What's included
3 pre-recorded lessons
3 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Three (3) non commutative quizzes Fill in, identifiers, definitions, matching etc. These quizzes will require you to not only memorize the information from the lectures, readings, etc., but also apply the ideas and concepts to other situations to ensure you truly have a handle of the information.Assessment
Submitted work will be assessed and graded Missed Exams and Late Papers: Outside of sudden illness and unforeseen circumstances, missed exams will receive a zero. If for some reason you will be absent on the day of the exam, arrangements to take the exam during a different class period must be made prior to the day of the exam. Papers will lose 10 (ten) points for every day they are late. Papers will only be accepted up to five (5) days past the due date. If you face circumstances that will prevent you from turning the paper in on time, please notify me in advance. I will determine what accommodations should be made on a case-by-case basis.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
Welcome students! This US Government course for high school students, helps students understand the founding principles of American government. This 3 week-long course is 100% online, taken asynchronously with no specific “live” sessions, or meeting time requirements. It will prepare students for university, and help them become independent learners! Asynchronous courses are great for students who prefer a flexible schedule! ⭐️ Weekly ⭐️ Each week you will explore a presentation on the topic and receive a related assignment - Students may take a picture of their assignment to upload to the classroom after completing This section of the multi-part course will introduce the Executive Branch of the American government - the Presidency! We will examine the requirements to run for President from Article II of the Constitution, powers of the president, and the duties and responsibilities that are carried out by the President. ⭐️ Learning Goals and Topics ⭐️ - Understand the structure and procedures of local, state, and federal governments - Read complex texts and understand them - Learn and utilise research skills to interpret and apply information - The Constitution, Civil Rights & Liberties, Government Institutions, Participation in Government, Public Policy ⭐️ Prior to First Class ⭐️ You may wish to come prepared to the first class, having read the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution: Preamble, Articles I-VII and the Bill of Rights. Next year is the year of the Presidential election; all students are expected to keep up to date with election coverage of not only the Presidential election but also House and Senate seats. ⭐️ Assignments and Grades ⭐️ Three (3) Non-Cumulative quizzes: Fill in, identifiers, definitions, matching etc. These quizzes will require you to not only memorize the information from the lectures, readings, etc., but also apply the ideas and concepts to other situations to ensure you truly have a handle of the information. ——— By the end of the multi-part course, students will understand features of the United States political system, such as Federalism, the branches of government, the Electoral College and political parties. As a class we will explore the United States Constitution and its importance to the survival of our Republic. Students will not only understand the concepts and ideas presented to them, but also be able to apply them to a vast number of situations in the future. The final unit of the course will introduce students to the topic of Economics and the Free Market. We will cover introductory themes of Micro and Macro Economics, supply and demand and the role of the Free Market in the American Founding.
Learning Goals
We will
- study the political processes to gain an understanding of the role of individuals in the decision-making process of the American government
- learn about the rights and responsibilities of the citizens of the United States.
- investigate American government though a variety of methods, including examining primary source documents, conducting research projects, class discussion, and a written essay
Syllabus
3 Lessons
over 3 WeeksLesson 1:
Week 1 - The Presidency: What kind of government?
This week we will discuss what a President is, what kind of government we have, and why that is unique around the world
Lesson 2:
Week 2 - Checks and Balances
This week we will learn about the powers of the Presidency as well as the checks and balances on the branches of government
Lesson 3:
Week 3 - The Electoral College
This week we are taking a deeper dive into the Electoral College, Gerrymandering, and Strategic Targeting within the Presidential Elections.
Other Details
Learning Needs
This class was developed with you in mind! I specifically designed this course to be neurodivergent and neurotypical friendly & I warmly welcome students of all backgrounds to take my class!
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Resources:
Federalist Papers
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/fed.asp
Articles of Confederation
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/artconf.asp
The Virginia Plan
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/vatexta.asp
The U.S. Constitution
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/usconst.asp
Declaration of Independence
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declare.asp
Freedom House – Freedom of Expression rankings
http://www.freedomhouse.org
Larry J. Sabato, Director, UVA Center for Politics
http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/
Readings and Books: For this course we will not use a traditional textbook. Instead, we will rely heavily on primary sources as well as select secondary readings to aid in further analysis. Students should have a library card, or have access to one, and create a Hoopla account by visiting https://www.hoopladigital.com/home or downloading the Hoopla app on a mobile device.
Democracy in America by Alexis De Tocqueville
http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/tocqueville-democracy-in-america-historical-critical-edition-vol-1
https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-America-Signet-Classics-Tocqueville/dp/0451531604/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1471379316&sr=8-5&keywords=Democracy+in+america
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/papers_pdf/117717.pdf
https://www.hoopladigital.com/home
For checking out digital books
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have a degree in political science and have spent over 15 years working in all aspects of politics including, but not limited to: campaigns, policy, research, and instruction. I have also taught a similar course to this, in person, for over five years.
Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$12
weekly or $35 for all content3 pre-recorded lessons
3 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Completed by 3 learners
Choose your start date
Ages: 13-18