Second Semester

During the second semester, you will have a wide range of assignments in this course. These assignments will challenge you to articulate and apply your knowledge and understanding of U.S. government and politics in a variety of ways. Please refer to the links above for detailed descriptions of your connections assignment, thought talks, debates, position papers, model Congress and model political campaign project.

Unit 6: Constitutional Foundations

• Connections Assignment (40 pt.s)
  
• Visual Representations of Constitutional Principles (10 pts.)
• Thought Talk #1: How do you interpret the Constitution? (20 pts.)
• Federalism Debate: Unfunded Mandates or Gay Marriage (40 pts.)
• Test(100 pts.)

Unit 7: The Institutions of Government

Unit 8: Civil Liberties & Civil Rights

Unit 9: Political Behavior and Participation

First Semester

During the first semester, you will have a wide range of assignments in this course. These assignments will challenge you to articulate and apply your knowledge and understanding of 20th century history in a variety of ways. Please refer to the links above for more detailed descriptions of seminar discussions, debates/town meetings, essays, and multimedia research projects. This list of assignments is subject to change. Please check back often for updates.

Course Introduction Assignments

• Hardball Lessons
• Hardball Essay

Unit 1: The Emergence of Modern America

• Seminar Discussion and Written Response: “USDA Inspected,” After the Fact
• Seminar Discussion & Written Response: “The Empire and the People,” Howard Zinn
• Seminar Discussion & Written Response: “Sacco and Venzetti,” After the Fact
• Visual Representations of U.S. Foreign Policy
• Persuasive Speeches on America’s Entry into World War I
• Propaganda Poster Analysis

Unit 2: Prosperity and Depression

• 1920s Newspaper Research Project
• New Deal Town Meeting
• FDR Response Essay
• Seminar Discussion and Written Response: “Self Help in Hard Times,” Zinn

Unit 3: World War II & Post-War America

• Seminar Discussion and Written Response: “The Decision to Drop the Bomb,” After the Fact
• Seminar Discussion and Written Response: “From Rosie to Lucy,” After the Fact
• Debate: Cold War Policies

Unit 4: Challenges and Changes

• Debate: Vietnam War Policies
• Shaken to the Roots: 1960s Research Project
• Seminar Discussion and Written Response: “Breaking Into Watergate,” After the Fact
• Seminar Discussion and Written Response: “When Trouble Comes,” After the Fact