Journals should be completed during the first five minutes of class each day. Each entry is worth 4 points. Mrs. Herrin will collect these approximately every two weeks. Please see the rubric for further grading information.
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JOURNAL RUBRIC
Journal Topics
January 2: What do you expect to learn in Government class this semester?
Class introductions and syllabus. Journal rubric.
January 3: What is one thing that you have noticed in the news?
Current event blog. Go to bookstore.
January 8: What is one way in which citizens can participate in the government? Why is it important for citizens to be involved?
Aspects of democracy ppt
January 9: What is “rule of law” and why is it important in the United States?
Euthanasia discussion introduction and DID reading with annotations
January 10: Is euthanasia morally acceptable?
Euthanasia Public Issues Model
January 13: What is the purpose of government?
Euthanasia poll analysis
January 14: In what ways can the wording of a poll question influence the outcome of the poll?
Introduction to government types
January 15: Which of the theories of state formation describes the way the US government was formed? Explain.
Discuss China article, We the People Lesson 1 (with Cornell notes). For tomorrow, do WTP lesson 3 and 5 with Cornell notes
January 16: How do communist and democratic governments differ?
Discuss L 3 & 5. Begin Magna Carta Activity.
January 17: What is due process? Why is it included as a theme of the Magna Carta?
Finish Magna Carta activity. Discuss current event blog.
Class introductions and syllabus. Journal rubric.
January 3: What is one thing that you have noticed in the news?
Current event blog. Go to bookstore.
January 8: What is one way in which citizens can participate in the government? Why is it important for citizens to be involved?
Aspects of democracy ppt
January 9: What is “rule of law” and why is it important in the United States?
Euthanasia discussion introduction and DID reading with annotations
January 10: Is euthanasia morally acceptable?
Euthanasia Public Issues Model
January 13: What is the purpose of government?
Euthanasia poll analysis
January 14: In what ways can the wording of a poll question influence the outcome of the poll?
Introduction to government types
January 15: Which of the theories of state formation describes the way the US government was formed? Explain.
Discuss China article, We the People Lesson 1 (with Cornell notes). For tomorrow, do WTP lesson 3 and 5 with Cornell notes
January 16: How do communist and democratic governments differ?
Discuss L 3 & 5. Begin Magna Carta Activity.
January 17: What is due process? Why is it included as a theme of the Magna Carta?
Finish Magna Carta activity. Discuss current event blog.
January 22: Give
an example of an economic right that Americans have. Why are these important to us?Declaration of Independence outline group activity
January 23: no journal
Vocab: classical republicanism, factions, republic, representative democracy, separation of powers, checks and balances, individualism, contract, common law, due process,. Define each in own words. Write 2-3 paragraphs using every word.
January 24: How are Locke's ideas reflected in the Declaration?
Discuss important points in L8 . Discuss blog. Divide into groups. Do critical thinking on p. 43
January 27: Why were the colonists so distrustful of the British government? Give specific examples!
Articles of Confederation strengths and weaknesses activity
January 28: Were the colonists right to be so distrustful of a strong central government? explain.
Cornell notes: L10 (in We the People) and p. 37-40 (in text book)
January 29: In your opinion, what was the biggest weakness of the Articles? Explain.
Discussion/activities for p. 81, 85, 86 (George Mason and the Bill of Rights)
January 30: Do you agree with George Mason’s concerns about the Constitution? Explain.
February 3: List three sources of ideas that our founders used in forming the Declaration and the Constitution.
Sample AP questions.
February 4:What is the difference between the Constitution and the Declaration?
In class writing prompt
February 5: No School (Snow day)
February 6:Describe the main ideas of classical republicanism.
Review for test (discuss AP Q's and writing prompt)
February 7: no journal. Review for test, collect journals
February 10: Would you consider yourself a federalist or anti-federalist? Explain.
Review
February 11: no journal. Test!
February 12: In your own words, define "Federalism".
Federalism notes. Introduce case study.
February 13: In 1 paragraph, summarize your case study.
Finish notes. Read "Marriage and the State" for tomorrow.
February 14: Why did our founders choose a federal system of government instead of a unitary system?
