You're Great!

To all the dedicated American Government students pictured in this picture, you may leave at 4:45 today (Monday 4.19.10) as a reward for your on task behaviors and as an incentive to stay dedicated.

Monday 4.12.10

Good afternoon lovelies!
I am at home today with a sick baby. I'm sorry I will not be there, but you can email me with any questions you might have : siegmundc@clarke.k12.ga.us.

Today I would like you all to devote your time to wrapping up week 5 assignments. If you are finished with week 5, then please keep working on other weeks' assignments.

Have a great day, and I look forward to a good report from the sub.
Mrs. Siegmund

Week One: Foundations of U.S. Government

The Essential Question for this week is: What are the roots of our democracy?



The Georgia Performance Standards that you'll work with this week are:

SSCG1 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the political philosophies that shaped the development of United States constitutional government.
a. Analyze key ideas of limited government and the rule of law as seen in the Magna Carta, the Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights.
b. Analyze the writings of Hobbes (Leviathan), Locke (Second Treatise on Government), and Montesquieu (The Spirit of Laws) as they affect our concept of government.

SSCG2 The student will analyze the natural rights philosophy and the nature of government expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
a. Compare and contrast the Declaration of Independence and the Social Contract Theory.
b. Evaluate the Declaration of Independence as a persuasive argument.

The assignments for this unit are listed below. Please be sure to follow all instructions for completing assignments and receiving the maximum points possible.

Week One Assignment 1: Roots of U.S. Democracy Notes
SCCG 1, element a
- Using the Roots of Democracy power point, complete the Roots of Democracy Student Notes that analyze key ideas of limited government and the rule of law as seen in the Magna Carta, the Petition of Rights, and the English Bill of Rights.

* Complete the notes and answer each question thoroughly. Place in teacher's drop box when notes are completed. *15 possible points.

Week One Assignment 2: Enlightenment Philosophers and Their Influential Ideas Notes
SCCG 1, element b
- Using the Enlightenment Philosophers power point, complete the Enlightenment Philosophers Student Notes that analyze the writings of Hobbes (Leviathan), Locke (Second Treatise on Government), and Montesquieu (The Spirit of Laws) as they affect our concept of government.

* Complete the notes and answer each question thoroughly. Place in teacher's drop box when notes are completed. *15 possible points.

Week One Assignment 3: Habeas Corpus and the "War on Terror" Case Study
SCCG 1, element a
- In this assignment you will reflect upon the recent U.S. government's actions in regards to not providing the right of Habeas Corpus to suspected terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay Prison in Cuba. Follow all instructions in the document Habeas Corpus and the "War on Terror" Case Study for completing this assignment.

* Place your finished paper in your teacher's drop box when completed. *30 possible points.


Week One Assignment 4: Understanding the Declaration of Independence
SCCG 2, element a, b
- Using the Declaration of Independence Background Information power point, and the Declaration of Independence Text document, complete the Declaration of Independence Student Notes that compare and contrast the Declaration of Independence and the Social Contract Theory, and evaluates the Declaration of Independence as a persuasive argument.

* Complete the notes and answer each question thoroughly. Place in teacher's drop box when notes are completed. *25 possible points.

Week One Assignment 5: Social Contract Interview Project
SCCG 1

Do Americans believe we are “united”? Do people also believe there is “liberty” and “tranquility” in the U.S., as expressed as a goal in the preamble to the Constitution?

This project will revolve around interviewing members of our community to determine their attitude toward this idea of Social Contract, and whether it has been upheld by our government. You are going to record their responses and share their responses as well as your thoughts on the topic in a paper. Please follow all instructions and expectations found in the Social Contract Interview Project.

* Place your finished paper in your teacher's drop box when completed. *100 possible points.

Week One Assignment 6: Week One Quiz
SCCG 1

SCCG2

After you have completed the first five assignments and turned them in to your teacher, take the Week One quiz to check for understanding of standards you worked with in week one. You will need to get the quiz from your teacher.

* 20 possible points.

Week Twelve: Final Exam Review

Weekly Assignments TBA

Week Eleven: Foreign Policy

Weekly Assignments TBA

Week Ten: Forms of Government

Weekly Assignments TBA

Week Nine: Voting and Elections

The Essential Question for this week is:

Are you prepared to vote?

The Georgia Performance Standard that you'll work with this week is:
SSCG8 The student will demonstrate knowledge of local, state, and national elections.
a. Describe the organization, role, and constituencies of political parties.
b. Describe the nomination and election process.
c. Examine campaign funding and spending.
d. Analyze the influence of media coverage, campaign advertising, and public opinion polls.
e. Identify how amendments extend the right to vote.

The assignments for this week are listed below. Please be sure to follow all instructions for completing assignments and receiving the maximum points possible.


Week Nine Assignment 1: NovaNet Module 9
SSCG8
- Complete lessons a, b, c,  d and mastery assessment in Module 9-Voting and Elections.   It is required that you take notes as you work through each module. Half of your points will come from your notes, and the other half will come from your test scores. Be sure to include the following information in your NovaNet notes that are turned in for credit:

• Date
• Title of Module
• Title of Lesson
• Significant (important) information from lessons: definitions, notable people/places/things, historical information, explanation of concepts, charts, etc.

* 140 possible points

Week Nine Assignment 2: Organization, Role and Constituencies of Political Parties Notes and Activity
SSCG8 element a
- Using the Organization, Role, and Constituencies of Political Parties power point,  complete the Organization, Role, and Constituencies of Political Parties student notes that describe the organization, role, and constituencies of political parties.  The second half of the assignment assesses and has you evaluate which political party you would associate with more.

* Complete the notes and answer each question thoroughly. Place in teacher's drop box when notes are completed. *32 possible points.
 

Week Nine Assignment 3: Winning the Media Campaign Case Study

SSCG8 elements c and d

In today’s society most of the information you receive is through the media; TV, Internet, radio, newspapers, etc.  Candidates for political office know that the media coverage of their campaign can make or break their chances of being elected.  In this case study, you will look at how the media coverage of the 2008 presidential race portrayed each candidate, and how the media’s portrayal helped shape the outcome of the 2008 presidential election.   

* Follow all instructions in the document Winning the Media Campaign Case Study for completing this assignment. Place in teacher's drop box when completed. *25 possible points      

Week Nine Assignment 4: Week Nine Quiz

SSCG8

After you have completed the first three assignments and turned them in to your teacher, take the Week Nine quiz to check for understanding of standards you worked with in week Nine. You will need to get the quiz from your teacher. * 20 possible points.