AP American Government Syllabus

Course Name: AP American Government

Instructor: Mr. Tomak

Course Text :

Main Text: Harrison, 2011. American Democracy Now. United States: McGraw-Hill.

Themes and AP American Government:

The students enrolled in this course will gain a comprehensive knowledge of American Government. The main areas of focus are as follows:

· People, Politics, and Participation

· The Constitution

· Federalism

· Civil Liberties

· Civil Rights

· Political Socialization and Public Opinion

· Interest Groups

· Political Parties

· Elections, Campaigns, and Voting

· The Media

· Congress

· The Presidency

· The Bureaucracy

· The Judiciary

· Economic Policy

· Domestic Policy

· Foreign Policy and National Security

· State and Local Government

Activities will revolve around project-based reading and writing oriented assignments. Assessments will mainly be centered on primary source interpretation and analysis, which is a Bloom’s Taxonomy-based exercise leading from evaluation to synthesis, thus creating appropriate DBQ (Document-Based Questions) essays. Students will write multiple DBQ essays containing written and visual sources as well as map, charts, and graphs. Instruction is data-driven and based on eligible content from the PA Common Core Standards.

Attendance

It is absolutely necessary that you attend class on a regular basis. The meaningful discussions and

helpful presentations that take place in class are difficult, if not impossible, to repeat on an individual

basis with the same effectiveness. Just because you had a day off does not mean the class did not move

on. Material you missed will not be covered during class time. Therefore, it is essential that you attend

class regularly. Before you return to class, you must get an excusal slip from your academy secretary.

Do not enter the classroom without an excusal slip. If you do miss a class, then it is YOUR responsibility

to get the notes and make up any work that you missed. If possible, have someone pick up assignments

for you when you are out a day. Please contact me in the case of an extended absence so your work

can be sent home to you. When absent, you will need to go to your period’s make-up work slot,

where you will find all work that you missed for that day. If you are absent the day an assignment is

due, that assignment is due the day you return. If you are absent on the day of a quiz or a test, be

prepared to take that quiz or test on the day of your return. All make-up work must be completed

within 3 days of your return to school, or you will receive a zero. An unexcused absence will result in a

zero for any assignments, quizzes, tests, or activities performed that day.

Classroom Behavior

Class will begin promptly every day. I expect you to come to class prepared and to have all materials (pencils, folder, homework, assignments). Responsible and respectful behavior is expected at all times. The following rules are to be followed at all times: Be Respectful, Be Honorable, Be There, and Be Prepared. A more detailed explanation of classroom rules and expectations follows in the Code of Conduct Contract.

Tardies

You MUST arrive to class on time! Class will begin promptly each day.

Coming to class late is a disruption in the educational process of others; therefore, it will be handled in a

very strict, consistent fashion. BE ON TIME!!!!!!!

Assessments:

Quizzes and Tests

Quizzes will be given throughout the chapters and may be announced or unannounced. We quiz frequently throughout each unit of study. The purpose of quizzes is to help me see what areas of difficulty you may be experiencing with the material prior to taking a large chapter test. Therefore, we can correct any mistakes you are making and remediation can take place before you take the chapter test. Tests will occur at the end of each unit of study. They will always be announced at least two days in advance. Please try to be in attendance on test days! We will review the day before a test. If you are absent on a review day, you are still responsible for taking the test the day you return! No exceptions! Please keep in mind that quizzes and tests together are 45-50% of your overall grade. Ultimately, you must be able to show me how well you can perform on your own.

Grading Policy & Procedures:

Grading Procedure:

The grade earned by the student for the course is determined by assessment in participation, quizzes, projects, summaries, tests, and a final (which is 20% of the total grade for the course).

Grading Scale

A 93-100%

B 82-92%

C 70-81%

D 60-69%

F 0-59%

1. Classroom work is assigned daily. The student is required to complete the work assigned for the day. For an unexcused absence the student can get a zero for the day’s work. For an excused absence a student can have up to three days to complete the assignment.

2. Quizzes are given weekly and are worth 10 to 20 points each.

3. Unit tests are worth 40 to 50 points.

Your final grade will be determined by four 9 week grades and the final exam. Each 9 week grade is worth 20%, and the final exam is 20%. Even if you pass all 9 week marking periods, but fail the final exam, you may still fail the course. Thus, it is an absolute necessity to take final exams seriously!!

