Tag Archives: GOV

December 2, 2013 · 6:27 am

Reflections – daily journals

Beginning this Marking Period II, I expect all Economics and Government classes to bring their reflection books to class. These journals will be used for in-class assignments approximately two to three times a week. Their usage will be unannounced, however if you don’t have your reflections book with you on the day we have an assignment, you’ll receive a zero on Reflections for that day.

Reflections Purpose and Process below…

Purpose of “Reflections” – to think, and to reflect in journals. To use those reflections as a basis of discussion.
Announcement of “Reflections” – a white board hanging daily outside my door will announce which classes are assigned reflection for the day.
Direction of “Reflections” – A statement will be up on the white board, or I will issue one orally at the beginning of class.
Process of “Reflections” – I’ll provide parameters, you provide the insight. Simple…think and reflect. Ten minutes max.
Grading of Reflections – five points if you bring it and you write. Zero if you don’t. I’ll pull three journal random at the end of the process and grade them for effort (twenty point assignment). Journaling totals will consist of a accumulated 100 point Homework grade at the end of each Marking Period. You will not be allowed a pass or a tardy to go get your journal…so don’t forget it.
“Reflection” Follow Up – we may just put our pens away and move on. Or we may talk about your ideas. Depends on time for me and inspiration by you.
Final Thoughts – Is for you to think three dimensionally – and for us to talk about them.

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Filed under 2 Government, 3 Economics, Uncategorized

Tagged as econ, GOV, reflections

November 13, 2013 · 6:22 am

ACT News – reading and writing

The key to the effectiveness of your A.C.T! group is your knowledge base. Some of you are extremely passionate about the issue that you’ve chosen. That’s not enough. You cannot hope to be influential in making change in this world if you don’t know what you’re talking about.

So, it’s imperative in this initial information search that you look hard for five good news stories. First you must go to legitimate sources…see the list below. Secondly, you need to tap into a wide breadth of issues that cover your topic. In order to succeed on the first two fronts you’re going to have to dig deeper than your initial google launch. Googling inside of news sights and outside on Google takes work. Be creative in your searches and look hard at the quality of articles you’ve found. When you land on five as a group…make sure that each of the five brings something substantial to the table. You will be graded on the quality of the article and legitimacy of the source. And bank good articles for the next marking period; you’ve got five more coming.

Next is active reading.

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Tagged as ACT, active reading, GOV, Government

November 10, 2013 · 6:49 am

A.C.T! – Action Counts Today

Go here for A.C.T! syllabus. And here for guidelines for Active Reading.

This government class will revolve around awareness, involvement and action. The study of United States government without corresponding involvement, relegates the study of government to irrelevancy. The idea is not only that you know your rights under the Constitution, but that you exercise those rights throughout your life. It is my hope, that by stressing A.C.T! as a significant portion of government class, both in time spent and percent of a final semester grade, that you will begin a tradition of working within your government and Constitution to create a more accountable government and a more just world.

A.C.T! requirements (25% of MP grade)…

MP#1 – 14th Amendment & Civil Rights – learn how to win.
MP#2 – Research – create your own A.C.T! group – research your issue
MP#3 – Contact – political representatives and special interest groups.
EXTRA – Action – volunteer, assemble, and petition

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November 9, 2013 · 1:20 pm

GOVERNMENT EXAM – Honor Roll

Congratulations to the following individuals who earned an “A” on last week’s Government Exam – “The origins and foundations of government of the USA.”

First please consider our very own Brienna Ferguson’s take on Public Policy and Public Interest in the USA. Exam Essay #1 – well done citizen.

“Public interest and public policy are supposed to go hand-in-hand nicely. Public interest is the way that people feel about every single thing that directly or indirectly effects them and the world in which they live. It could how they feel about taxes to how they feel about Syria’s dictator; its everything that goes on in their minds. Public policy is used by the government to protect rights given to them by their God and to keep them safe. It’s all the laws that the government creates. In the USA’s case its all the laws of the federal and state governments. Public policy is supposed to reflect the public interest. This is impossible to get everyone’s way because not everyone is 100% on everyone else’s page. Ideally this works best when people of a democracy make educated votes on all of the people and issues that effect them. In the United States however this is especially hard to do because we have such a diverse population, and they all have different views based on their culture and background.

The relationship between the public interest and public policy is not healthy in this country, because the people of the USA think the government is sovereign. They feel as if there is no controlling the government. The only way we are going to get a better relationship between the people and the government is if the people tell the government, “that’s the way its going to be!” The people can do this by protesting, by calling their congressman, by petitioning the government But the #1 way to do this is to VOTE!

Voting is maybe one of the easiest ways to get your voice heard. Your voice can say, “Yes I like it,” or “No, I don’t,” but either way its getting heard. Whether you win or your lose you will be heard!”

101% – Jacob Dynes – A+
101% – Ashton Sower – A+
100% – Jordan Fairchild – A+
98% – Julian Cook
92% – Clint Bollin
92% – Brienna Ferguson

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October 19, 2013 · 12:25 pm

Honor Roll – 14th Amendment Exam

Congratulations to the following individuals who earned an A on Friday’s 14th Amendment Exam. Well done guys…actually everybody did a very good job. All grades have been posted on Powerschool.