AP GOVERNMENT COURSE OUTLINE

AP GOVERNMENT COURSE DESCRIPTION Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics is a college-level course providing analysis and evaluation of contemporary political concepts and issues related to American government. Theories, beliefs, and institutions related to the political process will be studied and interpreted. The knowledge of political concepts will be applied to understand how the government process works and assist in analyzing political behaviors and consequences. Many factors will be addressed and connections will be developed throughout the curriculum. AP GOVERNMENT COURSE OBJECTIVES The main objective of the course is for students to become well-informed and efficient citizens. Students will develop more political efficacy while coming to understand their political viewpoints and beliefs. Also, the rigor of the course will develop students critical thinking skills. Evaluating and synthesizing concepts is essential in succeeding at the college level. Students will leave the course well-prepared for the rigors of upper level coursework at their universities. Writing will also be emphasized as structured and concise writing will be necessary to succeed in higher level education. AP GOVERNMENT COURSE OUTLINE The Constitution and American Government The Development and Goals of the Constitution The Branches of American Government: Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances Federalism: National and State Political Relationships Political Theories Political Beliefs and Behaviors The Citizen and the Government Political Efficacy Public Opinion Political Ideologies and Influences Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media Political Parties Interest Groups and Political Action Committees Mass Media Political Institutions of the National Government Congress The Presidency Federal Bureaucracy Federal Judiciary System Relationships and Links Public Policy Developing Policy Influence and Role of Institutions in Policy-Making Civil Rights and Liberties Development Judicial Influence

THE AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS EXAM Question Type Number Of Time Multiple Choice 60 45 minutes Free-Response 4 100 minutes Percentage of Topics Covered on Multiple Choice Portion Constitution Underpinnings of U.S. Government 5-15% Political Beliefs and Behaviors 10-20% Political Parties, Interest Groups, Mass Media 10-20% Institutions of National Government 35-45% Public Policy 5-15% Civil Rights and Liberties 5-15% The exam will be given on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 8:00AM. Students are obligated to take the exam or face a financial penalty. AP GOVERNMENT RESOURCES Five Steps to a Five U.S. Government (BRING EVERYDAY) The American Democracy 10 th Edition (Patterson textbook) United States Constitution The Federalist Papers American Government: Readings and Cases by Peter Woll We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution Various AP review books AP GOVERNMENT ASSIGNMENTS *Standing Homework Assignment: Study and review everyday.* Identifies In-depth knowledge and understanding of various vocabulary and concepts in order to facilitate learning throughout the course. Selected terms from the 5 Steps review book and Patterson textbook will be assigned as the Identifies. Due dates will be given in class, through e-mails, and Edmodo. Identifies are available for download on my website. Identifies must be hand-written in black pen. Case Briefs A breakdown of landmark Supreme Court cases concentrating on legal issues and highlighting constitutional and political effects. Case briefs must be hand-written in black pen. Multiple Choice Tests Use of AP-style and college-level questions to have students become familiar with the format of the AP exam and styles of questions, including conceptual, factual, analytical, thematic, and statistical. Assessed based on AP-style scoring. FRQ Essays Development of arguments and ability to use appropriate factual knowledge; organization and analytical skills will be practiced. Assessed based on AP-style scoring. FRQs must be written in black pen. Outlines/Notes Concentrate on important facts, concepts, and processes when reading. Class notes are required to be taken during lectures and discussions. Edmodo Assignments include quizzes, polls, and participatory responses to academic posts. Mock Exam Practice exam given prior to the AP exam with multiple choice questions, short-answer questions, document-based question, and long essay. Political Cartoons/Charts/Maps/Data Analysis - Interpretation of quantitative and visual information. *STANDING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT STUDY AND REVIEW EVERY DAY, INCLUDING WEEKENDS/HOLIDAYS/BREAKS.* AP GOVERNMENT MATERIALS (Always have in possession) Black AND blue pens, #2 pencils, yellow highlighter, 3-ring notebook with pockets, lined paper, Five Steps to a Five, AP U.S. Government Identifies List. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION - Office Location: VH 130 - Office Phone Number: 305-348-7043 - E-mail:

AP MACROECONOMICS COURSE DESCRIPTION Advanced Placement Macroeconomics is a college-level course providing analysis and evaluation of the principles of economics from an aggregate perspective. The course examines economic problems and factors as experienced by the nation as a whole. Basic economic principles will be addressed and applied at the national level. AP MACROECONOMICS COURSE OBJECTIVES Though the course is designed to understand the principles and theories of macroeconomics, students will learn how the economy affects the nation and the individual. Students will leave the course with an understanding how resources are allocated and why economics is essential in the function of society. Most importantly, the course will result in students becoming well-informed citizens and who will make sound economic and financial decisions in the future. Also, as a college-level course, critical thinking skills such as synthesis and evaluation will be developed. Applying theories and formulas will be essential in developing higher-level skills which will benefit students in the future in upper-level college courses and life in general. AP MACROECONOMICS ADVICE AP Macroeconomics is designed to understand theories and formulas of economic principles. Do not over-think or try to play out what-ifs with every single concept. Remember, KISS (Keep It Simple, Students). Trust me, life in AP Macroeconomics will be much easier if you follow this advice. AP MACROECONOMICS COURSE OUTLINE Basic Economic Concepts Scarcity and Opportunity Cost Production Possibilities Curve (PPC) Comparative Advantage and Absolute Advantage Supply and Demand and Equilibrium Business Cycle Economic Measurement National Income Gross Domestic Product Inflation and Price Indices Types of Unemployment National Income and Price Determination Aggregate Demand Aggregate Supply Equilibrium Financial Sector Money and Banking Monetary Policy Inflation, Unemployment, Stabilization Policies Fiscal and Monetary Policies Inflation and Unemployment Growth and Productivity Investment Research and Development International Sector Foreign Exchange Market

