Ms. Morris

AP Comparative Government

Course Description and Requirements

Course Description
The AP Comparative Government course is based on the design of college-level introductory Comparative Government courses that focus on the comparative study of state systems and their political components. This effective, one semester course will involve the study of political science theory and methodology as well as the analysis of specific countries. The six models to be studied during the course of the semester are the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Mexico, Nigeria, and Iran. Students throughout the semester will study these respective countries, the components that are universal to all political systems in each of the six countries, and will become aware of the interconnections between the citizenry and state policies. This course will give students a critical perspective of the working of these government systems.

Textbook

Almond, Gabriel and Powell, G. Bingham. Comparative Politics Today, Seventh Edition. Harper Collins.

Charles Hauss, Comparative Politics, Third Edition West/Thomson Publishing

Required Readings

Annual Editions, Comparative Politics 2002--2003 Guilford, CT: Dushkin Publishing Group, 1999.

The Economist

Course Requirements

READING: In order for students to be successful in a college level course, it is essential that students maximize their time through proper organization and time management strategies and complete all assigned reading prior to class. The reading materials are focused on separate countries as class lessons and discussions will help draw comparisons among the countries. From background information about the countries and the comparisons drawn from the study of these countries, students will be responsible for relating a set of facts in one country with those in another in an effort to understand the broader meaning of political phenomena. It is essential that you remain up to date on the assigned readings from the text and the supplementary articles. The required reading, along with lectures and class discussion will figure prominently in your formal evaluation on quizzes, examinations, and essays.

TEAMWORK: Throughout the semester students will be asked to present a variety of material through group presentations and discussions. Each country covered will entail a group presentation. Teamwork for the presentations is a course requirement and it is expected that all students will contribute to the team effort. Establishing a positive attitude and rapport within the team has been proven to be a key to success and will greatly assist in the management of the amount of reading and work that is required.

DATA AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Throughout the course of the semester, students will be required to analyze various political statistical data. This will include exercises in the computer lab, assignments involving the analysis of charts, graphs, political cartoons, and use of the Internet. Students will respond to a series of questions with respect to data examined on daily assignments. Students also need to be prepared to deal with data analysis on tests and
essays.

Journal:
Students will be expected to read The Economist and write weekly a short entry in a notebook journal. The Economist will be available here in our library and in class. The issues in the classroom may be checked out overnight. Each entry should discuss one particular political/social issue about your assigned country. Note the article’s title, author, date, and page number in your entry. Briefly review the content of the article and give a short political analysis of the piece by either

comparing the country to the political systems we are learning in class or
discussing the political implications for that particular country.

Students will turn in their journal every four weeks. This means that you will have four entries every time you turn in your journal. Do not wait until the due date to read your articles and write up your analysis. Students must obtain permission from me to use a source other than The Economist.

EXAMINATIONS: Formal evaluations may consist of two days worth of testing which will consist of a 60 question multiple choice test (one day), and at least one essay (one day). The students should be prepared each unit for the possibility of taking the test over two days. The structure of the tests will be similar to that of the AP examination. After the first unit, students must be prepared for the tests to be comprehensive, meaning that any information covered during the semester (including current events) will be considered fair game. Also, after the first
unit, students may be required to write two 25-minute essays, which, in addition to requiring students to display knowledge of the subject matter, will serve to prepare them for the format of the AP exam.

Quizzes, Daily Work

Because reading assignments for this course are from a college level textbook and are quite technical in parts, there will be usually more than one reading quiz given for each assigned country chapter. In addition, short-reading quizzes on periodical articles will occur from time to time.

GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURE: All of the unit examinations and in-class essays will constitute 75% of each six-weeks’ grade. The in-class essays will be graded according to a rubric designed for that topic or assignment. Quizzes over the text, presentations, statistical analysis assignments, discussions, current events and other daily work will constitute the other 25% of the six-weeks’ grade. Each student will have the lowest daily grade dropped every six weeks. A final examination constituting 25% of the semester average is required to all first semester students, and to all second semester students who fail to meet the final examination exemption requirements for the course.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: All students will be held to the highest standards of academic integrity. Students who violate PISD rules or fail to uphold these standards will be subject to punishment, including, but not limited to, loss of credit on any assignment affected by the violation.