AMERICAN GOVERNMENT/ ECONOMICS

 

Welcome to my website for American Government and Economics.. An updated syllabus can be found in the bottom of this page. Always check the "Homework & Events" section to see all the assignments for each unit of study. If you cannot find the information you need please  e-mail me at vesal@duvalschools.org
Mr. Lucian Vesa                                                    


                                               Course Syllabus

Economics

Mr. Vesa Lucian

First Coast High School

Email: vesal@duvalschools.org

Website: http://dcpspublic.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage.aspx?id=593151&xpage=

 

 

Textbooks: Contemporary Economics – William A. McEachern

 

Materials: You will need the following materials for class

                        One 3-ring binder

                        Blue or black ink pens

                        Pencils

                        Paper

Course Description:
Economics deals with choices. Economics studies how people confront the situation of having limited resources to meet unlimited wants. The guiding questions in the course ask how limited resources be allocated and the steps individuals take to receive their portion. Individuals and organizations face these decisions every day and those who study economics study why decisions were made, as well as the impact of such decisions.

Topics that will be covered include:

By taking this course students will be expected to:

ü  develop an economic perspective on the world

ü  understand and articulate the major economic concepts of:

§  supply and demand

§  opportunity cost and scarcity

§  comparative and absolute advantage

§  elasticity

§  profit maximization in various market structures

§  fiscal and monetary policy

§  face similar challenges to that of a first year student in college

§  gain an appreciation for the fun and importance of learning

Evaluation: Grade summaries will be given to students periodically to let parents and students know of their progress. Students’ final grades for each quarter will be based on a total point system:

ü  tests (worth 200 points), given as a culminating activity to each unit

ü  quizzes (worth 100 points), used periodically to check for understanding and reinforce important concepts

ü  in-class/out-of class assignments (varies between 5 – 50 points), occurs between 1-3 times week, each assignment is usually less than an hour long

ü  special projects/citizenship project/ portfolio (100 points), meant to promote student contribution in building community in the classroom and on campus. 

Course Expectations:

• Treat everyone with respect.
• Be on time, in your assigned seat and ready to begin class at the start of the bell.
• Have all work turned in on time. No late work will be accepted. Absent work will be accepted but only given an equal amount of time as to the absence. Truant work may not be made up.
• No food, no drinks and no gum.
• No electronic devices such as cell phones or Ipods, etc.
• Being late for work is not acceptable in the business world and is not acceptable in my class.

Academic Integrity:

Academic integrity is expected from all students. Claiming work as your own that is not or work that is copied or very closely paraphrased WITHOUT attribution to its source is marked as “0.”

Attendance/Administrative Procedures:

·         Attendance is taken everyday.  Students need to be aware of the number of days they miss so they do not FA.  If a student is absent is their responsibility to come to me for makeup work.  I will keep a record of what we do everyday in an agenda that they student can copy.  Students have one week to make up all work unless prior arrangements have been made.  Any work not made up will result in a zero.

 

Grading System:

      Students are graded on their ability to present what they have learned in a meaningful way and adjust to meet the assignment criteria. Each nine-weeks grade will be calculated on a point /or weight system as follows:

 

      100     Tests and projects

      5 – 50             In-class & Out of class activities (out of class activities may consist of watching TV news, related television shows, movies, or reading and responding to articles).

100       Quizzes

 

Grading Scale:

The grading scale for this course is:

A= 100-90%      

B= 89-80%  

                        C=79-70%     

D= 69-60%         

F= 59-0%

 

HINTS FOR SUCCESS

• Set aside a specific time to study.
• Study every day. If you don't have assignments to do, take a few minutes to review topics that you find hardest. This may sound like a drag, but it's good to get into the habit of doing it every day.
• Create your own study space. If you don't have a desk in your room, or if the dining room table doesn't give you enough peace, consider going to the local library or taking up a corner of the basement.
• Don't do other things while you are studying. This includes watching TV, fixing a snack, and talking on the phone.
• If you have a lot of reading to do to prepare for a test, try taking notes as you go along. Otherwise, you'll find your mind wandering.
• Finally, ask for help if you need it. Teachers and friends are usually willing to go over something with you again if you didn't quite "get it" the first time.

Final Comments:

The best advice I can give students is to take responsibility for your education. Don’t try to shift that responsibility to parents, teachers, friends, luck, circumstances, or anything else. We all have to deal with life, so deal with it; but don’t use it as an excuse for neglecting your education. What you do now will impact how you spend your life. Those who educate themselves will have opportunity, those who choose not to educate themselves will see those opportunities shrink, in many cases dramatically.

