United States Government: Student Contract and Current Event Description

I. 2015-2016 Student Contract

Mr. Toma – Government

Welcome seniors! The Following is a list of things for you to be aware of in order to be successful as a student in Government.

Daily Materials

• 1.       3 ring binder with dividers to keep you organized. History learning is a cumulative process and many handouts for research will be needed.
• 2.       3 subject notebook for Government only. + Textbook
• 3.       Pen/pencil

Classroom Regulations

• 1.       Arrive to class ON TIME daily with all required materials and completed homework. Hall passes will NOT be issued to go to lockers.
• 2.       Be in your seat, ready to begin working when the bell rings.
• 3.       No food or drinks will be consumed in class. Many times conversations or mini-debates will occur and it is very difficult to speak [and for others to understand you] when there is food in your mouth!
• 4.       The use of personal electronics in class is prohibited and subject to the penalties specified in the student handbook.
• 5.       If you have a question during lecture portions, raise your hand and wait to be called on before speaking.
• 6.       The teacher determines the end of the period. Remain in your seat and wait for the teacher to dismiss you.
• 7.       When someone else is speaking give him or her your undivided attention. Please do not touch anything that does not belong to you. Respect your peers and teacher and you will be respected.
• 8.       Be prepared for each class, the teacher will randomly select students to answer questions related to homework or classwork. If everyone is always prepared, everyone will be held accountable for the material at all times.

Homework

• 1.       Homework will be assigned nightly. It will be posted on the board, my website or ask your base group.
• 2.       Homework is to be completed INDIVIDUALLY, neatly and accurately as well as contain the appropriate heading.
• 3.       Homework will usually be either collected or checked at your seat.
• 4.       Corrections are to be made as homework is reviewed.
• 5.       All extended response questions should be answered completely and in full sentences for credit.
• 6.       Each time you do not complete an assignment, 10 points will be deducted from your homework grade. [For example, if you complete all your assignments, your homework grade will be 100. If you do not complete 3 assignments your homework grade will be a 70.]
• 7.       More than 2 missed assignments will result in homework detention as per the school's incomplete homework policy

Grading Policy:

1.       Grades will be determined as follows:

Tests/Projects	50%
Quizzes	20%
Homework-	10 %
Classwork/Research and Writing- (Voluntary or Called-on)	20 %

• 2.       Quizzes will be announced at least one day in advance.
• 3.       Tests will always be announced several days in advance. Plan accordingly.
• 4.       If you are absent the day before a quiz or test you WILL be required to take it.
• 5.       If you are absent the day of a quiz, you will make it up the day you return AFTER school. For missing tests, you must make arrangements to complete it during your free time. Failure to make up Tests/Quizzes in an appropriate time results in a 40.

Notebook

To start each class period [sit down and get ready to go], you will be given an activity that you will answer/respond to in your notebook. You must write down the activity and date. Random checks will be made to ensure this and failure to do so will result in a 40 in class participation for the day.

Academic Integrity

Cheating and/or copying will not be tolerated. Cheating/copying on homework, quizzes, tests, projects and/or any other assignment(s) will result in a zero and a phone call home. If it is not YOUR ORIGINAL WORK or PROPERLY CITED, it is plagiarism. I expect all of your work to be your own.

****Additional requirements for behavior are to be found in your student handbook. It is your responsibility to understand these rules because you will be held accountable if you break any of them.

- CHRIST THE KING-2014-2015 Student Contract

Mr. Toma – Government

Student Confirmation

I have read the Government Student Contract, and I understand all my responsibilities related to this class.

Student name: ___________________________ (PRINT) ______________________________ (signature)

Date: __________________________

Information for Parents- Informaciõn para los padres/ Guardianes

Your child is enrolled in Government.  It is a challenging subject for most students so it is important that you are aware of the course requirements so we can work together to assure your child’s success in this class.  Other general information is available on my school website.   Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at jtoma@ctkprep.org.

Please sign to indicate that you have read this and have your child return it to me by tomorrow.

Su hijo/a está matriculado en la clase de Government. Es un curso avanzado así que es sumamente importante que usted sepa los requisitos para que podamos trabajar juntos para asegurar el éxito de su hijo/a en la clase. Favor de ponerse en contacto conmigo si tiene cualquier pregunta.

Favor de firmar para indicar que ha visto y leído esto y déselo a su hijo/a para devolvérmelo mañana.

Parent/guardian name (Nombre): _________________________ (Print ) ___________________________ (signature/ firma)

Parent/guardian email address: _________________________________

Date(Fecha): __________________________

II. Current Events Description

CURRENT EVENTS DIRECTIONS

Government 2014-2015

Once a month I will assign current events homework in social studies class. You will have two possible assignments. One will be a current events topic of your choice. The other will be a topic I chose for you.

Although sports are important factors in society and world cultures, we will not be using sports related articles as current events.

If I assign a topic of your choice, you may choose any international, national, or local news article you find interesting, except for sports or local crimes. You must use one legitimate source of information such as the newspaper, an article you find on the internet under a news website a magazine such as National Geographic, Time or Newsweek, or a TV news program, such as the evening news.

IMPORTANT:  Please rotate your source types throughout the year. For example, if you used the internet in September, you must use the newspaper or a magazine or a TV program in October.

Detailed Procedure

Choose your current events article.  The article should be at least three paragraphs long. Please avoid using sports-related articles, or stories about local crimes.

1.   Cut out the article.

2.   Glue the article into the notebook.

3.   At the top of the page, write your source, including the following information: (IN MLA FORMAT)

Date of article

Name of magazine, newspaper, TV show, etc.

Name of author

Page numbers of article

4. On the second page, below the source listing, write a summary of the article using your own words. This should be at least two full paragraphs each consisting of 5-7 sentences. Try to answer the following: who, what, when, where, how, why?

5.   Write a second ‘opinion’ with five full paragraphs, answering the following questions:

a.    Why did you choose the article?

b.  Was the article interesting to you?

c.   How did the article make you feel? Is the topic relatable to you?

d.   Did you change your opinion after reading the article?

e.   What would you do to change the situation?

III. Current Events Rubric:

Current Events Rubric     MONTH ___________________  TOPIC _________________________

Completed on time		5
Your article is attached to one page of your notebook with the source clearly visible or written under the article. You rotated your source, using the internet as a source only once every 3-4 months. Your source included: Name of source, date of article, page number, author of article. This includes internet articles. Use your MLA guidelines for how to list internet sources. Note: If one of your sources is from a TV or radio news program, list the date, time, station and reporter’s name.		20
You included a two paragraph summary in your own words, with all important details included such as: who, what, where, how, why? You used proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.		35
You included a multi paragraph personal reaction (your opinion) indicating a clear understanding of the topic. You used proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.		30
Your work is neatly written and your paragraphs are neatly in your notebook with proper headings.		10
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS		100