Syllabus

STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT GRADES:

Students enrolled in AP U.S. Government and Politics must realize that the average grade in AP and high school Honors classes is a “B;” therefore, students are not guaranteed to earn an “A,” and, in many cases, will not earn an “A.”  To be successful, you will need to stay focused and work hard. 

Based on years of past experience, your grade in this class is an excellent, accurate indicator of your chances for success on the Advanced Placement exam.  With that in mind, if you are earning a grade below 65% I will recommend that you transfer into a “regular” Government/Economics course.  If you choose to stay in the course, we will need to meet to come up with a plan to help you achieve success.

 

GRADING POLICY:

All students will have an opportunity to obtain the maximum number of points, but the amount earned will be based on student performance and effort.  The following is a breakdown of the percentages:

A          =100% to 93.5%           B-        =82.4% to 80.0%          D+       =69.9% to 66.5%

A-        =93.4% to 90.0%          C+        =79.9% to 76.5%          D         =66.4% to 62.5%

B+        =89.9% to 86.5%          C          =76.4% to 72.5%          D-        =62.4% to 60.0%

B          =86.4% to 82.5%          C-        =72.4% to 70.0%          F          =59.9% to below

 

Your grade for each six-week grading period and semester is determined on a percentage basis from points possible.

 

Grades will be based on the following:

 

BINDER POLICY:

The following are expected to be in your binder at all times and with you in class on a daily basis:

 

STUDY GUIDES:

Once we begin the A.P. Government curriculum, you will be provided with a study guide for each chapter.  Study guides will have a set value of points (25 Possible) and are a mandatory assignment.

 History has shown that those who complete and turn in their study guides do quite well in class and have a better likelihood of passing the A.P. examination. 

Each time you turn in a fully completed study guide, you will a “+” or a “check”, depending on the quality of your work.  To receive either marking, your study guide must be entirely completed, TYPED, neatly labeled and numbered, contain no plagiarism from the textbook or other students, and be turned in prior to that chapter’s exam. Remember you will be turning this into www.turnitin.com BY 7:30 AM THE DAY IT IS DUE and anything copied from the book, the internet or from another student will be flagged as plagiarism.

Assignments not submitted to Turn-It-In.com will not be graded and will be considered incomplete.  Turning in the assignment to Turn-It-In.com late will result in the assignment being counted as late work.

 FORMAT:

               Name

               Date

               Period

 

To receive a “+” (100%): 

 

To receive a “check”(70%):

 On your study guide you need to answer the questions with a minimum of 5-sentence paragraphs.

 

To receive 0%:  

If you are missing even one question/identification your study guide is incomplete or you do not answer with the minimum 5 sentences, or you do not turn the study guide in on time.

 

Format: Study Guides must be typed (handwritten will not be accepted) using either Times New Roman or Arial Fonts. Please make sure you type your name, date and class period in the header. The study guides will be posted on my website for you to down load and complete.

 

***Study Guide Extra Credit: By turning in your completed study guide to me prior to the due date (BY 7:30AM THE DAY BEFORE IT IS DUE), you are eligible for up to 3 Points extra credit.  It must be turned into Turn It In.com prior to turning in to me, must be + quality and must have a score of less than 20%.

 

CURRENT EVENTS:

One major expectation for this course is that you keep up with current events (relating to all levels and branches of government, as well as world affairs) in some form or another – whether via the newspaper, television news, or the internet.  Doing this on a consistent, regular basis will greatly enhance your study of Government and will do a great deal to help your understanding of the subject.  I also highly recommend government-related television programs such as “Washington Week in Review” on PBS that will make what we are learning in class “real” to you and reinforce your learning.  Government-related websites (I will provide a list to those interested) are also an excellent supplemental resource.  Unannounced current events quizzes will be given from time to time to hold you accountable for this important class requirement.

The template for current events is posted on my website for you to download and Type.

QUIZ POLICY:

Quizzes can and will consist of multiple choice questions, free response questions and key terms.  A chapter quiz is fair game anytime.  There may also be unannounced quizzes to hold you accountable.

 

TEST POLICY:

Tests will consist of multiple choice and Free Response questions.  Test dates are announced well in advance (they are all listed in the calendar in this syllabus) and you are expected to be present. 

 

TEST MAKEUP POLICY:

 

PROJECTS/PAPERS:

Each semester you will be given an assigned topic and complete a project or write a scholarly paper. Further details will be given at the appropriate time.

 

UNIT SELF EVALUATIONS:

Upon completion of each unit students will be required to complete a TYPED self-evaluation and turn in.

