Government
There are no necessary evils in government.
Its evils exist only in its abuses.
~ Andrew Jackson
Teachers:
Website:
E-Mail:
Classroom
Phone:
Room
Number:
Office
Hours:
Online
Textbook:
Grades:
Matt Winfrey
Marcus Logue
Jeanne Blair
Refer to “staff websites” on www.skitsap.wednet.edu
winfrey@skitsap.wednet.edu logue@skitsap.wednet.edu blair@skitsap.wednet.edu
360-874-5723
360-874-5792
360-874-5600
303
321
317
6:55 a.m. – 7:25 a.m., during tutorial, and 1:55 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/ (see directions on last page)
Family Access in Skyward (see directions on last page)
Nearly every day, local, state, and federal governments make decisions impacting our society. Sometimes it is the
decisions of foreign governments that cause fundamental or even catastrophic changes to our society (i.e., the
bombing of Pearl Harbor and the events of 9/11/01). It is for these reasons, that the study of government is a
necessary course of study. As you approach the age of voting, you become a more active participant in your
government. But, it is also important to understand how you can impact change even under the age of eighteen by
knowing how your government works and how to communicate your concerns.
Aside from earning credits in a required class for graduation, it is our goal to foster a positive, interactive learning
environment providing you confidence in the content curriculum of government. You’ll have the opportunity to
research ideas, analyze information, and present your findings on the concepts we study. By the end of the
course, you will have an understanding of our government and the methods to remain an informed citizen.
A.
Class Rules:
2.
Be on time to class and prepared to work. This means that your body is within the four walls of the
classroom with all your REQUIRED MATERIALS (notebook, paper, and pen/pencil) at your side ready
to be put to use in the world of government. Important: You do NOT need to bring your book to class;
we have classroom sets available. Please leave your books at home for ease on your back.
3.
Listen to and/or read all instructions before beginning any activity.
4.
Clean up after yourself. This means putting materials away in the proper place when finished.
5.
Everything that is stated in your student handbook must also be adhered to in this classroom. Please be
sure to review and know the school rules and policies.
B.
Grading:
1.
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Respect yourself, your peers, your teachers, your classroom, and your school.
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Government
Course Description
Page 2 of 3
All work will be assigned a point value and will be put into one of four (4) categories: participation/presentations,
class work/homework, project, and quizzes/tests. Each category will make up a portion/percentage of your grade
and is designated as follows:
Participation / Presentations
Class work / Homework
10%
10%
Project: Constitutional Issues
Quizzes / Tests
40%
40%
Grading Scale  Your final grade is based upon the grading scale located in your student handbook.
Grade Postings  Grades will be posted using your student identification number (to protect the innocent) at
least once every two weeks. Please check your grade when it is posted, because as much as you want to believe
that teachers are perfect, errors are sometimes made. If there is a problem with your grade, please see me so that
the error can be corrected.
Due Dates / Late Work Policy  All work will be given an assigned “due date.” For daily work, your
assignments will most likely be due at the end of the class period. For homework, you can expect that the work
will be due at the beginning of class the following day. When assignments are collected, they will NOT be
accepted as full credit later in the period; they will be graded as “one calendar day” LATE. IMPORTANT: For
each calendar day (not “class” day) your assignment is late, ten (10) percentage points will be deducted from
your assignment – please turn assignments in when they are due. As for the PROJECT, you will be given assigned
due dates – there are absolutely no exceptions to the dates provided for the project.
Cheating / Plagiarism  Cheating on any test, daily work, homework, or project will mean a zero for that
particular assignment. (Copying lecture notes is permissible and encouraged.) Students will receive no credit on
assignments that are copied, either from reading sources or from classmates (i.e., plagiarism). Plagiarism is the
use of other’s words or ideas without acknowledgement/recognition and is grounds for failure. Individuals
are often tempted to submit all or part of another person’s work as one’s own; especially in the ease of
copying and pasting from the Internet. Participating in any of these practices is considered a form of
cheating. In cases where a student has supplied test answers or written work used by another student, the penalty
is the same for both individuals. Lost points may lead to failure in the course. ALL incidents of cheating will be
reported to the deans. Building policy states two such infractions in the same course will lead to a penalty “F”.
