Objectives:

• To understand the United States is a democratic government and all the benefits and responsibilities that go with this type of government.

• To understand that the government of the United States is a complex system composed of many separate parts that must interact.

• To fully understand that the government in the United States can be no better than the people are willing to make it.

• To understand that physical structure of our federal government and the powers given each branch, also how laws are introduced, enacted into policy, and enforced.

• To understand the various major types of governments in our modern society, and to recognize the relationships between all forms.

• To understand the founding process of our constitution and the philosophy that contributed to it contents, as well as other economic and political ideology.

• To become aware of international relations, including current events and the problems of this complex and ever changing world.

 Topics:

The following topics are planned for the course.  There may be changes made based on time elements, emergencies, special current events, or particular class interest. 

               I        Ideology and Philosophy

              II        Socialism, Capitalism, Communism

             III       Basic Principles and Theory of our Constitution

              IV      Analysis of the Articles of the Constitution

               V      Amendments, especially the Bill of Rights

              VI      Freedoms, Civil Rights

             VII      Political Parties and Elections

            VIII     Branches of the Government

              IX      Local Governments--State, County, City/Township

 

Physical requirements:

•  Magruder's American Government, 1994 edition

•  American Government ed. James Q. Wilson & John J Dilulio, Jr  9^th  edition

•  Readings in American Government, ed. Peter Woll class set

•  Government & Politics   Master the AP  by ARCO 4^th edition

•  Notebook--spiral or looseleaf and folder for handouts and homework

 

 Class Rules and Requirements:

ü       Each student must bring his/her own book, notebook, folder, and working writing utensil to class each day unless told otherwise. 

ü       Being unprepared for class may result in loss of Class Points and/or loss of points for the daily assignment. 

ü       If you are in the building, you are expected to be in class.  If another faculty/staff would like to see you during our class time, check with the instructor first.

ü       It is the student's responsibility to find out missed assignments and notes from an absence.  The assignments will be posted on the board. 

ü       If you have an assignment due, and are on campus at some point during the school day; the assignment is due that day.  Any work missed from an unexcused absence cannot be given any credit but will be made up to learn the skill/information contained in the assignment.  Unexcused absences may result in a loss of 15 points off your class points for the quarter, in addition to any points you may lose from a missed assignment/test/quiz.  If the absence is excused, the student has three school days to make up a missed test or quiz at a mutually agreeable time.  The test or quiz will become a zero (0) at the end of the 3 days.  If a 'pop' quiz occurs on an excused absence, that quiz is not made up but is not counted against the student. 

ü       If a student is absent the day before a test/quiz or was present when notified of an upcoming test/quiz, the student will be required to take the test at the assigned time.  (Special arrangements will be made for excused extended absences due to illness.) 

ü       Homework assignments typically have one class day extension for each excused day missed.

ü       Extended projects that have a specific due date known 10 or more days in advance are late if not in by that date, regardless of the reason.  If your project is finished early, turn it in.

ü       Any late assignment loses 25% of its original value for the first day late, 50% for the second day, and will receive no credit thereafter (but will be completed and graded).  Daily homework is due at the beginning of the class hour.  All other written assignments are due by the end of the school day, 5 minutes after the last bell. 

ü       Only the front side of notebook paper will be used for all written assignments.  Any assignment other than end of chapter questions and worksheets will be typed. 

ü       Appropriate grammar, spelling, formats, and use of proper English style is required.

ü       Homework is to be turned in to the assignment box by the student him (her) self.  No one should handle, peruse, copy, borrow, etc anyone else's assignment!

ü       Class starts when the tardy bell rings.  You are expected to be in your assigned seat, ready to work at that time.   If you absolutely need to bring a bookbag into the classroom, it will be left along the wall in the designated area or tucked completely under your chair and out of the walk way between desks.  Get supplies from your bookbag before class starts.  No one will be allowed to leave the room, unless it is a serious emergency. 

