Instructor: Mrs. Jennifer Piechocki Email: jpiechocki@saintpius-x.

org Work Phone: 734-284-6500 Course Description: This course is designed to give fourth grade students an understanding of how to identify and analyze public issues, develop solutions to public issues, communicate a position and develop and implement an action plan to change the public issue. This course will involve distance learning using on-line tutorials and email; this course will also use in-class lecture and discussion. Course Objectives: After completing this course students will be able to: identify public issues in the United States that influence the daily lives of its citizens. use graphic data and other sources to analyze information about a public issue in the United States and evaluate alternative resolutions. give examples of how conflicts over core democratic values lead people to differ on resolutions to a public policy issue in the United States. compose a brief essay expressing a position on a public policy issue in the United States and justify the position with a reasoned argument. develop and implement an action plan and now how, when, and where to address or inform others about a public issue. Resource Requirements: Students must have a computer connected to the Internet Students must have access to Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint Students must have Shockwave and Acrobat Reader Students must have a copy of the Regions textbook Introduction to the Textbook: We will not be using a textbook for this course. Expectations for Students: Students will turn in assignments timely. Suggested pacing is as follows: o Monday: In-class lecture on topic o Tuesday: Read assigned on-line material o Wednesday: Begin work on assignment o Thursday: Post response to Wiki Discussion Question o Friday: Turn in assignment Students are expected to participate in the weekly WIKI discussion. Students are expected to work independently at home or in the computer lab. Students are expected to check the classroom information board and/or WIKI information page daily for announcements. Students are expected to be in class everyday - school attendance policy applies for inclass attendance Instructor Information: I can meet with students from 7:30am-745am; 3:15pm-4:00pm; and during classroom free-time. Questions that are important to the whole class will be discussed at our in-class morning meeting. All assignments will be graded and posted to Gradelink with 48 hours of the due date.

Online Office Hours: I will check my email every day and will respond within 24 hours. Grading Policy and Scale: Each week begins on Monday. All assignments must be completed and/or turned in by the following Monday to receive full credit. The assignment grade will be lowered by a letter grade for each day that it is late. For example, an A assignment that is one day late will become an A-, two days late a B+, 3 days late a B, and so on. If you are absent you will have the number of days that you are not in school to make up an assignment. Any student receiving below a Con a quiz or test may retake the quiz or test. An average of the two scores will then be taken. Weekly Assignments (20 points each, 120 points total) Wiki Discussion Questions (10 points each, 80 points total) Essay (100 points) Total: 200 points total Scale: A 95% or above 93-94% B+ 90-92% B 89-87% A- 85-86%
A-

C+ C CD+ D

80-84% 75-79% 70-74% 67-69% 64-66%

D- 60-63% F 0-59%

Week
1 2 3 4

Lesson
What is the Bill of Rights? What are the Core Democratic Values? Becoming Informed About Public Issues Core Democratic Values and Public Issues Exploring a Public Issue Taking a Position on a Public Issue Creating a Plan of Action In Class Presentations

Resources
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northameric a/after1500/government/billofrights.htm

Assignment

Complete Bill of Rights Lesson Assessment Week 1 Wiki Discussion Question http://www.michigan.gov/documents/10 With partner, make poster about a 02_Core_democtaric_Values_48832_7.pdf Core Democratic Value/Quiz/ http://www.americanepic.org/YBTJ/YBTJ1.html Week 2 Wiki Discussion Question http://www.publicagenda.org/citizen/issueguides Find a Newspaper Article & Fill /environment Out Summary Work Sheet http://www.stateline.org/live/ Week 3 Wiki Discussion Question http://www.publicagenda.org/citizen/issueguides Group PowerPoint on Assigned /environment Public Issue http://www.stateline.org/live/ Week 4 Wiki Discussion Question http://www.cpsc.gov/ Evaluating Solutions Work Sheet http://www.leadtoyrecalls.com/ Week 5 Wiki Discussion Question http://www2.morganton.com/p/content/toyrecall-database-2008/ Article: Handcrafted toy makers fear new lead On-Line Essay Survey paint law Complete and Submit Your Public Information on the Consumer Product Safety Issue Writing Plan Improvement Law Week 6 Wiki Discussion Question http://www.xavier.edu/library/help/position Public Policy Issue Position Essay _paper.pdf Week 7 Wiki Discussion Question http://www.ehow.com/how_2106307_writeposition-paper.html In-Class Summarization of Course Week 8 Wiki Discussion Question