In this 8 week flex course, students will explore the four prominent ideologies of the last one hundred years with an emphasis on socialism.  Students will examine the political history, institutions, and culture of Russia and China.
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 Russia or China.  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 8 weeks:

Ideology - What Is it?  (Weeks 1 and 2)
-Students will explore the four major ideologies of the last one hundred years: socialism, liberalism, fascism, and religion as ideology
-Students will learn the concepts of Marxism and Marxism-Leninism 

Russia - Tsars to Communist Revolution to Democracy (Weeks 3, 4, 5)
-Students will explore the journey that led Russia to its present day political institutions and culture.
-Students will explore the present day institutions and electoral procedures of Russia.

China - Dynastic Rule to the Mao Era to the Party State (Weeks 6, 7, 8)
-Students will explore China's journey to its long standing existence as a one party state
-Students will explore the impact of Mao Zedong's cultural revolution on Communist China
-Students will learn the control the Communist Party has on the political institutions and culture of the nation.

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 course, High School Comparative Politics - Session 1, prior to enrolling in this class.  Additional sessions of this class 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 3 which will focus on the political institutions, culture, and history of the United Kingdom and France.