Participation in Government:

Syllabus and Course Breakdown

Class Syllabus• P.I.G. is a half-year course offered in conjunction with

Economics as part of the New York State Social Studies Sequence. This course is required for graduation.

• The course is designed to prepare students towards active participation in the democratic process.

• Emphasis is placed on developing those skills essential for making informed judgments on public policy.

• Since informed decision making and effective participation require careful and systematic analysis of related facts, the course is structured to help students develop these competencies.

Goals of the Course1. Obtaining Knowledge

a. locating informationb. acquiring information by readingc. acquiring information by listening and observingd. interpreting information

2. Processing Knowledgea. organizing informationb. evaluating informationc. using problem solving skillsd. communicating effectively

3. Working with othersa. holding successful group discussionsb. group and individual projects

Coursework

• The coursework includes attendance at a governmental meeting or public forum, along with two semester projects. The purpose of the semester projects is to guide the student towards specific “participatory” activities which will provide them with firsthand experiences in the ‘Office of the Citizen”.

Materials Needed

Pen/Pencil

Paper

Binder

Quarterly Grading

• Grades will be determined from written activities, class participation, and research & organization.

• Assignments are due on the day they are assigned. No late assignments will be accepted.

• There are no locker or bathroom passes given during the period.

• If you are absent from class, the materials you have missed are in the basket in the front of the room.

• Attendance policy: please follow the districts attendance policy for the course; you can legally miss 22 days.

Percent of Grade

Written Activities - 50%

Class Participation - 25%

Research & Organization - 25%

Expectation and Requirements1. Students are expected to be in class on time to class. When the bell rings you should

be ready to work.

2. Instances of truancy and excessive unexcused tardiness will be handled in accordance with the District Disciplinary Policy and Attendance Policy.

3. All students should show and demonstrate respectable behavior: no profanity and no disruptive behavior.

4. Students should bring notebooks, and pens/pencils to class everyday.

5. All assignments are expected to be done on time. Assignments will be collected and graded.

6. Assignments will be given out at the beginning of 10 week quarter. These assignment will be in packet form.

7. Students who have an excused absences from class, should see me that day to get their class assignment so they can be prepared for the next days class.

8. Extra Help. I will be available for extra help on my free periods, please schedule an appointment with me.

Semester Project Activities

• The purpose of the Semester projects is to guide the students toward specific “participatory” activities which will provide them with first hand experience in the Office of the Citizen. Each student must complete Activity 1 and select at least two of the other listed activities. A total of three activities must be completed in order to receive credit for the course.

• Students are urged to complete at least one of the activities in the first quarter. All of the options require teachers approval before the student undertakes the activity. Such prior approval avoids the possibility that an activity, already completed, may not meet the criteria for acceptance.

Semester Project ActivitiesRequired

• Attendance at a public meeting, public forum, Board of Education, Town/Village Board or Public Hearings. In order to pass the course you must attend one of these in the next 20 weeks.

Options• One letter written to a public official. The topic should be related to a subject discussed

in class or in one of your papers. The letter should be submitted with postage and address already completed.

• Volunteer experience in a community activity. You must complete a minimum of 4 hours of community service.

• One letter or news article written to a newspaper or other publication. The topic should be related to a subject discussed in class or presented in a previous paper. The letter should be submitted with postage and address already completed.

• Individual contact or interview with a public official. A legislator, elected official, appointed official, judge, police officer, prison guard, social worker, etc. The contact should, if possible, help you collect specific information or answer a particular question.

• Contact with an individual involved in a special interest group or lobbying effort. The group should be involved in and activity promoting its cause and viewpoint to the government.

Volunteer Hours

Your Name: __________________________________________

Organization Name: __________________________________

Activity (describe what you did):

Date of Volunteer service: _____________________________

Hours of Volunteer service: _____________________________

Supervisor's name/title: _____________________________

Supervisor's signature: _____________________________

Weekly News

• Each of you will pick a partner and a date to present a news summary to the class. Each Monday, for the first 10 minutes of class, you and your partner will share important news items from the previous week. Your job is to make your classmates more aware of current events, topics and issues.

