Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics is a college level course designed to give the student an analytical perspective of government and politics in America. Course content will begin with foundations of United States Government, progress into an analysis of political beliefs and why Americans behave as they do and the impact of the media. This course includes an intensive focus on the four government institutions followed by a study of civil rights and civil liberties in America, their evolution through judicial interpretation and the evolving role of the 14th amendment on American’ s civil rights and liberties. The course will culminate with a breakdown of how public policy is created and the linkages between the political process, political parties, interest groups and elections. The course requires familiarity with the various institutions groups belies, and ideas that constitute U.S. politics. Students will gain knowledge through a variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations.
Student assessment occurs at a variety of levels throughout the course. Students are assessed via oral examination and other synchronous sessions. Actual course assessment types include student assessed work, auto-graded, partially auto-graded, and totally instructor graded assignments.
This course is designed to be highly teacher facilitated. Instructors give a great deal of specific and timely feedback. Students have opportunities for oral examinations, discussions, and whiteboard sessions. Teachers conduct synchronous elluminate sessions, which require critical thinking and analysis of articles, tables, data, free- response questions, and general discussion.
Goals
Students successfully completing this course will:
- Know important facts, concepts and theories pertaining to U.S. government and politics.
- Understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences
- Be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and politics.