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"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
-Thomas Jefferson
Why is voter turnout so low? Are the two parties representing accurately the values and beliefs of the majority of Americans? Is our current campaign finance system just legalized bribery? Is the media doing its job of fairly and objectively informing the public about the workings of our government? How are corporate mergers and the global economy effecting the United States? What effects are the "War on Drugs," the "War on Terrorism" and government secrecy having on our rights, guaranteed by the Constitution?
In this class we will use The Bill of Rights as a starting point to explore these topics and others. You will examine and understand these issues. Throughout the semester you will also be forced to take a position on various issues, support it, and then search for solutions to the problems you uncover.
There will be a final project where each student will choose a public policy topic that interests them, investigate it, reach a conclusion, and be able to support it in a paper showing both sides of the issue.
You will read a chapter or so a week in read a chapter a week in each of two books we'll be using; In Our Defense by Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (JFK's daughter) and Ellen Alderman, and Lost Rights by James Bovard. Both books are current and interesting. There will be some questions to answer with each reading. You will also be exploring various newspaper, magazine and public policy websites as well as writing short essays about what you find there. Lastly, you will be expected to participate fully in our discussions about the readings and how they relate to current events.
Grades:
-- 70% Readings and Homework
-- 30% Essays and Discussions
-- 13% of course grade: Final Project
Learning Objectives:
The student will be able to:
1) think critically about government and political issues;
2) understand how democracy and our government operate and how they can be manipulated to good and bad ends; and
3) analyze information and differing viewpoints, reach a conclusion and be able to support it with organized and logical writing.
Academic Content:
Social Studies
- History, Civics and Current Events
1. Research
2. Debate
Kinds of Assignments:
Throughout the semester you will take positions on various issues, support your positions, and then search for solutions to the problems you uncover.
You will read a chapter or so a week in each of two books. There will be some questions to answer with each reading.
You will also be exploring various newspaper, magazine and public policy websites as well as writing short essays about what you find there.
Lastly, you will be expected to participate fully in our discussions about the readings and how they relate to current events.
Projects Required:
There will be a final project where each student will choose a public policy topic that interests them, investigate it, reach a conclusion, and be able to support it in a paper showing both sides of the issue.
