Instructor: Bob Sarver Phone: 321.242.4730 Ext. 5004 Email: sarver.robert@brevardschools.org Web Page: http://westshore.hs.brevard.k12.fl.us/teachers/sarverr/ap_government.htm Course Description: This is a 16-week course that explores the growth of American political theory and how the practice American political thought directly affects the daily operation of our government and shape American public policies. A major goal of this course is to successfully prepare students to take the AP Exam for U.S Government and Politics. The course is taught on a college level and it requires a substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class, in order for this goal to be met. STUDENTS SHOULD EXPECT TO DO SEVERAL HOURS OF OUTSIDE CLASSROOM work per week. The course includes a basic analysis of how our government works, through the analysis of readings, graphs, political cartoons, and current events, practical s, and polls. The student will build a foundation on the historical intent of the government through the eyes of the founding fathers and then the building of its modern governmental institutions. Subsequently, the student will gain a deeper understanding of how the development of these modern institutions has given rise to the variety of policy perspectives, and how those affect political behavior and theory. Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, as well as their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Students will exhibit these acquired areas of knowledge through (at a minimum) Free Response Questions (FRQ), class discussion and issue analysis/synthesis, debate, critical thinking applications, standard assessments, and quizzes. Class discussion and analysis will be emphasized along with application of the material through Free Response Questions. There will be online interactive review sessions, which will begin early in the year on a day, and time that accommodates the majority of the class. Goals: At the successful completion of this course, students will have assimilated information and demonstrated an understanding and working knowledge of each of six units: Constitutional Underpinnings of the United States Government Political Beliefs and Behaviors Political Parties, Interest groups and Mass Media Institutions of national government Civil Rights and liberties Public Policy As an overall goal, students will pass the AP Government test with a score of 3 or higher. An additional goal is to acclimate students to a college level course and a rigorous course of study. Requirements: Each student is expected to complete all assignments and tasks as assigned inside both the classroom and those required for outside independent study. With such preparation, student can bring evidence and participate actively in classroom discussions, and writings, either as an individual or in groups, in a manner that demonstrates knowledge of the topic. PARTICIPATION is required. Topics are varied and sometimes controversial, however if the student remains focused on completing the assignments and incorporating a variety of points of view into their knowledge base, they then learn to become better citizens and advocates. Page 1 of 6
Free Response Questions, FRQ s, will be required in a variety of forms. Additionally, a FRQ may be administered a minimum of once per week on the topics covered during the course. On a SATURDAY morning, in April on a date agreeable to the majority, there may be a review and practice exam. This will kick off a week of in depth reviews (online and in class) that students are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to attend. Students will also find study groups outside class to be very helpful, students can utilize the online review software as well. It is planned that there will be the availability of online study groups, which will be independent of the instructor and accomplished on the part of the students themselves. These independent online study sessions will be at the discretion of the instructor. Thursday May 10 th 2018 AP Exam, 8:00 a.m. NOTE TO STUDENTS: Students who are not in class on any given day are responsible for ANY missed assignment, reading, and activities. Everyday is a teaching day and if you are not in class, teaching will still occur, prepare the night before returning to class with both any missed and due assignments. Students must check the class web page regularly for information. Also, I frequently review email at home or during periods when class is not in session, I would encourage you to email me when you have questions or concerns related to class. Weekly tutoring will be helpful but will not replace being in class. I will include essential questions and information for each unit on the class web page and supporting online sites that can prove helpful to success in the class. I recommend that you create folders at home to organize your Unit work. Resources: (including but not limited to) AP Government Mr. Sarver: AP Government and Politics (our class web page) numerous sources of information will be listed here and this will be the central location for information concerning class. This should be bookmarked and referred to for all information concerning assignments. http://westshore.hs.brevard.k12.fl.us/teachers/sarverr/ap_government.htm www.collegeboard.org