Course Outline

This is a one-year course with an emphasis on meeting the requirements of the College Board Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics examination. This course gives students an analytical perspective of government and politics in the United States. It includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret United States politics and the analysis of specific examples. Students increase their knowledge of the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute United States politics. Instructors should refer to the current Advanced Placement course description for examination specifics. Instructional practices incorporate integration of diversity awareness including appreciation of all cultures and their important contributions to society. The appropriate use of technology is an integral part of this course. This course fulfils one U.S. Government credit required for high school graduation. Students in this class will be expected to take the College Board AP Exam.

Key Ideas

By the end of this course, students will have an understanding of:

Constitutionalism

The U.S. Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances among the branches of government and allocates power between federal and state governments. This system is based on the rule of law and the balance of majority rule and minority rights.

Liberty and Order

Governmental laws and policies balancing order and liberty are based on the U.S. Constitution and have been interpreted differently over time.

Civic Participation in a Representative Democracy

Popular sovereignty, individualism, and republicanism are important considerations of U.S. laws and policy making and assume citizens will engage and participate.

Competing Policy-Making Interests

Multiple actors and institutions interact to produce and implement possible policies.

Methods of Political Analysis

Using various types of analyses, political scientists measure how U.S. political behavior, attitudes, ideologies, and institutions are shaped by a number of factors over time.

Controversial Topic

As a course covering political institutions and thought, this course will cover controversial topics and as such, is covered by CCSD Regulation 6124.2. Students will be asked to explore their personal political ideas and opinions and will be exposed to opinions differing from their own. Students are expected to participate in class in a mature and constructive manner commensurate with an educational environment. While the teacher is a member of society and possesses his own opinions, these opinions and student’s acceptance (or rejection) of them will have no bearing on the student’s ability to succeed in the course. Of far greater importance is the student’s ability to discuss and defend their ideas and opinions with evidence in a positive manner that allows for the growth of all students.

Every effort will be made to ensure a balance of political opinions in the course, and students are STRONGLY encouraged to help in this process by presenting sources and ideas for examination by the class. It is expected that any and all discussions of political ideas will be confined to the idea and never directed towards an individual. Given the nature of politics, it is possible that some conversations will become heated. It is the responsibility of the teacher AND the students to ensure that a proper academic environment is maintained.

To this end, there are to be no photos, videos, or audio recordings in class. This is enacted to ensure the free exchange of ideas within the context of a classroom setting. No student should feel under threat that their words or ideas will be taken out of the room without their consent, nor without the proper context of the argument. Any potential recording device that appears to be in any recording position will be subject to review and confiscation pending the deletion of any recordings made.

Required Materials

For this course, students will need:

• Pens, pencils
• Highlighters (various colors)
• College-ruled notebook paper
• A binder for coursework
• Access to Google Classroom for weekly assignments

Students having difficulty obtaining the required materials should contact the instructor in the first week of school.

There may be occasions where a personal device, such as a cellular phone, tablet, or laptop may be useful in class. Students who bring these devices to class understand that they are solely responsible for their device, including the appropriate use of their device at the proper times. Use of these devices is a privilege that may be revoked subject to the instructor’s cell phone policy, discussed later in this document.

Academic Honesty

Students at all levels are expected to adhere to basic standards of academic honesty. This means completing all work on time and to the best of the individual student’s ability. In an academic setting, claiming work that is not your own is plagiarism, including sharing work between students. If a student’s academic honesty comes into question, the instructor will discuss the situation with the student, including verbally asking the student to defend their work. If the instructor is not satisfied that the work is in fact the student’s, the student will receive a 0 for the assignment, but may either redo the assignment or complete an alternate assignment at the discretion of the instructor in consultation with the student. This offer is available to allow students the opportunity to accept responsibility and learn from their mistake. As such, any replacement assignment will be available at 50% points only so that the failure is not fatal. Please note, this offer will only be available once per student per school year and, if utilized, subjects the student’s work to additional scrutiny. Subsequent infractions will be referred to counselors or administration as appropriate. Further, exceptionally serious offenses may void the offer to redo an assignment.

Late Work

Academic honesty also requires that students take responsibility for their own work. All assignments will be posted in the classroom and on Google Classroom on the day they are assigned with due dates clearly indicated. All work is due on the date posted. Late work will ONLY be accepted when a verified absence prevents the assignment from being turned in on time, and typically will be due upon the student’s return to class or as discussed with the instructor. Please note that in AP US Government, most assignments will be digitally submitted, so in many cases students should be able to turn work in without being present in class.

Students are responsible for initiating contact with the instructor regarding late work within 3 school days, and the terms of acceptance of such work will be outlined individually on a case by case basis considering all circumstances.

Any exceptions to this policy must be discussed with the instructor as early as possible.

