Grade 12 Courses

American Government

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Contemporary World Studies, World History, United States History, recommended

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills: 1) familiarity with the routine of daily homework assignments 2) ability to work independently on an assignment  3) organizational skills   4) note taking skills This course is college preparatory; some advanced reading is required.

Course Description: American Government introduces students to the requirements and demands of democratic citizenship. This course will develop informed, responsible participation in American political life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy. Students analyze the nature and function of political relationships: citizen-to-citizen, citizen to local community, citizen to state, and citizen to the nation. It provides the students with the foundation essential to understanding the dynamics of American politics. The course will also strive to engender a sense of political efficacy and activism on issues of personal interest. In short, American Government will act as one of the two “finishing courses” of the Social Sciences, preparing students to take their rightful place as full, active, and responsible members of American society while simultaneously developing an appreciation of the past as it relates to the present and preparing them for the possibilities of their future.

This course is aligned with California Content Standards for American Government. There are six units of study:

Major Projects/Assignments: Semester long projects include a Roundtable Research Project and group research paper on a piece of federal legislation. This is in addition to several minor individual projects that are assigned throughout the semester.

Approximate homework assigned daily: 30 to 60 minutes   It is important to note that this serves as an estimate of the nightly average homework load.  It is not intended to be a concrete value and homework completion time will depend upon the nature of the assignment and the abilities and work habits of the student.

Economics

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Contemporary World Studies, World History, U.S. History, recommended.

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills: 1) the ability to organize and complete assigned reading and homework  2) the ability to work independently and collaboratively 3) listening and notetaking skills.  

Course Description: Economics is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of both microeconomic and macroeconomic principals. It is a rigorous course intended to provide the student with the vocabulary of economics, the skills necessary to understand and analyze the current economic issues and an appreciation of the economic system that has evolved in the U.S. and in the world today.

Students will be introduced to the concepts of supply and demand and the larger economic system, as well as the general workings of the free market economy including: Measurement of Economic Performance, National Income and Price Determination, Financial Markets, Inflation, Unemployment and Stabilization Policies, Economic Growth and Productivity, International Trade and Finance, Consumer Behavior, the nature of the firm in the four market models (Perfect Competition, Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly, and Monopoly) and the role of government in promoting efficiency and equity in the economy.

Major Projects/Assignments: As determined by the instructor

Approximate homework assigned daily: 30 to 45 minutes  It is important to note that this serves as an estimate of the nightly average homework load.  It is not intended to be a concrete value and homework completion time will depend upon the nature of the assignment and the abilities and work habits of the student.

Advanced Placement (AP) American Government

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Contemporary World Studies, World History, Unite States History, recommended.

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills: Students enrolling in this course should have successfully completed Advanced Placement United States History in 11^th grade and Honors World History in 10^th grade with a grade of “C” or better.  Students entering from College Preparation should have an A United States History College preparatory.  It is also recommended that students who wish to take this course have a solid foundation of writing and research skills, be able to handle college level reading material, and be prepared to work independently as well as in a group environment.

Course Description: In this semester long course students apply knowledge gained in previous years of study to pursue a deeper understanding of the institutions of American Government.  Throughout the course we examine and try to evaluate our institutions of government, the public policies made by these institutions, and the influences of the electorate on policy-making.  Ultimately this course is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Examination in United States Government and Politics.

Major Projects/Assignments: Semester long projects include a Roundtable Research Project and group research paper on a piece of federal legislation. This is in addition to several minor individual projects that are assigned throughout the semester.

Approximate homework assigned daily: Minimum of 30 to 45 minutes daily. It is important to note that this serves as an estimate of the nightly average homework load.  It is not intended to be a concrete value and homework completion time will depend upon the nature of the assignment and the abilities and work habits of the student.

Advanced Placement (AP) Microeconomics

Prerequisite: Completion of United States History

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills:  The department strongly recommends:

• Careful attention paid to the rest of the student’s academic load. This course has a considerable amount of work.
• There are mathematic principles employed in this course. Students should have a comfortable familiarity with the creation and interpretation of line-slope graphs and the use of logical arguments.
• Students will complete readings from college-level textbooks and will complete written work commensurate with university-level classes.
• Students should have previously experience in Advanced Placement courses. Reading and writing abilities, which exceed grade level (12th grade reading level recommended).
• The ability to grasp complex and abstract ideas and theories and a strong, independent, responsible work-ethic.

