Contemporary Issues
Course Description: In this course we will actively explore complex issues in our contemporary society such as politics, energy use, environmental issues and public health. Contemporary Issues is also a course which explores current, arguable topics, such as abortion, gambling, television violence, and affirmative action. Keep in mind that when studying contemporary issues, you must examine both sides in order to make a well-informed argument. This course is not about arguing to see which side is correct; it is about analyzing both sides and understanding the opinions of varying sides when discussing controversial topics.
My role as an educator requires me to not only give you information, but to give you the skills and tools necessary to acquire and decipher information on your own. The study of current events in the classroom is a perfect way for you to practice identifying relevant information, analyzing opposing views, forming opinions, and expressing yourselves clearly. This course is designed to give students a chance to incorporate everything they have learned from previous social science courses into current events, controversial issues, and pop culture, as well as ways to use technology to help develop discussion, debate, and problem-solving skills.
Expectations
Each student is expected to listen, follow directions, complete all homework/in-class assignments, projects (power-point/movies) and study quizzes/exams. You are also expected to express your opinion and take part in class discussions (i.e. Socratic Seminars). In a discussion class it is imperative that each student be respectful of other student’s comments and listen when others are talking. There should be only one discussion going on at a time! EVERYONE’S OPINION MATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!! If you do all of these items, then you will be successful in the class. The amount of effort you put into the class will determine how successful you will be. We will be having Socratic seminars on a variety of controversial topics, analyzing primary and secondary documents, analyzing weekly newspapers and magazine journals (Time, Newsweek, NatGeo etc.) and watching CNN/CSPAN and having discussions on a variety of topics. You will also be writing weekly journal articles, completing 3-5 research papers and 3-4 major projects.
Make-Up Procedures
It is the responsibility of the student to make-up all missed work. Be sure to check with me, the teacher, to see what you missed in class. Your grades along with your missing assignments will be displayed on the desktop computer in the back of the classroom for you to see at all times. You will be given sufficient time to turn in all missed work. If you do not have your work the day it is due, then you can turn in the assignment for a late grade. One day late will result in a loss of one letter grade. After one day late, then you can receive half credit for each late assignment.
Missing Class
If you miss class during a day when a participation grade is being taken, then you will have to complete an extra credit assignment to make-up for the missing participation grade. It is your job to find out what you missed.
Extra Credit
There will be opportunity for extra credit. I will determine what will be suitable for an extra credit assignment but I am always open to your ideas of what you would want to do for extra credit.
Beginning of Class
At the beginning of each class you will be given a DO NOW question which you must give a response to. At the end of the week you will turn these assignments in for a homework grade.
Notes
The student is responsible for taking all notes given in class.
You are responsible for all material covered in class for your quizzes and exams. If you miss a day of notes there will be an extra of copy of notes in on both of the desktop computers in the back of the room.
Yearly Topics (subject to change)
First Semester Second Semester
Stereotyping Crime
Constitutional Rights /First Amendment Popular Culture
USA Population Body Image
Politics Teenage Behavior
Immigration Family / Divorce
Poverty BP Oil Leak Crisis
Budgeting Racism
Terrorism /Iraq and Afghanistan World Ethnic Conflicts
Energy Sudan, Darfur, Escape From
Global Warming Conflict Slavery
The Environment /Natural Disasters Foreign Aid
Abortion Drugs / Drug Trade
Aging in America AIDS
Euthanasia Globalization
Wit (movie) World Population /World Families
Capital Punishment /Prisons Healthcare Reform
Construction of Mosque (near ground zero)
Homework:
1. Turn in homework ON TIME!!!!!
2. DO NOT COPY. Homework assignments are meant to reinforce the lesson that was just taught to you. Copying is a waste of time and is of no benefit to you. Plus you risk receiving a zero or splitting the grade in two with your comrade.
Cheating & Plagiarizing:
1. When writing a paper, students must make sure that they are citing their sources (giving the author credit). Any student caught plagiarizing will receive a zero on their paper. Citing must be completed in either APA or MLA format.
