Module 9

Module 9

Thanks for all your good work so far, you two. I’ll be reading midterms this week and will be posting your midterm grades by Friday. 

 

We have an election coming up next week, so it is a good time to read the two Chapters that relate specifically to this subject, Chapter 8, Public Opinion and Voting, and Chapter 9, Campaigns and Elections. Please read both chapters and, as you read, note where the information is particularly relevant to this year’s election cycle as you have observed it. Choose two things you learn from each chapter (4 things total) that give you more insight into or better understanding of the election we are living through this crazy year of 2020. Write a paragraph in your blog on each of those 4 things you learned… what were they, and how do they help you better understand the 2020 election?

Midterm

 Midterm Exam: Intro to American Government IS

Andrews/Fall 2020

 

 

Please respond to 3 of the following topics. Your responses should be 2-3 paragraphs in length. Spend approximately 20 minutes on each response. These responses are worth 10 points each. You may use your books, blogs and notes.  Please send me your responses BY EMAIL no later than 11pm on Sunday, October 25.

 

 

1) Explain the functions of the 3 branches of government in the US, and explain how the system of checks and balances works.

 

2) What is the 10th Amendment and why is it so important to understanding federalism? 


3) What does the Constitution say about Supreme Court nominations? Describe the roles of the various branches of government. Why is the current (2020) nomination process so controversial?


 

4) Define “civil liberties” and give one example of a controversy involving this topic.

 

 

5) Define “civil rights.” Explain the significance of Plessy v. Fergusonand Brown v. Board of Educationin the evolution of civil rights in the US.

Module 8

Module 8

 

It’s midterm week… that can be stressful and since we have a flexible class format, we can be flexible about how you manage your time this week. Please feel free to give priority to your other midterms, which may have stricter deadlines. You can catch up on your modules for this class, including your paper, later in the week… deadline for all module work is now 11pm this coming Sunday, October 25. My priority is to make sure you have an opportunity to do your best work, not to have the work by an arbitrary deadline. 

 

What I DO need for you to do now is to spend some time looking through your notes and blog posts for this class so far and send me 3 short-answer style questions that you feel would be appropriate to ask on a midterm. Please send me these by email by this coming Tuesday, October 20 at 11pm. I will send/post your midterm exam on Wednesday, October 22, and your replies will be due at 11pm on Sunday, October 25. The format for the midterm will be all short-answer questions, in which you’ll give answers 1-3 paragraphs in length. An example, would be: Define “civil liberties” and give one example of a controversy involving this topic.

 

So, recap of this week: You send me your 3 proposed midterm questions by email by Tuesday 11pm, I will email/post your midterm exam on Wednesday, your responses and any remaining Module work are all due by Sunday 11pm. Hopefully, that timeline allows you ample opportunities to plan your time and get your work done before, after, or during midterm break, according to your preference.

Module 7

Module 7

We’re almost at the halfway point, with midterms coming up next week. I’m noting that neither of you has yet completed Module 6… please be sure to catch up on that when you are able. Module 6 is posted to the class website, along with all previous modules.

 

This week, please read Chapters 4 and 5 of your textbook, which deal with Civil Liberties and Civil Rights. The chapters include a discussion of “fighting words” which is quite relevant these days with all the animosity we see within our political climate. To what extent is free speech really allowed? Does the Constitution set aside any categories of speech that are not protected? You’ll know the answers to these questions after reading the assigned chapters.

 

Then, rather than blogging this week, please write a short paper applying what you learned about free speech and “fighting words” to the article linked below, which you’ll find online. Please let me know if you have questions about the paper… it is due Sunday night of this week. We will do some midterm prep and review starting Monday.

 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2009/9/18/dangerous-hatred-in-the-us

 

 

Here is the full paper assignment:

 

Is Rob Reynolds correct about “dangerous hatred”? If so, what is the nature of the “danger”? Are the troubling words and images merely passionate examples of Constitutionally protected free speech, or are they “fighting words” as discussed in your text? Use the Constitution, rather than your personal opinions, to guide your discussion. Use quotes from the excerpted reading as needed.

 

Your paper should be no more than two double-spaced pages in length, including Header and Works Cited.  Arial font, 11 point, is preferred.  Times New Roman 12 point may also be used.  Margins no greater than 1 inch, please.  Examples of the proper format for your Header and Works Cited sections appear on this handout.

 

Works Cited

            Reynolds, Rob. “Dangerous Hatred in the US?” Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2009/9/18/dangerous-hatred-in-the-us

 Accessed 10/13/20.

 

Module 6

WEEK SIX

 

DUE: Sidlow, Chapter 12 The Presidency

This week, we turn to a discussion of the US Presidency. The president is “head of the government” and “head of state.” He is also “commander in chief” of the military. For Module 6, please define these three terms in a blog post and give examples of presidential actions that fit each role. 

 

Then, find three articles from the current events media in which someone is either reporting on or commenting on presidential actions that fit each of the three types of roles. The articles can be about either our current or previous president (i.e. either President Trump or President Obama). Post links to these three articles to your blog, along with a 1-paragraph discussion of each.