American Government
Grade: 9 - 12 Min: 4 Max: 15 (15 seats remaining)
Min Assistants: 1 Max Assistants: 1 (Assistant Max Reached)
This course will explore the history, foundation, structure, and function of the government of the United States of America using original source documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of the Confederacy, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The class will also consider what God says the role of government is and how He says His people should relate to human governments as outlined in the Bible. Course is the equivalent of half a high school credit.
Students can expect to spend approximately 1-3 hours a week reading our governing documents and reviewing the lecture notes from the previous class in preparation for weekly in-class short answer quizzes. In-class short-answer tests will also be administered at the end of our study of each document. Students will be encouraged to discuss class material at home as a way to solidify their understanding of the subject matter. The goal of the lectures, quizzes, and discussions is that students would be able to understand and explain the contents of our governing documents.
Two optional extra credit assignments (one per semester) will be available.
Students will need to purchase a copy of The Constitution of the United States of America: The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights (ISBN-10: 1774260131), which is available on Amazon for approximately $10.00. Please purchase well in advance of class if student does not have Amazon Prime, as shipping of my copy was delayed. They will need this the first week of class. Students will also need access to the Webster's 1828 Dictionary, available for free online at https://webstersdictionary1828.com/, for defining terms in their weekly reading. Students will use this dictionary because the language and definitions will be the closest to the original 18th century definitions and give them the best understanding of the text's original meaning.
$10 per semester
This class will rely heavily on in-class discussions and in-class tests and quizzes will be handwritten. Students must write legibly.
None.