Academic US Government 2009-10

 Mrs. Floyd

 www.schoolrack.com/cfloyd

Course Description:

United States Government, required for graduation, will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts AND the analysis of contemporary examples.

Assessments:

Notebook  -- Students are required to purchase a spiral notebook in which to complete their daily work, notes, and activities. Notebooks must be brought to class daily, although space will be provided in the classroom to store them. Students MAY NOT remove any other students’ notebooks from the room. I will periodically check specific assignments in the notebook, or grade the notebook in its entirety.

Unit Exams – Tests will include information from class discussions, lectures, activities, readings, and the textbook. All assignments, graded or un-graded, are “fair game,” even if the information was not specifically discussed by the teacher. There will an open-note exam at the end of each unit. Students may use their own notes, NOT photocopied notes from other students. The exam will consist of multiple choice, true/false, matching, and short answer questions.

Study Guides – Students will receive unit study guides based on chapters covered in the textbook.

Quizzes – Students will have periodic vocabulary quizzes and quizzes over assigned work.

PAC Points (Political Activities Choices) –  Learning does not begin and end in the classroom. Students must continue their civic thinking and participation beyond the walls of JBHS! In order to learn in a more hands-on manner, students will complete various tasks of their own choosing. Students will complete 10 points by the 5^th week of each 6 weeks grading period. Please see my website for more complete details.

Other Assignments – A variety of assignments will be given in class and as homework. Some of the assignments will be graded while others will be assigned in order to prepare the student for upcoming instruction and/or evaluation.

Grading Policy & Procedures:

All tests and major assignments constitute 60% of a six-weeks grade. Quizzes and daily work constitute the other 40%.

1.  
   • Late work will be accepted at ½ credit within three days of the due date.
   • Assignments due on the day of a student’s absence are due on the day of his/her return.
   • If an assignment is made or completed during a student’s absence, the student will have two days to make up the work, plus one additional day for each additional day of absence.
   • Students who have pre-arranged absences (i.e., athletes, band, other extracurricular activities) should plan to take exams or complete timed writing assignments BEFORE their scheduled absence.
   • For those students who do not receive a score with which they are pleased, one day will be made available (within in one week of the exam) for students to make test corrections for half credit of each missed answer.

Materials:

A class set of the textbook will be kept in the classroom. Students should come prepared with a pen/pencil every day.

Please bring the following items to class as soon as possible (by last name):

1.  
   • A-F: a box of tissues
   • G-M: crayola markers (big or skinny) OR scissors
   • N-R: air freshener (Airwick plug-in refills) OR hand sanitizer
   • S-Z: a package of glue stick

Tutorials:

I will be available before school for tutorials and makeup work.

B204                     cfloyd@austinisd.org           414-7340