- North Marion Middle School
- Syllabus - Cambridge Civics
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Syllabus
Seventh Grade Cambridge Civics
Instructor: K. Melancon
Subject: Civics and Government Advanced Downloadable
E-mail: keith.melancon@marion.k12.fl.us
Seventh Grade Social Studies is an in-depth study of the United States government. Throughout this program the students will learn about exploration and settlement, population trends, resources, economics, laws, history and various political events that have shaped our country. This course also provides students with background knowledge within the area of philosophy, which is necessary to understand the functions and structure of the United States government. Students will use that analysis to interpret the formation and purpose of the United States government and how it relates to states and citizens.
Course Outline – Civics Advanced
Quarter 1
- Chapter 1 – We the People – Civics in Our Lives, American Values, Qualities of a Good Citizen, Immigration Policies, Becoming a U.S. Citizen, the Census, Population Growth, Population Changes.
- Chapter 2 –Foundations of Government – Why Americans have Governments, Types of Governments, Purposes of Government, Guaranteeing Freedom, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Weaknesses of Articles, U.S. Constitution, The Constitutional Convention, Federalists, Anti-Federalists.
- Chapter 3 – United States Constitution – Influences of Pilgrims, Mayflower Compact, Powers of the Federal and State Governments, 3 Branches of Government, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Judicial Review, Changing the Constitution.
Quarter 2
- Chapter 4 – Rights and Responsibilities – The Bill of Rights, First Amendment, Other Rights Guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, Civil Rights, Voting Rights, Duties of Citizenship, Responsibilities of Citizenship.
- Chapter 5 – The Legislative Branch – The Senate and the House of Representatives, Congress, members of Congress, Terms and sessions, Organization of Congress, Congressional Powers, Limits on Power, How Bills Become Law, Considering a New Bill, The President and New Bills.
- Chapter 6 – The Executive Branch – The Presidency, Vice Presidency, Rules of Succession, President’s Role in Government, Presidential Powers, Executive Office and the Cabinet, Departments of State and Defense, Independent Agencies, Regulatory Commissions, The Federal Bureaucracy.
Quarter 3
- Chapter 7 – The Judicial Branch – Laws, Sources of Law, Roles of the Courts, The Federal Court System, U.S. District Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court, Judicial Review, Courts and People’s Rights.
- Chapter 8 – State Government – State Government Power, Our Federal System, State legislatures, State Laws, Citizens and the Law Making Process, State executive Branch, State Courts, Selection of State Judges.
- Chapter 9 – Local Government – Establishing Local Government, County Governments, Town Governments, Townships and Special Districts, Village and Borough Governments, City Government, How Governments Work Together to Serve the Public.
Quarter 4
- Chapter 22 – Foreign Policy – Goals of U.S. Foreign Policy, The President’s Powers, Foreign Policy and Bureaucracy, Diplomacy and Alliances, Forms of Foreign Aid, Foreign Trade, United Nations.
- Chapter 23 – Charting A Course – Independence and Isolationism, The United States and International Relations, Wars End Isolationism, Causes of the Cold War, The Policy of Containment, End of the Cold War, Global Conflicts, September 11th, World Trade Center, Terrorism.
- Review for Florida State Exam
Category/Percentages
Tests, Projects, QWAs - 55%
Coursework, Quizzes, DBQs -35%
Homework - 10%
* The Final Exam for Civics is a State Exam.
This Exam is worth 30% of the student’s final grade
Grading Scale:
90 – 100 = A
80 – 89 = B
70 - 79 = C
60 – 69 = D
0 – 59 = F
Grading
TESTS (Tests may be changed or altered at Instructor’s discretion)
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All chapter tests are graded in three parts.
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Multiple Choice section – 35 questions – 70%
(Scantron – does not go home)
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Completion – 5 questions – 10%
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Essay – 1 question – 20%.
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Total for exam 100%
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Other Tests include – Reading/Writing Assessments and States/Capitals Test
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All But My Life – Test (Novel) – 20 multiple choice questions –5 points per question = 100% - End of Year
- MCPS Online tests will be administered through Edulastic.com
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* Only a #2 pencil will be allowed on examinations
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Test Reviews – Chapter Review Packets will be given only for a limited time during the school year. These reviews are designed to assist students with test prep as well as possible essay questions that may be found within actual exams. Nonetheless, these review packets will slowly be withdrawn to promote individual study and to meet high school and college standards. Only the first Chapter test will have a full review. Subsequent chapter reviews will be reduced by 10 questions until there is no physical review packet. This process allows students to slowly transition back to the rigors of a middle school program. At the conclusion of these reviews, peer tutoring will open up for this grade level.
QUIZZES (Quizzes may be changed or altered at Instructor’s discretion)
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All quizzes will consist of:
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5 matching or multiple choice questions – 50%
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5 completion questions – 50%
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Total for quiz 100%
MCPS Online quizzes will be adminstered through Edulastic.com
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Vocabulary quizzes will consist of :
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7 matching definitions – 70%
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3 Write out the definition from memory – 30%
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Total for quiz 100%
- MCPS Online quizzes will be adminstered through Edulastic.com
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*Only a pencil will be allowed on examinations in class.
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DBQ (Document Based Questions):
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Document Based Questions are writing assessments that are completed each quarter. These writing assignments are separate from the Reading Writing Assessment, however, they are designed to assist with proper writing techniques and format, which are influential to the RWA. All DBQs are given a rubric and are scored from 0-10.
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0 = 0%
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1 = 55
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2 = 55
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3 = 55
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4 = 55
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5 = 55
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6 = 65
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7 = 75
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8 = 85
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9 = 95
- 10 = 100
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Students will be expected to spell correctly for all tests and quizzes given by the instructor. Students will lose a total of 1 point for a word that contains an incorrect letter or no capitalization. If a word contains more than one letter that is incorrect the question will be marked as wrong.
