Advanced Placement Government and Politics (U.S. & Comparative)
2014-2015 Syllabus
Mrs. Barton, Dominion High School
Course Description
Today’s increasingly interdependent world has made it necessary for students to think globally. It is
imperative for young citizens to understand political processes and political events not just from our own
country, but from a diversity of countries around the world. To gain understanding of international events we
must examine political structures and perspectives of other nations and how they compare, affect, and interact
with one another. Comparisons assist both in identifying problems and in analyzing policymaking.
Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics along with Advanced Placement
Comparative Government provides a yearlong course on government. We focus on the United States along
with six core comparative countries: the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Mexico, Nigeria, and Iran.
Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will:
 Be encouraged to get involved in the political process and our government
 Be introduced to the basics of American national government and develop an analytical perspective.
 Be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to U.S. and Comparative government and politics
 Be able to describe and be able to use for analytical purposes the major comparative political concepts,
themes, and generalizations
 Be able to describe and analyze the government and politics of China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico,
Nigeria, and Russia
 Be able to describe and analyze current trends in democratization and globalization
Materials
Student Agenda/ Planner, Binder/loose leaf paper, dividers, Folder, pen and pencil, USB Thumb drive, glue
stick/ tape, highlighters
Course Texts
Mark Kesselman, Joel Krieger, and William Joseph. Introduction to Comparative Politics, 6th ed. Boston: Wadsworth,
2012. (will also be available electronically)
James Wilson and John DiIulio. American Government: Institutions and Policies, 8th ed. Boston, MA:
Hough Mifflin Company, 2001.
Supplemental Text
Annual Editions: Comparative Politics 09/10
Peter Woll. American Government: Readings and Cases, 15th ed. Pearson, Longman: 2004.
Online resources: The Washington Post, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Economist, Time,
Newsweek
Recommended AP Comparative Study Guide: We recommend that students purchase a copy of the A.P. Comparative
Government Study Guide by Ethel Wood. This may be purchased on amazon.com for about $30. We will place a group
order for the book at a price of $16.15 for the newly released 6th edition. Make a check payable to Dominion High
School and bring it to me by September16 th if you would like a copy.
Recommended AP U.S. Study Guide: 5 Steps to a 5 (written by an actual AP Reader.)
Organization/Class Requirements
Reading/ Study Questions- (Formative Assessment, checked for completion, not scored)
This is a “readings” course, you will do a lot of reading and you will learn a lot of information. You are
responsible for reading at home and in class. (You will be assigned a login for an online copy of the
Kesselman text.) Students will be expected to read assigned chapters in both texts, as well as supplemental
readings, and complete study questions.
Reading Quizzes—(Formative Assessment, 2 per week, 10 points each)
Students will be given quizzes upon each reading assignment. Answers to Study Questions will be able to be
used on quizzes.
Discussion & Response (Formative/Summative Assessment, 2-4 per quarter, 5-20 points each)
In-class Seminar Discussion Students will be expected to participate in class discussions which require them
to analyze and evaluate the text, supplemental reading materials, and related graphs and charts. Students will
be graded on participation. Discussion may occur face to face in class, or on an Electronic Discussion Board
(VISION). Students may also be asked to complete written responses, and will take practice FRQs.
Quarterly Writing Assignments—(Summative Assessment, 80-100 points)
There will be one major writing assignment per quarter.
 1st quarter students will write a “political socialization auto ethnography” (analyzing their own
political beliefs).
 2nd quarter students will enter a state or national essay contest relevant to the course.
 3rd quarter students will complete an annotated bibliography
 4th quarter students will complete a public policy paper
***The Summer Assignment will count for 60 points on the First Quarter***
Quarter Project (Summative Assessment, 1 per quarter, 25-50 points)
Students will complete a technology-based project each quarter. Projects will involve course content, current
events and geography to help learn about the six major countries in context with world geography and events.
Technology applications may include Google Earth Tour Builder, Social Media applications like Twitter and
info-graphics.
Group Country Presentations (Summative Assessment, Second Semester, 40 points)
Students will be assigned to a group that will represent one of the six major countries of focus in this class.
Students will complete current events, compile data, and take part in a major presentation on the country to
which group they have been assigned during the AP Exam Review in May. Content of the project may be
assessed throughout the course as it relates to the unit of instruction.
Tests—(Summative Assessment, 2-3 per quarter, 100 points)
Tests will be composed of questions similar to those students can anticipate seeing on the A.P. exam including
multiple choice and free response questions. I highly suggest students create and study with notecards for
each unit, these notecards can be used to study for the AP Exams. Extra credit points for each test will be
given to notecards that are handed in on the day of the test. ** Notecards must be handed in before the test to
receive points**
*Assignments will be returned to students in the following manner: Quizzes and other formative assessments
(1-2 blocks), Tests (2-3 blocks), Major projects and writing assignments (2-3 weeks). Student scores will be
posted to CLARITY within 2 weeks after the assignment is graded.
The Exam: AP United States Exam is Tuesday, May 12th
AP Comparative Exam is Thursday, May 14th
The AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a 45 minute multiple
choice section consisting of 60 questions and a 100 minute free response section consisting of 4 questions.
This exam is administered in the morning.
