I wish all the best to my graduating seniors. I see good things for you all in the future. I appreciate all of your hard work this year. I am proud and you should be proud of the effort and energy that you put into learning this year. You are leaving, better stronger and smarter than you started. And its because of your positive attitude and drive. Keep it up as you continue with college. Remember what my father always says, "You can't teach hustle", and he's right. But you made my job easy by working hard from day one. Best of luck to you all.

Defining and Comprehending Democracy: A Research Essay

Your assignment is to research and properly define and explain Democracy. You should study Democracy using a theme. Comparing democracy, looking at it in terms of business, government, rights, foreign influence, special interests, voting, campaigns, nation building, whatever. This just cracks the surface. Think about what democracy is. Think about what challenges it creates. Democracy is seen as something that takes effort from everyone. What does this mean to those who live in it or those who try to uphold it? The bottom line is, this essay is wide open, and I want you to really explore the topic.

Through this essay you will clearly define, in your own words, what is democracy. You must have a very clear thesis that you support fully. This is very important. We will work on your thesis quite a bit to make sure it is fully developed and appropriate. Try not to just have a topic, have a thoughtful and testable thesis.

You will support this with at least three different kinds of sources. We will talk about what are appropriate sources, and we will meet with the librarian about ways to find them. In addition, you must properly site your sources using standard MLA format (see mrwingren.com for details).

Sounds simple huh? Here is the catch: You must complete this essay without the use of the Internet. None of your sources should be Internet sources. You should only use books, scholarly journals (no magazines) and primary sources. If you find a scholarly journal that is on-line you must run it past me before you use it. Chances are you will find the information that you need in books and journals. I want you to learn to research at a library, as well as a home computer.

Your essay should include: A cover sheet with a title and a works cited page. It should be written in Times New Roman font, 12pt., Double Spaced, 1” margins. We will discuss the proper way to cite sources in class. All of these requirements must be adhered to, or it will result in point loss.

In addition, you will be submitting this essay via Turnitin.com. If you are not registered for this, please do so as soon as possible. Go to www.turnitin.com and follow the instructions.

We will talk about different goals and set dates for these goals, but you must have your rough topic idea submitted by April 16th. On this date, you can submit a rough thesis.

We The People

Political Ad Project

Political advertisements are a way for the candidates to introduce themselves, introduce their policy, remind the public of their service, or just show how patriotic they are. But most of us don’t remember those ads, we remember the attack ads. These are the ads where they tell the public why they are more qualified or more likely, why the other person is not. Sometimes, it gets really dirty and sometimes they just try to “out-America” the other person.

Campaign ads can be simply seen as a job interview. They are, in reality, begging us to give them a job. We will discuss this week, what goes into an effective political advertisement. We have seen political parties create ads that are sometimes brilliant and sometimes controversial. We also see political groups, such as Move On.Com or the NRA put out ads attacking or endorsing candidates or issues.

Through this project you will, in groups, put together your own political ad. It should be a campaign ad for the upcoming election. You will choose a presidential candidate and create a 30-60 second television spot for thm. I am most interested in seeing how you apply the proper advertising techniques to the major candidates in the upcoming election.

Here are the requirements:

A 30-60 Second Video (VHS or DVD) or Recording (tape or CD)
A Script of what you plan on presenting including the topics that you plan on focusing on (this will be graded)
They should be in good taste and should have a clear goal in mind
The issues and facts must be accurate in order to receive credit

You will be graded on the content of your ad as well as the creativity (remember you only have 30-60 secs)

Supreme Court Analysis Assignment

Special Interest Groups Simulation

The Constitution

Constitution Center

Constitution Roadmap

Constitution Facts

USConstitution.org

FoundingFathers.info

Federalist Papers or here...

Articles of Confederation

Shays' Rebellion

"Democracy Matters are Frightening in our Time" ~Cornel West

Write a 250 word reply to this introduction

We the People Presentation Preparation

State Questions

We the People Website @ Center for Civic Education

(you'll find the presentation rubric, score sheet, etc... INCLUDING THE TEXTBOOK COMPANION SITE, here)

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action" -George Washington - 250 Word Response to this quote

Natural Rights Philosophy

How would John Locke look at the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina?

"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." -- Pericles (430 BC)

Look at this guy! Locke

Read his works!

He may look crazy, but he helped shape America

John Locke

Welcome Seniors to your Final Year in CGI

I am looking forward to working with you all. We will be working hard so that we can improve on last years senior class in the National We Principal Seymour Skinner the People program. I know most of you and I know your talents and I am confident that we will do well this year.

After the WTP competition, we will be devoting the second half of the year focusing on Constitutional Law and preparing for the AP Government and Politics Exam.

Please make good use of this website. I will post syllabi, homework, papers, class notes and announcements. Also you can e-mail me from here. I will not accept any late work so if you are absent, this website can be a lifesaver.

Course Description: This is the capstone course of the Civics and Government Institute. It combines the Advanced Placement Government and Politics curriculum with the nationally renowned "We the People" curriculum. In so doing, it will provide students with a unique analytic perspective on the foundations and evolution of government and politics in the United States. The course, then, is concerned with the nature of the American political system, its development over the past two hundred plus years, and how it continues to function today. It examines in detail the structure and function of the Constitution, the principal processes and institutions through which the political system functions, and the creation and implementation of public policy.

As a component of the course, some of the students will be involved in a simulated congressional hearing which will allow the students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Constitutional principles. This hearing will be on a statewide basis, which may lead to the national annual competition in Washington D.C.

Click here to learn more about the "We the People" program.

2009 - 2010 Course Description

Bring your "We the People" book with you everywhere!

Take part in the this EXTRA CREDIT opportunity to help Mr. Wingren decorate the room.

Take a picture of yourself with your "We the People" book somewhere interesting, funny or odd and hand it in.

Resources

How to cite sources links:

Law Links:

Constitution Search

Federalist Papers Search!

Try the Political Compass

American Exceptionalism

19th Century Sentiment. Have we taken it too literally?

Enter the Government & Politics Chat Room

Enter your name, but you don't need to write anything for profile.

Assignments Coming up...

“Democracy, unchecked rule by the masses, is sure to bring arbitrary redistribution of property, destroying the very essence of liberty” -200 word response to this statement:

200 Word Response to this quote: "Democracy is the process by which we get ourselves organized to perform capitalism". 250 word response.

Enter the G&P Chat Room

Classical Republicanism & Natural Rights... An American Recipe.

Classical Republicanism

What important principle was Washington acknowledging when he resigned his commission at the end of the Revolution?

Which is which?

Classical Republicanism vs. Natural Rights Philosophy

Who were the founding fathers? And, do we admire them? Put your gloves on people!

Great Reading on Classical Republicanism

Classical Republicanism

The Common Good. Is that Possible?

We Borrowed More than Just Ideas!

Democracy in Action

Issues in Action

Links of Democracy in Action:

African Americans of the United States Congress

Check out this link

"The Declaration of rights is like all other human blessings alloyed with some inconveniences...But the good in this instance vastly outweighs the evil."

Establishment Clause, Separation of Church & State and the History of Religion in American Government

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" -US Constitution

Thomas Jefferson argued for "a wall of separation between church and state."

"A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." patriot

We will be discussing Personal Liberties and Criminal Procedure and a series of landmark cases