Course Overview and Expectations

CT Standards Pre-Assessment: Literacy and Application

FQ: Focus Question

SA: Schema Activator

K: Students will know...

U: Students will understand...

D: Students will do...

·       FQ: What should every citizen know in order to be able to affectively to participate in democracy?

SA: List the key ideas / concepts that YOU think an American citizen should know to participate in our democracy. Be as specific as possible.

K: Requirements for citizenship.

U: That most Americans cannot pass the required  citizenship test given to immigrants applying for American citizenship.

D: Take the citizenship test and discuss how results compare to your original list of what every American should know.

HW Reflection: Should the US citizenship test be a graduation requirement? Why/Why not? (Well constructed paragraph)

What do the ideological terms mean (liberal, conservative, libertarian, etc)? Why does the linear political spectrum really not work?

Political Ideology Activity

HW: Complete Political Ideology Activity

Voter Registration Rates 1968-2008

US Census Voting and Registration data

What have you learned about your emerging political ideology?

What do the ideological terms mean (liberal, conservative, libertarian, etc)? Why does the linear political spectrum really not work?

Complete Vote Match surveys

How do your political views match 2012 presidential candidates and political parties?

Health Care Reform

HW:Young Voters Page

Assignment for Young Voters

ABC-Clio STUDENT ACCESS CODE:

Username: litchfield
Password: cowboys

Data Analysis: Voting trends 1968-2008

HW: Predict  voter registration and turn out using the data charts provided.

Share data analysis and discuss significance of what is represented vs. what is not - be able to identify statistics omitted that would have changed the outcome.

Begin Unit Review: What should every citizen know in order to be able to effectively to participate in democracy?

HW:  Identify, Explain, and defend the top ten things every citizen should know in order to effectivly participate in government.

Share top 10 and compile group list.

Research the data on your assigned topic- you must be able to defend your topic using evidence that shows the deficiency in that area.

Examples:

• People need to know where to vote. Gather data that supports your claim that citizens do not vote because they don't know where to go.
• Citizens need to be aware of political issues. Data that supports/shows % of individuals who are unaware or not interested in current political issues.

HW:  Finish your reseach of assigned item and bring to class along with a proposal for Letterman interpretation.

1. Share individual issues with research - check each others work to ensure accuracy.
2. Write your top 10 list in a word doc and underline the fact embedded in the statement. Toe ensure that your top 10 is unique - Do not share with the class today. You will present on Thursday.
3. Turn all work into the substitute and begin untit review.

1. Letterman top 10 share.

Assessment: peers must be able to identify the facts in your top 10 presentation!

2. Unit Assessment (Monday)

Know and be able to:

·         Identify the most important elements of the American political culture and how we learn them. ("I pledge of alliegence to the flag...")

·        Compare and contrast different ideological assumptions about government.

·        Assess the arguments for and against each ideology.

·        Analyze the importance of each ideology in light of competing ideas such as pragmatism, practicality and the changing agenda of American politics.

·        Explain the necessity of politically informed citizens participating in the democratic process.