College Prep (CP) Government (Period 3) Assignments

College Prep (CP) Government is a one semester, state-required course in which students apply the knowledge gained in previous years of study to pursue a deeper understanding of our system of government. Course Content: The course is divided into six units: 1. Watergate 2. The Founding Documents 3. The Legislative Branch 4. The Executive Branch 5. The Judicial Branch 6. State and Local Government What’s to be Graded: • Four Unit Exams - 200 points (approximately) • Various Quizzes - 100 points (approximately) • Homework Assignments - 100 points (approximately) • Projects & Presentations - 300 points (approximately) • Class Participation - 100 points (approximately) • Semester Final Exam - 200 points 1000 Points Approximately Grading Policy 90% - 100% = A 80% - 89% = B 70% - 79% = C 59% - 70% = D ESLR’s Addressed by Curriculum: • Civic Responsibility • Technological Proficiency • Post Secondary Preparation • Critical Thinking Critical Standards Addressed by Curriculum: 12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy. 12.2 Student’s evaluate and take and defend positions on the scope and limits of rights and obligations as democratic citizens, the relationships among them, and how they are secured. 12.4 Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution. 12.5 Students summarize landmark U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution and its amendments. 12.7 Students analyze and compare the powers and procedures of the national, state, tribal, and local governments. 12.10 Students formulate questions about and defend their analyses of tensions within our constitutional democracy and the importance of maintaining a balance between the following concepts: majority rule and individual rights; liberty and equality; state and national authority in a federal system; civil disobedience and the rule of law; freedom of the press and the right to a fair trial; the relationship of religion and government. Textbook: United States Government – Democracy in Action; Glencoe; 2006. Special Features of this Course: 1. Critical Issues Assignment: You will read and be tested on several current event articles appearing in the Los Angeles Times and/or Time Magazine. 2. Technological Proficiency Assignment: Using your word processing and desktop publication skills, you will create a bill (a proposed law for the state of California). 3. Cooperative Learning Assignment: You will serve as a high school, social science department, faculty member called upon to work with other members of your “department in order to create a lesson plan for a slide show presentation of a topic related to government. 4. Problem Solving Assignment: You will write a letter to a government official offering your advice on how best to solve a particular problem. 5. Written Communication Assignment: You will write one or more in-class essays. 6. Oral Communication assignment: You will serve as either an attorney or a witness for a in-class mock trial competition. 7. Speak with experts in the field of government via speakerphone and guest lecture. 8. Watch various in-class films/videos: (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington; Ruby Bridges; Guns; Dave; Gideon’s Trumpet) 9. Extra Credit Assignment: • Visit the US 9th Circuit Federal Court House in Pasadena • Serve as a member of the SMHS Mock Trial team • Become a member of the YMCA Youth in Government Program 10. Semester ending, cumulative, final exam. 6/15/09