Course Syllabus

2011 - 2012, Government Honors, Course Syllabus
Robert E. Lee High School
Instructor: Perry Walthour
Email: walthourp@duvalschools.org
Website: http://leehonorsgov.blogspot.com/
Phone: 904-381-3930 Ext. 157
Cell: 904-504-5490

PURPOSE:
The purpose of the course of instruction is to provide students with a thorough understanding of the development and functioning of the government of the United States. This will be accomplished through a variety of means reading, formal assessment, critical thinking, group and Socratic discussion, with an emphasis on applying/understanding government and its functions to the student through real world examples. Students will be challenged and it is expected that they also be mentally challenging in class.

TEXT:
Maguder’s American Government. 2004. Prentice Hall.
Numerous supplemental reading and analytical assignments will be given, all available through the class blog spot. Please use the class blog spot as the class assignments, as well as important supplemental information will be posted. http://leehonorsgov.blogspot.com/

COURSE OVERVIEW:
Month Chapters of Book Content Summary (Major content areas)
August
Government and its purpose; classifying forms of government; basic concepts of
democracy; political beginnings of the U.S.; establishing a constitution; changing the
Constitution; division of power within a federal system of government
September 5-9
Political parties; two party system in the U.S.; voting, suffrage; civil rights; nominations
and elections; formation and measurement of public opinion; role of mass media;
interest groups; rights and responsibilities of citizenship
October
(2 Weeks) 10-12 Members of legislative branch; powers of the legislative branch;
Organization of Congress
October
(2 weeks) 13-17 Executive branch; powers of the president; bureaucracy of the federal government;
financing government; foreign policy; national defense
November
(2 weeks) 18-21 Federal court system; civil liberties
November
(1 week) 22-23 Comparative political systems (Great Britain, China, Russia, Mexico, and Japan);
comparative economic systems (capitalism, socialism, and communism)
November –
State and local governments

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Extensive use of our class web page and resources contained within it will be utilized. Students and parents should become familiar with the content and materials contained within these pages:

There will be an emphasis on critical thinking and discussion of differing perspectives, wherein students will analyze and evaluate the text, varying interactive/visual material and issues connected with American Government. Quizzes, documents, and the majority of homework assignments, occasional tests, and numerous additional resources that will be utilized in class, through a variety of techniques.


COURSE EXPECTATIONS:
First and foremost students are expected to be inquisitive, challenging, and engaged. Students should not complete this semester with a mere familiarity of American Government, but an understanding of American Governments functioning, along with a knowledge that there is much more to be explored beyond what was presented. Overall, students in class are expected to adhere to three common sense rules:
1. Know where you are going
2. Get there on time
3. Act Right and Listen when you get there.
Additionally, late work is not accepted unless preceded by an excused absence. (Stu Students are also expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct of Duval County Public Schools. I will be inquisitive, challenging, and engaged at all times and expect the same from students.

COURSE ACTIVITIES SUMMARY:
Throughout the course of the semester, there will be a variety of assignments. Assignments can mainly be categorized into the following broad areas:
Reading (for understanding and application – text and additional assigned readings)
Group work/Socratic Discussion groups
Debates
Homework
Unit Tests (formal assessment and alternative assessments, 1 per Unit)
Student presentation of material
Class Participation
There will be a variety of assignments throughout the semester, all geared towards the outcome of challenging students and having them engaged in and outside of class. These activities may be modified dependent on overall class preparedness to discuss and evaluate material being covered.

GRADING:
Grades are determined on a total point scale throughout the semester. Each assignment will have a set point value applied to it. The amount of points that a student attains on assignments (cumulatively) throughout the semester will be divided by the total possible points at that time, which provides the percentage average. Grades will be posted on Oncourse a minimum of twice biweekly but often times more frequently than that. Grades will fall within the following categories, Homework, chapter quizzes, class participation, Unit testing.

PLAIGARISM/CHEATING:
Cheating, copying, or plagiarizing from work done by anyone else WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Any student involved in such activity, (either providing information or receiving information) will receive a zero for that assignment. Unless specified, all assignments are to be completed individually. Examples of behaviors which will be considered (but not limited to) cheating/plagiarizing are, talking during any test or quiz (whether you have or have not completed
the test/quiz), providing or receiving other students work and passing it in as your own, plagiarizing essays and papers (either one sentence, one paragraph or entire essay). Students are expected to cite references/sources and papers will be reviewed as needed to check for plagiarism/cheating. Additional information will be provided regarding paper submissions and plagiarism
checks.

CONTACTING THE TEACHER:
Please feel free to contact me any day before 8pm. Parents and students may contact me using any of the contacts listed at the beginning of the syllabus. I am also in room 157 annex after school most days until 3:30. Please feel free to stop by for extra help.
I will look forward to a great year!

Mr. Walthour