AP Government

AP US Government and Politics

P. Woods

Syllabus

Course Description: The U.S. Government and Politics course is one-semester college level course providing students with learning experience equivalent to that obtained  in most college introductory American Government courses. The course is designed to give students a critical perspective on politics and government.  Students are exposed to an in-death approach to the organizational components of the institutions of government as well as the application of how government works in relation to achieving public policy goals. Reading daily newspapers, such as New York Times or the Wall Street Journal including editorials, a weekly newsmagazine such as Time or Newsweek and watching televised political discussions are as important as any text book supplemental reading on U.S. Government and Politics. At the conclusion of the course, students will have the opportunity to take the advanced Placement Exam for possible college credit.

1. Survey Text: You are responsible for reading and studying the survey text by Schmidt, Shelly. You will be given a calendar at the beginning of each unit to assist in understanding the text materials and to follow the schedule for reading and daily activities as well as test dates.
2. Supplemental Reader: Reading and Cases in American Government,15^th edited

Edited by Peter Woll

Requirements:

1.      Reading: In order for students to be successful in a collage level course, it is essential that students maximize their time through proper organization and time management strategies and complete all assigned reading prior to class. The required reading, along with lectures and class discussion, will figure prominently in your formal evaluation on quizzes, examinations, and essays.

2.      Group Work: For the purpose of presentations over the assigned readings from Woll reader, students will be placed into groups. Groups work for the presentations is a course requirement and it is expected that all students will contribute to the group effort.

3.      Research: Students will within groups be required to do some research.

4.      Examinations: Formal evaluations may consists of two days worth of testing which will consist of a 60 question multiple choice test(one day), and at least one essay(one day). The students should be prepared each unit for the possibility of taking the test over two days.

5.      Quizzes: Students will be evaluated over the assigned reading material from the text. These evaluations will consist of 10 to 25 multiple choice questions.

6.      Grading Policies and Procedure: All of the unit examinations will constitute 25% of each six week grade. Presentations, class discussions, homework, current events and other daily work will constitute 40 % of the six weeks’ grade. Special Projects will constitute 20% of six week's grade.Six week's test grade will constitue 15% of six week's grade

7.      Make up Policy: It is the responsibility of the student to check with teacher to find out what was missed during absences. Retake on any major test must be taken within 5 school days of the failing grade received or no later than 10 days of the date of the test.

8.      Tutoring: Tutoring for AP Government is offered 4:15-5:00 Monday-Friday.

9.      Class Behavior: Students are expected to have appropriate behavior. B.T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts’s discipline, attendance and tardy policies will be strictly enforced.

10.  Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty includes creating or copying of work of another student, plagiarism, and the unauthorized communication between students during examination. The determination that a student has been engaged in dishonesty shall be based on the judgment of the classroom teacher or other supervising professional employee, taking into consideration written materials, observation, or information from students. Students found to have engaged in academic dishonesty shall be subject to disciplinary penalties as well as academic penalties.

Summer Assignments (DOC 36 KB)
Summer Assignments

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