Lemon Bay High School
AP U.S. Government and Politics (APAG)
And Economics (Honors)
SY 2011-2012
Teacher: Mr. Ramsay
Room: 106
E-mail: OR
I. Course Description
AP U.S. Government and Politics: The Advanced Placement Program (AP) course and examination in United States Government and Politics are intended for qualified students who wish to complete studies in secondary schools equivalent to college introductory courses in U.S. Government.
The AP program in United States Government and Politics is designed to provide students 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. politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that constitute U.S. politics.
Honors Economics: A semester course offered to seniors enrolled in AP U.S. Government and Politics. This course will offer students a distinction between the body of theory that has been developed and the actual practices of governments, businesses and the consumer. Systematic ways of dealing with economic methods and fundamental choices made by consumers will be focused on. Practical approaches to financial investments, credit and living on your own will be emphasized.
NOTE: All students in this class must register for, and take, the AP examination in U.S. Government and Politics. This exam is to be given on May 15, 2012.
II. Objectives
At the end of the course, the students will:
1. Have a broad knowledge of the facts, concepts and theories pertaining to U.S.
government and politics
2. Define the key terms of basic economics as applied to U.S. government and
politics
3. Understand the typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their
consequences
4. Analyze and interpret data and relationships in U.S. government and politics
5. Analyze and interpret, in writing, specific topics in U.S. government and politics
6. Identify and describe key cultural and social systems across each time period
covered
7. Locate and describe the principal national and/or international connections that
developed across each of the time periods covered
8. Discuss the issue of periodization in history with a direct focus on U.S.
government and politics
9. Describe and explain the key demographic and environmental changes that have
taken place in each of the time periods covered as they apply to U.S. government
and politics
10. Describe and explain political revolutions and independence movements, and new
political ideas as they apply to the United States and government in the United
States
11. Explain new forces of revolution and other sources of political innovations in the
United States
12. Discuss the impact of major global economic developments on the United States
13. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using units of analysis in the
twentieth century, and beyond, such as nation, the world, the West
II. Materials
A. Texts
1. American Government (9th Edition) by James Wilson and John
DiIulio
2. American Government: Readings and Cases (16th Edition) by Peter Woll
3. Economics: Principles in Action by Arthur O’Sullivan and Steven Sheffrin
B. Supplemental Materials (School-supplied)
1. Various articles taken from magazines, journals and professional journals
2. Foundations in Personal Finance (videos) – Dave Ramsey
C. Student-supplied Materials
1. One five-subject spiral notebook to use for class notes.
2. Three or four packages of 3x5” note cards for making flashcards (leave home) – You may need more of these over the course of the school year.
III. Curriculum Units
A. Quarter 1
1. What is Economics?
2. Economic Systems
3. Business Organizations and Economic Institutions
4. Supply and Demand
5. Prices and Decision Making
6. Competition, market Structures and the Role of Government
7. Money and Banking
8. Unemployment, Inflation and Poverty
B. Quarter 2
10. International Trade
11. Congress and the Economy
12. Comparative Economic Systems
13. Global Economic Challenges
14. Economic Life Skills: Budgets, Checking Accounts, Income Tax, Rental Agreements, Borrowing Money, Buying Insurance, Paying for College
15. Constitutional Democracy
16. The Living Constitution
17. American Federalism
18. Political Culture and Ideology
19. The American Political Landscape
20. Interest Groups
C. Quarter 3:
21. Political Parties
22. Public Opinion
23. Campaigns and Elections
24. The Media
25. Congress
26. The Presidency
27. Congress and the President
28. The Bureaucracy
29. The Judiciary
30. First Amendment Freedoms
31. The Right to Life, Liberty and Property
D. Quarter 4:
32. Equal Rights Under the Law
33. Making Economic and Regulatory Policy
34. Making Social Policy
35. Foreign and Defense Policy
36. State and Local Politics
37. State Constitutions
38. State Governors
39. State Legislatures
40. Judges and Justice in the States
41. Review for AP exam (Exam Date: May 4, 2009)
IV. Grading
A. Grade Scale
100 – 90 = A, 89 - 80 = B, 79 – 70 = C, 69 – 60 = D, Below 60 = F
B. General Grade Definitions
A = Strong scholarship, work significantly exceeds the requirements of the instructor, and demonstrates independent thought and resourcefulness. Work is neat, organized, and free from spelling errors and on time. Work shows significant increase development of the student, and the work, if shared, enhances the group’s learning.
ABOVE and BEYOND AVERAGE
B = Accurate and complete scholarship that goes beyond the requirements of the instructor, and demonstrates above-average achievement. Work is neat, organized, and free from spelling errors and on time. Work shows some increased development of the student, and the work, if shared, is beneficial to the group’s learning.
BEYOND AVERAGE
C = Scholarship meets the minimum requirements of the instructor, and demonstrates little independent thought or may simply parrot the text. Work is neat, but may not be well organized and may contain spelling errors, and may possibly be late. Work shows little increased development of the student, if any. The work, if shared, is marginally beneficial to the group’s learning.
AVERAGE
D = Scholarship does not meet the requirements of the instructor, and demonstrates no independent thought and may be copied from another source, or paraphrased. Work may or may not be neatly done and well organized. The work may contain spelling errors, and may be late. Work shows no evidence of increasing the development of the student. The work, if shared, has little, or no, benefit for the group’s learning.
