Government & Politics
Instructor: Daniel Devitt

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Dan Devitt graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1988, receiving a degree in American History with a minor in Political Science. In 1994 he received his MA in Political Science from San Francisco State University. He taught high school in San Francisco for ten years, including seven at Lowell High School where he taught AP* Government. He currently teaches at Menlo School in Atherton California, where he has taught AP* Government for the past eight years. As a College Board faculty consultant, Dan has conducted numerous AP* teacher workshops and summer institutes, including a workshop at the AP* National Conference. He has been an AP* Government reader and table leader for the past eight years and served on the AP* Government Test Development Committee from 2000-2004.
You can e-mail Dan Devitt at ddevitt@menloschool.org

2012 Session Outline

This session is designed to allow teachers to prepare to teach a semester/year of AP*United States Government while also preparing students to excel on the AP* US Government and Politics exam. During the session, we will cover all topics and units related to the national AP* curriculum as well as appropriate lesson plans to make AP* Government come alive for high school students. The content covered in class will include: adequate pacing for a semester or year course; effective writing strategies for an AP* course; appropriate reading and visual selections to use in class; and effective projects and presentations that can incorporate technology in the classroom. Participants will also be instructed in how the AP* Government and Politics exam is prepared and scored.

Tuesday, June 26

• Introductions and networking list
• Hand out syllabus for week-discuss agenda
• Introducing AP* Government at your site:
  • Recruiting students
  • Class curriculum (sample syllabus): teaching to the test v. student interest
  • Pacing tips
  • AP Audit
  • Summer Reading: pros and cons
  • Textbooks: criticism, praise, etc.

• Introduction to Unit 1: Constitutional Theory
  • Objectives of the unit
  • Important vocabulary and ideas
  • Possible FRQ topics
  • Possible projects
  • Using the reader: Validity of the Constitution (pro and con)
• Introduction to Unit 2: Federalism
  • Objectives of the unit
  • Important vocabulary and ideas
  • Possible FRQ topics
  • Possible projects
  • Using the Reader: Obama and Federalism (EPA)

• Introduction to Unit 3: Political Culture and the Media
  • Objectives of the unit
  • Important vocabulary and ideas
  • Possible FRQ topics
  • Possible projects
  • Video: News Wars-The Media and the Iraq War (Frontline PBS)
• Introduction to Unit 4: The Electoral Process: Parties, Interest Groups, Elections
  • Objectives of the unit
  • Important vocabulary and ideas
  • Possible FRQ topics
  • Possible projects (sample: Mock Election)
  • Video: Samples from 60 Minutes, PBS and Daily Show
• Using the Reader: Should Election Day be A Holiday?
• Introduction to Unit 5: Congress
  • Objectives of the unit
  • Important vocabulary and ideas
  • Possible FRQ topics
  • Possible projects (sample: Mock Senate)
  • Using the Reader: Congress and the Presidency (War on Terror)

• Planning for your year: lesson plan brainstorm and textbook critiques

• Introduction to Unit 6: The Presidency
  • Sample lecture
  • Objectives of the unit
  • Important vocabulary and ideas
  • Possible FRQ topics
  • Possible projects
  • Using the Reader: Bush Legacy and Challenges for Obama
  • Video: Bush and Foreign Policy
• Introduction to Unit 7: The Bureaucracy1
  • Objectives of the unit
  • Important vocabulary and ideas
  • Possible FRQ topics
  • Possible projects

• FRQ Grading Workshop
  • The Reading: Pros and Cons
  • Distribute rubrics 2012 exam
• Conduct a mock grading session

• Introduction to Unit 8: The Judiciary and Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
  • Objectives of the unit
  • Important vocabulary and ideas
  • Possible FRQ topics
  • Possible projects (sample: case law presentations)
  • Video: school prayer (60 Minutes)
  • Using the Reader: The Rehnquist Legacy and Roberts Court
• Taking the Test:
  • How to review
  • Important points to cover
  • Review books
• Debrief and evaluation