ü       You are expected to participate in class discussions in an appropriate manner.  There will be no derogatory remarks against anyone, present or not.  Each member of this class is entitled to his/her own opinion.  We do not have to all believe the same or take the same position on an issue, but all have the right to express themselves without fear of attack.  We will live by the Golden Rule, expressing our Christian values.

ü       Any student caught cheating or suspected of cheating (or trying to cheat) will be handled according to the Student Handbook.  Any assignment turned in for credit under your name that is not of your own creation will be considered cheating.  ALL involved--those who copied and the student who let the assignment be copied for false credit-- will receive a zero for the assignment.  Working together on assignments is a good study practice, but write your own answers in your own unique words.  All tests, quizzes, and exams require 'eyes on your own paper'.  Wandering eyes will get one warning and the second time will constitute cheating.  Second offenses of cheating will require a conference with parents/guardians.  You will not be allowed in the classroom until that conference occurs.  We operate on an HONOR CODE at Nouvel and I expect that from all.   Plagiarism in any form is not acceptable, and is consider an extreme form of cheating.  Any assignment not of your own creation is considered plagiarism.  

ü       Proper documentation for any research is required.   

ü       The cleanliness of the room is the responsibility of all of us.  We all will pick up litter, papers, sheet edges, and whatever else is out of place.  This is regardless of who it 'belongs' to or how it got in the wrongful position in the first place.  All supplies will be returned to the proper place.  There will be no food or drink in the classroom during class.  We believe in respecting others property; therefore, do not take another's (including instructor’s) without explicit permission.

ü       Each assignment will be neat and legible.  If I cannot read what you have written, I cannot possibly grade it.  The first time I encounter a paper that is illegible, it will be returned to you to be redone--for full credit.  From that point on, the paper will be have penalty points deducted or zero credit depending on the severity of the `chicken scratching'.

ü       We are a small class and cooperation with understanding is essential to learning.

DETERMINATION OF GRADES: (This is not intended to be inclusive or exclusive--but to be used as a guideline.) 

ü       Accumulation of points from:  daily homework assignments, quizzes (announced and unannounced), unit tests, class/group/individual projects, genealogy, a serious term paper, "book reports"/analysis, a notebook containing class discussions and lecture, a folder for all additional handouts pertaining to lessons, classroom rules, and appropriate participation in class discussions.  These will be graded on a point system with a wee bit of extra credit. The grading system will follow the NCC Student Handbook, except an A+ will be calculated with all extra credit removed. 

ü       Periodically, a printout of your assignments and grades earned on each will be posted with your private class identification number.  If there are any discrepancies, privately discuss the situation with me that day.  Any problem not reported and solved by close of school the next day will stand as printed.  It is your responsibility to come to me, not vice-versa. 

ü        You may be given class points for each quarter based on 5 to10% of the total points in that quarter.  Class points can be lost for inappropriate behaviors and/or violating class rules.

ü       Appropriate grammar, spelling, formats, and use of proper English style is required.  Infractions will result in a loss of points on the assignment.

 Special Points:

ü       You will receive one free day a quarter.  On your free day, you may “take the day off”.  You will be in the classroom (or with permission, another supervised area such as the Library or computer Lab. When you choose your day, fill out the designated card and return it to me.  Take your seat until roll is taken and then move if you so desire.  The only other requirements are that you are responsible for the day’s work and assignments/handouts and a free day cannot be chosen on a day with group activities, presentations, film, test day, or similar activities.  There can be no more than one using this privilege at one time.  Choose these days wisely, but do enjoy them.  Free days do not carry over to another quarter.

ü       You may contest a major assignment as long as it is done respectfully with concrete evidence/particulars allegedly missed.  There is no guarantee of a grade change.

Any part of this document can be changed to fit the needs of the classroom at the time.  Any changes will be given to the students.  No changes will be made EX POST FACTO.