C.
Participation / Presentations (10% of your final grade):
Communication is an important life-long skill. It is seen as a process that “requires a vast repertoire of skills in
intrapersonal and interpersonal processing, listening, observing, speaking, questioning, analyzing, and
evaluating…. Communication is our window to basic literacy and academic excellence.”1 Your grade will be
based on your ability to:


Participate (individually and in group settings) in daily class activities/exercises; including being to class on
time, using class time productively, and having materials in class and
Successfully participate in project and current event presentations
Participation points may be lost with poor use of class time (cell phone use, disturbances, snoozing, tardies,
writing on desks, lack of materials, and absences). Students will be awarded five (5) “free” five-minute hall
passes for personal needs. Passes beyond this total or above the time limit will result in a loss of class time
and, thus, deductions in participation credit.
D.
Project: Constitutional Issues (40% of your final grade):
You will be writing a well-resourced 5-paragraph persuasive essay focusing on a constitutional issue of your
choosing. You will be afforded time in class to complete your research and to utilize your instructors in guiding
you through the researching process. Your paper will demonstrate your ability to connect the content covered in
1
Washington State Commission on Student Learning, pg. 38.
Government
Course Description
Page 3 of 3
class, while also providing you an opportunity that may shape policymaking in the future. We encourage you to
take this assignment seriously, not only because it is worth 40% of your final grade; instead, if done right, you
will have a paper that demonstrates your desire to create positive changes within your nation. Most importantly, if
you fail to complete the paper at a proficient level, you will be unable to pass this course. All deadlines provided
in your course schedule that relate to the project are absolute; there are not exceptions and no additional days
provided for absences.
E.
Odds & Ends:
Instructors will be in class at least one-half hour before school starts (6:55 a.m.), during tutorial, and one-half hour
after school ends (2:30 p.m.). If at any time you have a question, please stop by and get some help. There are no
dumb questions; it is important that you understand the assignments and the expectations. If you just want to stop
by and chat about other things or classes, that’s cool too.
Absences  In the case of an absence, it is your responsibility to contact your instructor on the date of your
return to obtain all make-up work. Work missed due to an unexcused absence/truancy may not receive credit. In
all cases except for projects/quizzes/tests, you will be provided one class day for every excused absence to makeup work. Quizzes/tests must be completed during tutorial on the date you return to school. Project deadlines are
due on or before the dates identified in your course schedule. Failure to make up quizzes/tests on the day of
your return or failure to complete project assignments by the assigned due date WILL result in an
automatic zero – there are NO exceptions.
Notebook  It is recommended, but not required, to maintain a notebook throughout the trimester to refer back
on concepts and/or review for comprehensive tests. Your notebook will serve as a resource of information for
you to use. Please take this recommendation seriously.
Textbook  An online textbook is available for your use if you choose to register with the textbook company.
1. Go to www.pearsonsuccessnet.com
2. Click “register”
3. Type the class access code 305BF2ACA7A91D946F8A (you must type in all uppercase; sorry, they don’t
make it easy)
4. Follow the instructions to register and write your user name and password down for easy remembering.
Family Access Skyward - All parents are encouraged to register with Family Access – Skyward to allow for (1)
easy communication between parent(s)/guardian(s) and staff; (2) up-to-date information regarding your student’s
successes; (3) access to your student’s attendance in all classes; and (4) access to your student’s schedule. By
registering an e-mail in Family Access Skyward, instructors are easily able to update you with e-mailed grade
reports. If you do NOT have Family Access in Skyward, please contact Meredith Shanley at 360-874-5600 to
receive your login and password information. Please feel free to call if you have any questions, comments, or
concerns regarding your student’s progress.
On a last note, parent/guardian support is essential to success in any class. Statistics show that parent/ guardian
involvement helps promote student success. Please help your student succeed by reviewing assignment sheets,
checking homework, and agreeing on a specific time and quiet place to study.
Students should keep this course description in their 3-ring binder during the trimester for reference.
Please sign and return this course description to class. Make sure your name is legible.
Parent / Guardian Signature
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Student’s Signature
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