Marriage and the State discussion
February 17: Do you think cooperative or dual federalism is more effective? Explain.
Discuss federalism case studies
February 18: In your own words, describe "judicial review".
Marbury v. Madison discussion, video clip, reading (with GIST)
February 19: no journal. Timed writing.
February 20: The First Amendment contains 5 rights. Which of these is most important to you? Why?
First amendment case studies (due Friday), "Choir" first amendment article, work on blog
February 21: What is the Supremacy Clause? How does it relate to Federalism?
Rights and Freedoms Rankings. Discuss blog article. Constitution USA clip
February 24: Should free speech be unlimited? Explain.
ACLU Christmas Concert article. First Amendment case studies
February 25: Which is more important to you: the Establishment Clause or the Free Exercise Clause? Explain.
You be the Judge. Matching game with court cases.
February 26: no journal
Marbury v. Madison reading with Qs. Re-do multiple choice from test (with justification for answers)
February 27: In your own words, tell what happened in the case of Marbury v. Madison.
Freedom of Religion cloze notes. Discuss amendment process. Work on blog article.
February 28: Should you have free speech in school? Explain.
Discuss blog. Tinker v. DesMoines activity.
March 3: Snow day
March 4: Is the Fourth Amendment important to you? Explain.
4th amendment discussion, article, game
March 5: Review amendments 4, 5, 6, 8. Which is most important to you? Why?
Rights of the accused cloze notes. Pass out new case studies
March 6: Why do you think that so much of the Bill of Rights is devoted to the rights of the accused?
6th and 8th amendment video clips and discussions
March 7: In one paragraph, describe your case.
Discuss case studies
March 10: Is the 2nd Amendment valid in today's American culture? Explain.
Discuss 2nd amendment articles. DID: Crime and Punishment reading.
March 11: Should the death penalty be legal in the United States?
Capital punishment DID and statistics activity
March 12: Choose one case we have studied which deals with the first amendment and summarize it.
Sorting Activity case study review.
March 13: What is the Doctrine of Incorporation and why is it significant today?
Sample AP questions (due tomorrow)
March 14: Which court case is most confusing to you? Why?
Dice game review
March 17: What is judicial review? How does it relate to checks and balances?
Review for test.
March 18: no journal. Test #2
March 19: Which question on the test was toughest? Why?
Begin political affiliation project. Comment on blog
March 20: Do political parties serve a positive purpose in our government? Explain.
Work on quizzes. Work on blog.
March 21: Would you identify yourself more as a liberal or conservative? Explain.
Discuss quizzes. Discuss blog.
March 31: List your Congressman and Senators.
Legislative branch ppt. Intro Bill Analysis.
April 1: Which bill did you choose for your analysis? Why?
How a bill becomes a law with narrative writing assessment.
April 2: Do you think the Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress too much power?
finish ppt. Cornell notes 354-367. Work on analysis
April 3: Review Article 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution. Which power of Congress is most important? Explain.
Filibuster discussion and clips. Congress Venn diagram. Work time.
April 4: Is the filibuster a useful tool for the Senate? Explain.
Turn in journals. Begin executive branch ppt. discuss current event.
April 7: What is the most important power of the President?
Discuss/Collect analysis
Read “powers of the president” handout. make list.
April 8: No opener. War Powers reading analysis.
April 9: Is the electoral college still valid? Explain.
Impeachment activity.
April 10: If you had to give one additional power to the president, what would it be?
Discuss war power reading. Executive privilege. Assign Supreme Court case studies.
April 11: What is executive privilege? Should it be allowed?
Judicial branch notes.
April 14: In one paragraph, describe your court case.
Discuss court cases.
April 15: What is one question that you expect to see on the test? Include the answer!
AP sample questions.
April 16: What is the difference between a liberal and a conservative?
Review for test.
April 17: No journal. Test #3
April 18: In your own words, describe the school's dress code policy.
Policy discussion. Introduce policy analysis. (due Friday, 4/25)
April 21: Which area of public policy will you focus on for your analysis? Which current event will you use?
President as a source of public policy activity.
