11/20 Interest Groups

Interest groups P.P. 305-310

Today we covered a PowerPoint on pages 305-310. We also looked at others RFQ's to determine what would have been scored. We just started to watch Climate of Doubt-Frontline. Students are to take notes on how do the media and interest groups attempt to influence public opinion?

How to write an FRQ

How to write an FRQ? Click here for the PowerPoint...

Make sure to catch up on all RQ's they will be turned into ZERO's tomorrow night.

AP Government library assignment for 11/15/2013

This class will be meeting in the library. 

Tell them to log into the computers.

1. They should also turn in their extra credit current event notebooks at the beginning of class. Also tell them that late ones will not be accepted after you have first collected them (They will try to work on them during this computer time).
2. (Please follow previous post on here to get to the online text book. They are to access the online text book take the pre-test for chapter 7. I WILL be checking to see if and how they have done on it.  After they have completed that. 
3. Have them read tonight’s section pgs 210-216. They can do all of this online.
4. After they have completed the reading please have them go on skyward and complete the RQ 21 for this section. It is an online assignment. Also if they have missed RQ 19 and 20 now would be the time to do as the assignment will expire tonight!
5. After they have completed this portion please have them use the online tools to review for chapter 7.
6. Remind them that the Study guide for chapter 7 is due Tuesday. And we will also have an in class essay (Timed) that we will be doing in place of a quiz.

Please watch- (Frontline- Spying on the Home front) Reed at challenge day.

Today you will watch "Spying on the Home front"-Frontline Please take one page of notes and write a one paragraph reaction. This is from 2007, how does this reflect the current view of the N.S.A? If you get done please turn in at the end of class. If you don't please have it ready to turn in at the end of class. please make sure to keep up on the chapter 6 reading/ notes

Online Book/ Practice Post Tests (Login and remember your Login/password)

To access online content for our textbook, including an electronic version of the textbook, follow the instructions below.

1.  Register at www.pearsonschool.com/access
2. Enter the first 6 letters of your code: SSNAST
3. Click on Covered Titles to Select Discipline and Title 
4. Choose Teacher or Student Registration 
5. Accept - Pearson License Agreement
6. Access Information - 
* Enter or Create your username & password 
* Enter the appropriate access code below:

Code:
SSNAST-FONDA-YOGIC-NEMAN-GABBY-BALES

7. Account Information - complete or verify your name & school information 
8. Confirmation & Summary

2.  You must then sign up for your specific period by selecting “Join a Class.”

Class id:  cm528663

After you have joined the class, the program will keep track of all of your scores and progress on chapter practice quizzes and tests

Work on the online practice tests!! Chapters 8,9,10

Unit Exam #2- Monday!

Make sure to go online (Skyward) and take RQ #14 over pages 282-286!

Make sure to go online (Skyward) and take RQ #14 over pages 282-286! Good Luck!

Position Paper-Are “super PACs” having a negative effect on the US political system? Due Friday

Position Paper #1 - 50 points (This will be a separate grade from your Study Guide score.)

Due Date: Friday, October 18th

You will be writing a position paper while we study this chapter. The scoring rubric on the back will be used to score your paper. Your paper must be turned in through Turnitin.com by the due date. I do not want paper copies. The topic is:

Are “super PACs” having a negative effect on the US political system?

We will be spending TWO class periods in the library to allow you to conduct research over this topic.

