II. High School Level Expectations for College Readiness– Ela
A. High School Syllabi and Course Outlines
II.A5) Advanced Placem en t Government S yllabus
University Park Campus School
College High School Partners
If one takes a diverse, low-income neighborhood in a Massachusetts city where two-thirds of the students do not speak English at home, adds the resources of a university campus a block away and several concerned community development organizations, and carefully plans and perpetuates a partnership aimed at preparing every student for college, one has the ingredients for an educational program truly aimed at college and career readiness.
At this vibrant school, it’s all about reading and writing across the curriculum. From August Academy, a three-week pre-seventh-grade immersion experience, through middle school and on to graduation from twelfth grade, students are given daily opportunities to practice critical thinking as they think and read and write in all their classes. Expectations for all students reside at the honors level, with excitement, engagement and support the characteristics of the school culture. And the program is planned specifically to make college more a reality than an idea, as students use the university campus, labs and gymnasium, and, by junior and senior years, use a dual-enrollment arrangement and take classes for credit. Some students, meeting regular university admission criteria after graduation, enroll as students at the university free of charge, thanks to funding from the college.
12 th Grade AP Government Syllabus
American Government Semester I
Fall 2006
Required Text:
O’Connor, Karen and Larry Sabato, American Government Continuity and Change,
Required Books:
Lewis, Gideon’s Trumpet, 1964 Vintage
Derthick, Up in Smoke, 2nd edition, 2005 CQ Press
Stewart, America a Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction, 2004
Supplementary Readings from:
Sanford, William and Carl Green Basic Principles of American Government
McKenna, George Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Political Issues.
Exams and Grading:
Current Event Quizzes 10%
Three Page Paper 10%
Three Page Paper 10%
Mid Term Exam (Essay) 15%
Book Discussions 15%
8-12 Page Paper 15%
Two Hour Final Exam 25%
Class Participation and Attendance:
Class participation is a necessary component of this class and the discussions of readings and current events are critical. If you cannot make class or will somehow miss material, it is your responsibility to see the instructor before the class date to explain your absence and obtain make-up assignments. If you are unable to complete assignments when they are due, it is your responsibility to see the instructor BEFORE it is due. Later papers and assignments will be penalized five points each day it is late.
Readings and Assignments:
What is Democracy? August 29, 30, Sept 1
Text: Chapter One: Pages 3-32
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapter One
The Constitution Sept 6, 8, 11, 13, 15
Text: Chapter Two: Pages 33-94
Readings and Assignments:
What is Democracy? August 29, 30, Sept 1
Text: Chapter One: Pages 3-32
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapter One
The Constitution Sept 6, 8, 11, 13, 15
Text: Chapter Two: Pages 33-94
Federalism Sept 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29
Text: Chapter Three: Pages 95-124
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapter Thirteen
Selected Federalist Papers
State and Local Government October 2, 4, 6, 11, 13
Text: Chapter Four: Pages 125-156
State and Local Government Paper Assigned (First Three Page Paper):
DUE NOVEMBER 1
Civil Liberties/Rights October 16, 18, 20
Text: Chapters Five and Six: Pages 157- 236
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapters Nine and Fourteen
Selected Readings from Supreme Court Cases
MIDTERM EXAM: OCTOBER 23
Congress October 25, 27, 30, Nov 1, 3
Text: Chapter Seven: Pages 237-276
Reading Taking Sides: Chapters Nineteen and Twenty-One
Derthick Book: ALL: Discussion November 3
Congress Paper Assigned: (8-12 Page Paper)
DUE NOVEMBER 27
The Presidency Nov 6, 8, 13, 15, 17, 20
Text: Chapter Eight: Pages 277-312
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapters Ten and Twenty
The Executive Branch Nov 27, 28, Dec 1
And the Federal Bureaucracy
Text: Chapter Nine: Pages 313-342
Stewart Book: ALL: Discussion Dec 1
The Judiciary Dec 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15
Text: Chapter Ten: Pages 343-416
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapters Six, Five, and Seven
Selections from U.S. Supreme Court Decisions
Lewis Book: ALL: Discussion December 15
(2 nd Three-Page Paper Due December 15)
FINAL EXAM DECEMBER 18 and 20
American Government Semester II Spring 2007
Teacher:
Required Text:
O’Connor, Karen and Larry Sabato, American Government Continuity and Change,
Required Books:
Sidlow, Challenging the Incumbent, 2004, CQ Press
Asher, Hubert, Polling and the Public, What Every Citizen Should Know, 6th edition
Limbaugh, Rush, The Way Things Aren't: Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error : Over 100 Outrageously False and Foolish Statements from America's Most Powerful Radio and TV
Hart, Peter, The Oh Really? Factor : Unspinning Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly
Franken, Al, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot
Supplementary Readings from:
Sanford, William and Carl Green Basic Principles of American Government
McKenna, George Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Political Issues .
Exams and Grading:
Current Event Quizzes 10%
Three Page Paper 10%
Three Page Paper 10%
Mid Term Exam (Essay) 15%
Book Discussions 15%
8-12 Page Paper 15%
Two Hour Final Exam 25%
Class Participation and Attendance:
Class participation is a necessary component of this class and the discussions of readings and current events are
critical. If you cannot make class or will somehow miss material, it is your responsibility to see the instructor
before the class date to explain your absence and obtain make-up assignments. If you are unable to complete
assignments when they are due, it is your responsibility to see the instructor BEFORE it is due. Later papers and
assignments will be penalized five points each day it is late.
Readings and Assignments:
What is Political Behavior/Socialization Jan 3, 5, 8, 10, 12
Text: Chapter Eleven: Pages 385-416
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapter Four
Asher Book: ALL Discussion Jan 12
Political Parties Jan 17, 19, 22, 24, 26
Text: Chapter Twelve: Pages 417-458
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapter Three
First Three-Page Paper Assigned: Political Party Affiliation
DUE JANUARY 26
Voting and Elections Jan 29, 31, Feb 2
Text: Chapter Thirteen: Pages 459-508
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapters Two and Eight
The Campaign Process Feb 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16
Text: Chapter Fourteen Pages 509-546
Reading from Taking Sides: Chapter: Seventeen
Sidlow Book: ALL Discussion: Feb 14
The Media Feb 26, 28, March 2
Text: Chapter Fifteen: Pages 547-580
Limbaugh and Franken Books: ALL Discussion March 2
Interest Groups March 5, 7, 12, 14
Text: Chapter Sixteen: Pages 581-610
Reading from Taking Sides:
MIDTERM EXAM MARCH 16
Social Welfare Policy March 19, 21, 23,26, 28, 30
Text Chapter Seventeen: Pages 611-650
Reading from Taking Sides
Economic Policy April 2, 4, 9, 11, 13
Text: Chapter Eighteen: Pages 651-688
Reading from Taking Sides
Hart Book: ALL Discussion April 11
Foreign and Defense Policy April 23, 25, 27, 30, May 2, 4
Text: Chapter Nineteen: Pages 689-726
Reading from Taking Sides
8-12 Page Paper Governmental Policies
DUE May 11
The Declaration of Independence May 7, 9, 11
Readings as assigned
Three-Page Paper on the Dec of Independence
DUE May 18
The Constitution May 14, 16, 18
Readings: The Constitution and Federalist Papers
FINAL EXAM MAY 21 and 23
For related information, see:
Section IIC. High School Writing -
II.C3) C ross Curriculum Writing- A s si g nmen t and S t udent Work
1