April 22: Do you think the President should shape public policy? Explain.
Finish president policy activity
April 23: Is the right to vote critical in our society? Explain.
Discuss policy papers. Voter vocab activity.
April 24: What is disenfranchisement? Is it ever appropriate?
Indiana voter brochure, referendum DID reading, work on policy analysis
April 25:
What is a referendum? Should they be allowed at a federal level?
Discuss policy analysis. Election and voter rights case studies.
April 28: In one paragraph, describe your case study (including the court’s holding).
19th, 26th amendment discussion. Begin discussion of referendum reading.
April 29: no opener.
political cartoon analysis.
April 30: Does the media have an impact in the outcome of elections? Explain.
Discuss cartoon activity. Referendum current event jigsaw
May 1: Why do young people fail to vote?
Voting statistics, Minimum voting age DID reading
May 2: Should the federal voting age be lowered? Explain.
Minimum voting age activity with Mr. Deig.
May 5:
May 6: No opener. Elections/voting rights quiz.
May 7: What is the biggest problem facing the US today? Explain.
Begin final paper.
May 8: Which topic did you choose for your paper? Why did you choose it?
Discuss topics. Review APA format.
May 9: What is the most important thing you learned in government class this year? Explain.
Current events. Turn in openers.
January 23: no journal
Vocab: classical republicanism, factions, republic, representative democracy, separation of powers, checks and balances, individualism, contract, common law, due process,. Define each in own words. Write 2-3 paragraphs using every word.
January 24: How are Locke's ideas reflected in the Declaration?
Discuss important points in L8 . Discuss blog. Divide into groups. Do critical thinking on p. 43
January 27: Why were the colonists so distrustful of the British government? Give specific examples!
Articles of Confederation strengths and weaknesses activity
January 28: Were the colonists right to be so distrustful of a strong central government? explain.
Cornell notes: L10 (in We the People) and p. 37-40 (in text book)
January 29: In your opinion, what was the biggest weakness of the Articles? Explain.
Discussion/activities for p. 81, 85, 86 (George Mason and the Bill of Rights)
January 30: Do you agree with George Mason’s concerns about the Constitution? Explain.
February 3: List three sources of ideas that our founders used in forming the Declaration and the Constitution.
Sample AP questions.
February 4:What is the difference between the Constitution and the Declaration?
In class writing prompt
February 5: No School (Snow day)
February 6:Describe the main ideas of classical republicanism.
Review for test (discuss AP Q's and writing prompt)
February 7: no journal. Review for test, collect journals
February 10: Would you consider yourself a federalist or anti-federalist? Explain.
Review
February 11: no journal. Test!
February 12: In your own words, define "Federalism".
Federalism notes. Introduce case study.
February 13: In 1 paragraph, summarize your case study.
Finish notes. Read "Marriage and the State" for tomorrow.
February 14: Why did our founders choose a federal system of government instead of a unitary system?
Marriage and the State discussion
February 17: Do you think cooperative or dual federalism is more effective? Explain.
Discuss federalism case studies
February 18: In your own words, describe "judicial review".
Marbury v. Madison discussion, video clip, reading (with GIST)
February 19: no journal. Timed writing.
February 20: The First Amendment contains 5 rights. Which of these is most important to you? Why?
First amendment case studies (due Friday), "Choir" first amendment article, work on blog
February 21: What is the Supremacy Clause? How does it relate to Federalism?
Rights and Freedoms Rankings. Discuss blog article. Constitution USA clip
February 24: Should free speech be unlimited? Explain.
ACLU Christmas Concert article. First Amendment case studies
February 25: Which is more important to you: the Establishment Clause or the Free Exercise Clause? Explain.
You be the Judge. Matching game with court cases.
February 26: no journal
Marbury v. Madison reading with Qs. Re-do multiple choice from test (with justification for answers)
February 27: In your own words, tell what happened in the case of Marbury v. Madison.
Freedom of Religion cloze notes. Discuss amendment process. Work on blog article.
February 28: Should you have free speech in school? Explain.
Discuss blog. Tinker v. DesMoines activity.