BELOW AVERAGE
F = Scholarship does not meet the minimum requirements of the instructor or the assignment. The work shows no evidence of independent thought, was copied from another source, or was paraphrased. The work may be late, or not turned in at all. If turned in, the work may not be neat, may contain spelling errors, and may be incomplete. If shared, the work is not beneficial to the group’s learning.
SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW AVERAGE
C. Grade Weights
Marking period grades in this course are weighted as follows:
1. Unit tests = 45%
2. Written assignments/projects = 8%
3. Reading Quizzes = 15%
4. Essays (average of all) = 15%
5. Class notebook and class binder = 10%
6. Class participation and conduct = 7 %
Semester exams:
The exam in December will be in two parts: multiple choice (50%) and essay (50%) and will cover the Economics course. The mock AP exam, given in April is designed to simulate the AP exam in U.S Government and Politics. This exam will be 50% of the end-of-the-year exam. The remaining 50% of this grade will be made up of a three-tiered project covering the AP US Government class.
Students WILL have some type of assignment for this class each day, including weekends and non-class days. It may be working on their notebook, doing some assigned reading, reviewing for a test, or it may be a more formal assignment. As a general rule of thumb, college classes demand two to three hours of work outside class for each hour spent in the classroom. You should expect that your work is going to take about one to three hours each day (7-21 hours per week, every week).
NOTE: Late work is not accepted. The only way that a student may receive credit for late work is through an excused absence from school.
V. Classroom Conduct and Class Participation
Students are expected to come to class on time, with all necessary materials, and prepared to work. “On time” means that all students are in their seats and ready to begin the day’s work when the bell rings. As a standard rule, students are not allowed to leave the classroom during class without a hall pass, and the hall pass is only for emergencies. I expect you to use the toilet facilities, run errands and to see your boyfriend/girlfriend between classes, on your time.
A. Conduct:
1. Come to class prepared - prepared to pay attention and to participate. You are responsible for your own learning. Do not do things that will distract you or others from the learning in the class.
2. Maintain a positive attitude, smile, and try to be happy. Leave the schoolyard melodrama outside the classroom.
3. Use your time wisely. If you are given class time to work on assignments, do it!
4. Be honest in all matters in this class, and in your life. Honesty builds trust, and trustworthiness feels good and is worth its weight in gold.
5. Keep in mind that words do hurt. Rudeness, foul language or foul gestures are never tolerated. Be respectful, and you will be respected.
6. Do not touch anything that is not yours without asking permission first.
7. Do not do anything that may harm another person, or the property of another person.
8. Do not bring cell phones, CD players, electronic games or other distracting devices to class. These will be confiscated and turned in to the deans.
9. Treat this classroom, as well as the entire school, like your home. – It is for a great part of your day. Pick up after yourself, help put things away, and keep it neat and clean.
10. This room is where I spend much of my day. I expect that you will treat the room and its content with respect. Many of the items for your use are my personal property.
11. In the rare event that a substitute is present, I expect you to be as respectful and cooperative as you are when I am in class. Substitutes will collect all homework and in-class assignments. These assignments will be graded.
12. ABSOLUTELY NO GUM in this classroom!
B. Participation
1. Students are expected to actively participate in classroom discussions.
Discussions provide time for students to think through their ideas and to
learn from the ideas of others.
2. Be courteous to others during all discussions. Raising your hand to speak
is not necessary, just wait until the person speaking is finished.
NOTE: Conduct and participation makes up 7% of your quarter grade. Violations of conduct rules, tardiness, as well as failing to participate will influence this portion of your grade.
VI. Assignments and Tests
A. Assignments
1. Written work is due at the beginning of class, so do not plan to finish it during class. Late work will not be accepted unless you have an excused absence. If you miss class because you are late to school, then it is your responsibility to give it to me before the end of the day. If you miss class because you are being dismissed early, then it is your responsibility to give me the assignment(s) before you leave.
2. Assignment due dates are listed in the quarter calendar. Late work will be not be accepted. You know well in advance when an assignment is due so plan accordingly.
3. Written assignments are to be written, not typed or done on a word processor, on white lined paper (8 ½ x 11) with your name, date and class period in the upper right corner. Use filler paper as these assignments will be added to your portfolio notebook. Assignments turned in on paper torn from a spiral notebook, or on any other type of paper will not be accepted. Use blue or black ink. I will not read assignments written in orange, pastel colors, or any other strangely colored inks. - Take pride in your work.
4. I will not accept any assignments via e-mail for any reason.
B. Tests and Reading Quizzes
1. Test dates are listed in the quarter calendar. Reading quizzes are not
announced, but are several times each week. Plan your studying
accordingly.
2. The ink rules from above apply to tests. Reading quizzes are generally
multiple choice and are done a on a Scantron sheet with pencil.
3. Tests may be made up only if you have an excused absence. Make-up tests
are given at a date and time of my choosing, but within a week of the
original test date. This is the ONLY opportunity for a make-up test. You
must make up your missed test in the week following your absence.
4. You may be excused by me from taking a scheduled test IF you have been absent two or more consecutive days before the test. Cutting class, late to school, early dismissals do not count as an absence from school. Excused absences from school will be allowed an equal number of days in which to make up work assigned in class.
5. Make-up quizzes are not given. Quiz averages will be computed based
on the actual number of quizzes taken. Quizzes missed because of
tardiness will be scored as a zero.