Government Syllabus

Thomas Edison High School

US Government

Course Overview and Requirements

Teacher: Jon Linne

Phone Number: 668-1300

E-mail: jlinne@mpls.k12.mn.us

Year: 2009-2010

Room: #223

Course Description: Study will be focused on the branches of government, as well as the rights guaranteed to citizens through the Constitution. This course is an 18-week course, which is one semester. We will be focusing on the following units in that time:

1) Introduction: What is government? What is democracy?

2) The Constitution

3) The Bill of Rights

4) The Judicial Branch

5) The Legislative Branch

6) The Executive Branch

7) Floating unit

Graduation Requirements: Senior Economics is a required course for graduation. Each student must pass one semester of Senior Government in order to graduate.

Homework: Homework will be assigned periodically throughout the week. It will typically be do the next day. The Homework Policy here at Thomas Edison High School is homework loses value for every day it is late. After a lengthy period of time it will no longer be taken for grade. If you are unable to comply with the expectations of 
the late work policy you must make arrangements with your teacher prior 
to the due date.

Class work and Group work: Students will often be expected to complete work in and out of class. Sometimes students will be required to work individually, sometimes students will be required to work with a partner or a group, and sometimes students will have a choice. Class work must be completed as directed and in a timely manner (refer to the homework policy). If extra time is needed students must contact the teacher before the assignment is due to get permission to make arrangements. Students are expected to participate in whatever assignments or activity is occurring when they are in class.

Cornell Notes: Students will be required to write in the class. Students will be required to use the “Cornell Notes” method, which will be explained and modeled throughout the first week.

Assessments: Each unit will be assessed on its own or in combination with another unit. Grades will be earned based on a percentage of the total available points earned. These assessments will be but not limited to:

· Worksheets

· Vocabulary Quizzes

· Tests

· Essays

· Written Exams

· Projects

· Oral Exams

· Cornell Notes

· Participation

· Daily Written Reflections

Students who repeatedly come to class late will lose points for participation.

Grading: Grades will be earned based on a percentage of the total available points earned. The grading scale will be as followed:

A 93

A- 90

B+ 87

B 83

B- 80

C+ 77

C 73

C- 70

D+ 67

D 63

D- 60

F 59 and below

Work will be completed with quality prior to turning it in. Incomplete work will be returned to be completed before it will be graded. Please refer to late work policy.

Extra Credit: Students are expected to complete the required class work. For this reason, there will not be any additional assignments for students to complete as extra credit. However, students will occasionally have the opportunity to do extra work on regular assignments or assessments for extra credit.

Supplies: Students are required to have the following supplies for every class:

Ø Folder

Ø Pen or Pencil

Ø Paper

Ø Classroom Textbook

Failure to bring required supplies will result in loss of daily class points.

Parent Involvement: It is my mission for students, parents and staff to work together to ensure students success. To make this happen I would like to keep an open line of communication between families and myself. Please feel free to contact me whenever you have a question or concern.

I have read through this course description with a parent or guardian and understand the
information in it.

Student Signature________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature________________________________________________