Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts
AP United States Government and Politics
AP United States Government and Politics
COURSE OVERVIEW/DESCRIPTION
AP US Government & Politics is an advanced course designed to explore the political theory and everyday practices that direct the daily operation of government and shape our public policies. The express purpose of the course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam. The course is for all intents and purposes taught on a college level and requires substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
AP stands for Advance Placement, and the main goal of an AP class is to prepare you to take a national, standardized test in a particular subject area. All VMT students enrolled in this course will be required to take the AP US Government & Politics Exam in May. The exams will be graded by teachers from around the country, and they are scored on a scale from 1 to 5. A score of 5 is roughly equivalent to a grade of A in an introductory college course in US Government; a score of 4 is like a B; and a score of 3 is like a C. Most colleges will give students either college credit or college placement if they score at least a 3 on the exam.
TEACHING STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
This course will follow the Flipped Classroom Model requiring students to watch video lectures or complete reading assignments before each class. A detailed calendar will be provided to help students comply with this requirement. Failure to prepare or adhere to deadlines will have a detrimental impact on students’ overall grade and success on the AP Exam.
TEXT
Edwards, George C., Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert L. Lineberry. Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy, 2012 Election ed. New York: Pearson, 2014.
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT
Woll, Peter. American Government: Readings and Cases, 15th ed. New York: Longman, 2003.
OTHER MATERIALS
News footage and documentaries; C-SPAN's coverage and current events materials; numerous websites
WRITING COMPONENT
Students must answer numerous free-response questions with essays that demonstrate their ability to analyze and interpret the structure and actors within American government and politics. These essays prepare you for the essay section of the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam.
AP US Government & Politics is an advanced course designed to explore the political theory and everyday practices that direct the daily operation of government and shape our public policies. The express purpose of the course is to prepare students to take the AP Exam. The course is for all intents and purposes taught on a college level and requires substantial amount of reading and preparation for every class.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
AP stands for Advance Placement, and the main goal of an AP class is to prepare you to take a national, standardized test in a particular subject area. All VMT students enrolled in this course will be required to take the AP US Government & Politics Exam in May. The exams will be graded by teachers from around the country, and they are scored on a scale from 1 to 5. A score of 5 is roughly equivalent to a grade of A in an introductory college course in US Government; a score of 4 is like a B; and a score of 3 is like a C. Most colleges will give students either college credit or college placement if they score at least a 3 on the exam.
TEACHING STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
This course will follow the Flipped Classroom Model requiring students to watch video lectures or complete reading assignments before each class. A detailed calendar will be provided to help students comply with this requirement. Failure to prepare or adhere to deadlines will have a detrimental impact on students’ overall grade and success on the AP Exam.
TEXT
Edwards, George C., Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert L. Lineberry. Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy, 2012 Election ed. New York: Pearson, 2014.
SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT
Woll, Peter. American Government: Readings and Cases, 15th ed. New York: Longman, 2003.
OTHER MATERIALS
News footage and documentaries; C-SPAN's coverage and current events materials; numerous websites
WRITING COMPONENT
Students must answer numerous free-response questions with essays that demonstrate their ability to analyze and interpret the structure and actors within American government and politics. These essays prepare you for the essay section of the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam.