Civics Syllabus

My Information: Hi! I am Ms. Manfred, your instructor for this course. Below is all of my contact information. Please email me, call me, or schedule a meeting if you have ANY questions, problems, concerns etc. I know taking an online course is a different experience, so please talk to me if you need anything!

Email: *** I check my email multiple times per day.

Website:

Periods to Meet: 2B(Social Studies Office Rm. 2133), 4B(Study Hall Rm. 2115), 4A(Library)

Course Overview:

To be a true citizen of the United States, you need to be aware of its laws, history and customs. This civics course will provide students with an overview of how our government was founded, the mechanisms that allow our government to be effective, and the enduring debates surrounding our government and society. The two main essential questions guiding our course are: What does it mean to be an American citizen? Do we have a “good” government?

Unit Essential Questions & Outline:

Each week we will be studying a new topic in civics, but for each unit there will be an essential question. The tentative timeline of topics are below:

●Unit I: Foundations of American Government

  • How did history influence the construction of the American Constitution?

●Unit II: Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities

  • How does the Constitution protect civil liberties?

●Unit III: Federal Government: Judicial Branch

  • How does the Constitution’s design intend to balance and check powers of the branches of government?
  • How should the Constitution be interpreted?
  • How has the court system expanded and limited freedom?

●Unit IV: Federal Government: Presidency and Legislative Branch

  • How are laws made, enforced and reviewed at the state and federal level?
  • What is the proper role of the president?

●Unit V: Federal Government: Political Parties, Media & Elections

  • What roles do political parties play in our government?
  • Should the Electoral College be reformed?
  • How are an individual’s political beliefs influenced by society, and how are they expressed?

●Unit VI: State and Local Government

  • How does the relationship between local governments and the state government affect citizens?
  • What reforms should Connecticut adopt?

●Unit VII: Foreign Policy

  • What is the proper role of the US in the world?
  • How are US foreign policy and world affairs interrelated?

Class Expectations:This class follows all Bacon Academy policies relative to appropriate school and classroom conduct as outlined in the Bacon Academy handbook. General Rules:

  1. Do your best!!!
  2. Value yourself. Be honest and ethical.
  1. Treat all members of the school community & all visitors with dignity & respect.
  2. Honor the ideas & opinions of others.
  3. Offer to help. Practice random acts of kindness.
  4. Be responsible with property and belongings.
  5. Ask questions. Think critically.
  6. Be an advocate for yourself—ask for help when you need it.
  7. Profanity, rudeness, and other generally unacceptable behavior/language will not be tolerated.
  8. Use the course website.
  9. Be on time ready to learn with a pen/pencil
  10. Don’t ask me what time class ends or pack up early. It’s my biggest pet peeve, I get angry…

Grading: I do not GIVE you a grade, YOU EARN your grade. You need this class to graduate, and you don’t want to hang out with me all summer, so do your work!

Semester Grades:

The grading breakdown for the course is as follows. Each quarter is 45 percent of your grade the final exam in 10 percent.

  • Marking Period 1 = 45%
  • Marking Period 2 = 45%
  • Final Exam = 10%

Quarter Grades:

Tests, Quizzes, Major Projects, Research Papers = 70%

Homework = 20% ** No late homework accepted

Participation = 10%*** See participation rubric below

Homework: All assignments are due on the assigned day. You are expected to do your homework before coming to class. Student may not work on homework in class. Most homework assignments will be small readings or reflection papers. No late work will be accepted. IT IS THE STUDENTS RESPONSIBILITY TO GET ANY MISSED WORK AND TURN IT IN ON TIME.

Major Assignments/Projects: We will have a variety of assignments, essays, and project over the next two quarters.All assignments are to be submitted completed, on time, and with the proper heading and typed. Extensions will be given on a case-by-case basis and the discretion of Ms Manfred.

  • Current Event Articles & Summaries: One page typed reaction/analysis of news event related to civics
  • Supreme Court Case Project – Research Paper
  • Nonfiction Book Review Project- Essay
  • Town Meeting Papers: One required paper due each marking period.

Reading: Students will be required to read in the textbook, articles, and additional handouts throughout the course. Reading will take place in the classroom and for homework and will be assessed through discussion, quizzes, writing, tests, etc. There will be small reading quizzes given sporadically and can be unannounced.

Website: On the course website, you will find this document as well as many others. If you lose your assignment, check the website because it will be on there. I will show you how to get to it. Homework assignments will also be there. Students are responsible to routinely check the course website for assignments.

Electronic devices: Electronic devices may not be worn or used during class except when given my permission. Any violations of this policy are subject to confiscation, and taken down to the office.

Extra Help/Make-up Work: It is the student’s responsibility to make an appointment for extra help and make-up work due to an absence. I am available most days before and after school. Refer to my free periods above if you would like help during the school day.

Town Meeting Papers: You will receive a detailed packet explaining expectations for this assignment. In a nutshell, you need to answer this question: Was the meeting you attended a good example of local politics? Hence you attend a town meeting for which you must stay for at least an hour and take notes during. After the meeting, you fill out the organizer packet, meet with me and then write your paper.

Nonfiction Book Review Project: Each of you will pick a nonfiction book about politics/government to read and analyze. This will not be a summary, you will be analyze the main message of the book, evaluate the validity of the book and explain whether you agree or disagree with the premise.

Participation:

Participation will be a large part of your grade. There are positive and negative ways to participate in class.

Positive Participation: Points will be added to your participated grade for the following:

1. Acting in accordance to the five core values

2. Coming to class prepared and on time

3. Volunteering to share opinions, answer questions, etc.

4. Helping or encouraging a classmate and/or me

5. Being engaged in class—paying attention, listening to classmates, working diligently

Negative Participation: Points will be subtracted from your participation grade for each of the following:

1. Tardiness – you must be in class when the bell rings!

2. Cell phone use

3. Sleeping

4. Doing homework, etc. for another class during my class

5. Excessive talking/disruptions in class/off task behavior

6. Not being prepared for class—i.e. asking me for a pencil! Grrrr!

7. Cursing or using other inappropriate language…..please no sex or drug references!

Participation Grading:

A range – Scores in this range are considered to be “above average” in participation. On a daily basis, students are on task, involved in class opinions, are prepared for class (including required materials) attend class regularly, arrive on time, provide insights, actively listen, and act respectfully to all members of the class.

B range – Scores in this range are considered to be “above average” in participation. Students do not meet all of the above requirements every day, but do so during most class periods.

C range – Scores in this range are considered to be “average” participants. Students meet many of the above requirements, but do so on a less regular basis. Also any students with excessive absences or tardiness will most likely earn a grade in this range.

D range – Scores in this range are considered to be “below average” participants. Students rarely volunteer information or contribute to class discussions, seem disinterested with class content, passively take part in class activities, and generally contribute little to the learning environment.

Final Thoughts:

  1. Don’t fail this class….. if you don’t pass you don’t graduate…So this is your only shot. But if you try your best I guarantee you will do fine. I’m here to help and teach you, I am not out to get you! And hey, I am going to try my best to make it interesting and fun.
  2. This is not a pointless class. When you get out in the real world, you will use what you learn in this class!