Course Description: Students taking this course can expect to engage in an educational environment that is equivalent to a first-year university level survey course.  Advanced Placement Economics actually consists of two components: Macroeconomics and Microeconomics and are considered courses that emphasize the general principals of each field.  The College Board offers two separate exams for each discipline, and grades are reported as two separate grades in this respect.  The student can choose to take one exam or the other, or both. When studying Microeconomics, students study the nature of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the economic system.  The course includes the study of Consumer Behavior, the nature of the firm in the four market models (Perfect Competition, Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly, and Monopoly) and the role of government in promoting efficiency and equity in the economy.  The AP Economics course follows the standards prescribed by the College Board in the Advanced Placement Course Description

Major Projects/Assignments: As determined by the instructor

Approximate homework assigned daily: 45 to 90 minutes It is important to note that this serves as an estimate of the nightly average homework load.  It is not intended to be a concrete value and homework completion time will depend upon the nature of the assignment and the abilities and work habits of the student.

Advanced Placement (AP) American Government

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Contemporary World Studies, World History, Unite States History, recommended.

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills: Students enrolling in this course should have successfully completed Advanced Placement United States History in 11^th grade and Honors World History in 10^th grade with a grade of “C” or better.  Students entering from College Preparation should have an A United States History College preparatory.  It is also recommended that students who wish to take this course have a solid foundation of writing and research skills, be able to handle college level reading material, and be prepared to work independently as well as in a group environment.

Course Description: In this semester long course students apply knowledge gained in previous years of study to pursue a deeper understanding of the institutions of American Government.  Throughout the course we examine and try to evaluate our institutions of government, the public policies made by these institutions, and the influences of the electorate on policy-making.  Ultimately this course is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Examination in United States Government and Politics.

Major Projects/Assignments: Semester long projects include a Roundtable Research Project and group research paper on a piece of federal legislation. This is in addition to several minor individual projects that are assigned throughout the semester.

Approximate homework assigned daily: Minimum of 30 to 45 minutes daily. It is important to note that this serves as an estimate of the nightly average homework load.  It is not intended to be a concrete value and homework completion time will depend upon the nature of the assignment and the abilities and work habits of the student.

Advanced Placement (AP) Microeconomics

Prerequisite: Completion of United States History

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills:  The department strongly recommends:

• Careful attention paid to the rest of the student’s academic load. This course has a considerable amount of work.
• There are mathematic principles employed in this course. Students should have a comfortable familiarity with the creation and interpretation of line-slope graphs and the use of logical arguments.
• Students will complete readings from college-level textbooks and will complete written work commensurate with university-level classes.
• Students should have previously experience in Advanced Placement courses. Reading and writing abilities, which exceed grade level (12th grade reading level recommended).
• The ability to grasp complex and abstract ideas and theories and a strong, independent, responsible work-ethic.

Course Description: Students taking this course can expect to engage in an educational environment that is equivalent to a first-year university level survey course.  Advanced Placement Economics actually consists of two components: Macroeconomics and Microeconomics and are considered courses that emphasize the general principals of each field.  The College Board offers two separate exams for each discipline, and grades are reported as two separate grades in this respect.  The student can choose to take one exam or the other, or both. When studying Microeconomics, students study the nature of individual decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the economic system.  The course includes the study of Consumer Behavior, the nature of the firm in the four market models (Perfect Competition, Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly, and Monopoly) and the role of government in promoting efficiency and equity in the economy.  The AP Economics course follows the standards prescribed by the College Board in the Advanced Placement Course Description

Major Projects/Assignments: As determined by the instructor

Approximate homework assigned daily: 45 to 90 minutes It is important to note that this serves as an estimate of the nightly average homework load.  It is not intended to be a concrete value and homework completion time will depend upon the nature of the assignment and the abilities and work habits of the student.