Introduction to Government AP US History End of Year Project


"I know no safe depositary of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power." -- Thomas Jefferson to William C. Jarvis, 1820. ME 15:278 (source: Eyler Robert Coates, Sr., “Thomas Jefferson on Politics and Government”, The University of Virginia website – http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeffbibl.htm#source)


Introduction


Now that you have completed AP US History, it is time to apply that knowledge as a citizen. Jefferson argued that an educated citizenry is indispensible to a successful government and society. You will continue your training as citizens and prepare to study government next year by reading about and discussing how government operates and the issues addressed.


Over the next several class days, you will read a book related to government policy or how it functions, write a book review and take an entertaining end of year exam that you will help me prepare. In addition, we will discuss and watch programs that discuss the topics of government, governing and participating in a democratic society. Our topics will include: the media, the Constitution, Congress & interest groups, Presidential power, the Supreme Court, civil liberties, domestic policy, economic policy and foreign policy.


Assignments (150pts) Class Participation ((5pts x 9 days = 45pts) + (5pts for book) = 50pts)


1. Each day, each student will receive 5pts for participating in class discussion a. Participation includes: i. Contributing an insight from or asking a question about something you read in your book


ii. Making a substantive comment or asking a relevant question about another person’s book or one of the government topics students are researching


2. **Day 1 (May 17 & 18) – Students will receive 5pts of credit for having their book or printed proof that they have ordered their book and that it will be delivered in time to allow the student to read it for the Book Review. (This credit will be in addition to the base, class participation credit in #1 above.)


Book Review (50pts)


**Each student must choose a book from the list below. Check the school library, the public library, the bookstore and on-line retailers like Amazon.com. You may not read a book that you have read before. If you want to read a book that is not on the list, you must receive approval from me first.**


1. You must write a review of your book and turn it in on June 15 (4P) and June 16 (3P & 7P). 2. The Review: The review is a 500 word or more essay. A good book review identifies 1- the author’s purpose for writing the book and 2- the author’s thesis (the author’s core argument), found in the Introduction of the book, and analyzes how well he/she proves that thesis in the body of the book. The analysis should select facts, arguments and examples from the body of the book and discuss how the author uses them to support his thesis or what he fails to do. End your essay with a discussion of the lessons you learned from reading the book. In short, the review should inform the reader about the book and why it is, or is not, well written. It should not be a “book report”. Use the following structure for your review: a. Introduction i. Brief statement of what the book is about ii. Author’s Purpose


iii. Author’s thesis iv. Your argument for whether or not the author proves his/her thesis


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