Your presentation must include:

1. Local and State news topics2. National concerns and topics3. International and global issues4. A visual or hardcopy to assist classmates5. Show evidence of partner collaboration Back

Breakdown of PointsWritten Activities

50%

Class Participation Activities 25%

Research and Organization

25%

1. Reaction papers (5pts)

2. Video Viewpoints (10pts) - Hardball, Meet the Press, Meet the Nation, etc.

3. Collateral’s (10pts)

4. Comparative Collaterals (20pts)

5. Extra Public Meetings- (5pts – Limit 20pts)

6. Extra Volunteer Hours - (2pts per hour – Max 20pts)

7. Scrapbook (25pts)

8. Scavenger Hunt - 2nd Marking period

50 Points are Needed each 10 weeks!!

1. Public Meetings (Required)

2. Weekly News

3. 2 Semester Projects

4. Student Rights Mock Trial

5. Valuable Undecided Worksheets

6. Focused Assignments from Text

1. 1st Ten Weeks Mini Project

2. 2nd Ten Weeks M.A.D (Making A Difference) Project

FINAL EXAM

Final Position Paper Based on

your M.A.D. Project

More information later in the

course.

Reaction Paper (1-2 Pages)Heading for each Reaction paper should include the following:Name, Date, Period and Title of Article

These should all be on the cover page of your reaction paper.

Introductory ParagraphWhat topic or question is being addressed in this writing?Identify the source of the information you are reacting to.What was the authors, presenters, or commentators point of view on this subject?Briefly explain why he/she feels this way. What evidence or support did theperson use?

Second or Interpretive ParagraphWhat is your point of view on this same issue?Identify the strong or weak points in the original argument that you feel wereoverlooked by the author.Introduce new information, evidence, or arguments that you feel were overlookedby the author.Include any arguments that you feel support your position on this question.

Third or Summary ParagraphExplain why you felt the need to reflect on this reading, event, or incident.Suggest a plan, method, or constructive criticism that might help improve thesituation or discussion of the issues.

Back

Video Viewpoints

• Give name, date, t.v. show, beginning and end time and issue(s) addressed

Issue/Questions Speaker #1 Speaker #2 Speaker #3

Back

Collateral - 2-3 pagesHeading for each Collateral should include the following:Name, Date, Period and Title of Article

These should all be on the cover page of your collateral.

First Paragraph What issue/topic is being addressed in this article?Please note three key statements from this article that help reveal theauthor’s main idea.Cite two piece of evidence or arguments the author uses to support the hismajor points (more if possible).

Second ParagraphNote two statements that you agree with.Note two statements that you disagree with.Do you agree with the author’s main point? Please explain why or why not.

Third ParagraphIs this issue important to the community or our society? Please explain why or why not.Suggest a plan, method, or constructive criticism that might help improvethe situation or discussion of the issues. Back

Comparative Collateral (20 points) • Keep a running list of possible topics inside cover of notebook• Find a public policy issue (any topic of controversy to be decided by govt.)• Need 2 articles or editorials which are “opinion” pieces• Approximately 4 – 5 typed pages in length• Include a work cited

First paragraph-- Introduce topic or issueIntroduce title/author(s) of articlesInclude something that shows or reveals the idea that a difference of opinion or controversy exists

Second paragraph-Summarize key points made in first articleShow and compare information and arguments that author uses to support his/her view.

Third paragraph-Summarize key points made in second articleShow and compare info. that author uses to support his/her view

Fourth – Fifth paragraph –Review both sides of the issue in your own words.In what ways do you agree with author # 1?In what ways do you disagree with author #1?Same as above for author #2 What are your ideas concerning the issue? How are they different from both authors?

Sixth paragraph- Conclusion – Why is this a concern for our country or community?What can / should government do to help?

Back

ScrapbookThe Scrapbook is an option for you to choose for your PIG Points. This assignment should

take 5 – 6 weeks to complete. It is an assignment that takes a considerable amount of time andeffort.

Requirements:

Introduction and statement of purposeThe topic must be a public policy issueEntries must be datedA variety of sources should be used – local papers, state/national papers, Time,Newsweek, etcA variety of clippings expressing different views is expected – news articles, editorials, political cartoons, diagrams, charts, etcYour clippings must be annotated – explanatory comments, brief summaries, analysis from your viewpoint, reactions, questions written in the marginsCreativity and appeal in presenting the scrapbook will strengthen the gradeA minimum one page conclusion is neededScrapbooks are worth 25 PIG points

Subject should have prior teacher approval!!Back

Written P.I.G. points (50 total)

The points are due on the dates below:Dates:February 10 5 ptsFebruary 17 5 ptsFebruary 24 10 ptsMarch 3 5 ptsMarch 10 5 ptsMarch 24 20pts (Comparative

Collateral)

P.I.G. ISSUE INVENTORY

Local State National Global