Syllabus

Civics Syllabus

Teacher: Mr. Bergschneider

Text: United States Government Democracy in Action

Goals: Why Do I Have to Study Government?

Governments address some of the most basic issues of life: the purity of the food you eat, your personal safety, your education, and your right to voice an opinion. To help you better understand how government works and how it is a dynamic, exciting process, you will use the notes, class discussions and textbook and how to help you identify key concepts in government. Some examples of key concepts we will be learning about in this class include:

Growth of Democracy

Federalism

Separation of Powers

Checks and Balances

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Comparative Governments

Constitutional Interpretations

Political Processes

Public Policy

Free Enterprise

Political Parties

Constitution Tests

During this class you will be required to take and pass the United States Constitution Test and Illinois State Constitution Test. I will cover the material through readings, group projects, videos, and study guides. You must pass these tests to graduate. Students will be allowed to do test retakes on both the US Constitution and the Illinois Constitution Test. Civics is also a required class, so you pass the class in order to graduate.

Units

Unit 1- The Foundations of American Government

· Ch. 1 People and Government

· CONSTITUTION TEST UNIT- Must pass

Unit 2- Participating in Government

· Ch.16 Political Parties

· Ch. 17 Elections and Voting

Unit 3- State and Local Government

· Ch. 23 Structure and Function of State Government

· Ch. 24 Structure and Function of Local Government

· ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION TEST UNIT- Must Pass

As we cover this material, students will be required to complete homework assignments, reading assignments, in-class activities, class participation (current events discussion), and take chapter tests.

Grading Formula for Civics

50% Test and Projects

40% Daily Work and Quizzes

10% Participation and Discussions

Test/Exams

Tests will include Matching, Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blank, and Essays. Tests will cover the material we discussed in the chapter. Exams will be cumulative. Test corrections will be done a unit to unit basis

Attendance:

If you miss a class it is your responsibility to contact me about the assigned work in which you missed. I will not seek you out, you must find me. I will usually be in my classroom before 7:45 a.m. every day if a problem arises and you need help. If you need to take a test we will set up a date that works for both of us. The students are allowed the number of days they missed to finish the assigned homework for the days they missed.

Late Work Policy:

My late work policy is you may turn in an assignment late one day after it is due for 50% credit. With absent work you will have as many days as you missed to make it up.

Student Evaluation:

Your final grade will be based on a combination of tests, quizzes, homework assignments, and class participation. Test questions will be worth 2 points and all other homework/quiz grades will be worth 1 point per question. Late work will be accepted one day after the assignment was due for ½ the credit.

Discipline Procedure:

1. Verbal warning from teacher

2. Conference with student after class

3. Student will be removed from the class and given an office referral.

· If I have had two or more conferences with you after class, I will call home and discuss a plan of action with your parents or guardians

Tardiness

· Tardies will accumulate for each semester. Students will receive an office referral after 3 tardies to a class. Additional referrals will be assigned for the 4^th and 5^th tardies to a class.

· Be in your assigned seat when the bell rings.

Page updated

Report abuse