AP US GOVERNMENT
Mr Rooney

8/23 Welcome Back! The Summer Assignment Test is scheduled for Friday, the week we start school.

Welcome letter distributed.

Document Acknowledgement Forms are due tomorrow, 8/24


PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: Students are given a study guide for each chapter. On the study guide is a reading schedule that the students need to follow. Study guides need to be completed and turned in the day of the test on that chapter. Watch for updates as to when Study Guides are available. Chapter 1 & 2 Study Guides are available. Ch 1 must be completed by Aug 30.

NEWSFLASH!!!! Follow me on TWITTER! I have set up a Twitter account to let parents and students know about what's going on in class. Simply go to www.Twitter.com and type in my name JRooneyatLHS. You can  even have your notifications delivered to your phone.

A chance for extra credit!!!!! Because of the budget crisis, the school district is limiting the paper teachers have available to make copies. Students can earn 10 points on their Current Events Scrapbook Assignment by bringing in a ream of paper. Students can earn this extra credit once each quarter this school year.

Course Syllabus:

AP US GOVERNMENT

Mr Rooney

Syllabus

Class Website: http://.new.schoolnotes.com

My Email Address: jrooney@pgcps.org

Assignment Email Address: apgovlaurelhs@yahoo.com

Course Overview: The Advance Placement Program is intended for qualified students who wish to complete studies in secondary school equivalent to a one semester, introductory level college course in American Government and Politics. The course is designed to give students a critical perspective on politics and government in the United States. The course involves both the study of general concepts and the analysis of specific case studies. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that make up the American political reality.

            The course is designed to prepare students to earn college credit through the taking of the Advanced Placement Exam in Government and Politics. The County requires all students enrolled in AP Government to take the AP Exam at county expense. The course is also designed to prepare those sophomores who are taking the course for the Maryland High School Assessment Exam in Local, State and National Government. This exam is mandatory for sophomores and passing it is a graduation requirement.

Methodology: The course will be conducted using a variety of instructional method: lecture/discussion; simulations; cooperative learning activities and independent research. All students are responsible for reading assignments before coming to class so that they may participate. Students will be expected to read the newspaper and watch TV news and political discussion programs in order to keep abreast of current events. Please note that in college level courses students are expected to extend their learning beyond the classroom. Therefore, you will be responsible for material covered in the text or in assigned supplemental readings even if the topic was not brought up in class.

Textbooks:

            Wilson, James Q and DiLulio, John. Government in America, 9^th Ed.

            Lasser, William, Ed. Perspectives on American Politics, 4^th Ed.

            Other texts and articles as determined by the instructor.

You are expected to bring your books to class every day unless otherwise instructed. Failure to do so will result in deductions from your participation grade.

Units of Study: The numbers on parentheses nest to the unit title indicates approximately what percentage of the AP exam will come from this unit. Chapters from the Wilson text that correspond to the unit are in brackets.

I.                    Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government (5-15%) [Wilson, Chs 1-3]

A.     Considerations that influenced the adoption of the Constitution

B.     Separation of Powers

C.     Federalism

D.     Theories of Democratic Government

II.                 Political Beliefs and Behaviors (10-20%) [Wilson, Chs 4-6]

A.     Beliefs that citizens hold about government and its leaders

B.     Processes by which citizens learn about politics

C.     The nature, sources and consequences of public opinion

D.     Voting and other methods of political participation

E.      Factors that influence citizens to differ from one another in terms of political beliefs and behaviors

III.               Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media (10-20%) [Wilson, Chs 7-10]

A.     Political Parties and Elections

1.      Functions

2.      Organizations

3.      Development

4.      Effects on the political process

5.      Electoral laws and systems

B.     Interest Groups and PACs

1.      The range of interests represented

2.      Activities of interest groups

3.      The effects of interest groups on the political process

4.      The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process

C.     The Mass Media

1.      Functions and structure of the media

2.      Impact of the media on politics

IV.              Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy and the Federal Courts 935-45%) [Wilson, Chs 11-14]

A.     The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power

B.     Relationships among these four institutions and varying balances of power

C.     Linkages between institutions and the following:

1.      Public opinion

2.      Interest groups

3.      Political Parties

4.      The Media

5.      State and Local Governments

V.                 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (5-15%) [Wilson, Chs 18, 19, 22]

A.     The development of Civil Rights and Liberties by Judicial Interpretation

B.     Knowledge of Substantive rights and liberties

C.     The impact of the 14^th Amendment on the constitutional development of rights and liberties

VI.              Public Policy (5-15%) [Wilson, Chs 15-17 & 20]

A.     Policy making in the Federal System

B.     The formation of political agendas

C.     The role of institutions in the enactment of policy

D.     The role of the bureaucracy and the courts in policy implementation and interpretation

E.      Linkages between policy processes and the following:

1.      Political institutions and federalism

2.      Political parties

3.      Interest groups

4.      Public opinion

5.      Elections

6.      Policy networks

VII.            State and Local Government (HSA  Exam only) [Supplemental readings to be supplied by the instructor]

Grading: Since AP Government is intended to be the equivalent of a college level course, the grading standards are necessarily rigorous. In addition, the only way to prepare students to meet the challenges of an AP Exam is to make the same kind of demands on them in the classroom. Your instructor has been trained to assess your work using the same criteria used by AP Exam graders. The last page of the syllabus has a set of charts to help you understand how FRQ questions will be graded.