The AP Comparative Politics Exam is 2 hours and 25 minutes long. It includes a 45 minute multiple choice
section consisting of 55 questions and a 100 minute free response section consisting of 5 short answer concept
questions, 1 conceptual analysis question, and 2 country context questions.
Course Sequence (Based on A Day Dates) **Dates are subject to change**
Date
Topic
Quarter 1
Foundations for the Study of Government and Politics
nd
September 2  Concepts we use to compare.
October 31st
 How and why do we compare?
 Policy and process: What are they? Why have them?
Quarter 1 Project
 What political and economic changes have come about as a result of globalization
Current Event
and how do countries respond to change?
Wordle
Key Dates and Assignments
9/24
 Country Presentations 9/12
 Test & Last day to turn in Summer Assignment 9/16
Power, Authority and Sovereignty
 United States Constitution and Foundations
 Power Structures: Federal, Unitary, Confederal
 Federalism in the Courts & Fiscal Federalism
Key Dates and Assignments
 Current Events Assignment 9/24
 Test 9/30
Political Culture, Political Participation & Public Opinion
 Policy Process
 Political Culture
 Political Ideology, Social Movements, Political Change
 Political Socialization, Social Cleavages, Political Polls
 The role of the Media in politics
Key Dates and Assignments
 Political Socialization Essay 10/17
 Test 10/21
Partnership Night Monday, November 3rd
The General Election is Tuesday, November 4th
Quarter 2
November 5th January 16th
Linkage Institutions: Citizens in society and the state
 Elections
 Political Parties
 Interest Groups
Quarter 2 Project Key Dates and Assignments
Google Earth Tour
 Election Project 11/10
Builder
 Test 11/12
12/11
 Scholarship Contest Essay 11/18
Public Policy: Political Institutions of Deliberation (Legislation)
 Congress: Powers and Activities
 Congressional Elections
 Policy Process: Fiscal Policy and Domestic Policy
Key Dates and Assignments
 Project/ Quest 11/20
 Test 12/5
Public Policy and Institutions of Enforcement and Executive Action
 Article II
 Bureaucracy
 Monetary Policy and Foreign Policy
Key Dates and Assignments
 Current Events Assignment 12/11
 Assessment due December 19th
Judiciary mini unit
 Authority
 Organize of the court system
 Interpretations of the courts
Key Dates and Assignments
Assessment January 12
Midterm Review, January 12th – 16th
Midterms, January 20th – 23rd
nd
Quarter 3
The 2 Semester Policy Paper project is divided into 7 assignments throughout the 2nd
January 27th Semester.
March 27th
Civil Society
Quarter 3 Project
 Democratization, Developed Democratization
Social Media
 Civil Liberties
12/17
 Civil Rights
Key Dates and Assignments
 Source Sheet 2/4
 Test 2/6
United Kingdom & European Union
 Power, Authority and Sovereignty
 Institutions
 Citizens, Society, and the State
 Political & Economic Change
Key Dates and Assignments
 Test 2/23
 Current Events 2/17
Transitional Democracies, Mexico & Nigeria
 Transitional Democracies and Economies, Supranational Organizations
 Mexico
o Power, Authority and Sovereignty
o Institutions
o Citizens, Society, and the State
o Political & Economic Change
 Nigeria
o Power, Authority and Sovereignty
o Institutions
o Citizens, Society, and the State
o Political & Economic Change
Key Dates and Assignments
 Annotated Bibliography 3/3
 Test 3/17
Former Communist Regimes, Authoritarian systems: China & Russia
 Political & Economic ideology comparisons, authoritarian systems
 China
o Power, Authority and Sovereignty
o Institutions
o Citizens, Society, and the State
o Political & Economic Change
Key Dates and Assignments
 Annotated outline 3/23
 China Assessment 3/25
Former Communist Regimes, Authoritarian systems: China & Russia, cont’d
 Russia
o Power, Authority and Sovereignty
o Institutions
Quarter 4 Project
o Citizens, Society, and the State
InfoGraphic
o Political & Economic Change
post Exam
Key Dates and Assignments
 Test 4/16
 Rough Draft 4/20
Theocracy: Iran
 Theocracy, Civil Society Review
 Iran
o Power, Authority and Sovereignty
o Institutions
o Citizens, Society, and the State
o Political & Economic Change
Key Dates and Assignments
 Test 4/28
 Final Draft due 5/1
AP Exams begin May 4th
 Review 5/5, 5/7, 5/11
 AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT EXAM 5/12
 Review 5/13
 AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT EXAM 5/14
Quarter 4
April 1st June 9th
Post AP Exam
 Policy Paper Presentations
 Final Reflection
Sunday, June 14th GRADUATION!!
AP US Government & Comparative Government Syllabus Acknowledgement
I have read the syllabus for AP US & Comparative Government and am aware of the class expectations and
procedures. I have read the Dominion High School Academic Integrity Policy (located in the student agenda) and
have reviewed it with my child. I also have been informed of the methods to contact the teacher should a concern
arise.
_________________________________________
Student Signature
_____________
Date
_________________________________________
Parent Signature
_____________
Date
Student Information
Name: ________________________________________
Email:_________________________________________
Parent Information
Name: ________________________________________
Best Phone Number: _____________________________
Parent Email: ___________________________________
Does your student have access to the internet at home?
_____ Yes
_____ No