Tests, Quizzes, and Projects

This course utilizes a variety of academic strategies to allow students the greatest number of opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge. These include (but may not be limited to):

• Chapter tests and quizzes
• Group assignments
• Writing compositions
• Projects
• Semester Exams

These assignments are the core foundation of learning, and it is the expectation of the instructor that all are completed on time and to the best of each student’s ability. In turn, each student should expect nothing less from themselves.

Homework

As an essential part of developing understandings of key concepts, homework will be assigned to supplement instruction, and students should expect approximately 4-6 hours of homework per week, generally reading and online discussion forums on Google Classroom. Students should expect that readings and other assignments will be discussed in class and their participation in these discussions is a vital continuation of this concept. To that end, homework is expected to be completed on time. In order to maintain student accountability, homework may be randomly checked by a variety of means.

Current Events

All students are required to bring in one (1) news article of national or international importance each quarter. Students are to read each article and briefly summarize its major points for the class. This grade counts as a homework assignment and is not optional! Failure to turn in current events will result in a zero averaged in with the homework grade.

Community Service

Each quarter, students will be strongly encouraged, but not required, to volunteer for 6 hours of community service of their own choosing to be completed at their convenience. Several choices of service will be given each quarter. Completion of this service will result in an extra credit test valued at 100%.

Additional Assistance

Grades will be posted on Infinite Campus regularly. Students who require additional help are encouraged to come see the instructor. Dedicated after school hours will be available from 2:30 – 3:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays with priority given to those who make appointments. Additionally, the instructor is available for appointments before school and after school on other days except Wednesday.

Grading Policy

Grades are computed on the standard CCSD Grading scale:

• Outstanding achievement 90-100% A
• Above Average Achievement 80-89.9% B
• Average Achievement 70-79.9% C
• Below Average Achievement 60-69.9% D
• Failing 0-59.9% F

Grades are never rounded. The semester grade will comprise of two quarters worth 40 percent of the grade each and a semester exam, worth 20 percent.

Each assignment will be weighed equally within the following two categories:

• Classwork, homework, quizzes, participation 50%
• Tests and projects 50%

Attendance and Tardies

Tardy students are a disruption to the class. Students are expected to be in class when the bell rings, ready to begin. Students who are late to class are to sign in and immediately move to their desk with as little disruption as possible. Students should note that a pass is a “ticket through the hall” and is not an automatic excuse for tardiness. Students who are frequently tardy may be subject to progressive discipline.

Restrooms

The use of restrooms during instructional time is a disruption. Students are therefore asked to try to use the restroom before or after class, or wait until students are working on an activity.

Citizenship Grades

All students are expected to participate in the class in a constructive manner that encourages learning. To that end, the following expectations are in place with regards to citizenship grades:

O – Outstanding

Given to students who show outstanding participation and behavior in class throughout the grading period.

S – Satisfactory

The standard mark given to students who attend class and meet the basic requirements of participation or behavior.

N – Needs Improvement

Given to students who are mildly disruptive to the classroom environment. Only given to students who have been subject to the progressive discipline plan.

U – Unsatisfactory

Given to students who frequently cause a disruption to the class. Only given to students who have been repeatedly subject to the progressive discipline plan.

Classroom Rules

In order to facilitate an active and safe learning environment for all students, the following rules will be in place in addition to Arbor View High School standards of behavior:

• Respect yourself and others at all times
• Be on time and prepared for each class
• Do all work to the best of your ability

Progressive Discipline

Students who fail to follow the classroom and school rules will be subject to the following disciplinary procedures:

• Student will be asked to stop the behavior
• One-on-one conference with the teacher
• Phone call home (Not all calls home are negative. Students will always be informed of a phone call home.)
• Dean’s office referral.

Note that major offenses may result in immediate Dean’s office referral, per Arbor View High School policy.

Cell Phone / Technology Use

It is understood that cell phones are common part of our society and their usefulness cannot be disputed. However, these and other devices also pose a potentially significant distraction to the learning process. For this reason, the following policies will be in effect in addition to CCSD Regulation 5136 covering personal devices in the classroom:

• Cell phones and devices are to be put away during all instructional time. Exceptions will be made for students who are taking appropriate notes.
• A device that is not put away will be assumed to be in use. Additionally, earbuds will be considered to be in use if they are in the ears.
• A student using a device during instructional time will be asked to put it away.
• A student who refuses to put a cell phone away OR a student who is repeatedly asked to put a cell phone away will have their cell phone confiscated and returned at the end of the class period.
• A student who has a cell phone confiscated more than once will be required to have the phone collected from the Dean’s Office by a parent or guardian, per school policy.
• A student who refuses to submit a phone for confiscation upon request will be referred to the Dean’s Office.

Note that in order to maintain consistency with this policy, no exceptions can be made for messages from parents or family. Parents, please make a note of your student’s schedule so you are aware of when they may not be able to reply to messages. In the event of an emergency that may require a student’s attention, school policy is for the parent or guardian to contact the school directly at (702)799-6660 for further instruction.

Instructor Contact

Parents or students can contact the instructor at: castew@nv.ccsd.net