	5	3	1
Thesis	Clear, concise. Addresses question/topic.  Includes supporting evidence	Thesis is undeveloped or unclear; may simply restate the question.	No thesis, or thesis does not address question/topic	__ x 2 = ___
Content	Paper contains information relevant to the topic. Does not wander from thesis. Includes facts & statistics for support.	Most information in paper is relevant to topic.  Does not wander from thesis.	Information not relevant to topic.  Wanders from thesis, or unclear connection to thesis.	__x 2 = ___
Outside Sources	Uses and properly cites (MLA format) at least 3 sources. Source info supports thesis/position. Includes parentheticals.	Uses 3 sources with proper citation (MLA) in Works Cited. Missing parentheticals.	Uses less than 3 sources, or improper citation.	__ x 1 = ___
Analysis of Info.	Supporting info clearly connected to thesis.  Evaluates factual information rather than simply stating it.	Supporting info related to thesis, but may not be clearly connected to thesis by writer.	Lacks supporting info; info not relevant to thesis; or no analysis of supporting info.	__x 2 = ___
Format/ Organization	Contains introduction, conclusion, at least three body paragraphs	Contains introduction, at least three body paragraphs	Missing introduction, less than three body paragraphs	__x 2 = ___
Writing/ Conventions	No grammatical, spelling, or sentence structure errors.	Minor errors in grammar, spelling, or sentence structure.	Major or numerous errors in grammar, spelling, or sentence structure	__x1 = ___

                                                                                                                                                                ________________/50

Today and Tomorrow's assignment!

Political Parties Library Assignment:                                      Name _____________________________

AP Government and Politics

Part I. Political Quiz Self-Assessment (We are going to compared two quizzes today. Follow the directions.

These quizzes require you to answer a series of questions. The quiz will give you feedback as to where your views place you on the “Political Spectrum.” You should have three tabs open (The blog,Google docs, and the quiz/quizzes)

1. Go to the class blog (http://reedapgov.blogspot.com/ ) and click on the “Political Spectrum Quiz” link on the left under Class Links.
2. Answer all of the questions. (On google doc and share it with Reed)- jim.reed@washougalsd.org

If you can’t find or don’t know something, Please use Google to help clarify/define…

3. Go to this site first: http://www.gotoquiz.com/politics/political-spectrum-quiz.html
4. Write the description of your political compass (Copy the image including your description and paste it into your document that you’ve created.)
5. What is your foreign policy score? ____________________ (Copy  and Paste)
6. Culture score? _____________________________(Copy and Paste)
7. Next go to: http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

8.      Who were you close to, who can you compare to? If you can’t decide choose one person and see what their stance was politically, economically, and socially.

9.      Draw a compass including both quizzes that you just took (Such as an insert of a two by two table as seen below, place and Q1 for first quiz and Q2 for the second quiz) * remember this rough and doesn’t have to be perfect. How do the two differ or are they similar. What were the similarities or differences of the quizzes?

Part II. Party Platforms Assignment        

Task: Fill in the table below using the websites and the 2013 platforms of the Democratic and Republican parties. In each space, write down the major viewpoints of each party. Also, choose a third party to analyze. Links to party websites are on the class blog under the “Political Party Links” on the right. See if you can find any NEW stances on the following issues. Make sure to find a third party and where they stand on the issues!

               

Issue	Democrats	Republicans	Third Party:
Immigration
Gun control
Social Security
Health Care
Taxes and Tax Cuts
National Defense
Energy Production
Education
Abortion Rights
Global Warming/ Climate Change
Same-Sex Marriage
The War in Afghanistan/Iraq/ Possible forgein threats N. Korea, Iran,Syria

Summary:

Do this on your own paper (typed or handwritten).

1. What do you see as the fundamental differences between the Democrats and the Republicans and what do you see are the major similarities? List three of each (similarities and differences) and fully explain your answer.

2.            Does the third-party you selected more closely resemble the Republicans or Democrats? Explain.

Yesterday

We watched two things, the first was on how primary elections work and the other was on the debt limit explained (Which we have to raised the debt ceiling on Oct.17th) this also tied in well with the struggle over the budget. And we also covered of the reading PowerPoint pages 236-242 (See left side link)

Study for the Unit review (Chapter 1-3)

Here is the review from today. Study!!! Remember you have Chapter 3 study guide, Reading Notes due tomorrow as well!!

Don't forget to memorize the Preamble for some bonus points on the Unit test

You should memorize the Preamble to the US Constitution for Friday's test.
Also you should have you Federalism in Action homework ready at the beginning of class.
Today is our first look at the AP US Government and Politics essay writing style. We will be examining a prompt from an old exam and the scoring method, as well as scoring some essays. I can't post the materials on the blog because they are copyrighted, so if you were absent, come and see me! Also, make sure to study your terms
This might help for the Preamble (might)...

