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AP American Government: Guidelines
Content Goals (AP Government Exam):
As an interactive class, students will evaluate:
· Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government
· Political beliefs and behaviors of individuals
· Political parties, interest groups, and mass media: mechanisms that facilitate the communication of interests and preferences
· Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal Courts
· Public policy
· Civil liberties and civil rights
Skills Goals (Common Core Standards):
In an interactive class, we will develop the following skills:
· Use relevant information from documents to support analysis
· Use information/ideas to determine cause and effect
· Compare and contrast primary and secondary information
· Write an argument to support claims
· Write informative and explanatory texts to examine and express ideas
· Draw evidence from informational text
· Participate in collaborative discussion
· Accurately use multiple sources of information
· Use a variety of language styles to communicate clearly
· Build vocabulary and expand word choice
Grades:
Your grade is made up of five components that are worth 20% each. These include two classroom examinations, homework and quizzes, research project and class participation.
Exams-(40%)
§ Each of the THREE full period exams is worth 20% of your grade and will be based on the material covered through class work and homework.
§ Tests are modeled after the AP American Government Exam. (Multiple-choice questions and two essays.)
§ The exams are an opportunity to prove all that you have learned about the subjects covered.
Homework and Quizzes-(25%)
§ Homework will be assigned daily through a homework sheet.
§ Homework will be placed on my desk at the end of class each day they are due.
§ Homework will be graded with either a number grade based on ten or checkmark.
§ Quizzes will be given periodically based on the homework assignments if homework is not completed.
Class Participation-(15%)
§ Your active participation during class will create an exciting classroom.
§ You will be required to come to class every day ON TIME prepared to contribute to the lesson.
§ Class work is created to examine history and develop skills that will be part of your participation.
§ ARRIVE ON TIME TO AVOID REDUCTIONS TO YOUR GRADE
§ ORGANIZED, EFFECTIVE AND USEFUL NOTES WILL BE USED TO ASSESS YOUR CLASS PARTICIPATION.
Project-(20%)
§ Projects will be assigned during the cycle to develop the social studies skills of researching, reading, writing and organizing information.
***Your summer assignment will account for 5% of your homework grade.
Content Goals (AP Government Exam):
As an interactive class, students will evaluate:
· Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government
· Political beliefs and behaviors of individuals
· Political parties, interest groups, and mass media: mechanisms that facilitate the communication of interests and preferences
· Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal Courts
· Public policy
· Civil liberties and civil rights
Skills Goals (Common Core Standards):
In an interactive class, we will develop the following skills:
· Use relevant information from documents to support analysis
· Use information/ideas to determine cause and effect
· Compare and contrast primary and secondary information
· Write an argument to support claims
· Write informative and explanatory texts to examine and express ideas
· Draw evidence from informational text
· Participate in collaborative discussion
· Accurately use multiple sources of information
· Use a variety of language styles to communicate clearly
· Build vocabulary and expand word choice
Grades:
Your grade is made up of five components that are worth 20% each. These include two classroom examinations, homework and quizzes, research project and class participation.
Exams-(40%)
§ Each of the THREE full period exams is worth 20% of your grade and will be based on the material covered through class work and homework.
§ Tests are modeled after the AP American Government Exam. (Multiple-choice questions and two essays.)
§ The exams are an opportunity to prove all that you have learned about the subjects covered.
Homework and Quizzes-(25%)
§ Homework will be assigned daily through a homework sheet.
§ Homework will be placed on my desk at the end of class each day they are due.
§ Homework will be graded with either a number grade based on ten or checkmark.
§ Quizzes will be given periodically based on the homework assignments if homework is not completed.
Class Participation-(15%)
§ Your active participation during class will create an exciting classroom.
§ You will be required to come to class every day ON TIME prepared to contribute to the lesson.
§ Class work is created to examine history and develop skills that will be part of your participation.
§ ARRIVE ON TIME TO AVOID REDUCTIONS TO YOUR GRADE
§ ORGANIZED, EFFECTIVE AND USEFUL NOTES WILL BE USED TO ASSESS YOUR CLASS PARTICIPATION.
Project-(20%)
§ Projects will be assigned during the cycle to develop the social studies skills of researching, reading, writing and organizing information.
***Your summer assignment will account for 5% of your homework grade.