MRS. WOOD'S AMERICAN GOVERNMENT CLASSES - FALL 2009
SCHOOL CALENDAR:
*Winter Break: Begin Saturday 12/19, Ends Sunday 1/3
*CAL-SOAP Financial Aid Workshops: in Gov't, Econ classes on Tuesday 1/5
*End of Term 2: Friday 1/15 (Late Start Minimum Day)
*Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - Monday 1/18
SPECIAL CLASS REMINDERS:
*Email to Representative: Rough Draft due 1/8. Final Email due 1/15.
*Portfolio: Executive/Judicial Branches: due Weds 1/6
PORTFOLIO: Chapters 13, 14 Executive Branch
#1 HW: 13.1 Obama News "presidential roles" summary
#2 Presidential Roles 9/11 Documentary worksheet
#3 HW: 13.3-13.5 Electoral College Summary - 3/4 page
#4 Notes: 13.1/13.2
#5 Quiz: 13.1/13.2 handout
#6 Electoral College Lesson handout
#7 HW: 410 #12, 14, 23 and 411 #33
#8 Quiz: Electoral College
#9 Notes: Chapter 14 "Walkabout"
#10 Primary Source: Watergate Cartoon
#11 HW: Watergate Essay
#12 Notes: Watergate ppt and "All the President's Men"
WEEK 8 HOMEWORK (CURRENT WEEK):
Mon 12/14: Skim Chapter 14 (390-408). Answer: #12,14, 23 p410 & #33 p411.
Tues 12/15: See Monday!
Weds 12/16: Watergate Scandal Summary. Minimum 1 full page. Summarize the "who, what, when,
where, why, how, legacy, etc." of the scandal. You may do this in narrative form, or make "bullet
notes" of important points, or write a "news article" about the scandal. Although the book contains
some information (look in your index...several pages are listed), you'll need to use outside sources.
First, go to the smroyals.org site. Click on Library. Check out the on-line sources. The World Book
Advanced (for example) has a good summary of Watergate (there are many articles...I went to the
article titled "Watergate". You will need the library codes: sanmarcos and royals.
Thurs 12/17: See Wednesday.
Weekend: Winter Break! Complete your Executive Branch portfolio and work on the Email to
Representative.
WEEK 7 HOMEWORK:
Mon 12/7: Read 13.1/13.2 (354-363). Find a current news article (past 4 weeks to present) about
President Obama. Summarize the news story, identify which presidential role/roles are highlighted
in the story (refer to your Chapter 13 reading), attach the news article to your summary. Due Weds.
Tues 12/8: See Monday. Assignment is due tomorrow. We will use the assignment for a group
activity tomorrow.
Weds 12/9: Skim 13.3-13.5 (365-384). Write a minimum 3/4 page reflection is which you: describe
the Electoral College process, add the pros/cons of the Electoral College (your opinion), what are
possible alternates (if we amended the process) and what do you think the U.S. should do (leave the
Electoral College as is or amend it, and if so, how?). Due Friday.
Thurs 12/10: See Wednesday. Assignment is due tomorrow.
Weekend: Term Paper! Due on Monday. Refer to your handout, or look at the handout on my
website (click on Special Projects, then Government Term Paper).
WEEK 6 HOMEWORK:
Mon 11/30: Complete all homework for Chapters 10, 12.
Tues 12/1: Work on your Term Paper research and writing
Weds 12/2: Study for Legislative Branch Exam (Chapters 10, 11, 12).
Thurs 12/3: Term Paper, Extra Credit Congress Hunt (w/worksheet)
Weekend: Term Paper (you should be finishing up this project - it's due on 12/14).
WEEK 5 HOMEWORK:
Mon 11/23: Read Chapter 12 (320-346). Do: copy the chart on p345, and do #14
p348.
Tues 11/24: Work the chapters 10, 11, 12 reading and assignments. You have
until the end of next
week.
Weds - Friday: Thanksgiving Holiday.
WEEK 4 HOMEWORK:
Mon 11/16: Study Chapters 2,3
Tues 11/17: Study Chapters 2,3
Weds 11/18: Skim Chapter 10 (262-284). Do: #14,15 p286.
Thurs 11/19: See Weds.
Weekend: Work on your term paper (due on 12/14), and read Chapter 11
(pp290-314). No written
assignment, skim read only.
WEEK 3 HOMEWORK:
Mon 11/9: Complete Chapter 2 reading and assignment (refer to last Weds, 11/4).
Tues 11/10: Read 64-70 (3.1). Assignment: Copy the chart (completely) on
p68. No Homework
Choice for this assignment.
Weds 11/11: VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY
Thurs 11/12: Read 72-77 (3.2). Do: #2 & 6 p77.
Weekend: Read 79-82 (3.3). Do: #1 & 5 p82 (due Tuesday). Also...work on
Term Paper.
WEEK 2 HOMEWORK:
MON 11/2: Re-skim through Chapter 1. Also, think about your Term paper topic
(research day in
the library tomorrow).
TUES 11/3: Study for Chapter 1 Quiz tomorrow.
WEDS 11/4: Read Chapter 2 (28-58). Answer #34 on page 61. 1/2 page minimum
response. Due
next Weds.
THURS 11/5: See WEDS.
WEEKEND: Work on your research paper. Due 12/14.
WEEK 1 HOMEWORK:
MON 10/26: Read pp4-10 (1.1). Paragraph Response: "What did you learn?".
TUES 10/27: Special Sign-up Assignment - 1 page summary of one of the
following sections:
*Great Britain: 647-650
*Mexico: 651-652
*Capitalism: 658-663
*Socialism: 666-670
*Communism: 672-674
*Soviet Union/China/et al: 674-676
WEDS 10//28: See Tuesday.
THURS 10/29: Read pp12-16 (1.2). Paragraph Response: Explain the differences
between a Unitary
and Federal geographic distribution of power AND argue why the federal system
is the best system
for the United States.
WEEKEND: Term Paper - Research. Read last section of Chapter 1 (18-22).
IDEAS FOR "HOMEWORK CHOICE":
*Answer the assigned question(s).
*Write a "bullet point" summary of the main points of the reading
(approximately 3/4 page for each text section of reading).
*Draw 3 or more pictures, with descriptive paragraphs, which detail
information in the reading (per section of reading)
*Create a "diary entry", "letter", or "newspaper article" that includes
important information from the reading (write as if you are living
in the era, or have witnessed the event, etc.).
*Compose a poem or song about the reading.
*Make a crossword puzzle using the vocabulary in each section
of reading (include the "clues").
CHOOSE ONLY OF THE ABOVE OPTIONS TO COMPLETE YOUR
HOMEWORK.
NOTE FOR TERM PAPER:
Please refer to your worksheet for a complete list of
ideas. There are many choices for topics.
You can investigate an interesting political event (Watergate, invasion of
Grenanda, Iran Hostage Crisis, Bay of Pigs, etc.), compare two post-war
presidencies, delve into a
current political topic (alternative energy, economic crisis, health care,
abortion, gun control),
research the history and current policies of the CIA, or FBI, or UN, or NATO,
examine Supreme Court
decisions...etc. Whatever interests you.
The focus of the paper should be a state or federal government agency, policy,
issue, or action..with
background or historical information, AND your analysis (opinion with
supporting argument).