Students grades will be based on the following categories:

Tests, Quizzes and other Assessments – 55%

Classwork – 15 %

Homework – 15 %

Participation-15%

Partcipation: A key aspect of the instructional methodology of this course is that we learn about politics by talking about politics. Consequently, participation is given significant weight  in the grading factors. While evaluation of participation is necessarily subjective in nature, the following is intended to help you understand how the grade will be determined.

You will be assigned a participation grade based on your participation in class for each week. The quantity and quality of your participation are positive factors in assigning a participation grade. Disruptive or off task behavior (like sleeping) will obviously be negative factors in determining the participation grade. Attendance, or lack thereof, will obviously affect your grade as well.

Attendance: Good attendance in an AP course is essential. The class will cover far more material than the average high school course, so students can fall hopelessly behind  if they do not attend class every day. In addition, class participation is considered an essential part of the learning experience. If  you are not in class you cannot learn from your classmates and your classmates cannot learn from you. Consequently, if you have two (2)  unexcused absences over the course of the quarter, your participation grade will be reduced by 50%. If you have one more unexcused absence, you will receive a zero (0) for your attendance grade. Two (2) unexcused tardies equals one (1) unexcused absence.

In addition, since if you aren’t in class, you can’t participate, your participation grade will also be reduced significantly.

Assignments: One of the goals of this course is to provide you with a “college experience.” Part of that college experience is facing and meeting deadlines. It is your responsibility to manage your time in such a manner so that you can turn in all assignments on a timely basis. College professors rarely allow students to turn in late work. Therefore the policy in AP Government is that late work will not be accepted.

Written Assignments: Unless directions on a specific assignment are to the contrary, all written assignments done outside of class are to be typed, double spaced, in 12 point type. Margins are to be one inch on all sides. Papers that fail to follow these formatting directions will not be graded.

Academic Dishonesty:  Academic Dishonesty is any attempt, however small, to pass off someone else’s work as your own. It is treated very seriously in college. At a minimum, college students caught cheating get zeros on the assignment. However, offences of academic dishonesty can, and often do, result in expulsion from college. Therefore, any instance of plagiarism in this class will be dealt with seriously. You will receive a zero on an assignment and an administrative referral. If you have any doubts about what is, or isn’t,  academic dishonesty, please see me.

Tests, Quizzes and Other Assessments:  The dates for tests, regularly scheduled readings quizzes and in class free response timed writings will be announced in class and posted on this webpage. The instructor reserves the right to give unannounced pop quizzes at any time. Quality participation by the class as a whole will convince me that there is little need to give such quizzes. Keep in mind that tests and quizzes may, and probably will, contain material that was in assigned readings but not discussed directly in class. In addition, since the units of study are interconnected, it is expected that you will be familiar with material from prior units/chapters when you are tested on subsequent units/chapters.

Missed Tests and Quizzes: You are only allowed to make up missed tests/quizzes if the reason for your absence is considered excused under County policy. A “family emergency,” without further explanation, is not an excused absence. It is not my responsibility to contact your parents for further explanation about the nature of such emergencies. Likewise, “college visits” are not excused absences.  However, if you know ahead of time that you are going to be out the day when a test or quiz is scheduled, you may be able to make it up if you clear it with me in advance. While I will be as accommodating as I can, it is in the instructor’s sole discretion to make exceptions to the County’s policy. Missed tests and quizzes can only be made up before and after school. It is your responsibility to schedule a time with the instructor to make up missed tests or quizzes.

Assignment Calendars: Refer to my schoolnotes webpage for updates on assignments and due dates. Listed Below are the first important due dates.

Summer Assignment: Due first day of class, 8/24.

Document Acknolwegement Forms: Tuesday, 8/25

Summer Assignment Test: Friday 8/28

Chapt 1 Test: Friday, Sept 4.

