One Day Academy

This is a one-year government course designed for upper-level high school students that provides the recommended half-credit for American government and an additional half credit for Constitutional Law.   In addition to studying the foundations of democracy and the drafting of the American Constitution, students will get an in-depth exploration of all three branches of governments and the American political system.  There will be a strong emphasis on analyzing primary sources such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Federalist Papers and important Supreme Court cases that include historical and current constitutional jurisprudence. Students will be expected to complete weekly homework, engage in class discussions and debates, and complete a project for each semester.

Purpose

“Whenever the people are well-informed,

They can be trusted with their own government."

– Thomas Jefferson

The goal of this course is to learn to analyze current events – foreign and domestic  – through the lens of history with a distinctly Christian worldview. This course is designed to inspire the student’s interest in current events and politics as well as give the student an appreciation for the freedom that is unique to the United States. Raising awareness of global issues has never been more important than in our globalized, Post-9/11 world.

Students will:

• Study current events as they unfold

• Learn to differentiate between fake news and reliable news sources

• Research the background of current news events

• Explore governments, politics & societies around the world

• Analyze the causes and effects of current events

• Give Power Point presentations to demonstrate what they have learned

This is an interactive course. During class time students will engage in lively discussions and participate in debates. We will spend approximately one month studying each broad focus area at a time. Weekly homework assignments will alternate between reading and summarizing news articles on a particular topic, researching the background, and developing an analysis of the event. Students will also prepare regular response papers and Power Point presentations to demonstrate what they have learned.

Expectations:

Students should plan to spend three hours per week preparing for the course and will be expected to come to class prepared to discuss the readings.

Process

This course is a two-semester course for upper level high school students. Students will learn not only how local, state, and national governments are structured, but means of participating in and influencing government at each level. Throughout the course we will study the institutions, groups, beliefs and ideas that make up American politics. Special attention will be directed toward learning how to analyze primary source documents.

The U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence will be studied in detail, supplemented by parts of the Federalist Papers. There will be a special emphasis on the judicial system. Students will survey famous historical cases such as Marbury v. Madison, Dred Scott v. Sanford, Brown v. Board of Education, and Roe v. Wade, as well as important current cases and issues. This course is highly interactive. During the semester students will participate in a variety of simulations and debates, which will help them to master the material. Students need to purchase the textbook prior to the first day of class. This class is designed to prepare students to take the Clep test for government.  Students who pass the clep test can receive college credit.