Political Science Syllabus

Political Science

Mr. Tomak

Phone: 533-5601 ext. 5809

Email: datomak@gjsd.net

Political Science: the branch of knowledge that deals with systems of government; the analysis of political activity and behavior.

Course Overview:

This Political Science course will consist of an analytical approach as to how we holistically view, understand, cooperatively think about, and position ourselves individually and as a people within the structures of American foreign policy, domestic policy, and legal system. Through a variety of instructional techniques, students will become immersed in these aspects of political science. Regarding the analysis of the legal system, students will become trained in the procedures of a youth court. With this knowledge, students will collaboratively implement this youth court system in our school. Through the use of critical thinking, collaborative research, reflection by way of manipulation of primary and secondary resources, students will work towards a mastery of concepts, ideas, and materials. This course will also encourage the debate and dialogue as to why this course, the specific ideas and concepts are important both in and out of the classroom. This idea of analyzing, evaluating, and reflecting upon a student’s environment will advance the importance of knowing one’s individual rights and placement within a school setting and within society post-graduation.

Course Outline and Objectives:

Course Behavior:

*Attendance- Regular attendance is essential to being successful in this course. A student will not be admitted back into class until he or she produces an UNEXCUSED/EXCUSED slip from his or her academic office. The student has three school days to produce a legal excuse from the date of the absence. If the student has an excused absence, they will be given full credit for participation on the date of the absence, and will be permitted to complete all make-up assignments. If the student has an unexcused absence, they will receive no credit for participation on the date of the absence, as well zeroes for all assignments missed.

*Behavior- Be on time and prepared to begin class session. Attentiveness and respect are key elements in understanding, conversing, and expanding one’s learning of the topics and issues to be covered in this course. Authentic and visibly thoughtful work will not go unnoticed and will be graded accordingly. In other words, not trying is not a legitimate excuse in this course.

Coats, book bags, and purses over the size of a half-sheet of paper are not permitted in the classroom. Also, food, candy, drinks (with the exception of water), visible & audible cell phones, headphones & ear buds, iPods, or any other type of electronic device that I reserve the right to label a distraction are not permitted in the classroom.

Students are excused from class to go to the nurse, guidance office, etc. with an admit slip, and must produce a signed admit slip upon their return to the classroom. Restroom and water fountain privileges are dependent on the use and/or abuse of the student and the class as a whole. If these privileges are taken advantage of, no student (unless it is an absolute emergency) will be permitted outside of the class.

*Tardiness- Students arriving in the classroom after the bell has rung without an admit will be marked as tardy.. By rule: 3 lates to class will result in an office detention.

Course Materials:

Students will be provided with a composition notebook and a folder. In the event that any student does not have a writing utensil, he or she can borrow one under the circumstance provided by the teacher. At the end of class, every student who borrowed a writing utensil should return it to the teacher

Course Text & Readings:

Readings and resources will come from newspaper, magazine, and internet publications, scholarly articles/journals, and other curriculum-appropriate works.

· Grading Scale

· A 93-100%

· B 82-92%

· C 70-81%

· D 60-69%

· F 0-59%