Civics Resources CDP Civics Syllabus Winter 2013-14 Teacher: Mrs. Zimmerman Voicemail: (860) 622-5235 Please leave your name and class you are registered for./Email address: [email protected] Course Description:This is an 11 week course (meeting two times each week Monday & Wednesday evenings from 4:15-5:45 pm) that integrates civics and government and meets the state and districts’ mandated civics requirements. This course will provide the learner with a basic understanding of civic life, politics, and government; a short history of its foundation and development, what rights the American government guarantees its citizens, and a survey of the duties and responsibilities American citizens must exercise in order to maintain their government. It will introduce the workings of our own and other political systems as well as the relationship of American politics and government to world affairs. Course Philosophy: My goal is that you will become a knowledgeable, respectful and intelligent participants in our representative democracy. You will realize and utilize the many vehicles available to you in which a difference can be made. If you do not like something about our government-fight to change it by coming up with a strategy on how to make this change! We will spend a lot of time discussing, interpreting and debating our Constitution and the Bill of Rights that protect us all and how our Constitution is constantly being challenged and interpreted. Knowledge of current events is essential: U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Connecticut Election news, voting rights, immigration, health care, gay marriage, economy, etc.- read the news online- read a newspaper- or watch the news daily! You will be expected to develop opinions on immigration, President Obama’s performance as a President, our Congress’ performance, foreign affairs, etc. This course is organized on the assumptions that all students can be successful learners, and all students can master the important lessons of U.S. Government and Politics. One key to success is being keenly interested in the subject matter. Getting students interested in the people, ideas, and functions of government requires effort from both the teacher and the student. It is the teacher’s job to make the subject matter meaningful and intriguing. It is the student’s job to approach the subject with the intention of building understanding, rather than simply trying to “get the work done”. Course Requirements and Attendance: Mandatory Attendance Policy. The Credit Diploma Program has a mandatory attendance policy - only two absences are permitted during the entire course. Should a student miss more than two classes he/she will not be entitled to credit for the class, but will be entitled to retake the course. If you participate every day, complete and turn in classwork, and ask questions when needed, it will be a great term of learning!! Tardiness. Come to class on time, tardiness is not permitted. If you are late, there is a sign-in sheet in the Adult Ed. Office; being tardy 1 x may count as one of your 2 permitted absences. Textbook. There is no textbook. You will receive weekly handouts, including current events, primary and secondary sources. Students are required to have a 3-ring binder for class notes, assignments, and handouts. Handouts will be important for studying. In addition, please keep all papers at least until the course is over, in case we need to settle grading mistakes. Bring handouts, pen or pencil and paper to each class. Classmate Communication. If you must be absent, have a classmate’s phone number so you can get notes and be prepared for the next class meeting and quizzes. Quizzes & Exams. There will be a quiz every Wednesday of each week. There is a Midterm and a Final Exam; I do not give Incompletes. Grading Scale: The percentage breakdown for class participation, quizzes and tests are as follows:
30%: Graded homework (Supplemental readings w/assigned prompts and/or questions ) and Class Participation 20%: Weekly Quizzes 25%: Midterm Exam 25%: Final Exam (multiple-choice, short-constructed responses, significant writing assignments) “Political action is the highest responsibility of a citizen.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy
“Politics are almost exciting as war, and quite dangerous. In war, you can only be killed once, but in politics many times”- Winston Churchill My Website:www.civicallyyours.weebly.com This website is meant to serve as a digital community for all of my classes, providing students with access to our class materials, schedule and more. I hope it will serve as a valuable resource to all those who utilize it. If you ever have any questions about or suggestions for the site or anything else please feel free to email me. Course of Study: 1. What is Civics; The Difference Between History and Civics; U.S. Citizenship- What does it mean? How have the rights of citizenship changed over time? Connections to Current Events: 50th Anniversary of the March On Washington and Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech ; U.S. Supreme Court Decision on 6/25/2013 on Voting Rights Act 2. The Political Spectrum- Political beliefs; Political Parties; Republicans vs. Democrats;What is the Tea Party? 3. Foundations of American Government; Comparing American Democracy and Authoritarianism; the Magna Carta; Mayflower Compact; Fundamental Orders of CT.; Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution; 4. Forms of Government: Comparing our Democracy to other Forms of Government; 5. Local Government-Observation of a Board of Education or other East Hartford Town Meeting- in person or televised version; 6. Executive Branch of Government- Its purpose and its entities; the State of the Union Address; the Executive Branch and Current Events; 7. Legislative Branch- Its purpose and its entities; The Powers of the Congress; How a Bill Becomes a Law; 8. Judicial Branch of Government- Its purpose and its entities; Key Powers of the Supreme Court; Composition of the U.S. Supreme Court today; 9. Bill of Rights ; Amendments and the Amendment Process; Amendments 1-5; 10. Bill of Rights; Amendments 6-10; 11. The Civil Rights Movement; 12. U.S. Foreign Policy: Goals and Methods. Interspersed Throughout: Current Events ** If you find that you need some extra assistance in this class, please come and see me! I am here to help you learn! I will be available after class or by appointment! J