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