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Course Content


 

Purpose Of My U.S. Government Class

U.S. Government is an in-depth study of the U.S. system of government. Students will learn about the origins, structure, functions, problems, and issues of the American political and legal systems. They will learn how individual citizens and citizen groups influence the American political process on the local, state and national levels. Students will learn about the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities of American citizens and they will examine part and recent Supreme Court decisions that have helped to define these concepts. The course is designed to help prepare the student to be an effective participant in the American political process.

Conferences Options

Parents may schedule an appointment by either e-mailing me (bsimon@ortn.edu) or by calling 425-9600. Students will always have the opportunity to come in during lunch or after school for additional help.

Text Used In My Class

Magruder’s American Government, 2002 edition.

Notebook Needed For Class

Students must have a spiral-bound notebook for this course and it should only be used for U.S. Government. Students are expected to record information from both class discussions and lectures that will be useful to them in learning the subject matter. They will also be required to keep notes from their reading of each chapter in the text in this notebook and may use these notes on the chapter tests to encourage good note-taking. In addition they will be required to keep assigned in-class writing assignments, approximately 3-4 per week, in this notebook. These will be graded at midterm and at the end of each term. These should be numbered and kept in order and up to date. This notebook and the textbooks should be brought to class each day.

Class Setting Within My Class

Students must conduct themselves according to the rules and regulations of the school. Students must show respect to others. Students are expected to bring materials to class, to be prepared for class, and to participate in class. Students should only be working on U.S. Government during class. Students should be in their assigned seat unless otherwise directed.

Grading

Grades are determined by a numerical average based upon three main areas – in-class work including writing assignments, chapter and unit tests, and homework. Each area will account for approximately 1/3 of the final 9-weeks grade. During the first and second 9-weeks the student will be required to read All the President’s Men by Woodward and Bernstein, the two Washington Post reporters who exposed the Watergate Conspiracy. Though students will ask, watching the movie doesn’t count. The reading will be divided into six sections and there will be an objective test on each section. A summative essay highlighting the abuse of political power and how the Constitution was used to get the nation through this crisis will also be required.

Extra Credit (Possibilities)

Occasionally students may have the opportunity to earn extra credit by attending after-school guest lectures at the high school, in Oak Ridge, or at U.T. They may also attend Board of Education or City Council meetings and write summary reports. They may read supplemental chapters from a book entitled The Constitution: That Delicate Balance, and write essays or answer questions on these readings.