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Course Syllabus
Name of Course: U.S. Government
Course #: 273011
Course Length: 1 Quarter
Credits: 0.5
Prerequisite: None
Graduation Requirement Met: Political Science
Instructor Information
Name: Jack H. Achs, Rm215
E-mail address: achsja@davenportschools.org
School phone number: 563-723-5600
Best times to be reached: 7:45-8:30 daily.
Course Description
This course is a study of the workings and functions of the American political system. Topics include the Constitution, the three branches of government and the development of democracy in the United States.
District Standards and Power Benchmarks
The Iowa Social Studies standards can be found at https://iowacore.gov
Course Information
This is a one-term course for all students in 11th or 12th grade. This course meets the Political Science requirement for graduation
Note: Students will select the grade they wish to achieve IAW grading matrix.
Course Outline/Calendar
Weeks 1 - 3 Foundations of American Government & Citizenship, Magruder's Chapters
1,2,5; We The People Units 1, 6
Weeks 4 - 6 Constitution, Federalism & Iowa Government, Magruder's Chapters. 3, 4, 19, 20,
21.We The People Units 2, 3, 4, 5, Iowa Government and Politics.
Weeks 7 - 9 Branches of Government, Magruder's Chapters. 10,11,12,13,14,15,18
We The People Units 3, 4, 5
Text/Other Required Materials/Resources
McClenaghan, William. "Magruder’s American Government". Prentice Hall. Needham, MA. :2005. Racheter, Donald. "Iowa Government and Politics" Public Interest Institute. Mt. Pleasant IA.:2004. Smith, Duane.,ed "We the People The Citizen and the Constitution". Center for Civic Education. Calabasas, CA. : 2009.
Supplementary Text, WWW and Media Center Materials, Newspaper, Community Resources, Maps and Globes., Material fees: printing in LMC- 10 cents per copy. Students are required to obtain the following supplies within three days of course start: A 2-inch 3-ring binder, 2 college-type spiral notebooks, 3x5 note cards, pen &pencil, Chrome Book, WHS ID.
Instructional Procedures & Support
Students are expected to keep a notebook. Classroom activities will include (but not limited to), guided and individual reading, text assignments, large and small group discussions, guided lectures, examining primary source materials, and performance tasks.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is copying another person’s work. In this class you may work together on many assignments. However, the work you turn in must be in your own words. You need to paraphrase the idea being shared. When grading work and I see the same answer, with the same sentence structure, with the same grammar and syntax then it is plagiarism. See student planner.
Classroom Management Procedures
See MS Word document below for Syllabus Part2 for Classroom Management Procedures.
Assessment Plan (also see Syllabus Part 2 for more details)
A. Projects will be completed.
B. Assessments might incl quizzes, chap or unit tests, end of term tests.
C. A final will be a given.
D. Completed homework.
E. Class participation.
Final Class Grade: daily work (10%), class projects (15%), tests (55%), and the final (20%).
Note: Late work is reduced by 40% (“D”)and must be turned in three days before the start of finals.
Grading System
Grading scale*: A+ = 100% C = 70-79%
*Students must do more A = 90-99% D = 60-69%
work for higher grade. B = 80-89% F = 0-59%
Syllabus Part 2
See file below for Syllabus Part 2 containing the following: Classroom Management Procedures, Assessment Plan, Instructional Methods, Parent Assistant, and Course Requirements (detailed). Note: Students must read and review Syllabus Part 2.
Mr.Achs’ Bully Free Pledge: “I agree to be identified as a caring adult who pledges to help bullied students. I will listen carefully to all students who seek my help and act on their behalf to put an immediate stop to the bullying. I will work with other caring adults to create a safe learning environment for all students in my school.”
Course Requirements: See current syllabus below (MS Word Document)
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