March 3: Snow day
March 4: Is the Fourth Amendment important to you? Explain.
4th amendment discussion, article, game
March 5: Review amendments 4, 5, 6, 8. Which is most important to you? Why?
Rights of the accused cloze notes. Pass out new case studies
March 6: Why do you think that so much of the Bill of Rights is devoted to the rights of the accused?
6th and 8th amendment video clips and discussions
March 7: In one paragraph, describe your case.
Discuss case studies
March 10: Is the 2nd Amendment valid in today's American culture? Explain.
Discuss 2nd amendment articles. DID: Crime and Punishment reading.
March 11: Should the death penalty be legal in the United States?
Capital punishment DID and statistics activity
March 12: Choose one case we have studied which deals with the first amendment and summarize it.
Sorting Activity case study review.
March 13: What is the Doctrine of Incorporation and why is it significant today?
Sample AP questions (due tomorrow)
March 14: Which court case is most confusing to you? Why?
Dice game review
March 17: What is judicial review? How does it relate to checks and balances?
Review for test.
March 18: no journal. Test #2
March 19: Which question on the test was toughest? Why?
Begin political affiliation project. Comment on blog
March 20: Do political parties serve a positive purpose in our government? Explain.
Work on quizzes. Work on blog.
March 21: Would you identify yourself more as a liberal or conservative? Explain.
Discuss quizzes. Discuss blog.
March 31: List your Congressman and Senators.
Legislative branch ppt. Intro Bill Analysis.
April 1: Which bill did you choose for your analysis? Why?
How a bill becomes a law with narrative writing assessment.
April 2: Do you think the Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress too much power?
finish ppt. Cornell notes 354-367. Work on analysis
April 3: Review Article 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution. Which power of Congress is most important? Explain.
Filibuster discussion and clips. Congress Venn diagram. Work time.
April 4: Is the filibuster a useful tool for the Senate? Explain.
Turn in journals. Begin executive branch ppt. discuss current event.
April 7: What is the most important power of the President?
Discuss/Collect analysis
Read “powers of the president” handout. make list.
April 8: No opener. War Powers reading analysis.
April 9: Is the electoral college still valid? Explain.
Impeachment activity.
April 10: If you had to give one additional power to the president, what would it be?
Discuss war power reading. Executive privilege. Assign Supreme Court case studies.
April 11: What is executive privilege? Should it be allowed?
Judicial branch notes.
April 14: In one paragraph, describe your court case.
Discuss court cases.
April 15: What is one question that you expect to see on the test? Include the answer!
AP sample questions.
April 16: What is the difference between a liberal and a conservative?
Review for test.
April 17: No journal. Test #3
April 18: In your own words, describe the school's dress code policy.
Policy discussion. Introduce policy analysis. (due Friday, 4/25)
April 21: Which area of public policy will you focus on for your analysis? Which current event will you use?
President as a source of public policy activity.
April 22: Do you think the President should shape public policy? Explain.
Finish president policy activity
April 23: Is the right to vote critical in our society? Explain.
Discuss policy papers. Voter vocab activity.
April 24: What is disenfranchisement? Is it ever appropriate?
Indiana voter brochure, referendum DID reading, work on policy analysis
April 25:
What is a referendum? Should they be allowed at a federal level?
Discuss policy analysis. Election and voter rights case studies.
April 28: In one paragraph, describe your case study (including the court’s holding).
19th, 26th amendment discussion. Begin discussion of referendum reading.
April 29: no opener.
political cartoon analysis.
April 30: Does the media have an impact in the outcome of elections? Explain.
Discuss cartoon activity. Referendum current event jigsaw
May 1: Why do young people fail to vote?
Voting statistics, Minimum voting age DID reading
May 2: Should the federal voting age be lowered? Explain.
Minimum voting age activity with Mr. Deig.
May 5:
May 6: No opener. Elections/voting rights quiz.
May 7: What is the biggest problem facing the US today? Explain.
Begin final paper.
May 8: Which topic did you choose for your paper? Why did you choose it?
Discuss topics. Review APA format.
May 9: What is the most important thing you learned in government class this year? Explain.
Current events. Turn in openers.