AP information and links Numerous other web sites and digital media, which are included on the class web page Evaluation: Points system Point basis assignments as indicated below. These assignments will be subject to change based on circumstance that may develop during class. Chapter/UNIT EXAMS - (in format of AP Government exam) see attached guide IN CLASS QUIZZES - *see syllabus addendum FRQ s minimum of one per week done either at home or in class (free response format) CHAPTER Summaries from worksheets/outlines - one for each chapter CLASSWORK/WRITINGS/discussions-will vary unit to unit (week to week) READINGS- unit totals will be assessed through class discussion or free response writings CHAPTER Quizzes- many online up to18 tests VOCABULARY QUIZZES or current events as assigned 100 pts each 50 pts each 25 pts each 10 pts each Students should realize that chapter tests are written at the AP EXAM level and may not do as well as they hoped, completing extra credit when/if available and staying on top of homework will outweigh this issue. Page 2 of 6
Tutorials: Please see me for extra help if you are having trouble learning the material. It is crucial that you do this early in the semester so that you do not fall behind. There is an abundance of online supplemental material available for ongoing review of the material. There may also be ongoing weekly online review session (dependent on student participation in them) in the evenings that students can participate in to review retain materials. The day these reviews will be determined in conjunction with the class. These will be accomplished through WIMBA online class software supplied by the District. Students who have participated in these online reviews regularly had a consistently higher pass rate than those that did not take advantage of this resource. Course Schedule Weeks Topic/Unit Required Readings Aug 10 Sep - 3 weeks Assignments on the class web page Sep 3 weeks Assignments on class web page Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings of the US Government: the purpose of government Students will learn what the founders views were as to the purpose of government, the role of the citizen in the new Republic and the relevance of this view in modern times. How does the constitution provide the foundation of U.S. government? How the concept of checks and balances and separation of powers become integrated into the constitution and why? How does Madison s conception of checks and balances challenge popular understanding of Montesquieu s theory of separation of powers? Students will master the concepts of democratic theory, republicanism, pluralist theory, and majority rule. There will be an emphasis on vocabulary terms throughout each section to provide content mastery. Unit 2: Political Beliefs and Behaviors Students will learn how beliefs about government are formed, how they evolved, and the processes by which they are transmitted. Why US citizens hold certain beliefs and how families, schools, and the media often try to change these beliefs? Also, to recognize the multiple Norton: chap 1,2, & 3 Vocabulary listing Other readings: The Constitution of the United States: The Declaration of Independence: The Federalist Papers Framing the Constitution. Roche and Beard, pages 10-40 Online reading John Locke Second Treaties of Government pages 4-9 - online Federalist Papers # 47, 48, and 51 pages 41-44 - online McCullock v Maryland and Gibbons v Ogden - online Norton: chapters 6 and 9 Voting Behavior Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory - online Page 3 of 6
Weeks Topic/Unit Required Readings Oct 2 weeks Assignment given on the class web page Oct - Nov 4 weeks Assignments sheet given on the class web page Nov 2 weeks Unit 5 assignments on class web page ways in which political participation occurs, including voting, protest, and mass movement. Students should understand both why individuals engage in these activities and their participation affects the political system. Finally, the students view on the political process, the demographics of the American population and there behavior systems held by different minority and ethnic groups Unit 3: Political parties, Interest groups and the mass media: Students will learn how people group themselves into political parties and how ideologies are reflected in party history, growth and development. Students will learn how external forces such as lobbyist, PACS and voter blocks impact changes inside the parties and why. Students will also examine the expansion of media and it impact on voters, public opinion and elections. Unit 4: The Institutions of National Government and Policy Process: The Congress, Presidency, Bureaucracy, Federal Courts. Students will learn the three branches of the Federal government, how they perform separate and apart. Students will also learn how they perform and interact, each with its own powers to impact the other and each limitation on the other. Students will learn the specific role each plays on the government as the whole and its interaction with the people, media and other outside influences. Unit 5: Civil Rights and Liberties Students will learn the development of individual rights and liberties and their impact on citizens. Students will read and examine judicial interpretations