Government and Issues 5250

Course Description

Government and Issues is a semester-long course that provides students with the opportunity to learn about the historical events, philosophers, and topical issues that helped create the democratic foundations of this nation. This course will introduce high school students to the Founding Fathers and expose them to the ideas that shaped the nation. Students will identify important political leaders and trace the development and organization of federal, state, and local government. In addition, students will explain the political process and analyze the United States’ role as a global, political, and economic participant. The course specifically targets the philosophies and foundations of the United States government, the organization of the branches of government, government on a state and local level, and civil liberties and laws. Full of timely and interesting content, this course will inspire students to be more informed citizens and equip them to understand how the United States compares economically and politically on a global scale.

Course Objectives

Throughout the course, you will meet the following goals:

Understand the foundations of the United States government and the role of theConstitution in shaping American democracy

Interpret the importance of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and other amendments inshaping government and civil liberties in the United States

Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens, political parties, government agencies,and elected offices at various levels of government in the United States

Analyze the concept of checks and balances and identify and describe the roles of theExecutive, Legislative, and Judicial branches within the United States government

Compare and contrast different forms of government in countries throughout the world,including multi-party systems, dictatorships, democracies, and socialist and communistgovernments, and examine the rights of citizens in each

Assess the role of government in defining different economic systems

Investigate changes to civil liberties throughout American history and the role of the JudicialBranch in defining these changes

Communication

Your teacher will communicate with you regularly through discussions, e-mail, chat, and system announcements. Through this communication with your teacher, you will monitor your progress through the course and improve your learning by reviewing material that was challenging for you.

You will also communicate with classmates, either via online tools or face-to-face, as you:

Collaborate on projects

Ask and answer questions in your peer group

Develop speaking and listening skills

Scope and Sequence

When you log into the Virtual Classroom, you can view the entire course map, which provides a scope and sequence of all topics you will study. Clicking a lesson’s link in the course map leads to a page listing instructional activities, assignments, and learning objectives specific to that lesson. The units of study are summarized below.

Unit 1: Introduction to American Government

Unit 2: The Constitution

Unit 3: Civil Rights and Liberties

Unit 4: Government Institutions

Unit 5: Civics and Participation

Unit 6: Public Policy

Grading Policy

You will be graded on the work you do online and the work you submit electronically to your teacher. The weighting for each category of graded activity is listed below.

5250 Gov’t & Issues Part I / 5250 Gov’t & Issues Part II
Quiz / 25 / 25
Test / 25 / 25
Exam / Yes
Essay / 5
Assignment / 50 / 45

Student Expectations / Course Structure

This course requires the same level of commitment from you as a traditional classroom course would. Throughout the course, you are expected to spend approximately 5–7 hours per week online on the following activities:

Warm Up- You will be introduced to a new lesson. This is a great opportunity to take eNotes by clicking the + button in the top right corner of the screen. This section will include video as well as questions which you must answer. You are able to use eNotes to answer these questions. If you do not answer correctly you will be given a second attempt with help from the virtual teacher. I will review your answers and look for effort. If you are consistently getting most of the questions wrong you will lose participation points which will affect your grade. The Warm-Up will end with the lesson objectives.

Instruction- You will be given a “Lesson Question” followed by instructional information. Once again this is a great opportunity to take eNotes. After some instruction you will be given questions which you must answer. You are able to use eNotes to answer these questions. If you do not answer correctly you will be given a second attempt with help from the virtual teacher. I will review your answers and look for effort. If you are consistently getting most of the questions wrong you will lose participation points which will affect your grade.

Summary- You will review the information presented in the lesson. Once again you can take eNotes in this section. You will also revisit the lesson objectives.

Assignment- You will be given text, video, or photographs as resources to answer questions. If you do not answer correctly you will be given a second attempt with help from the virtual teacher. YOU MUST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN COMPLETE SENTENCES WITH CAPITAL LETTERS AND PUNCTUATION WHEN APPROPRIATE. THIS SECTION WILL BE GRADED BY ME FOR ACCURACY!!! Please allow me 48 hours to review any assignment and change a grade. If you disagree with a score that has not changed in 48 hours feel free to contact me with questions.

  • Teacher feedback- In the Assignment section you should look for feedback from me where you missed points. This will most oftenbe the case when you miss points on short answer questions. You will know if there is teacher feedback by selecting from the lobby and looking for this symbol for the assignment in question OR by choosing

then then and looking for next to an assignment.

  • Quiz- You will have two attempts to take the quiz. The quiz is graded for accuracy! When you are finished with the quiz you must click. If you take the quiz twice the higher score will be accepted.
  • Unit Test Review- You will have a Test Review before each Unit Test. You have one chance to take the Review. You are able to if necessary. When you are finished you must click. The Review is graded for accuracy and is part of your Assignment grade!
  • Unit Test- You will have a test at the end of each Unit. You will have two chances to take the test and you are able to use your eNotes.
  • Essay- Youmay come across Essay questions in “Writing Workshop” Lessons. The Essay process will consist of a Pre-Writing, Drafting, and Revising step (along with instruction and assignments along the way). I will be reviewing all parts of the process. You will receive an immediate grade from the Edgenuity system after your Final Draft is entered. THIS IS NOT YOUR FINAL GRADE ON THE ASSIGNMENT. I will grade your answer and provide my own score along with commentary.