THE AP MACROECONOMICS EXAM Question Type Number Of Time Multiple Choice 60 70 minutes Free-Response 3 60 minutes Percentage of Topics Covered on Multiple Choice Portion Basic Economic Concepts 8-12% Measurement of Economic Performance 12-16% National Income and Price Determination 10-15% Financial Sector 15-20% Inflation, Unemployment, Stabilization 20-30% Economic Growth and Productivity 5-10% Open Economy: International Trade and Finance 10-15% The exam will be given on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 12:00PM. Students are obligated to take the exam or face a financial penalty. AP MACROECONOMICS RESOURCES Five Steps to a Five Macroeconomics (BRING EVERYDAY) Economics: Principles, Problems, Policies. 19 th Edition (McConnell textbook) AP MACROECONOMICS ASSIGNMENTS *Standing Homework Assignment: Study and review everyday.* Worksheets In-depth knowledge and understanding of various vocabulary and concepts in order to facilitate learning throughout the course. Worksheets and due dates will be given in class, through e-mails, and on Edmodo. Multiple Choice Tests Use of AP-style and college-level questions to have students become familiar with the format of the AP exam and styles of questions, including conceptual, factual, analytical, thematic, and statistical. Assessed based on AP-style scoring. FRQ Essays Development of arguments and ability to use appropriate factual knowledge; organization and analytical skills will be practiced. Assessed based on AP-style scoring. Outlines/Notes Concentrate on important facts, concepts, and processes when reading. Class notes are required to be taken during lectures and discussions. Charts/Maps/Data Analysis - Interpretation of quantitative and visual information. AP MACROECONOMICS MATERIALS Black AND blue pens, #2 pencils, yellow highlighter, 3-ring notebook with pockets, lined paper, Five Steps to a Five, AP Macroeconomics Identifies List. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION - Office Location: VH 130 - Office Phone Number: 305-348-7043 - E-mail:

SOCIAL STUDIES GRADING 100-90 = A 3.5-4.0 = A 80-89 = B 2.5-3.49 = B 70-79 = C 1.5-2.49 = C 60-69 = D 1.0-1.49 = D 0-59 = F 0.0-0.9 = F SOCIAL STUDIES ATTENDANCE in conjunction with AAA Attendance Policies - It is imperative students attend all classes and arrive on time for each class. Missing one day of class can lead to missing an entire theme, concept, and historical period. - Arranging for makeup work is the student s responsibility. - Students who arrive late or miss days that are excused must owe me that time in the mornings (not during college classes). As soon as the student returns from the excused absence and signs in, he/she must immediately arrange to make up any work. If a student does not arrange for a makeup within 48 hours, then it will result in a zero for participation and/or assignments. - If a student is aware he/she will miss class time, the student is responsible for makeup work and arranging the makeup time and work with me well in advance of the absence. This applies only to excused absences, field trips, and tardies with parental notification. - Unexcused absences and tardies will result in a zero for participation and/or assignments. - Unexcused reasons for tardiness or missing class include, but are not limited to, late college class dismissal, walking distance, eating/getting lunch, meetings with professors/advisors, and library study time. CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE - Respect. It is my firm belief. We will respect one another. We will respect the classroom, our duties, responsibilities, school, staff, students, and, most importantly, yourself. You already have my respect and your responsibility is to keep it throughout the year. - Keep your hands and feet to yourselves. - Use of cell phones, beepers, PDAs, ipods, and other electronic devices are prohibited. Set them to silent and place them in your bookbag or purse. If I see them in your hand, on your desk, on your lap, it goes off and I hear them, they will be confiscated. Consider this the official warning for electronic devices. If an electronic device is confiscated, the parent/guardian must arrange a meeting in person to release the device. The device will be released to the parent, not the student. Repeat violations will result in referrals, parent-teacher conferences, and possible suspension. Miami-Dade County Public Schools does not prohibit students possessing electronic devices, but it prohibits the use of electronic devices in the classroom. ASSIGNMENT DEADLINES - Homework assignments are due by 9:15AM on a specified due date, unless otherwise notified. Students are typically given more than a sufficient amount of time to complete assignments appropriately and efficiently. - Assignments turned in after 9:15AM of the due date will not be awarded credit. It is highly recommended for students to turn in their assignments ahead of time. The 9:15AM deadline is strictly enforced and time is based on my clock. - Homework assignments may be turned into me directly during office hours or in my office mailbox. MORNING HOURS AND REQUIRED REMEDIATION - Students are encouraged to visit me in my office during their off-hours between 8:40AM and 12:30PM to ask questions or discuss the course material. - I ask students to take advantage of this opportunity, but also please do not abuse this opportunity. - Students who earn below a 2.0 during a 9-week quarter are required to attend morning remediation. Students who are performing below expectations may be asked to attend scheduled sessions during their off hours in the morning. The purpose for these sessions is to provide students the opportunity to improve their academic status in the course and develop further understanding of the course s concepts. - Students will be asked to attend a minimum of two days a week for at least an hour each day. Students failing to attend required morning remediation will result in parent/teacher conferences and administrative contact. - The teacher reserves the sole determination of when a student sufficiently improves their grade and may no longer be required to attend morning remediation.