Pages 75- 82 (3.3) Questions/ Discusion

Post your questions/ thoughts from the reading pgs 75-82.

Today's assignment in the library. Use your time wisely. You do have sufficient time to complete all the assignments in the allotted time.

Welcome to AP GOV and Politics. Today you will have some tasks to complete before the end of the day so please make sure that you use your time wisely!

1. Respond to this post by putting your name, period, a destination that you'd like to go and a destination that you've been that you love. (Make sure that you know how to get here in the future)
2. Go to Turnitin.com, make sure that you have added this class. If you have an account this process will be easier. If you don't have an account follow the steps for creating an account and make sure to remember your information for later use. (Write down in your Journal). Once there and you have completed the steps for adding my class. Go to the "discussion' tab. View the prompt. FOLLOW the directions.(When responding to a student post please make sure to give thoughtful details and also your name at the end of the comment Once you have completed that please move to the next step. *Hint opening up multiple tabs may help you in this process.Class id:                                                                                                 4th  Period: 6906325                                     Password: reed                                                                                          
3. Create a Google Drive account. We will be using Google Drive for many class projects and assignments. You don’t have to have a Gmail account to access this, but it is easier to use with a Gmail account. You can also create a Google account using another email. After you have created your Google Drive account, create a new document and write one paragraph about the following question: “What is the purpose of government? Do we really need it? What do you think the role of our government is ? (Local,State, and Federal)/ (Internationally/domestically)”  After you have written your paragraph, click the blue “share” button in the top right corner and share it with me (jim.reed@washougalsd.org). All is due at the conclusion of class.
4. If you finish early please review your notes for tomorrow's Chapter 2 quiz. Please make sure that you turn in your study guide for chapter two at the beginning of class tomorrow. Please feel free to use the uploaded PowerPoints to review as well. You should also know details from the major current events over the past week and a half.  Also, you could use your "extra" time to do you current events that are due on Friday!

Here is the link for the 9/11 video, if you can find the time it is worth it. I am only going to link up the first of twelve parts to this. It is the best one that I could find in terms of quality... Click here
Make sure that you do the reading for tonight pages 35-39. Keep up on your reading notes... Expect a reading quiz tomorrow~!

Adam Thomas question- "What is the difference between a law and a policy.

What is the difference between a law and a policy?

It is important to understand the difference between a policy and a law.

A policy outlines what a government ministry hopes to achieve and the methods and principles it will use to achieve them.  It states the goals of the ministry. A policy document is not a law but it will often identify new laws needed to achieve its goals.

Laws set out standards, procedures and principles that must be followed. If a law is not followed, those responsible for breaking them can be prosecuted in court.

So, policy sets out the goals and planned activities of a ministry and department but it may be necessary to pass a law to enable government to put in place the necessary institutional and legal frameworks to achieve their aims. Laws must be guided by current government policy.

Yesterday we covered part of an intro to government PowerPoint (Which is posted on the left hand side of the page). Homework for last night was to read pages 3-13 and expect to have a small reading quiz right when you walk in the door and the bell has rung. Today we are going to taking the reading quiz. Asking if there were any questions on the reading last night. Then continuing with a PowerPoint on Chapter 1.Homework- to read for 9/5/13 pages 13-18 and continue with your reading notes. Also expect to have a reading quiz tomorrow.

Welcome to AP Government and Politics!

I will be using this blog to keep students and parents updated with what is happening in this class. I will be posting daily lessons, including PowerPoints from class discussions, as well as documents and assignments.

The calendar (scroll down) shows daily class topics, due dates, quiz and test dates, and daily reading assignments. The pages listed on a calendar day means that you need to come to class the next day with those pages already read. There will be short reading quizzes on a near-daily basis that will be based on this reading. For example, Wednesday, September 5th shows "Pages 3-13." That means you need to come to class on Thursday  prepared to discuss, and be quizzed over, pages 3-13.

Let me know if you have any questions. Students and parents can always email me!
Thanks, and I am looking forward to examining the American systems of government and politics!

Mr. Reed