to understand the establishment and subsequent development of U.S. government and compare it to that of other political systems.
II. Required Readings American Government, Gitelson, Dudley, Dubnick (Wadsworth, Cengage Learning 10th ed.) 1984, George Orwell (summer reading) Primary source documents (various)
Most primary source readings are available in the public domain online. The list of useful web sites is limitless, however, a useful number can be found on the AP U.S. Government teacher website at www.mrstott.com. Students may also want to closely examine the AP U.S. Government and Politics section of apcentral.collegeboard.com for useful resources in preparing for the AP exam.
1 III. Course Requirements/Grading/Evaluation Students will be graded on a variety of assignments, including chapter tests, chapter study guides, other reading assignments, and The Great Debate Project. Tests will include multiple-choice and matching questions and include detailed essay questions from the assigned readings. Essays should include a short introduction, thesis statement with supporting details in your body paragraphs, and a short conclusion. Homework (study guides, readings) will make up 35% of your semester grade, tests (generally covering two textbook chapters) make up 55%, and the results of the Great Debate Project will make up the remaining 10%.
In order to draw real meaning from the material, you must keep up on the readings and hand in work on time. I will accept late work for partial credit only and understand that your grade will also suffer in other areas. Please note that you are expected to attend class every day and to be on time. You will receive a responsibility grade of 3 if you are late to class three times in a grading period.
IV. Schedule of Topics and Assignments (subject to revision as necessary) A. First Semester 1. Introduction to the course a. An overview of AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP Test, and Constitution Test b. Summer reading and writing assignment: 1984 c. Summer reading quiz: 1984 2. Myth and Reality in American Government a. Reading assignment: American Government, chapter 1 b. Political orientation and spectrum internet assignment—www.politicalcompass.org c. Chapter study guide d. Multiple-choice/essay exam e. Jeopardy! review activity 3. Constitutional Foundations a. Reading assignment: American Government, Chapter 2 b. Primary-source reading assignment: American Government, Federalist Papers 10 & 51 c. Primary-source activity: Constitution Scavenger Hunt d. Chapter study guide e. Video clips: John Adams, HBO miniseries f. Multiple-choice/essay exam g. Jeopardy! review activity 4. Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations a. Reading assignment: American Government, Chapter 3 b. Chapter study guide c. Multiple-choice/essay exam 5. The Heritage of Rights and Liberties a. Reading assignment: American Government, Chapter 4 b. Internet/debate activity, www.ProCon.org c. Chapter study guide d. Multiple-choice/essay exam e. Jeopardy! review activity 6. Public Opinion and Political Participation a. Reading assignment: American Government, Chapter 5 b. Chapter study guide c. Multiple-choice/essay exam 7. Political Parties and Campaigns and Elections a. Reading assignment: American Government, chapter 6 and 7 b. Political advertising analysis activity
2 c. Chapter study guides d. Multiple-Choice/essay exam e. Jeopardy! review activity 8. Interest Groups a. Reading Assignment: American Government, chapter 8 b. Chapter study guide c. Multiple-choice/essay exam 9. Media and Politics a. Reading Assignment: American Government, chapter 9 b. Chapter study guide c. Multiple-choice/essay exam 10. Congress a. Reading assignment: American Government, chapter 10 b. “I’m Just a Bill” Internet research assignment—www.thomas.loc.gov c. Primary-source document: The Declaration of Independence d. How a bill becomes law chart e. Congress bill writing/passing simulation activity f. Video clips: Congress by Ken Burns g. Chapter study guide h. Multiple-choice/essay outline exam i. Jeopardy! review activity 11. The Presidency a. Reading assignment: American Government, chapter 11 b. Chapter study guide c. Presidency comparison readings—Presidential Leadership d. Video clips: The Presidency—History Channel Series e. Multiple-choice/essay exam f. Jeopardy! review activity 12. Bureaucracy a. Reading assignment: American Government, chapter 12 b. Chapter study guide c. Multiple-choice/essay exam 13. Courts, Judges, and the Law a. Reading assignment: American Government, chapter 13 b. Field trip experience/activity—Rockford Public Safety Building/Courthouse c. Chapter study guide d. Video clips: The Supreme Court DVD Series e. Multiple-choice/essay outline exam f. Jeopardy! review activity 14. Domestic Policy and Policymaking a. Reading Assignment: American Government, chapter 14 b. Chapter study guide c. Multiple-choice/essay exam 15. Foreign and Defense Policy a. Reading Assignment: American Government, Chapter 15 b. Chapter study guide c. Multiple-choice/essay exam Students are required to take and pass a Constitution Test at the end of Semester I consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions.
AP U.S. Government Exam: Wed., May 14, 2014
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