Contemporary World Problems/ CIVICS
To find assignments and links, click on the unit title.
COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructor: Ms. Carey Eubank Shannon.Eubank@bellinghamschools.org 676-6482 ext. 5239
Bonus Class Civic Engagement Credit: Attend Whatcom County Teen Court the second Wednesday of every month at 6:00 pm on the 3rd floor of the Whatcom County Courthouse. Attend Drug Court every Thursday 2:30-4:00pm at the Court House
Watch documentaries that connect to our class content try: http://www.pickfordfilmcenter.org/tag/doctober/ For the Pickford's Doctober Festival (the month of October). Also see Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival, http://bhrff.webs.com/ or http://www.whrtf.org/ coming in February.
Civic Action: go to the City Hall meeting
To use our class Remind! go to https://www.remind.com/join/ilovecwp or Text @ilovecwp to 81010
Course Outline:
Unit One: Rights & Responsibilities
Theme: Justice, Incarceration and Empathy
Focus Questions: What happens when citizens or the government don’t uphold their responsibilities?
Concept Question: What is justice? Is retribution effective or might restorative justice better address our needs as a society? Link to vocabulary Quizlet - CWP Incarceration & Social Inequality Flashcards
Assessment: Socratic Seminar
Unit Two: Human Rights
Theme: Human Trafficking
Focus Questions: Is human slavery alive in the world today? If so, how widespread is it and what can we do about it?
Concept Question: How can different levels of government and society work together to advocate for the voiceless?
Assessment: Position paper
Link to Unit Vocabulary flash cards (from Noah Black!) http://quizlet.com/49264498/cwp-vocab-words-flash-cards/
Unit Three: Economic Issues
Theme: Wealth Distribution, Education, and Equality
Focus Questions: Is income inequity a problem in the United States, today? What fiscal policies are needed?
Concept Questions: What kind of society do we want to create?
Film: Inequality for All
Assessment: Formal letter to government official
Vocabulary Qizlet link https://quizlet.com/_3cf6r3
Unit Four: US Government & Rights and Responsibilities part II
Theme: Civics, Engagement and Participation
Focus Questions: What are the major issues and how do they affect the American public?
Concept Questions: Where do we find the balance between individual and common good?
Film: TBD
Assessments: Student Designed Project Based Learning: Enviromental Policy Memo and Seminar
TBD Mini Unit: The Environment
Theme: Climate Change
Focus Questions: What are the impacts of global climate change? What is being done to address it and what still needs to be done?
Concept Question: What is my role in the environment?
Film: The Island President (subject to change)
Assessment: Student Research Projects & Presentation
Last day for Late Work is June 12. Film Critiques are due June 5.
LINK TO COURSE EVALUATION: FOR CLASS CREDIT
HTTPS://WWW.SURVEYMONKEY.COM/R/GY7S96H
Major Project:
Each week, we will discuss current world issues. Assignment details will be provided separately.
Final Project:
Documentary Film Critique
(See attached documents below- or go to Economics Unit link)
Grading Scale:
We will use the following standard grading scale. Students exhibiting excellent growth and effort in our targeted skill areas may earn higher final grades. Your grades will be based on your assessment scores, your participation, and your homework. Grades will be available on-line with Parent Connect.
93 = A 73 = C
90 = A- 70 = C-
87 = B+ 67 = D+
83 = B 63 = D
80 = B- 60 = D-
77 = C+ below 60 = F
Homework & Late Work:
You will be expected to complete an average of 20-30 minutes of reading/homework assignments each day. We will have a class website that lists homework assignments. I recognize that there may be extenuating circumstances that prevent you from completing a homework assignment on time. Late work may be accepted for half credit on a case-by-case basis.
Final Word:
This course is intended to provide and academic space where we can become more informed and aware of sensitive and complex societal issues. You are expected to challenge yourself by attempting to understand diverse and conflicting points of view and safely engage in dialogue to formulate your own positions throughout the course. Please take this opportunity to engage in self-reflection and to prepare yourself for the privileges of citizenship.
LINK TO COURSE EVALUATION: FOR CLASS CREDIT
HTTPS://WWW.SURVEYMONKEY.COM/R/GD66HWB
Student name: ______________________________________________
Student signature: ____________________________________________
Parent/ Guardian signature: ______________________________________
I have created a comprehensive website for the course which lists assignments as well as major projects. Visit Sehome homepage, and click on “Academics”, select Ms. Eubank from the Social Studies department, then link to CWP