Current Events Scrapbook

Each student must keep a looseleaf notebook in addition to their regular notebook in which they will keep a file of press clippings from news articles they have read. Students must collect two articles from each on the topics listed below and write a brief summary of the article using the attached format

• Collect news articles that discuss US policy, political events, policy formulation, political action or any subject we discuss in regard to the issue topics listed below.
• Purchase a looseleaf notebook and divide it into the following sections:

a) Taxes

b) Health Care

c) Economy

d) Gun Control

e) Campaign Financing

f) Federal Budget / Government Spending

g) Social Security

h) Military Spending

i) Interest Groups and PACS

j) Foreign Policy

k) Environment

l) Elections

l) Political Party Support and Actions

• Collect one article from each topic, from the New York Times, Newsweek or other qualified publication. You may use internet versions of the newspapers or other internet news services (Eg CNN) You may not photocopy articles.
• Neatly paste, tape or insert into a clear plastic insert each article. On the back, include a summary sheet with the following information:

o        Publication

o        Date

o        Author

o        Page Number

o        Topic

o        Brief Summary - Make sure you discuss the relevance to American politics.

• Categorize your clippings into each section. Articles within each section should be in chronological order.
• I will collect the scrapbook once each quarter. It will count 150 points in the Test /Assessment category (roughly 1 ½ of a Test grade)

Clippings File Cover Sheet

Name _________________________________________________

Instructions: Place this sheet as the front page of your clippings file. As you place an article in the file note the date of the article and the date you placed it in the file. The last column is reserved for instructor use

AP US GOVERNMENT

Mr Rooney
  The purpose of this assignment is to begin to encourage you to THINK about government, society and its relation to the media.  The media, sometimes referred to as the fourth branch of government, is extensive in American society in reporting the news.  It was present during the impeachment and trial of President Clinton, at the Columbine school shootings, the wars in the Afghanistan and Iraq, the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks and other conflicts throughout the world.  Some say its presence has been a godsend while others believe it has been a curse.  An examination of this relationship can be worthwhile to determine the extent of its development within our democratic system. 

      You are required to begin & maintain a media analysis journal on a  weekly news program.  The journal entries are to be put in a separate section of your assignment portfolio   Each week you should view one of the programs listed below & write a one-two page entry that: 

1) analyzes the content of each program, the viewpoint expressed or taken by each &

2) write a short personal reaction to each.  The focus of the writing should be on the analysis of the content & the show’s viewpoint & not your personal reaction. 

Format & Structure:  You are to view & record four per quarter.  Tape & watch a program later if you must.  Please follow the following format & structure and place in your assignment portfolio.  Each entry should be type d or written in blue/black ink (no pencil) & include the following: 

                - begin each entry at the top of a new page (you may write on the back side of a

                  of a page with an earlier entry so long as you can start at the top of that  page for the next entry)

                - list the week of the entry [eg, August 19-25]

                - the name of the program (Meet The Press) & the viewing channel

                  (NBC)

                - the day, date & time (Monday, 19 August, 8:00-8:30 pm)

                - skip a line in your notebook

                - record the analysis of the content &/or its viewpoint

                - skip a line in your notebook

                - write a short personal reaction to the program

                - begin a new entry of a program at the top of a new page & follow the same

                  format

                - remember, each entry should be one-two pages in length

The weekly entries will continue for the quarter and will be reviewed when the assignment portfolio is collected near the end of the quarter. 

Viewing Programs: The following programs may be viewed to fulfill this assignment. At least one of the entries every month must be one of the Sunday Political Analysis shows: 

                - NBC Nightly News, 6-6:30 pm, Monday-Friday

                - ABC News Tonight, 6-6:30 pm, Monday-Friday

                - CBS Evening News, 6-6:30 pm, Monday-Friday

                - Meet the Press.  9:00-10:00 am, Sunday, NBC.

                - This Week.  10:00-11:00 am, Sunday, ABC.

-         Face the Nation.  8:00-9:00 am, Sunday, CBS.

-         Other programs as cleared by me in advance.

The Media Watch will count  for 40 points (10 points per entry) in the Tests/Assessments category.

  Locate political cartoons from any newspaper or news magazine or other source.  Use the instruction worksheet to analyze what the cartoonist is trying to to say and how you feel about the message.

    You will need to analyze 6 political cartoons per quarter.  These and the worksheet will be placed in your Assignment Portfolio, along with the Media Watch and Political Cartoon Analysis and Current Events Scrapbook.

The Cartoon Analysis counts as 60 points in the Test/Assessment category

DOCUMENT ACKNOWLEGEMENT FORM

I hereby acknowledge that I have seen a copy of the following documents for AP US GOVERNMENT, and that I am fully aware of the contents within:

Syllabus;  Political Cartoon , Media Watch and Current Events Scrapbook Assignments.

_________________________________________

(Print Student Name)

_________________________________________

(Student Signature)

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(Print Parent Name)                                      

_________________________________________

(Parent Phone Number)

_________________________________________

(Parent E-mail Address)

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Parent Signature