Política comparada en la escuela secundaria - Sesión 5

In this 6 week flex course, students will examine the political history, political institutions, and political culture of Mexico and Brazil.
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 Mexico or Brazil.  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 6 weeks:

Mexico  (Weeks 1, 2, 3)
-Students will explore the democratization of Mexico and the dominance of the Institutional Revolutionary Party.
-Students will examine the impact of grassroots organizations in expanding democratic participation in Mexico.
-Students will explore the present day political institutions and electoral procedures of Mexico.

Brazil  (Weeks 4, 5, 6)
-Students will explore the instability from democratic and authoritarian regimes in Brazil.
-Students will examine elements of democracy that existed under Brazil's military regime and aided its transition to democracy.
-Students will explore the challenges to Brazil's contemporary democracy
-Students will explore the present day political institutions and electoral procedures of Brazil+.

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, 3, and 4 prior to enrolling in this class.  This is the fifth and final session of a full year of comparative politics study.