of various civil rights and liberties decision. Expansion and contractions of the basic rights amendments. Also, FRQ s Dependent on topic Norton: Chaps 7,8,10,and 11 Various articles related to the 2012 elections Divided We Govern Federalist #10 - online Perspectives on American Political Parties -online Interest groups and the American Political System Misplaced Obsession with PACS - online Norton: Chap. 12, 13, 14, and 15 Presidential Powers, Presidential Paradoxes, and Presidential Character. -online Constitutional Democracy and Democratic Powers Speech of the Electors of Bristol - online Marbury vs. Madison online Federalist Papers # 51 - online Norton: Chap: 4 and 5 Gideon vs. Wainwright, online Plessey vs. Ferguson, - online Brown vs. The Board, - online Engel v. Vitale - online Page 4 of 6
Weeks Topic/Unit Required Readings the 14 th amendment in expansion of civil rights and liberties. Students reading of cases will show how the Supreme Court decisions affect legislation and public policies. and Roe v Wade and other cases Federalist # 78 - online Nov Dec 3 weeks Unit 6 assignments on Class Web page Thanksgiving Holiday Unit 6: Public Policy Students will learn how public policy comes about from institutions of government and the people. Student will learn how each branch plays a role and impacts on each other to create domestic and foreign policy. Also, how through federalism, interest groups, political parties and elections such policies are made and acted on Norton Chap. 16, 17, 18, and 19 Jan to May REVIEW FOR THE AP EXAM There will be online interactive review sessions held regularly throughout the 2 nd semester and numerous additional review session in April to prepare for the National Exam AP EXAM: May 10 th, 2018 8 am Text: 1. We the People 11th edition, Ginsberg, Lowi, Weir, Tolbert, W. W. Norton & Company. 2017 2. Other outside readings that may include articles from national papers such as the Washington Post, New York Times, and local papers, periodicals relevant to current events and political thought such as The Economist, New Republic, Roll Call, The Hill, Congressional Quarterly, National Journal, and National Standard as well as others that require students to analyze political data, cartoons, graphs and polls. 3. Multimedia: a. Skype for Business online interactive review b. Various digital media (current and legacy) videos (classroom and online) c. Political programming as provided with channels CNN, MSNBC, FOX, BBC, and NPR d. Inauguration and State of Union Address are possible outside viewing. These materials will be supplied on the class web page. e. Numerous primary documents which will be supplied on the class web page f. Websites for national institutions such as Congress, DNC, GOP, will also be used. See attached/links on the class web page. 4. Websites for national institutions such as Congress, DNC, GOP, will also be used. Teacher Contact: I am readily accessible by email before and after classes. This is the most efficient manner to contact me and I frequently check email while at home or during non-class periods. If you have any questions or issues concerning class or the material, email me. Mr. Sarver Page 5 of 6
Addendum AP Gov t-politics/microeconomics/macroeconomics Syllabus In an effort to enhance retention of material for the AP Exams which take place in May, the following procedures will be implemented in this year s classes. In class quizzes will be a regular ongoing additional aspect of class. The quizzes will be administered in the manner listed below: All of the quizzes will come directly from the assigned textbook chapter, which we will be studying throughout the year. Each quiz will be no longer than 10 questions and administered in class for the first 10 minutes of class only. Each question counting three points each. Handwritten notes that students have themselves personally taken either through reading or our coverage of class materials, can be utilized on the quizzes. No electronic notes, handwritten notes only. For each chapter covered, it is anticipated that there will be three (3) in class quizzes. These class quizzes will be in addition to the other online class assignments, readings, tests that will be assigned during the course of the semester. Extra Credit for in class quizzes: Students will receive their graded answer sheets for each in class quiz taken within two days of taking the quiz. Solely at the discretion of the student, within one week of receiving their graded quiz, students can come to class during the first fifteen minutes (15) of power hour, to take an extra credit quiz, to compensate for the scores received on the in class quiz. o These extra credit quizzes will be of the same type as the other ones taken. With different questions but all material will come from the text. These extra credit quizzes will have a total value of 15 points or ½ of the original in class quiz taken. The purpose of these in class quizzes and extra credit (extra credit initiated solely at the initiative of the students, within the time frames stated above) are to attempt to get students to read and comprehend the textual information, provide a better retention and understanding of the information discussed in class, and improve scores on the National Exam, administered in May. Page 6 of 6