This will help the students to focus in on their strengths and weaknesses as they review for the AP Exam.

 

FALL & SPRING FINALS

The Fall Final:

·        Scheduled during Finals Week.

The Spring Final

 

www.turnitin.com

Your typed assignments will be required to be turned into www.turnitin.com by 7:30 AM on the day they are due to be considered on time.

·        Assignments not turned in to www.turnitin.com or turned in at a later time will be considered late and only receive partial credit.

 

CHEATING/PLAGIARIZING POLICY:  (from Student-Parent Handbook)

CNEC believes that academic honesty and integrity is central to our commitment to learn.  Any student engaged in any form of Academic Dishonesty in any way such as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized group work, fabrication,falsification, and misrepresentation, multiple submissions, abuse of academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty will result in appropriate form of punishment.

 

1.      Any student determined to be cheating or plagiarizing on any test or assignment will receive a zero for that test or assignment only and the student's grade will be affected accordingly. Parent contact will be madeby the teacher. Plagiarizing also includes the use of internet materials without appropriate citation.

2.      A conduct referral will be issued immediately.  Disciplinary action will be taken as deemed appropriate.

3.      Habitual offenses (not necessarily in the same class) may result in suspension and loss of privileges.

4.      Clovis North Educational Center's Code of Integrity Policy will be given to every student and reviewed during the first week of school. New students will receive the policy when they enroll on campus.

 

SOME THOUGHTS  ON CHEATING/PLAGIARIZING: by David B. Wangaard, E.D., President and Director of The School for Ethical Education (SEE), a nonprofit teaching agency in Milford, Connecticut.

A.    Plagiarism/Cheating harms the individual by:

1. Rationalizing their cheating/plagiarism leads to more cheating (in and out of academics) and a corruption of their own     ethical/moral code

2. Failing to engage in the authentic learning and mastery of academic material and thus harming their own education

3. Harming their reputation if they are caught and facing consequences that can be serious

4. Reducing the enjoyment of accomplishments earned through genuine effort

B.     Plagiarism/Cheating harms society, the school culture by:

1. Creating an environment of broken trust, which then limits the ability of students and faculty to work together meaningfully and collaboratively

2. Cheating not addressed leads to more cheating and normalized in the culture of lower standards

3. Lowering standards can reduce the moral authority of school leaders

4. Forcing cheaters to depend on authentic learners because cheaters have not learned or mastered their own academic     work

5. Requiring productive students to spend time and effort protecting themselves (intellectual property, ideas, writing, exam answers) from cheaters which is nonproductive work

6. Awarding cheaters falsely-earned rights, privileges and scholarships

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Part of the commitment in choosing to enroll in A.P. Government is a commitment to regularly attend class.  I greatly enjoy having you in class and due to the nature of this course, there will be plenty of interesting information and discussion to keep you engaged.  I am also aware, however, that human nature is weak – and absenteeism is all-too-prevalent in the modern high school.  Chronic absenteeism will be very detrimental to your success in this course.  If you have a pattern of being absent (regardless of how good the reason is – the end result is still the same) more than one out of every ten class sessions, or feel the onset of the early symptoms of “senioritis” I recommend that you do not take this course.


TARDY POLICY:

It is essential that you show up on time so that I can take attendance and start class promptly.  I will strictly enforce the Clovis North Tardy Policy steps and consequences in my class.  When you make the choice to enroll in A.P. Government you are also making a commitment to show up on time.  It is extremely disrespectful and disruptive to walk in late.  Please anticipate the inevitable car trouble, traffic delays, fast food lines, and parking problems, and start early enough to be punctual in spite of them.

 

ETIQUETTE POLICY:

When studying government, it will become rapidly apparent that people hold a wide variety of viewpoints.  When engaged in discussion, remember to treat each other with courtesy and respect. The best way to make an effective point is through calm, rational discussion.  The art of polite diplomacy is an essential skill in the field of government.  Other classroom etiquette fundamentals include:  no sleeping, no eating, no cell phones or messaging devices, no iPods or headphones, no hats or hoods, no working on work from other classes, etc.

 

EMAIL ETIQUETTE:

When sending or responding to an email make sure that you use proper etiquette.  Start your email with a proper greeting such as: Dear Mr. Nitschke, and end your email with a proper salutation such as: Sincerely, followed by your full name.

