AP U.S. Government & Politics Syllabus 2017-2018
Instructor: Raschelle (Shelly) DeVore
Email Contact:
Room: 20-115 (formerly 1101)
Course Description:
AP Government and Politics is a college level course that explores the political theory and everyday practice that direct the daily operation of the U.S. government and shape our public policies. It will also provide the students with an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. government and politics as well as, analysis of specific examples. The express purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam for U.S. Government and Politics. AP Government and Politics is taught on a college level and it requires a substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class. The course objectives go well above a basic analysis of how the U.S. government works. Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, and most importantly an understanding of citizen’s rights and responsibilities.
Course Goals:
A student who successfully completes AP Government & Politics will:
· Identify important facts, concepts, and theories relating to U.S. government and politics.
· Understand patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences. This includes the components of political behavior, the principles used to explain or justify various
government structures and procedures, and the political effects of these structures and procedures.
· Analyze and interpret data relevant to U.S. government and politics, including charts, tables, graphs, and various other formats.
· Critically analyze relevant theories and concepts, apply them, and develop their connections across the curriculum.
Course Methodology:
This is an inquiry-based course where you will discover and utilize knowledge about the American political system via the textbook, supplemental readings, primary sources, political websites, and discussions with other students and the instructor. Your teacher will act as the facilitator and will guide you through the learning process. However, you are responsible for actively learning the information by completing all assigned readings and activities. Both formal and informal assessment will be used in evaluating your performance in this course. Informal assessment will include evaluations of the quality of your in-class activities. Formal assessment will involve multiple-choice quizzes, written essays, and tests.
Curriculum Outline:
I. Constitutional Underpinnings 5-15%
II. Political Beliefs & Behaviors 10-20%
III. Political Parties, Interest Groups, & Mass Media 10-20%
IV. Institutions of National Government 35-45%
V. Public Policy 5-15%
VI. Civil Rights & Civil Liberties 5-15%
The Exam:
The AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a 45-minute multiple-choice section consisting of 60 questions and a 100-minuite free-response section consisting of 4 questions. The exam will take place on Thursday May 10, 2018 at 8:00am. Students are advised to attend review sessions in order to prepare/review for the AP exam.
Attendance & Make up Policy:
Students are to be in class on time each day. In the event of an emergency or illness, the parent or guardian excuses the absence by providing a written note, signed, and turned into the attendance office. Please make every effort to schedule appointments outside the school day in order to limit time out of class. Keep in mind that it is nearly impossible to make up everything you miss since some classroom activities, experiences, and discussions cannot be recreated. It is the responsibility of the student to take the initiative to pick up make-up work immediately following an absence as defined in the Polk County Code of Conduct. If a student is absent, he/she must come before class, during lunch, or stay after school to get any work that may have missed (homework, reading assignments, handouts, etc.). Make-up work will be found in the blue make-up crate on the orange shelf in the back rights corner of the room. Students will look in the class binder for the days’ agenda, check the interactive notebook for focus/class activities, pull out assigned copies/handouts, and schedule any make-up quizzes and tests. Make –up work will be turned in directly to Mrs. DeVore’s hands. Make-up work will be given a grade value of zero (Z) until the work is submitted. Only assignments given during an excused absence receive full credit. Students are allowed no fewer than the number of days absent plus two to complete and hand in work for credit. When students receive advanced notice of assignments, quizzes, tests, and projects they will be expected to meet those deadlines upon return from their excused absence.
Late Work:
If a student fails to turn in any homework or assignment correctly or on time, the work will be considered late and will earn a zero (0) in the gradebook. Late work that is completed can be turned in at the beginning of the next class meeting for a 10 percent penalty. Any late work turned in after that will not earn any more than half credit. All work must be turned in by the time we take the chapter/unit test that covers the subject matter of the late work. No late work will be accepted after the test for that chapter/unit has been given.
Homework and Assignments:
During the week, students will be given a variety of assignments to complete before the next class meeting. Homework is given to prepare students for more in-depth coverage of material, provide practice applying knowledge, and to commit information to memory. If homework is assigned, students are expected to have their work ready to turn in at the start of class on the day it is due or it will be considered late. All homework must be hand written in order to receive credit. In AP U.S. & Politics you should plan for daily homework in order to cover all the material within the semester. Remember there is a direct correlation between the amount of work put in and the grade & AP test score result. In other words; more work and effort put into class will result in a higher course grade and AP test score.
Classroom Expectations
Students are also required to show respect in the following ways:
1) Respect Property- Keep your area clean, neat, and safe. Bring your backpack, folder/binder, paper, notebook, pen, and assignments each day. Students are allowed to drink water in a clear bottle with a lid. A student may eat a small healthy snack (granola bar or fruit) if necessary as long as it is cleaned up and does not cause a disruption.
2) Respect Authority- Show respect, follow directions and follow all school rules (tardy policies, dress code, having your student ID, etc.).
Students who break rules will have to face consequences. Students must have approval and a pass to be released from class for emergency restroom trips.
3) Respect for Others- Show courtesy and tolerance; respect differences; and cooperate with
class mates.
4) Respect for Self- Work to be successful to reach your full potential by doing your personal best without distractions each day. CELL PHONES will NOT be used in class unless
authorized for the lesson by the teacher. Cheating is not tolerated. Anyone involved in cheating will receive a zero for the assignment, parent contact, and a referral to the office.
Respect yourself enough to do your own work!
Discipline Procedures:
· Students who disobey the classroom rules may receive a warning, have their seat changed, have a corrective conversation with the teacher, or parent contact.
· Students must be seated in their assigned seat with required supplies before the tardy bell. Students who are late for any class will receive a teacher warning & parent contact for the first, second, & third offenses. Four or more tardies will result in a referral to the office. Seven or more tardies will result in parent contact & assignment to the learning resource room.
* Per code of conduct, tardies start over at the semester change.
· Students who are out of dress code will also be sent by referral to the discipline office.
· Students who disrupt the educational process in the classroom will be sent by referral to the discipline office.
Materials:
1 ½ to 2 in. binder
Minimum of 7 dividers
Notebook paper
Spiral one subject notebook
Blue or black pens
Highlighter
Text book Resources:
American Government and Politics Today 2017-2018 AP edition
Authors: Ford, Bardes, Schmidt and Shelley
Publisher: Cengage Learning
Various supplemental texts as appropriate
Grading
Assignments / 30%Projects / 10%
Free Response
Questions / 20%
Quizzes / 10%
Tests / 30%
The chart above is a rough estimate of the point break down for each nine-week period throughout the year.
Consent:
Student and parent will sign and date the following consent and return this portion only to Mrs. DeVore ASAP. The remaining portion of the syllabus will be kept in students’ AP Binder for future reference.
AP U.S Government & Politics Syllabus Consent
Students who disrupt the educational process in the classroom will be sent by referral to the discipline office. By signing below, I ______(print parent/guardian name) recognize that I have read and understand all aspects of Mrs. DeVore’s Syllabus, including all of the classroom rules and policies.
Student name, signed & dated ______
Signature Printed Name Date
Parent/Guardian name, signed & dated
______
Signature Printed Name Date