High School Comparative Politics - Session 4

In this 6 week flex course, students will examine the political history, political institutions, and political culture of South Africa and Nigeria, and explore democratization and conditions the encourage democracy.
Powerpoint led videos will be posted weekly to the classroom for students to view and take notes on.  Some videos will utilize independent note taking, while others will have a worksheet study guide to complete as they listen and learn.
Students will receive outside homework and quizzes via the class discussion stream to help reinforce class lessons and solidify the information they are learning.  An end of session evaluation will be provided to parents for your student's portfolio/records.
Students will be asked to contribute twice weekly to thought discussions initiated by the instructor in the class stream.  Participating in these conversations as a contributor and recipient of ideas and opinions is a way to grow critical thinking skills and see beyond our own world.
Students will work collaboratively on a "World Leaders Project".  Each student will be assigned a leader from South Africa or Nigeria.  They will gather information (as directed by the instructor) and will present the information in a video to their peers.  This information will be necessary for the students to complete an end of session project assignment.

The following is an outline of what will be covered in the 6weeks:

Nigeria (Weeks 1, 2, 3)
-Students will explore Nigeria's struggle to install a democratic regime multiple times in the last eighty years.
-Students will contemplate the sources of conflict in the political system of Nigeria.
-Students will explore the present day institutions and electoral procedures of Nigeria.

-Students will explore the present day political institutions and electoral procedures of France
South Africa  (Weeks 4, 5, 6)
-Students will explore the concept of apartheid and South Africa's transition from apartheid to a multiracial democracy.
-Students will contemplate the impact of the domination of one political party in post-apartheid South Africa.
-Students will explore the present day institutions and electoral procedures of South Africa.

Students should have the ability to do basic writing in order to take notes and do class worksheets.  The age range for this class is 14-18 year olds and is best geared towards high school age students.

Though not required, it is helpful to have taken my flex courses, High School Comparative Politics - Session 1, 2, and 3 prior to enrolling in this class.  Five total sessions of this course will be offered leading to it culminating in a full and complete comparative politics course.  Students are encouraged to enroll in High School Comparative Politics - Session 5 which will focus on the political institutions, culture, and history of Mexico and Brazil.