 

TEXTBOOKS:

To maximize the life of our textbooks, please do not write in them, and keep them covered at all times.  If you need to mark certain passages, please use items such as tape flags and post-it notes, which are removable.  Periodic checks will be held to ensure that this policy is being respected.

 

CLASS WEBSITE: 

http://tinyurl.com/cnhsapgov

NOTE:  POLICY ON DROPPING A.P. GOVERNMENT

 

EXTRA CREDIT POLICY:

Extra credit assignments will not be a normal practice in this class.  Please do not ask if extra credit is available, chances are it is not.  However, there may be occasions where it is offered, and I suggest you take advantage of the opportunity if it is given.

* I reserve the right to disqualify anyone from extra credit (past or future) for the entire semester based on lack of class participation, cheating/plagiarism, not completing assigned work, eating in class, drinking other than water in class, sleeping in class, truancy, excessive tardies, unexcused absences, class disruption, being on your phone without my permission, not bringing books to class when asked, or working on the extra credit or assignments for this class and other classes during class time instead of on your own time.


LATE WORK POLICY:

If an assignment is not turned in when it is called for in class, it is considered late.  Assignments missed due to carelessness or forgetfulness can and should be completed and submitted for scoring.  However, those late assignments must be turned in by the end of 7 calendar days from the day it was due inorder to receive any credit at all.  The highest grade to be received:  50% (depending on the quality of the work—based on teacher discretion). 

Please refer to the Missed Test Policy.

 

2023-2024 CALENDAR 

(specific times, dates, and assignments subject to change)

 

CONSTITUTION/ELECTION/SUPREME COURT CASES (August 21– September 1)

 

I.           INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT (September 4 – September 15)

Reading: Chapter 1, “Introducing Government in America”

 

 

II.   PUBLIC OPINION, POLITICAL ACTION AND POLITICAL PARTIES (September 18 – October 06)

Reading: Chapter 6, “Public Opinion and Political Action”

                  Chapter 8, “Political Parties”

 

NOTE: 6 Week Grading Period Ends Friday 09/29

 

 

III.           CAMPAIGNS AND VOTING BEHAVIOR (October 09 – October 27)

Reading: Chapter 9, “Campaigns and Voting Behavior”

 

 

  Veteran’s Day: Friday, 11/10

12 Week Grading Period Ends: Friday 11/10

 

IV.           INTEREST GROUPS, MASS MEDIA AND THE POLITICAL AGENDA (October 30 – November 17)

Reading: Chapter 10, “Interest Groups”

                   Chapter 7, “The Mass Media and the Political Agenda”

 

 

NOTE: Thanksgiving Break: 11/20-11/24

 

V.              THE CONSTITUTION AND FEDERALISM (November 27 – December 18)

Reading: Chapter 2, “The Constitution”

 Federalist Papers Nos. 10, 51

                 Anti-Federalist Papers, Centinel No. 1

                Chapter 3, “Federalism”

 

 

 

FIRST SEMESTER FINALS (December 18 - 21)

(Simulated A.P. Exam, covering Chapters 1-3, 6-11, and Key Supreme Court Cases)

         First Semester Ends Thursday 12/21.

         Winter Break: 12/22/23 – 01/08/2024

 

 

VI.           CIVIL LIBERTIES, CIVIL RIGHTS AND PUBLIC POLICY (January 09 – January 26)

Reading: Chapter 4, “Civil Liberties and Public Policy”

               Chapter 5, “Civil Rights and Public Policy”

 

 

VII.         CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENCY (January 29 – February 23)

Reading: Chapter 11, “Congress”

   The Federalist Papers, Nos. 53, 56-58, 62-63

   Chapter 12, “The Presidency”

 

 

VIII.  THE POLICIES OF TAXING AND SPENDING (February 26 – March 18)

Reading: Chapter 13, “Congress, the President and the Budget”

 

 

IX.           THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE COURTS (March 18 – April 15)

Reading: Chapter 14, “The Bureaucracy”

                  Chapter 15, “The Courts”

 

 

NOTE: Spring Break: 03/025-04/01/24

 

X.              POLICIES 

Reading:Chapter 16, “Economic and Social Welfare Policymaking”

 Chapter 17, “Policymaking for Health Care and the Environment”

             Chapter 18, “National Security Policymaking”

 

 

XI.           REVIEW UNIT AND A.P. EXAM (April 15 – May 06, 2024)

Includes in-class readings, timed practice exams, guided review, test-taking strategies, and at-home independent review.

 

XII.         FINAL PROJECT FOLLOWING THE AP TEST

                    DUE: During Senior Finals Week in May 2024