AP Government Assignments and Topics (SHAW)
2013-2014
Quarter 1 /Block 2
Students are expected to keep up with the reading in the text and take notes on that reading.
There will be random notebook checks to make sure that you are completing assignments. Date
marks the day assignments are due.
Unit I: Political Culture, Public Opinion, and Political Participation
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Tuesday, August 27: Introduction to United States Government
Thursday, August 29 : Wilson: Political culture; Comparing America to other nations
(pp. 77-87)Pictures at 8:30
Friday, August 30: Wilson: Sources of Political Culture; Mistrust in Government;
Political Efficacy (pp. 87-99)
Tuesday, September 3: Wilson: Public Opinion (pp. 103-115) Quiz on Chapter 4.
Friday, September 6: Wilson: Political Ideology, Liberal v. Conservative (pp. 116-127)
Monday, September 9: Wilson: Voting Participation; Rise of American Electorate (pp.
131-140) Quiz on Chapter 5
Tuesday, September 10: Wilson: Who Participates in Government? (pp. 140-149) Quiz
on Chapter 6
Thursday, September 12: Review Day; Bowling Alone Response due today.
Friday, September 13: Test on Political Behaviors and Culture (50 Multiple Choice
questions and Essay)
Unit II: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media
9. Monday, September 16: Today we are scheduled to go to the Media Center to work
on our Election Projects.
10. Wednesday, September 18: Wilson: Political Parties here and abroad (pp. 151-161)
11. Thursday, September 19: Wilson: Party Structure (pp. 161-171)
12. Friday, September 20: Wilson: Two Party System and Minor Parties (pp. 171-177)
13. Tuesday, September 24: Wilson: Nominating a President; President v. Congressional
campaigns (pp. 177-192) Divided We Govern response is due.
14. Wednesday, September 25: Wilson: Primary v. General Campaigns; Money (pp. 192208)
15. Thursday, September 26: Wilson: What Decides an election? (pp. 208-218) Quiz on
Chapter 7
16. Monday, September 30: Wilson: Interest Groups (pp. 223-246)
17. Tuesday, October 1: Wilson: Journalism in America and the Structure of the Media (pp.
251-260) Quiz on Chapter 8
18. Wednesday, October 2: Wilson: Rules Governing the Media/ Effects of the Media on
Politics; Government and the News (pp. 260-274)
19. Friday, October 4: Test Review Day. Quiz on Chapter 10
20. Monday, October 7: Test on Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media (50
multiple choice and essay)
Unit III: The Constitution and Federalism
21. Tuesday, October 8: Media Center
22. Thursday, October 10: Wilson Ch. 1: What is political power? What is democracy? (pp.
3-15)
23. Friday, October 11: Wilson Ch. 2: The Constitution and Compromise (pp. 17-28)
24. Tuesday, October 15: Wilson Ch. 2: Key Principles, Liberty, Slavery and Motives (pp.
28-45).
25. Thursday, October 17: Wilson Ch. 3: Government Structure/ the Meaning of Federalism
(pp. 49-59) Quiz on Chapter 2 today.
26. Friday, October 18: Wilson Ch. 3: Federal and State Relations (pp. 59-73)
27. Monday, October 21: Review Day. Quiz on chapter 3. Final election project is due
today.
28. Wednesday, October 23: Test on chapters 1-3
29. Thursday, October 24: Media Center
This ends Quarter 1.