US HISTORY



|Teacher: Mrs. Kirby |

|Email: ekirby@ |

|Room: 326 |Phone: 348-5151 |

Course Description: This course will teach students to critically analyze US government and politics. Topics of instruction include:

• The Constitution and its role in the US historically and today

• Governmental organizations and its members, including linkage institutions

• How individuals and groups participate in and their beliefs regarding the government

• The creation and implementation of public policy in the US

• The evolution of individual rights and liberties in the US

Classroom Policies and Procedures

In addition to all school rules, the following rules will be in place in this class.

Respect- It is my hope to give you and your classmates a great deal of freedom to express your ideas, opinions, concerns, and allow you to engage in civil discourse. However, with freedom comes responsibility - If you are to be treated as adults you must behave as adults. PRIDE-CLASS-DIGNITY!

• Respect includes not infringing on other students’ right to learn and be in an environment conducive to learning. This includes not bringing cell phones and similar devices to class. Doing so will result in their confiscation.

• Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly.

Attendance- You are expected to attend class daily and make up any work missed from an occasional absence. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and make-up all missed work.. I will keep eChalk updated to help you in this task. You must have a pass to be admitted to class late.

Work Load- This class is a college level class and has the corresponding workload. You will have homework EVERY NIGHT! There is a strong focus on reading, writing, speaking, note-taking, research, reasoning and higher order thinking in this class. As a class, we will compete in the We the People Competition. This competition and the related assignments will have significant influence on your course grade.

Late Assignments- Homework is due at the beginning of class. All late work will lose 10% the first week and 20% the second week. Some assignments, such as We the People assignments, will not be accepted late for credit. No late work will be accepted for credit after two week.

AP EXAM- May 8, 2011 @ 8 am. - Scoring well on the AP exam could earn you college credit. Please check with perspective schools to determine the score they require for credit. Every student is expected to take the AP exam.

No Food and Drink (except water) or gum is allowed in this classroom.

Materials- You need to come to class prepared to learn. You should have paper and pencil/pen at the bare minimum. You will also need something to keep class notes and handouts organized. It is also highly recommended you bring a planner or something similar to record homework assignments.

Passes-You have three passes to use for the semester. You must have one of these passes in order to use the restroom or go to your locker and may only do so at the teacher’s discretion. Improper use of a bathroom pass will result in loss of pass privileges and possible disciplinary action.

Teacher Assistance- I am available during access, before school, after school, by appointment, or via email if you have questions or concerns. The only dumb questions are the ones that go unasked. I strongly encourage you to seek assistance at the first sign of confusion or trouble… do not wait too long!

|Homework &Classwork |30% |Tests/Quizzes |35% |We the People |35% |

Grading- It is your responsibility to check your grades on a regular basis. Please see me if you have questions or concerns about your grade in the class or on an assignment. The semester grade is determined by the percent average of all grades in each category. Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated! Unoriginal work will not receive credit.

90-100= A; 80-89= B; 70-79= C; 60-69=D, 59 and below = F.

Test Policy: All unit tests taken in this class will be graded in accordance with College Board procedures. Anyone scoring below a C (70%) will receive a ZERO in the grade book until corrections are completed. Corrections may be completed for two weeks following the test for a grade of up to 70%.

AP Contract: All AP students are required to sign and abide by the AP Contract created by the District and School.

Out of Class Meetings: This class does require out of class meeting times for We the People preparation and AP test review sessions. Some of these meetings will be mandatory and some will be optional. These meetings will be scheduled at the times which work best for the majority of the class.

Advice: Do not get behind. If you have a light homework night, read ahead. Be an active reader and review often. Do not procrastinate! Have fun with the readings and topics. Government is fun if you regularly always ask yourself why and what if…. Success is easy to attain in this class if you try. It is expected you come to class ready to learn and prepared to productively participate. You will get out of this class whatever you put in- Everything is a choice… you choose how you will behave, perform, and enjoy this class.

Welcome AP Government; let’s have a wonderful year!

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