ADVANCED PLACEMENT
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
SYLLABUS
Fall 2015 Mrs. Bartow Room B112
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics course will give students an analytical perspective of government and politics in the United States. The main purpose is to help students gain and display a rigorous understanding of American politics and the processes of government that shape our political system. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. Politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that constitute U.S. Politics. We will examine and evaluate our institutions of government, how they work, those who run these institutions, the public policies made by these institutions, and the influence of these policies on the electorate. Due to the nature and content of the AP exam, the operations of state and local governments will be studied only through the impact they have on the national government and their place in the federal system. Likewise, foreign relations and military policy will be studied only through their place in the institutions of our government.
REQUIREMENTS:
This is a college-level course. There is extensive reading which must be completed in advance of the material covered in class. Students are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of all topics covered in the classroom. Nightly review is expected. There will be frequent assessments to test for understanding of readings, notes, and discussion. Because this is a college level course, students are expected to master concepts discussed in the text or in supplemental materials which may not be addressed in class because of time limitations. As a general guide, we will be covering about one chapter per week. It is imperative that students pay close attention as concepts are discussed in class. Class discussion and activities are geared toward explaining and clarifying the concepts that are the most essential for the AP test – a key to success in this course is TAKING NOTES.
TEXTBOOK AND READINGS:
Edwards, George C. III; Wattenberg, Martin P.; Lineberry, Robert L. Government in America.
Twelfth Edition. [AP Edition] Pearson Education, 2006. (cost $82.97) and accompanying study guide: Preparing for the United States Government and Politics AP Exam
($14.97)
There will be several supplemental readings which include historical government documents
(The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, etc.), critical
essays from a variety of media journals and political readers, and current news articles
from a variety of sources.
Purchase of an AP U.S. Government and Politics review guide (ex. Princeton, Barron’s, 5 Steps
to a 5, etc.) is recommended, but not required. I suggest you spend some time at a book
store looking through several publishers to find the format you like. Look for one with
good test questions at the end of each chapter. Some have a lot of text, others have a more
bullet-point format –choose one that best suits your study style. You may want to
purchase one online; a version that is a few years old will be cheaper and will work great.
MAJOR TOPIC AREAS:
% of Multiple Choice
questions on the AP Exam:
The six broad topic areas as defined by the College Board are:
I. Constitutional Underpinnings of U.S. Government 5 – 15 %
II. Political Beliefs and Behaviors 10 – 20 %
III. Political Parties, Interest Groups, Mass Media 10 – 20 %
IV. Institutions of National Government 35 – 45 %
V. Public Policy 5 - 15 %
VI. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 5 - 15 %
GRADING:
Your grade in this course will be based on the following weighted percentages:
Classroom assessments (notes, activities, terms, hwk, etc.) 15%
Quizzes 20%
Major Assessments (tests) 45%
Final Exam 20% (Objective portion 15%;
Essay portion 5%)
There will be FREQUENT quizzes over guided notes, readings, class discussion, and terms. Keep current and expect about 2-3 quizzes a week. The pacing chart for this course requires approximately one chapter per week - some tests will be over one chapter, others will combine chapters. Expect frequent tests. Tests will be multiple choice (always), and (frequently) free response. The College Board regulates AP classes. They require that tests be designed to approximate the types of questions that will be on the AP test in May. These questions are more in-depth than those in an honors or college prep class. Your assignments and class discussion are also in-depth and are designed to prepare you for the rigor of the tests.
As per GCPS policy, ten points will be added to your final grade at the end of the course.
LATE WORK AND MAKE-UP WORK:
Every student will be granted 3 late passes per semester which will allow classroom assessments (not quizzes!) to be turned in 24 hours late with no penalty. After these 3 passes are used, and/or
after 24 hours, late work will be accepted, but a penalty will be imposed according to NHS Social
Studies Dept. policy. Currently, this policy is 70% credit if turned in within one week of the
due date, and 50% credit if turned in after the first week, but within the current grading period.
I will let you know if this policy changes.
Make up work must be completed in a timely manner. Any work previously assigned will be due
on the day you return to school. If you are absent the day before a test or quiz you should plan and
expect to take it with the class. If you are absent the day of a quiz or test you will take it on the
day you return to school. See Mrs. Bartow to make arrangements if you have had an extended
absence. These tests or quizzes can be given before or after school or during class. If you make
up a quiz or test during class time, you are responsible for getting all information that was missed.
Unusual circumstances or extended absences will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
EXPECTATIONS:
You are expected to behave appropriately in this class. Please refer to the student handbook for
guidelines. Specifically I would like to emphasize:
1- BE AN ACTIVE LISTENER. Take notes all the time! Please participate in class discussion when appropriate, but try not to dominate. Doing work from another class, texting or playing games on phones, and sleeping are not acceptable!
2- HAVE AS FEW ABSENCES AS POSSIBLE! If you miss a day, you miss a lot!
3- ACADEMIC HONESTY. This is your life, your grade, your brain! You need to know this material. Copying another’s work gives you handwriting practice – You must learn this material. Tests are difficult if you haven’t done the work! You are taking the AP Test in May and you will be doing yourself a great disservice if you aren’t prepared. Be the best YOU can be! Cheating will be dealt with according to GCPS and NHS policies.
4- BE TOLERANT OF OTHERS. This is politics! We will discuss many controversial issues that don’t have easy or comfortable answers and it is almost a guarantee that someone in class will have a different opinion than yours. This is a lecture/discussion class and differing viewpoints will be treated with respect and tolerance. Diversity and compromise are the basis of our political system.
5- BE ON TIME! I do enforce the school tardy policy.
6- Bring all notes and your notebook to class every day. You will not be allowed to go to your locker. As a general rule, you may leave your book at home.
7- Be judicious in asking for restroom passes. Very infrequently is fine; very often is not. No passes to vending machines. No gum or food in class. Bottled drinks with caps are fine.
8- Cell phones are required to be turned off and out of sight during class.
9- **ABSOLUTELY NO TEXTING!!!!**
10- PLEASE OBSERVE THE SCHOOL DRESS CODE!
*The teacher reserves the right to change portions of the syllabus if necessary. Students will be notified of any changes before they are instituted.
PROGRESS REPORTS:
Grades will be posted frequently in the classroom for students, usually after tests. Students should access the student portal to check their grades on a regular basis. It is expected that parents use the GCPS Parent Portal to check on their student’s grades. I may be contacted by leaving a message at the NHS Main office 770-448-3674 or by email (preferred) Barbara_Bartow@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.
*Any student wishing to drop an AP course must follow the NHS AP Exit Request procedure.
**If a student in the Gifted Program scores a final grade of a 74 or below in any gifted level class he or she will be put on a plan of improvement and may be dropped from the Gifted Program.
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I have read and understand the syllabus for Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics.
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Updated Fall 2015
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