 

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Mr. Vesa Lucian

First Coast High School

Email: vesal@duvalschools.org

Website:  http://dcpspublic.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage.aspx?id=593151&xpage=

 

Textbooks: Magruder’s American Government

 

Materials: You will need the following materials for class

                        One 3-ring binder

                        Blue or black ink pens

                        Pencils

                        Paper

 

 

Course Objectives:

• To understand the foundations of U.S. government, the role of the U.S. government at home and abroad and the impact of government on our daily lives

•  
  •  
    •  Apply research, study, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills
    • Prepare students to read critically and analytically

           

Course Format: The course format will follow the basic workshop model

• Opening Activity
• Mini-lesson
• Learning Activity- small group and independent work
• Closing and Assessment

 

Student Responsibilities:

• Be an active participant in their own learning
• Bring Materials (including books) to class
• Be on time
• Turn in assignments on time
• Complete all work to the best of their ability
• Ask for help when needed

Evaluation: Grade summaries will be given to students periodically to let parents and students know of their progress. Students’ final grades for each quarter will be based on a total point system:

ü  tests (worth 200 points), given as a culminating activity to each unit

ü  quizzes (worth 100 points), used periodically to check for understanding and reinforce important concepts

ü  in-class/out-of class assignments (varies between 5 – 50 points), occurs between 1-3 times week, each assignment is usually less than an hour long

ü  special projects/citizenship project/ portfolio (100 points), meant to promote student contribution in building community in the classroom and on campus. 

Course Expectations:

• Treat everyone with respect.
• Be on time, in your assigned seat and ready to begin class at the start of the bell.
• Have all work turned in on time. No late work will be accepted. Absent work will be accepted but only given an equal amount of time as to the absence. Truant work may not be made up.
• No food, no drinks and no gum.
• No electronic devices such as cell phones or Ipods, etc.
• Being late for work is not acceptable in the business world and is not acceptable in my class.

Academic Integrity:

Academic integrity is expected from all students. Claiming work as your own that is not or work that is copied or very closely paraphrased WITHOUT attribution to its source is marked as “0.”

Attendance/Administrative Procedures:

• Attendance is taken everyday.  Students need to be aware of the number of days they miss so they do not FA.  If a student is absent is their responsibility to come to me for makeup work.  I will keep a record of what we do everyday in an agenda that they student can copy.  Students have one week to make up all work unless prior arrangements have been made.  Any work not made up will result in a zero.

Policy for Late Assignments

            Late Assignments may be turned in for partial credit.

•  

 

Grading System:

      Students are graded on their ability to present what they have learned in a meaningful way and adjust to meet the assignment criteria. Each nine-weeks grade will be calculated on a point /or weight system as follows:

 

      100     Tests and projects

      5 – 50             In-class & Out of class activities (out of class activities may consist of watching TV news, related television shows, movies, or reading and responding to articles).

100       Quizzes

 

Grading Scale:

The grading scale for this course is:

A= 100-90%      

B= 89-80%  

                        C=79-70%     

D= 69-60%         

F= 59-0%

 

Learning Schedule for 1^st 9 Weeks*

 

Week 1                       Discuss syllabus, ritual and class expectations

                                    Foundations of Government

 

Week 2                       Foundations of Government

 

Week 3                       U.S. Constitution

 

Week 4                       U.S. Constitution

 

Week 5                       Legislative Branch

 

Week 6                       Legislative Branch

 

Week 7                       Legislative Branch                                

 

Week 8                       Executive Branch

 

Week 9                       Cumulative Nine Weeks Exam

                                    Will include everything covered up to this point

 

QUIZZES AND TEST WILL BE GIVEN THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER

 

*Subject to change based on the needs of the class

 

 

 

Safety Nets:

• Re-teach and Re-test
• Teacher Website
• Teacher Tutorial Sessions
• Students encouraged to have a “study buddy”
• Differentiated Instruction
• Progress Reports
• Student/Teacher Conferences
• Teaching Multiple Strategies
• Revision of student work
• Ongoing formal and informal assessments

 

 

HINTS FOR SUCCESS

• Set aside a specific time to study.
• Study every day. If you don't have assignments to do, take a few minutes to review topics that you find hardest. This may sound like a drag, but it's good to get into the habit of doing it every day.
• Create your own study space. If you don't have a desk in your room, or if the dining room table doesn't give you enough peace, consider going to the local library or taking up a corner of the basement.
• Don't do other things while you are studying. This includes watching TV, fixing a snack, and talking on the phone.
• If you have a lot of reading to do to prepare for a test, try taking notes as you go along. Otherwise, you'll find your mind wandering.
• Finally, ask for help if you need it. Teachers and friends are usually willing to go over something with you again if you didn't quite "get it" the first time.

Final Comments:

The best advice I can give students is to take responsibility for your education. Don’t try to shift that responsibility to parents, teachers, friends, luck, circumstances, or anything else. We all have to deal with life, so deal with it; but don’t use it as an excuse for neglecting your education. What you do now will impact how you spend your life. Those who educate themselves will have opportunity, those who choose not to educate themselves will see those opportunities shrink, in many cases dramatically.