American Government 1-2
COURSE OUTLINE
Turning Point School
Winter/Spring 2017
Mr. Papke (eMail: [email protected])
Textbook: Magruder’s American Government. The text will be used as a reference for main ideas, key
terms, and primary source readings.
Welcome to American Government! The purpose of this class is to learn about the structure of the
United States government, the democratic process, and the issues surrounding us as citizens. To meet
this objective we will primarily be using the Magruder’s American Government text, which explores the
structure and function of American government and the Constitution.
American Government is a two-semester required course for students in the Washoe County School
District. The course goal is for students to develop the civic knowledge necessary for becoming active
participants as citizens. Achievement of this goal prepares students to participate as informed citizens
through voting, serving on a jury, holding political office, and deliberating public policy.
In this course, students broaden knowledge and critical-thinking skills learned and developed previously
and deepen their understanding of the origin, structure, and function of government at all levels.
Content focuses on intellectual, political, and economic factors that influenced the development of a
republic based on rule of law, freedom of opportunity, individual liberty, and representative
government. Democratic principles that served as a foundation for the development of our nation are
embedded in a detailed study of the Constitution of the United States, a key component of the course.
Topics featured include: founding philosophies and documents with emphasis on the U.S. Constitution;
separation of powers; federalism; civil rights and liberties; civic responsibility; and the American political
process highlighting the role of media and the press in today’s globally interdependent community.
Students will explore how the U.S. Constitution provides a flexible framework for a dynamic democratic
form of government. Students will explore how an informed American citizenry exercises civil rights and
liberties and participates in the political process
Through the years, American Government classes have evolved into courses that not only study the
origins and philosophy of our nation’s system of democracy, but also instruct and inform students about
political participation in such a system. Influences such as party politics, the media and interest groups
are discussed in addition to a traditional examination of the branches of the federal system of
government. Finally, a discussion of the growth and protection of civil liberties over the course of our
nation’s history are covered, enabling students to become a literate citizenry capable of making
informed decisions in, and for, the future.
In conjunction with the government content of this course, an emphasis will be placed on developing
college and career readiness. This will be accomplished by promoting the following Habits of Mind for
success: 1) building intellectual perseverance, the persistent pursuit of knowledge, by promoting the
value of a strong work ethic and cultivating sustained effort through repeated practice, 2) developing
metacognition by encouraging thinking about the quality of one’s own and others’ thought processes,
practicing intellectual humility, and becoming comfortable with the discomfort of ambiguity, and 3)
creating intellectual curiosity by fostering a desire to know and requiring inquiry, investigation, and
rigorous engagement.
In order to be successful in college and post-secondary work, students must attain certain literacy skills.
The literacy skills that will be emphasized during this course will be: 1) describing using disciplinespecific academic language, 2) summarizing by distinguishing the main idea from supporting detail, 3)
relating/applying the appropriate tools/processes to new situations, 4) comparing and contrasting in
order to support inferences and draw conclusions, 5) combining ideas in order to develop new insights,
and 6) justifying according to a set of standards or criteria.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course students should be able to:
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…explain the principles and laws upon which the U.S. government is based.
…explain sources of power and authority of the United States government.
…explain how citizenship is defined, established, and exercised, and how it has changed.
…explain the role and influence of political processes and organizations.
…explain the basic concepts of democratic thought.
…explain the formation, concepts, and components of the United States Constitution.
…explain the organization and purpose of the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.
…explain the concepts of civil rights and civil liberties and their impact on American society.
…explain and cite examples of direct democracy in state and local government.
COURSE METHODOLOGY
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This is an inquiry-based course. Students will generate knowledge through readings,
synchronous and asynchronous discussions, interaction with online resources, media presentations,
online and hands-on simulations and activities, analysis through writing, and projects and presentations.
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The instructor will act as a guide, a facilitator, a planner, a resource, and an advisor. Ultimately,
all learning is the responsibility of the student.
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The student must actively construct and acquire knowledge by being intrinsically motivated to
succeed. To succeed, students must participate and complete all readings and activities. This course
requires the student’s regular and active participation.
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Both formal and informal assessment methods will be used in the course. Informal assessment
will include ongoing evaluation of the quality and timeliness of participation in class activities. Formal
assessment will include quizzes, tests, and written assignments. A final exam will be given at the end of
both terms.
RESOURCES
Schoology
Schoology is a web-based learning management system (LMS) which serves as a portal for online
resources and a framework for listing, engaging, and submitting class assignments. Students will be
given an access code that allows them to join the instructor’s class. Students may access Schoology at
any time to check and submit work; however, students will never be required to access the site other
than during scheduled on-campus class time.
Newsela
Newsela is an online resource designed to facilitate improvement of student skills in reading and writing.
It utilizes current events and primary historical documents. Students will be provided an access code for
the instructor’s class.
A+
A+ is WCSD’s online resource for credit accrual and credit recovery. It provides online modules for
American Government that includes material for study and embedded assessments. Students will be
assigned opportunities to engage this learning content on a regular basis during scheduled class time,
and the site may also be accessed outside of regular school hours via the Internet.
