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Contemporary Issues
Thank you for making this course memorable. Best of luck to all seniors in their upcoming college experience!
Course Description: Contemporary Issues offers students the opportunity to explore and analyze a number of political, social, economic, and environmental issues that affect Americans today and have implications for our futures. The course will focus on a number of major themes with flexibility to accommodate students’ interests and current events. Students will be encouraged to examine their own thoughts and beliefs as well as the thoughts and beliefs of others. The course will stress research analysis, group process, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills, community involvement, and community service.
Some learner outcomes include:
- Pursue learning independently
- Consults a variety of resources in research
- Critiques own work
- Provides evidence of process (documentation!)
- Manages time well and meets deadlines
- Demonstrate an understanding and responsibility for local, national and global issues
Evaluation:
- 5 Current Event Response papers: 2 pages in length, double spaced, 10 or 12 font, with standard 1 inch margins. You are not expected to include a bibliography, as your bibliographical data should be given within your paper. However, you are expected to properly footnote the quotations and ideas of others. Papers are due at the beginning of class in printed form.
- Evaluation of Political Beliefs Paper: 2 page paper evaluating of your personal beliefs
- Letter to a Political Official: 1 page letter to any political official on a topic of interest to you.
- Socratic Seminar Project: Includes selection of relevant topic, location of credible sources; annotated bibliography; in-depth question creation; leadership of in-class Socratic seminar discussion.
- Muckraker Project: Exploring what muckrakers do and applying knowledge to a contemporary issue.
- Final Project: 4-5 page paper and power point presentation identifying and applying a logical solution to a world problem.
- Class Participation: Positive involvement in class and group discussions. This will be numerically evaluated each week.
- Demonstration of knowledge of current events and contemporary issues though papers, projects and class participation
Class Rules and Expectations:
- Respect. You are expected to respect everyone in the classroom. Be considerate of the beliefs of others. Treat others with the same respect that you wish to receive from others. Respect includes use of appropriate language and content.
- Come prepared for class. Bring your notebook, writing implements, paper and all work that is due every day.
- Be at class on time. Promptness to class and attendance is expected. If you are late, have a pass. If you are late without a pass expect a detention. If you are absent contact a classmate or the office for your assignments. You are responsible for all work missed during an absence.
- Submit work on time. If your work is late you will lose one letter grade per day until the work is no longer accepted.
- Assignments On-line: Assignments are posted on-line at gdrsd.org; go to schools—high school—academics—links to teacher websites—Olson
Class Supplies:
- Writing Utensil
- 70 page spiral notebook
- 1 – 2 pocket folder
- Highlighters
- Flashdrive/Portable Storage
Contemporary Issues Syllabus
Week |
Project |
Week 1 |
- Current Event Paper #1: Local
- Muckraker Project
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Week 2 |
- Current Event Paper # 2: State
- Begin Socratic Seminar Projects
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Week 3 |
- Current Event Paper #3: National
- Socratic Seminars
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Week 4 |
- Evaluation paper of political beliefs (your response to America’s political climate)
- Socratic Seminars
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Week 5 |
- Reaction Paper # 4: World
- Socratic Seminars
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Week 6 |
- Letter to Political Official
- Socratic Seminars
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Week 7 |
- Reaction Paper #5: Topic of Your Choice
- Socratic Seminars
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Week 8 |
- Begin Research on Final Projects
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Week 9 |
- Final Project: Solutions to World Problems Core Assignment (identify and offer a solution to a world problem)
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