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Course Description |
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This course examines some of the major domestic and international issues of our time. The course takes a two-pronged approach. On a daily basis, the class will study and discuss emerging issues, as reported in the news. Students will be assigned readings from daily newspapers and weekly news magazines, and be required to analyze and report on those readings. In parallel with the study of emerging issues, the class will explore several important current issues in greater depth. Examples of such issues include education, health care, immigration, foreign and defense policy, weapons proliferation, and regional security. |
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Goals and Objectives |
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The main goals of this course are:
4 to develop an understanding of key issues confronting U.S. citizens and the earth's inhabitants
4 to instill an appreciation for the importance of involvement in world, national, and community affairs
4 to build skill in analyzing complex social problems
4 to strengthen students’ ability to read critically, research methodically, and write clearly
4 to instill in students the belief that they can shape the world in which they live |
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Text and Materials |
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Current Issues, 2009 Ed.. Close Up Foundation: Alexandria, Virginia, 2009.
UpFront Magazine (provided in class)
Additional readings will be distributed in class throughout the semester.
Pens, pencils, paper, and a three-ring looseleaf binder. |
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Course Requirements |
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The basics. I expect you to act in a mature and respectful way, and to set an example for the underclassmen. Arrive in class prepared and on time; respect yourselves, your classmates, and your teacher; complete homework and other assignments on time; participate in class discussion and activities; always strive to act honorably. The class ends when I dismiss you, not when the bell rings. You remain responsible for adhering to the requirements contained in the Student Handbook.
Honor. Honor is a word that describes one’s good name or reputation, and is one of the most important of personal qualities. Honor develops slowly, but can be lost in an instant. It is painful and difficult to regain lost honor and the trust of others. I expect you at all times to act honorably – in your academic work and in your personal interactions with your peers and with me. On all written assignments in this class, you will be asked to write and sign a pledge that you have acted honorably in completing the assignment.
Homework. Homework will be assigned daily. You should consider this as regular an occurrence as the rising and falling of the tides. Homework will include both reading and written assignments, and you will be quizzed daily on the material assigned as homework.
Essays. Writing is an important skill. Short essays will be assigned throughout the course, either as homework or classwork, to help you develop skill in writing clearly and with purpose.
Research projects. One or more projects may be assigned to help you build experience and expertise in conducting and presenting the results of basic research. Topics and due-dates will be assigned as the class progresses.
Class presentation. Each student will be required to prepare at least one class presentation of approximately five minutes, covering an issue of interest to the student and relevant to the course. Additional details will be discussed in class.
Assessment and Grading. Students will be tested regularly. Short quizzes will be given daily, covering assigned reading and/or material covered in the previous day’s class. Grades for each quarter will be determined as follows:
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Tests, essays, research projects: 50%
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Quizzes: 25%
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Class presentation and participation: 25%
Work not submitted on-time may receive a reduced grade. The quarter grades each constitute 40% of the final grade. A final, comprehensive exam makes up the remaining 20%. |
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Extra Credit |
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There is no such thing. All students will receive full credit for the work they do; no student will receive credit for failure to complete a required assignment. Students working to achieve a superior grade will be challenged and assisted by the teacher, and given every opportunity to demonstrate their capability.
Students who are struggling in the course (and any other student) may approach the teacher at any time for clarification of any point or to review and reinforce the material being covered. The teacher will also support the student's efforts to improve study habits, note-taking skills, and time management. Struggling students will not be given additional work. Such a practice tends to cause students to get further behind in the course, reduces the student's sense of responsibility to complete assigned work, and creates an erroneous expectation that the student's grade will improve simply because he or she completed some assignment not covered by the syllabus. That is unfair to the student. |
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Course Schedule |
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Due to the dynamic nature of the subject matter, the order in which topics are studied will remain somewhat flexible. Students will be given ample time to prepare all assignments. Some topics may be compressed or combined, others expanded. |
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Class Rules |
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See the basics under “Course Requirements.” Additional rules, to the extent they become necessary, depend on you. |
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Teacher Availability |
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Students and parents can contact me anytime by phone or email to arrange a meeting. Also, feel free to email me anytime to pass information or to seek clarification on anything you are uncertain about.
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