Government syllabus - Fall 2016

CONTACT INFORMATION

Jon Fitch
jfitch@dcp.org
408-910-6015 (do not contact after 8pm PST)
To join Remind:  text @fitchgo to the number 81010
Google classroom codes:
P2: yduj3p
P3: xwgvae

READINGS - You are responsible for the content of the chapter by the beginning of the week it's assigned.  See each of the chapter categories under "Government" for specific content/pages you are responsible for. 

American Government text
Ch 12 The Presidency 
Ch 11 Congress
Ch 13 The Courts
Ch 4  Civil Liberties
Ch 10 Interest Groups and Lobbying
Ch 7 Voting and Elections
Ch 9  Political Parties
Ch 8 The Media
Ch 3 American Federalism
Ch 14 State and Local Government
Ch 17 Foreign Policy
Ch 6 The Politics of Public Opinion
Show up and be on time, be prepared, be respectful of everyone, turn in all assignments on time, do your personal best, work hard, pay attention, prepare for assessments and assignments, act responsibly and maturely and all will go well.  
​Details for everything else below. 

IN-CLASS EXPECTATIONS

ACADEMICS and ACTIONS THAT AFFECT YOUR GRADE
Welcome!  You are guests in my classroom and I am happy to have you.  
  • As guests, please be respectful of my classroom.  
  • If you visited a friend's house would you: Draw on their furniture? Throw things? Put gum under their furniture? Put your feet up on their chairs or leave garbage on their furniture or floor? Of course not. Therefore please refrain from these activities in my classroom. 
Entering the classroom
  • I will plan to greet you in the doorway with a handshake and a greeting of "good morning" or "good afternoon."
  • You will shake my hand (firm hand shake), look me in the eyes, and respond with "good morning, Mr. Fitch" or "good afternoon, Mr. Fitch"
  • Greeting someone is polite, it's a life skill and it sets the tone that we're in an academic environment. 
Have out your notebook and pen or paper. 
Do not ask me for a writing implement or paper. You're a senior. We're in a college prep environment. You should be prepared.  
Turn off and put away electronic devices and headphones BEFORE the bell rings If you have out devices AFTER the bell rings, you will turn them in to me.  You know the rules. 
Appropriate Language
  • Swearing in any language is not appropriate in the classroom.
  • Do not use slang (e.g., hella, on point, tight, butt hurt, damnnnn, etc...)
Dress code I enforce the dress code. Be in compliance with dress code. Zero tolerance. No whining. 
​No eating or drinks (unless water)
​Bathroom Use
  • Use passing periods and lunch for bathroom breaks
  • To use the bathroom, you must turn in your cell phone. 
Chromebooks
  • Do not have any water near the computers when in use.  
  • You pick up and return your own chromebook. You plug in your own chromebook. 
Exiting the Classroom If it is my last period of the day, please stack the chairs on top of the tables

Everything Else See student handbook or ask. 
Ignorantia juris non excusat. ​
Grade Composition
25% - Final
10% - Mid-term
15% - Other tests and quizzes
25% - Papers and projects
15% - Homework
10% - In-class behavior including office hours

Absences and Tardies
  • You are allowed two (2) unexcused absences and two (2) tardies in the semester. 
  • All unexcused absences and tardies beyond that will result in a 1/2 point decrease from your grade. 
  • Example:
    • Four unexecused absences (-1 point)
    • Four tardies (-1 points)
    • Grade - 81%
    • Grade after unexecused absences and tardies - 79%
Late Work
  • You are allowed one (1) late assignment without penalty excluding projects or papers. This free late work is applied to the first assignment you turn in late. 
  • If you have an excused absence, you can turn in late work without penalty the next day we have class. Any time after that time period, and late work penalties apply (see below)
  • Late penalties
    • One day - 15%
    • Two days - 25%
    • Three days - 35%
    • Four days - automatic 65% (if work done completely)
    • NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED AFTER FOUR DAYS
      •  If you fail to turn in an assignment, you will receive a grade of 50% and the assignment will be marked "M" in Gradebook for missing. YOU CAN NOT MAKE UP THESE ASSIGNMENTS
Excuses
  • Please don't blame the internet. You can use the internet at school, McDonald's, Starbucks or any local library to name a few places. 
  • "I didn't know" is an excuse. You can email me, text me, see me after school, come to office hours, talk to a classmate, etc...There's no reason you should not know what's due, what the assignment is, that there was a test/quiz, etc...Take responsibility for your studies. It's your grade. It's your future. 
Extra Credit 
  • Do not ask for extra credit. I don't create extra credit assignments on-demand and I don't create extra credit assignments for you at the end of the semester. 
Academic Dishonesty
See the DCP handbook. In short, referral and automatic 0% on assignment for you and person(s) who allowed you to cheat from them