2. Cheating on exams, quizzes, homework, etc. is strictly prohibited. If caught, the students will receive a zero or I will split the grade in two.
Classroom Goals:
My role as an educator requires me to not only give you information, but to give you the skills and tools necessary to acquire and decipher information on your own. The study of current events in the classroom is a perfect way for you to practice identifying relevant information, analyzing opposing views, forming opinions, and expressing yourselves clearly. This course is designed to give students a chance to incorporate everything they have learned from previous social science courses into current events, controversial issues, and pop culture, as well as ways to use technology to help develop discussion, debate, and problem-solving skills.
Expectations
Each student is expected to listen, follow directions, complete all homework/in-class assignments, projects (power-point/movies) and study quizzes/exams. You are also expected to express your opinion and take part in class discussions (i.e. Socratic Seminars). In a discussion class it is imperative that each student be respectful of other student’s comments and listen when others are talking. There should be only one discussion going on at a time! EVERYONE’S OPINION MATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!! If you do all of these items, then you will be successful in the class. The amount of effort you put into the class will determine how successful you will be. We will be having Socratic seminars on a variety of controversial topics, analyzing primary and secondary documents, analyzing weekly newspapers and magazine journals (Time, Newsweek, NatGeo etc.) and watching CNN/CSPAN and having discussions on a variety of topics. You will also be writing weekly journal articles, completing 3-5 research papers and 3-4 major projects.
Make-Up Procedures
It is the responsibility of the student to make-up all missed work. Be sure to check with me, the teacher, to see what you missed in class. Your grades along with your missing assignments will be displayed on the desktop computer in the back of the classroom for you to see at all times. You will be given sufficient time to turn in all missed work. If you do not have your work the day it is due, then you can turn in the assignment for a late grade. One day late will result in a loss of one letter grade. After one day late, then you can receive half credit for each late assignment.
Missing Class
If you miss class during a day when a participation grade is being taken, then you will have to complete an extra credit assignment to make-up for the missing participation grade. It is your job to find out what you missed.
Extra Credit
There will be opportunity for extra credit. I will determine what will be suitable for an extra credit assignment but I am always open to your ideas of what you would want to do for extra credit.
Beginning of Class
At the beginning of each class you will be given a DO NOW question which you must give a response to. At the end of the week you will turn these assignments in for a homework grade.
Notes
The student is responsible for taking all notes given in class.
You are responsible for all material covered in class for your quizzes and exams. If you miss a day of notes there will be an extra of copy of notes in on both of the desktop computers in the back of the room.
Yearly Topics (subject to change)
First Semester Second Semester
Stereotyping Crime
Constitutional Rights /First Amendment Popular Culture
USA Population Body Image
Politics Teenage Behavior
Immigration Family / Divorce
Poverty BP Oil Leak Crisis
Budgeting Racism
Terrorism /Iraq and Afghanistan World Ethnic Conflicts
Energy Sudan, Darfur, Escape From
Global Warming Conflict Slavery
The Environment /Natural Disasters Foreign Aid
Abortion Drugs / Drug Trade
Aging in America AIDS
Euthanasia Globalization
Wit (movie) World Population /World Families
Capital Punishment /Prisons Healthcare Reform
Construction of Mosque (near ground zero)
Homework:
1. Turn in homework ON TIME!!!!!
2. DO NOT COPY. Homework assignments are meant to reinforce the lesson that was just taught to you. Copying is a waste of time and is of no benefit to you. Plus you risk receiving a zero or splitting the grade in two with your comrade.
Cheating & Plagiarizing:
1. When writing a paper, students must make sure that they are citing their sources (giving the author credit). Any student caught plagiarizing will receive a zero on their paper. Citing must be completed in either APA or MLA format.
2. Cheating on exams, quizzes, homework, etc. is strictly prohibited. If caught, the students will receive a zero or I will split the grade in two.
Classroom Goals:
- Students will learn to communicate respectfully with each other in a variety of classroom settings.
- The classroom will become a community of learners.
- Students will develop a working understanding of social studies.