Advanced Placement (AP) Government and Politics: Comparative
Instructor: Mr. Eusner E-mail:
Welcome to AP Comparative Government! The primary goal of this class is to develop your ability to think like a political scientist. As such, the first two assignments of the year will begin pointing you in that direction. These are not “summer assignments”; rather, they will be officially assigned the first day of class and by getting them in advance, you have the opportunity to work on them over the next few months instead of rushing through them while also working on other assignments for APCG and your other classes.
Assignment #1: Define each of the terms on the attached sheet per the directions above the list. If you want to borrow a textbook prior to the start of school to use to work on this assignment, you should come see me the week of August 25.
Assignment #2: Complete the essay for the United States Institute of Peace contest. This contest awards a scholarship and/or other prizes to the winners. You do not have to submit the essay to the contest, but you do have to complete the essay for class. For all of the guidelines and information about this essay contest, visit
Both assignments are due Wednesday, September 24 by 8:20 AM. For this class, assignments are always accepted early, but no late work will be accepted! You are reminded to cite, both in-text and in a works cited page, all ideas – not just quotations – that are not your own, original thoughts. Failure to cite will result in appropriate disciplinary action per the Hampton City Schools’ Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
A few other items of note as you prepare for this class:
-E-mail me to receive the password for the class website and some additional information about the class.
-It is STRONGLY recommended that you also take a US Government class (AP or otherwise) during the school year.
-During the first nine weeks, you will read a book of your choosing about globalization, one of the major themes in the introduction to comparative government. Possible book choices include A History of the World in Six Glasses, An Edible History of Humanity, Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics: The History of the Explosive That Changed the World, Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World, Salt: A World History, The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Spice: The History of a Temptation, How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization, A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World, and 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created.
-Great Britain, China, Russia, Mexico, Iran, and Nigeria are the focus states for this class. You are expected to keep up with current events in these states over the summer.