E-MAIL POLICY AND EDMODO - E-mails and Edmodo notifications are sent on a regular basis. They include assignments, deadlines, instructions, updates, news, advice, and supplemental materials. Questions and comments are encouraged. - Students must check their e-mails and Edmodo everyday. Be sure to check during the late afternoon and evening hours. All must students were instructed to register and join the AAA APUSH Edmodo group. RECOMMENDATION LETTERS - AAA teachers and staff are not required to write recommendation letters. Writing a recommendation letter is a privilege for the student. - Please request a recommendation letter from me in person. If accepted, please e-mail me all details including Common App, etc. - Students must request recommendation letters two weeks prior to application deadlines and all requirements of their college application before requesting a recommendation letter. - AAA Seniors must have passed all AP exams from their AAA junior year with a 3 or better to be eligible for a recommendation letter. All students must have and must be earning a B or above in all AAA high school classes and college classes. GRADES POLICY - My position about grades is you earn what you earn based on assignments, assessments, and other grading criteria. I do not offer extra credit for the purpose of grade inflation. - All students can earn an A in this course through commitment, integrity, determination, and initiative. Turn in your assignments on time and legitimately complete them according to or beyond my expectations. Perform exceptionally and legitimately well on all assessments by paying attention in class, studying, and constantly reviewing. - Remember to always follow the unwritten rule. The AAA Seniors know what this means. MOVIE TIME - Movie Time is a special time. From time to time, I may show a video, film clip, or film to supplement understanding of a historical period or concept. - Movie Time rules are as follows: all desks are clear unless otherwise notified, heads remain up and open eyes open focused on the film, and there are no personal discussions. Additional rules may be established for each Movie Time. Violation of any of these rules limits or eliminates Movie Time for all students. - Remember to always follow the unwritten rule. The AAA Seniors know what this means. ONLINE RESOURCES - http://jbapgovt.wikispaces.com/ is my website for GOPO and http://jbapecon.wikispaces.com for AP Macro. - It is imperative students use this resource as a means for review and preparation for each unit and for the exam. Download and print these resources. NEWS Students are required to regularly watch/read the daily news. Most, if not all, sources are available online. If students are unable to watch programs at their regular schedules, access their programming from their websites. Television: NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press, Face the Nation, The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight, Real Time with Bill Maher Newspaper and Magazines: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Miami Herald Time, Newsweek, The Economist Online: Politico.com, npr.org, c-span.org, gallup.com *****SPECIAL NOTE***** THERE IS A ZERO-TOLERANCE FOR IMPROPRIETY. CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AT ALL. IMPROPRIETY INCLUDES, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COPYING ANSWERS, FORGING, LYING, AND DECEPTION. PLEASE BE HONEST ACADEMICALLY AND GENERALLY. ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE DILIGENTLY ASSESSED FOR ACADEMIC HONESTY AND TESTING PROCEDURES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. THIS APPLIES TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE ACADEMY FOR ADVANCED ACADEMICS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES, ALL COLLEGE COURSES, ALL ACADEMIC ASSIGNMENTS, ALL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND INDIVIDUAL STUDENT AND STUDENT BODY BEHAVIOR.

STUDENT INFORMATION/PARENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM Please complete, sign, and turn into the instructor. STUDENT NAME: STUDENT CELL PHONE: STUDENT E-MAIL: PARENT/GUARDIAN(S) NAMES: HOME ADDRESS: HOME PHONE: PARENT/GUARDIAN CELL PHONE: PARENT/GUARDIAN CELL PHONE: PARENT/GUARDIAN E-MAIL: FILM ADVISORY This class will show films, some of which include serious and mature material. Some of the movies will be rated R. I want to reinforce the purpose of these movies as not purely entertainment. The objective is to provide a clearer understanding and perception of various concepts in the social sciences. If you approve or have any objections to your child viewing such films, please acknowledge and sign. YES, I allow my child to view films of a mature nature (rated R). NO, I do not allow my child to view films of a mature nature (rated R) PARENT SIGNATURE: STUDENT SIGNATURE: