UPDATED AP U.S. Gov, Movies, and Extra Credit

I've let slip in a few blocks that I would consider extra credit in the gradebook for people who take an "extra" interest in public affairs, politics, government issues, etc. For now, I'm offering that to people who do the following:

1. See a current movie about public affairs, political issues, government, etc.
2. Bring a ticket stub from said movie.
3. Attach a one-page write-up which explains how the movie relates to our class and what new or "extra" you learned by seeing the movie.

Not just any movie will suffice for this. Here's a list of current movies (in theaters now unless noted) that I think will work. If you have a different idea, propose it to me. You can find info and listings for these movies at RottenTomatoes.com.

• King Corn
• Lake of Fire
• Jimmy Carter, Man From Plains
• In The Valley of Elah
• Darfur Now
• Rendition
• Lions For Lambs
  
• Redacted (opens 11/16)
• Charlie Wilson's War (opens 12/25)

UPDATED 11/11/07

Two instead of Four. Grrr...

Ok, so apparently I've given conflicting directions about the number of Unit 2 Discussion questions you are required to answer. My apologies.

Officially, you are now required to only do TWO (2). Grrrrr...

~Mr. G.

This Week in AP U.S. Gov #9

Seniors, as you begin this week, you've finished the first 1/4 of the school year! Congrats. Now it's time to double your efforts and to stay on top of things. Check the fully up-to-date Course Calendar to make sure you're on track. Some highlites:

• Unit 2 Basics are linked and due on Mon/Tues Nov. 5/6.
• You have a "Unit 2 Basics Quiz" on that date.
• You should be doing the reading actively and taking notes carefully - be prepared for reading quizzes at all times!
• If you haven't printed the online Lecture Notes, get on 'em.
• You should now have at least six (6) original posts on your Blogspot, and have made eighteen (18) reply posts on distinct Blogspots.
  
• You should now have seven (7) weeks of Current Events and Editorials in your notebook!

Don't do the essay!

Hey Even Day peeps: you don't have to do the essay per the worksheet the sub gave you to do over the weekend. I'm getting emails and IMs asking about it and I'm telling you now not to do that part.

You should definitely read the whole thing, and do the questions, and choose arguments you like and dislike, but just note them, and don't do a whole essay.

Now if you already did it, you're an all-star and show it to me in class and I'll tell you in person you're an all-star. :-)

~Mr. G

Patriotism and American Political Culture

While you wade into these murky waters as part of the homework due Monday/Tuesday, consider this recent development in the presidential campaign:

Obama Stops Wearing Flag Pin
By MIKE GLOVER

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin because it has become a substitute for "true patriotism" since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Asked about it Wednesday in an interview with KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Illinois senator said he stopped wearing the pin shortly after the attacks and instead hoped to show his patriotism by explaining his ideas to citizens.

"The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.

"I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest," he said in the interview. "Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testament to my patriotism."

On Thursday, his campaign issued a statement: "We all revere the flag, but Senator Obama believes that being a patriot is about more than a symbol. It's about fighting for our veterans when they get home and speaking honestly with the American people about this disastrous war."

You can link to the full article here: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkfaEohqv6mY_K46tJ4waCivh0kAD8S2K3UO0

UPDATE (Sat, 10/6, 9:00am): Now the NYT Opinionator Blog has weighed in about Obama's "Patriotism Fashion Statement" and the comments from readers are fascinating too. Check it all out here: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/fashion-statement/index.html?ex=1349323200&en=acd9108ea586209d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Video Blogger hired by Politico

At the risk of beating a dead horse... You know you have the traditional media scared when they hire you:

James Kotecki, one of YouTube’s most popular political video bloggers has been hired by the respected Politico.com (an online and paper daily focused on political news). Kotecki began posting videos to YouTube from his Georgetown University dorm room in late January, 2007. Three months later, he hosted Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) in the first-ever dorm room interview with a Presidential candidate. He has since interviewed a total of seven Presidential candidates including former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.). He has appeared on CNN, Fox News, NPR, and the BBC, and he has been profiled by The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Yahoo! News, and US News and World Report.

The story from Politico can be found here: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6142.html

This Week in AP U.S. Gov #6

The sixth week is here. Many of you are probably thinking that grades are coming soon, so let's start this "this week" there...

Unit 1 Exam - 100 points in the gradebook: take your m/c and frq scores, add them, divide by 65 and you'll get your score. So, if you're score was the class average of 47.7 you get 72.3 points in the gradebook.

What else is in the gradebook? Well, you've got two chapter reading quizzes (ch. 1 & 2), three weeks of blogging, several sets of homework points, and this week you'll pick up quiz points on Thur/Fri and another week's worth of blog points on Friday.

We're starting Unit 2, Political Beliefs and Behaviors this week. We'll be learning how people get their ideas about government and politics. How did your friend become a bleeding heart liberal? How did your other friend become a family values conservative? Why is public opinion split on so many issues? We'll answer these questions and many more in the next few weeks.

I'll be posting the Unit 2 Basics soon. Don't wait 'till the last minute this time! I'm going to toss in a wrinkle called the "Unit Basics Quiz". You love it...

~Mr. G.

This Week in AP U.S. Gov #5

Well gang, it's here, your first exam. It's a big deal of course - you only take three or four of these this semester - so treat it with the respect it deserves. STUDY!

Your Unit 1 Basics cover the most critical material, and I have also posted on the calendar page a "Fast Track" for the exam which has a brief review of each chapter and sample questions to study. I think if you know the "Basics" and the "Fast Track" you're going to be in good shape for the exam.

The exam is multiple choice and "free response". Check out the document called "FRQ Strategy" to help understand how to do well on the written section.

You catch a break and have ZERO homework due the day after the exam. Enjoy.

~Mr. G.

NPR: "blogosphere is shaping our political and news environment"

Traditional news outlets like NPR and the New York Times are heralding the influence of the blogosphere and Facebook in putting the Jena story into the national discussion.

Additionally, NPR reports blogs are increasingly responsible for decisions made by prominent national leaders.

Yup, you people are the persons of the year.

Click here for the story.

Note: The picture above is a screenshot of the story in the link (above) on NPR's website.

This Week in AP U.S. Gov #4

It's the 4th week of school and we're getting ready to wrap up the first unit of study. Make sure you are caught up on all the reading and making good notes. Know chapter 3 for class this week! {wink, wink}

You should have commented on 3 blogspots by now;Friday is the deadline for your second blog; and this weekend the AP U.S. Government & Politics podcast goes live on iTunes. More on that soon...

~Mr. G.

Blogs and Comments

AP Gov-ers,

The first Friday of the 3rd week has come and gone and nearly every one of you is a published blogger. Congratulations!

1. Stick to politics - don't post about your pet rock, mom's apple pie, or your new stamp collecting club.

2. The tone of your blog entries should fit the subject, audience, and purpose. You're writing opinions about American politics - a silly tone will make your opinion seem silly, which will render it unconvincing. That goes for comments on other people's blogs too.

3. Comments - the "soft" due date for these is mid-week-"ish". By Wednesday 9/19-ish, you should comment on 3 blog entries on 3 different blogspots. For each of the next 14 weeks, choose a new 3 blogspots on which to comment. By the semester exam, you'll have commented on 45 different blogs. You can always comment on more than 3 blogs, or become "a regular" on a particular blogspot, but you still must do the 3 different blogspots each week. If you get into the assignment by posting extra blog entries and commenting on more than 3 each week, you'll find you really enjoy politics!

4. RSS - The APUSGOV Blogosphere Directory (on the right) can help you navigate all our blogspots. Additionally, you may find setting up RSS feeds of the blogs you like and those you commented on might be worthwhile for you. You can see in the picture above (click on it) that I've done that for all our blogs. And you were wondering how I was going to surf around the web to all 150 blogspots! Remember, I'm the person of the year - they come to me!

This Week in AP U.S. Gov #3

Some reminders:

• By Friday 9/13 at 3:00pm, you should be a published blogger. The subject must be related to anything in the American political sphere, but that's about the only content requirement - that leaves you many possible subjects!
  
  
• If you haven't already, email me your Blogspot URL immediately. If I don't have your blog address by Friday, no blog project points for you this week! mgwaltney@chaminade.org
  
  
• How long should your blog entry be? For having had many days to think about your entry, it should be of a substantial length. "A paragraph" is too short. If you really need a specific length, try this entry on my personal blog as an example: http://mikegwaltney.blogspot.com/2007/08/socialist-plot-excellent-krugman.html
  
  
• Keep up with the reading! I won't always quiz you or ask if you did it, but I won't cover everything in the reading that will be on the quizzes and exams - if you don't read it and I don't explain it in class, you'll be stuck if it shows up on the exam.
  
  
• There are a few great PowerPoint lecture notes on the Lecture Notes page that I'd suggest you go through when you have time. You may notice that I'm bumping around through them in class but I may not go through each one completely. It's to your advantage to print, study, know, love, and be those notes!
  
  
• The last announced reading quiz is Thursday/Friday. After that, they'll come without warning.
  
  
• Check the course calendar online frequently to know what's coming - there's an exam on the horizon!
  

Comment here if you have questions or concerns.

~Mr. G.

Blog Project Assignment Podcast

If you weren't in class for the explanation of our project in "authentic political participation", you'll love this - I've created a podcast with my audio explanation of the assignment and the Powerpoint presentation that accompanied it in class. Check it out below.

If you were in class, you've lived through this already. If you want to clarify details, learn more about the project, or if you weren't in class for this original presentation, or if you just love to hear me talk, click on the video and get everything you ever wanted to know about the Current Events Blog Project. Enjoy

~ Mr. G.

This Week in APUSGOV #2

Welcome to the second week of class. If you're still here on Wednesday and Thursday you've decided you agree with the syllabus and are ready to take on "Political Science 101" - Excellent!

This week we get into the purpose and structure of the American Constitution, review a little history from the early years of the country, and try to make sense of what politics are.

As for what you'll be doing this week (homework, etc.): read the first chapter of the Wilson book, start working on terms and concepts to know from the first unit, take your first quiz, and start paying attention to current events. You'll also be introduced to our year-long project this week.

The first ever APUSGOV Podcast will debut this week. Look for that Friday.

If you have questions, concerns, and/or comments, use the comment link below. See you in class.

~Mr. G.

Politics of God Reading Guide and the Wilson textbook

A Reading Guide to help you with the reading and comprehension of Mark Lilla's "Politics of God" article has been posted to the Course Calendar. Be sure to click on the link to get the guide.

I will not be collecting your responses, but will likely be checking that you've done the guide.

As of this moment, there are 21 "used and new" copies of the Wilson textbook at Amazon.com (21 of them indicate immediate/fast shipping). You have the first chapter of reading due first day back next week, so decide if you want to purchase one of these or wait for Varsity.

Click on the "comments" link under this post if you have a question or comment.

~Mr. G

Welcome to AP U.S. Government & Politics and "This Week In APUSGOV #1"

Congratulations! You've reached the last year of high school and the course that will bridge the gap between childhood and life as an adult: you will learn what it means to be a "citizen" this year.

Each week I will begin with an update on this blog page - the update will preview the topics of the week, remind you of the readings and homework, and give you my comments. Be sure to check it often.

This week we begin our study of American government in a philosophical way. You'll be reading Hobbes, Rousseau, and Locke - some of the biggest players in our sport. Take good notes! We'll finish the week by examining the current question of religion in politics, from here to Iraq as we read "The Politics of God" from the New York Times. Of course, you'll be doing some writing too.

Make it your regular habit to check this page for constant updates and the COURSE CALENDAR link at the right of this page. The calendar will indicate the readings and homework for the course.

You can ask a question or make a comment by using the comments link below this post. Or you can just email me.

Enjoy the course!

~Mr. G.

Summer Reading CORRECTION

Ok, the school made a mistake and inadvertently posted last summer's rules for this summer's reading. The books to read, and the assignements were/are correct, but the rules about the written work and the workshops is wrong...

So here is the deal for summer '07:

If you attend ONE of the summer reading workshops (either Thur, Aug 9, or Thur, Aug 16) you do NOT have to turn in the written work when school begins. You must still do the readings of course, and before the workshop. So, yes, you read that correctly, if you go to the workshop, you don't have to do the written work.

It was a simple mistake, the school regrets it, and now you have clarification. Tell your friends to register for the workshops ASAP as they'll fill up. They'll be really helpful for the summer reading exam, not to mention getting out of the written work.

If you have questions, email me at mgwaltney@chaminade.org.

MJG

Summer Reading

Welcome to AP U.S. Government & Politics '07-'08.

SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT:

1. Actively read (mark up, take notes, know) The Republic by Plato (I recommend the 2003 Penguin Classics edition, ISBN: 0140449140), and do the “Republic Reading Guide” at http://216.101.58.17/hs/mgwaltney/apusgovt/files/Plato%20Republic%20Reading%20Guide.pdf

2. Actively read (mark up, take notes, know) Federalist Papers #10 & #51 (available at many sources online and in the course textbook), and write a one page response with at least three (3) quotes for each of the two essays.

3. Actively read (mark up, take notes, know) Hardball: How Politics is Played by Chris Matthews (updated in 1999, ISBN: 0684845598), and write one page of critical review or a personal response including three (3) quotes for each chapter.

SUMMER READING WORKSHOPS

Everyone has to do the reading and writing. It's also a good idea to sign up for a Summer Reading Workshop - the advantage is that we'll go over the reading together and you'll be prepared specifically for the Summer Reading Exam given on the first day of class. It's worth $100. Be sure to come to the workshop with the reading finished (you can do the writing after the workshop if you'd like). Choose from the following two dates:

Thursday, Aug.9, 8:00-3:00
or
Thursday, Aug 16, 8:00-3:00

If you have questions, email me at mgwaltney@chaminade.org

Gwaltney's AP US Gov goes Web 2.0 for '07-'08

In August '07, Gwaltney's AP U.S. Government & Politics class will go "Web 2.0".

Web 2.0 refers to the second-generation of web sites. Based on online communities and various web services like blogging, social networking, and RSS feeds, Web 2.0 sites facilitate collaboration and sharing between users.

The new website for my class will complete my move from an "information silo"-style website (Frontpage site I began in 2000) to a series of sites created by an unlimited number of people within the American body politic, all generating and distributing content, characterized by open communication, decentralization of authority, freedom to share and re-use information - essentially a marketplace of ideas. The goal will be a rich, interactive, and user-friendly interface allowing democratic participation.