SSG612: AP Gov’t/Politics (2012-2013)
CURRICULUM PROGRAM: Advanced Placement
COURSE TITLE: AP Gov’t/Politics
CALENDAR YEAR: 2012-2013
GRADE LEVEL: 12
COURSE LENGTH: 36 weeks
Major Concepts/Content: A well-designed AP course in United States Government and Politics will give students an analytical perspective on government and politics in the United States. This course includes both the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. government and politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. government and politics. While there is no single approach that an AP United States Government and Politics course must follow, students should become acquainted with the variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. Certain topics are usually covered in all college courses.
Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities will be provided relative to the content standards of the AP US Government, and use chronological and spatial thinking, historical research, and interpretation to demonstrate intellectual reasoning, reflection and research skills.
Major Evaluative Techniques: Evaluation will be comprised of assessments for/of learning in content standards knowledge, historical analysis, making historical connections and social studies research skills utilizing primary source documents.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of the AP Government course of study, students should be able to:
- know important facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to U.S. government and politics
- understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences (including the components of political behavior, the principles used to explain or justify various government structures and procedures, and the political effects of these structures and procedures)
- be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. government and politics (including data presented in charts, tables, and other formats)
- be able to critically analyze relevant theories and concepts, apply them appropriately, and develop their connections across the curriculum