Academic Dishonesty

Any act of academic dishonesty (cheating on exams, plagiarism of homework, etc.) WILL NOT

BE TOLERATED and will result in the following:

1.) A zero on the work involved

2.) A phone call home to parent/guardian

3.) A discipline log being sent to the office

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Student exam and assignment results will be analyzed by the teacher daily. After interpreting student production, the teacher will promptly give feedback. The teacher’s goal for all assignments is that students will complete them with at least 80% proficiency. The teacher will use a detailed rubric to analyze all assignments. The students will always have access to each rubric. The teacher will always give differentiated instruction to students who do not score proficiently.

Analyzing Information Relevant to US Government and Politics

Students will be required to analyze information relevant to US government and politics on a daily basis. The students will do so via a litany of formative assessment techniques in order for the teacher to efficiently check for student understanding. These techniques will include, but are not limited to, whiteboard activities, think-pair-share activities, and hot-seat activities.

Analyzing information relevant to US government and politics will better prepare students for college because this is a higher order thinking skill. An example of this type of question includes the following: “Analyze the difference in ideology between conservatives and liberals regarding the issue of abortion. Express your beliefs with the whiteboards at your desk.” The teacher will assess these assignments daily and give prompt feedback.

Supplemental Readings and Contemporary News Analysis

During the third nine weeks, students will be required to read a book that explores topics related to government. The teacher will suggest that the students read George Orwell’s 1984, but students may get other books approved by the teacher. The teacher will require that the students analyze this book and display their analysis with a five minute speech and two page paper. The teacher will assess this reading assignment using a publicly shared rubric.

The students will also be required to read and analyze an article of the week related to American government. Student responses to these articles will include an analysis expressed in essay format. The teacher will assess these reading assignments using publicly shared rubrics.

Students will also be required to periodically locate and read peer reviewed articles. Student responses to these articles will include an analyses expressed in essay format. The teacher will assess these reading assignments using publicly shared rubrics.

Analytical and Interpretive Free Response Questions

Twelve times during this course, students will be required to answer analytical and interpretive free response questions. The students will answer these questions in both written and verbal formats. An example of this type of question includes the following: “Analyze and interpret the use of propaganda used by the American Founding Fathers during early presidential elections.” The teacher will assess these reading assignments using publicly shared rubrics.

AP EXAM

About the Exam

The two-hour and 25-minute test includes a 45-minute multiple-choice section and a 100-minute free-response section. When studying for the exam, keep in mind that you'll be tested on the following skills, abilities, and knowledge:

· Knowledge of facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S. government and politics

· Understanding of typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences (including 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)

· Analysis and interpretation of data and relationships in U.S. government and politics

· Written analysis and interpretation of the subject matter of U.S. government and politics

Section I: Multiple-Choice

There are 60 questions in the multiple-choice section. Unlike other multiple-choice tests, random guessing can hurt your final score. While you don't lose anything for leaving a question blank, one quarter of a point is subtracted for each incorrect answer on the test. But if you have some knowledge of the question and can eliminate one or more answers, it's usually to your advantage to choose what you believe is the best answer from the remaining choices.

Section II: Free-Response

You'll have 100 minutes total to answer the four free-response questions. Each essay is weighted equally toward your final score. It's recommended that you spend 25 minutes on each question.

For the most part, the questions require you to integrate knowledge from different content areas. You may have to discuss examples, elucidate or evaluate general principles of U.S. government and politics, and/or analyze U.S. political relationships or events.

Each essay should demonstrate your ability to organize a coherent answer about the specific question; interpret and analyze tables, charts, and/or graphs, and draw logical conclusions from the data in relation to general political concepts or relationships; and stay on task.

Important Documents

Read the full texts of primary-source historical documents. These important U.S. Government Documents will give you the background knowledge that you will need to succeed on exam day.

It's a good idea to read all of these documents at least once before AP exam day. Not only will this prepare you with plenty of evidence to use in your essays, but you will be a more intelligent, informed citizen.

· The Declaration of Independence

· The Constitution of the United States

· The Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 – 10)

· Constitutional Amendments 11 - 27