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In addition, students must write in complete sentences where noted. Failure to complete these directions will result in 10 points being deducted from the overall assignment (including homework/classwork).
HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK
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Homework and Classwork – All work is given a grade based upon the number of questions for a given assignment. Students are required to write out questions and answer in complete sentences on various assignments. Failure to complete these directions will result in 10 points being deducted for no complete sentences and 20 points for not writing out questions. In the event that a student is absent it is their responsibility to contact the instructor through e-mail or request the assignment that was missed when they return to school. Lessons and Assignments are also posted on the Microsoft Teams classroom as well as available through the Family and Student access on the North Marion Website. In the event that a student is absent, they will be allowed 2 days to make up the assignment that was missed. Please Note: Late work will not be accepted.
PORTFOLIO
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Portfolio – Consists of a NMMS Planner and a Civics or History Binder. All binders should be durable in nature and 1/2 inch with rings and side pockets. Daily assignments (not weekly) are posted in class for students to write. All assignments and up-coming tests and quizzes will be written in the student’s planner (Only exceptions are pop quizzes). As a reminder, Lessons and Assignments are also posted online. In the event that a student is absent, he/she must mark in their planner that they were absent for that day and ask the instructor for the assignment that was written or locate it in the Microsoft Teams classroom. If the instructor is absent, students will mark SUB for that day
END OF YEAR PROJECTS/MINI PROJECTS
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The 7th Grade Civics class will have 2 projects throughout the year. These projects will coincide with various chapters and will be used to enrich the content of the class. All information concerning the projects will be handed out to the students usually 1-2 weeks before the project will begin.
NINE WEEKS EXAM
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Nine Weeks Exam – Two parts
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45 Multiple Choice – 90%
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5 Completion – 10%
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Full Reviews for All Nine Weeks Exams
MCPS Online Nine Weeks Exam will be adminstered through Edulastic.com
ACADEMIC HONESTY
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It is important to understand the difference between “helping” and “cheating,” as well as when it is permitted to work together. Students may copy individual entries from another student’s planner when absent; however it is not permissible to copy another’s entries for multiple weeks to cover for a neglected planner. Students may work together to complete most homework and classwork assignments, however copying another’s answers is not permissible. The general rule of thumb for assignments is that working together or explaining how to do something is helping. Giving another student a “free ride” without contributing to the assignment is cheating. Quizzes and tests are not cooperative assignments, and it is cheating to assist another student with their quiz or test.
MCPS Online
All students who are attending school through our online platform will be required to attend class virtually on a daily basis through Microsoft Teams. Students are required to have access to a web camera and microphone in order to properly participate in class. This is vital in order to build relationships between classmates as well as the instructor and to facilitate discussion. Attendance will be taken daily, therefore a student’s name should always be visible to the instructor so accurate attendance may be recorded. Please refrain from changing your virtual name to nicknames, middle names or other insignias that may prevent you from being counted as present. Although some traditional rules may not apply virtually, most still do. Dress code should be student oriented or semi-professional. No pajamas, tank tops, or other revealing garments. It is expected that you conduct yourself in a professional and academic manner at all times. Failure to comply will still result in disciplinary consequences.
North Marion Netiquette Guide
MCPS Online promotes the advancement of knowledge through positive and constructive debate--both inside and outside the classroom. Therefore, Microsoft Teams discussions /posts should be professional, academically relevant, and on topic at all times. However, discussions on the Internet can occasionally degenerate into needless insults and “flaming.” Such activity and the loss of good manners are not acceptable in a school setting--basic academic rules of good behavior and proper “Netiquette” must persist. Remember that you are in a place for the fun and excitement of learning that does not include descent to personal attacks, or student attempts to stifle the discussion of others.
Technology Limitations: While you should feel free to explore the full-range of creative composition in your work and papers, keep e-mail layouts simple. Please adhere to these basic principles when communicating through e-mail:
- Address teachers formally (ex. Mr. Mrs. Dr.)
- Use proper grammar and punctuation.
- Avoid “texting language.”
- Avoid using all CAPS.
- Practice using academic language.
Please note that the Educator classroom may not fully support MIME or HTML encoded messages, which means that bold face, italics, underlining, and a variety of color-coding or other visual effects may not translate in your e-mail messages. This is important so communication can be fluid and without interruptions.
Humor Note: Despite the best of intentions, memes, jokes and--especially--satire can easily get lost or taken seriously. Therefore, please refrain from posting these in the online forums. If you feel the need for humor, you may wish to add “emoticons” to help alert your readers. As a reminder, everything you post online is permanent and can be viewed by students, parents, teachers, and administrators. If you are unsure of something that you are about to post, please review this netiquette guide at any time throughout the year as necessary.
Extra credit is not available for Advanced Civics
Daily School Supplies for
Mr. Melancon’s Classroom.
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All students are required to have a portfolio (A portfolio consists 1/2 inch binder and a NMMS Planner). Students must bring their portfolio everyday to class.
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A composition book is also recommended as it will be used for our in class novel.
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All paper and pencils must be brought to class. You will not be supplied with them. Students may only use #2 Pencils on quizzes and tests. Blue or Black pen may be used on classwork or homework assignments, however it is not recommended.
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Any additional items will be requested at a later date.
Mr. Melancon’s Classroom Rules
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When I am talking you are not talking
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No Candy, Gum, food or drink in the classroom.
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Students may use the bathroom with approved pass from teacher.
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Come prepared with all necessary school supplies.
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Raise your hand before sharpening all pencils, speaking to the teacher or class, and getting out of seat.
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Watch what you say in class.
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Keep your hands and feet to yourself.