Course Description:
American Government
God gave human government for the purpose of protecting life and property. James Madison in the Federalist Papers said, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary, and if government were made up of angels no limits on its power would be necessary.”
This course is designed to show how his statement helped to shape the U.S. Constitution. Our aim is to facilitate each student’s understanding of the political development of the United States.
This class will provide students with the skills they need in order to take on the responsibilities of citizenship (or residency) and to participate in the political processes of the United States. Students will be encouraged to become informed and active United States citizens. This is a great challenge. As John Adams observed in 1787, “The people in America now have the best opportunity and the greatest trust in their hands, that God ever committed to so small a number, since the transgression of the first pair; if they betray their trust, their guilt will merit even greater punishment than other nations have suffered, and the indignation of Heaven.
Semester One:
• God’s Purpose for the Institution of Government
• Christian Beginnings in America & The Meaning of Democracy
• The Constitutional Convention
• Constitutional Cornerstones
• The Party System & Campaigns and Elections
God gave human government for the purpose of protecting life and property. James Madison in the Federalist Papers said, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary, and if government were made up of angels no limits on its power would be necessary.”
This course is designed to show how his statement helped to shape the U.S. Constitution. Our aim is to facilitate each student’s understanding of the political development of the United States.
This class will provide students with the skills they need in order to take on the responsibilities of citizenship (or residency) and to participate in the political processes of the United States. Students will be encouraged to become informed and active United States citizens. This is a great challenge. As John Adams observed in 1787, “The people in America now have the best opportunity and the greatest trust in their hands, that God ever committed to so small a number, since the transgression of the first pair; if they betray their trust, their guilt will merit even greater punishment than other nations have suffered, and the indignation of Heaven.
Semester One:
• God’s Purpose for the Institution of Government
• Christian Beginnings in America & The Meaning of Democracy
• The Constitutional Convention
• Constitutional Cornerstones
• The Party System & Campaigns and Elections
• The Presidency
Semester Two:
• Congress
• The Judiciary
• Civil Rights
and Civil Responsibilities
• Mock Trial
• Federalism
Class Information
Things to bring everyday:
1. File folder- three ring binder to be used exclusively for history class.
• Notes/Handouts to be kept in the three ring binder
• Homework Assignments completed on loose leaf paper.
2. Textbook: American Government for Christian Schools Bob Jones University Press
3.
Paper, Pencil, and Pen
• Failure to bring school supplies to class could result in disciplinary action or points off your grade.
• Failure to bring school supplies to class could result in disciplinary action or points off your grade.
General Rules for the Classroom1. Follow directions the first time they are given.
2. Be in your seat when the bell rings.
3. Come to class with all materials mandated by the teacher.
4. Do not talk while the teacher or someone else is speaking.
5. Stay in your seats unless given permission to get up.
6. Keep hands, feet, and all objects to yourself.
Grading
A= 100-93 B= 92-85 C= 84-73 D= 72-65 F= 64 and below
How grade is determined
• 75% Tests, Quizzes, Projects/Essays/Oral reports
• 25% Homework Assignments
• National History assignments and final project are factored in during the 1-2-3 quarters. Refer to my NHD blog!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Final Exam 1/7
Specific Rules
National History Day-Students will be creating NHD projects during the course of this year. NHD is a meaningful way for students to study historical issues, ideas, people and events by engaging in historical research. The theme for 2013 is Turning Points in History: People,Ideas, Events. Students and parents can access more information by going to my NHD 2012-2013 link in the upper right hand corner of this blog. I have also created a booklet "Steps to Completing an NHD Project. It includes a time line of the project and provides helpful information for completing each step. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. (330-689-6267) I will be introducing the students to the project on a step by step basis.
Journal
Entries- From time to time either to reflect on the homework assignment
or following a class discussion I will ask you to write a few sentences starting
with some phrases like these. I learned.. .Or I was surprised... Or I'm
beginning to wonder... Or I'm gaining a better understanding of... Or I cannot
agree with... Or I would like to find out more about... I will also be using a
device I call “Hot Call”
I’m here to help- If you have problems or questions I am here to help. See me before school (I get here by 7:35), during the break, before class, at lunch, or after school. EMAIL demchakmj@aol.com
Absences- In the case of an ordinary absence, students have the number of days they are absent to make up work. All absent work should be turned in marked “absent” after an absence. In the case of absences due to more serious needs or retreats, I will work with you to arrange a plan by which you can make up missed assignments. Please initiate this effort if needed. Long term projects are due on the assigned date regardless of whether you can come to class that day.
Late work – Students can turn in any assignment late for half credit. The deadline for homework turned in late is the day of the chapter test that the assignment pertains to. No late work is accepted after the deadline – no exceptions. Please turn it in marked “Late”
Plagiarism – All work turned into me should be the students own work. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: copying someone’s answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; letting someone copy answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; copying information from a book, magazine, encyclopedia, web site, or other source and portraying this information as something you have written. Working with someone else should not produce identical answers to every question. You are not prohibited from working with a friend, but you are expected to form separate responses.
Extra credit- Extra credit assignments will be given from time to time. Extra credit cannot exceed 3% of the student’s total points for the quarter. One extra credit assignment that students can take advantage of is as follows:
1. Using the pages assigned for homework, the student is to write the main idea for each subsection (highlighted in red and green) in the form of a topic sentence.
2. Write two supporting sentences for each topic sentence.
I’m here to help- If you have problems or questions I am here to help. See me before school (I get here by 7:35), during the break, before class, at lunch, or after school. EMAIL demchakmj@aol.com
Absences- In the case of an ordinary absence, students have the number of days they are absent to make up work. All absent work should be turned in marked “absent” after an absence. In the case of absences due to more serious needs or retreats, I will work with you to arrange a plan by which you can make up missed assignments. Please initiate this effort if needed. Long term projects are due on the assigned date regardless of whether you can come to class that day.
Late work – Students can turn in any assignment late for half credit. The deadline for homework turned in late is the day of the chapter test that the assignment pertains to. No late work is accepted after the deadline – no exceptions. Please turn it in marked “Late”
Plagiarism – All work turned into me should be the students own work. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: copying someone’s answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; letting someone copy answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; copying information from a book, magazine, encyclopedia, web site, or other source and portraying this information as something you have written. Working with someone else should not produce identical answers to every question. You are not prohibited from working with a friend, but you are expected to form separate responses.
Extra credit- Extra credit assignments will be given from time to time. Extra credit cannot exceed 3% of the student’s total points for the quarter. One extra credit assignment that students can take advantage of is as follows:
1. Using the pages assigned for homework, the student is to write the main idea for each subsection (highlighted in red and green) in the form of a topic sentence.
2. Write two supporting sentences for each topic sentence.