Media
Media sources (film, documentaries, television series, news broadcasts, etc.) are one of the most
powerful learning tools available. As such, and when appropriate, media will be utilized in order to
provide pathways to understanding that are not easily accessed by print material alone. Dramatic
interpretation, storytelling, and archival material (including selected PBS documentaries) have the ability
bring the American experience to life like nothing else. Selections from the following list of commercial
movies and documentaries may be utilized during the course:
Films:
Philadelphia (1993)
12 Angry Men (1957 / 1997)
The Pelican Brief (1993)
A Civil Action (1998)
Dave (1993)
All the King’s Men (1949)
The Social Network (2010)
Inherit the Wind (1960)
Documentaries:
Swing Vote (2008)
Unconstitutional (2004)
Clear and Present Danger (1994)
Unprecedented: The 2000 Election (2002)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Frontrunners (2008)
The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
Beyond Elections (2008)
The Rainmaker (1997)
The President’s Book of Secrets (2010)
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
There will be a variety of assignments throughout the course. These will be completed either individually
or in a collaborative group environment. These assignments include, but are not exclusive to,
quizzes/exams, chapter-based reading and writing, current events material, projects and/or
presentations, Schoology-based activities, Newsela activities, A+ modules, as well as participation in
class discussions and media engagement.
Grading
All grades will be on a point system and converted to a letter grade for reporting purposes.
A=91-100; B=81-90; C=71-80; D=60-70; F=59 and below.
Turning in Assignments
Most assignments must be submitted via Schoology as a digital attachment or electronic submission.
This means written work must be word-processed and other assignments (i.e. online presentations
and/or projects) must either be uploaded or linked with a URL.
Cheating, Copying, and Plagiarizing
Cheating, copying and plagiarizing are forms of dishonesty. Plagiarism: to use the words or ideas of
another person as if they were your own words or ideas. Changing one or two words from an Internet
source is still plagiarism. Review and process the information, then rewrite the information in your own
words. Students who plagiarize receive a failing grade for that assignment. If a student is found cheating,
copying, or plagiarizing material, no points will be awarded to any student involved.
Make-up Work
It is the student’s responsibility to make-up missed work. A student must ask about missed work when
the student returns to class. Also, you can refer to Schoology to find information on previous and
current assignments.
Extra Credit
Extra credit is not available. However, students may request an opportunity to resubmit work to
improve their grade, and students may always complete additional modules in A+.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Current Events and Topic Review
Offline Curriculum Engagement (including textbook material with individual/group work)
Media Presentation
Online Curriculum Engagement (including Schoology assignments and A+)
Literacy Component (including Schoology assignments and Newsela)
CALENDAR – TERM 1 (Turning Point 2016-17 Quarter 3)
Week 1 (January 9 to January 13)
Topic: Principles of Government
Textbook Chapter 1
Week 6 (February 13 to February 17)
Topic: Voters and Voter Behavior
Textbook Chapter 6
Week 2 (January 17 to January 20)
Topic: Origins of American Government
Textbook Chapter 2
Week 7 (February 21 to February 24)
Topic: The Electoral Process
Textbook Chapter 7
Week 3 (January 23 to January 27)
Topic: The Constitution
Textbook Chapter 3
Week 8 (February 27 to March 3)
Topic: Mass Media and Public Opinion
Textbook Chapter 8
Week 4 (January 30 to February 3)
Topic: Federalism
Textbook Chapter 4
Week 9 (March 6 to March 10)
Topic: Interest Groups
Textbook Chapter 9
Week 5 (February 6 to February 10)
Topic: Political Parties
Textbook Chapter 5
Week 10 (March 13 to March 17)
Topic: Prepare for Final Exam!!!
All Assignments Due by March 17!
CALENDAR – TERM 2 (Turning Point 2016-17 Quarter 4)
Week 1 (April 3 to April 7)
Topic: Congress
Textbook Chapter 10
Week 6 (May 8 to May 12)
Topic: The Federal Court System
Textbook Chapter 18
Week 2 (April 10 to April 14)
Topic: Power of Congress
Textbook Chapter 11
Week 7 (May 15 to May 19)
Topic: Civil Liberties: First Amendment Freedom
Textbook Chapter 19
Week 3 (April 17 to 21)
Topic: Congress in Action
Textbook Chapter 12
Week 8 (May 22 to May 26)
Topic: Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights
Textbook Chapter 20
Week 4 (April 24 to April 28)
Topic: The Presidency
Textbook Chapter 13
Week 9 (May 30 to June 2)
Topic: Civil Liberties: Equal Justice Under Law
Textbook Chapter 21
Week 5 (May 1 to May 5)
Topic: The Presidency in Action
Textbook Chapter 14
Week 10 (June 5 to June 9)
Topic: Prepare for Final Exam!!!
All Assignments Due by June 9!
“A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends
upon the character of the user.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
American Government 1-2
COURSE OUTLINE
Turning Point School
Winter/Spring 2017
Mr. Papke (eMail: [email protected])
Please return this Portion of the course outline to Mr. Papke. Keep the remainder for your reference.
Parental Media Permission and Consent
There will be scheduled and unscheduled times throughout the year when we will watch video
presentations regarding topics covered in the class, and/or news programs (news reports or
documentaries). All of the media content we will be watching would be considered traditionally
acceptable to show in any secondary class. Your signature below recognizes that your child has your
permission to watch all media content in this class. The media material we will watch is purely for
educational purposes. If there are questions please contact me.
“I have read and understand the course outline”
___________________________________________________ Date___________________
Student Signature
___________________________________________________ Date___________________
Parent/Guardian Signature