Course Syllabus

Civics and Economics
Period 1  - Located in Room E-3

 

 

Course Description

Welcome to Civics and Economics! My name is Mr. Caz and I am very excited to be teaching this course. I am looking forward to working with each of you throughout this school year. This course provides a framework for understanding the basic tenets of American democracy, practices of American government as established by the United States Constitution, basic concepts of American politics and citizenship and concepts in macro and micro economics as well as personal finance. This course does have a state administered exam that you will take at the conclusion of the school year. Throughout the year we will work through the course and you will be well prepared for the exam. During this course we will use historical thinking skills in order to better develop an understanding of various laws, court cases, and all facets of American government as well as economic policies.

 

What will we be covering?

• Unit One- The foundations of American Democracy
• Unit Two- The Constitution
• Unit Three-Politics & Political Parties
• Unit Four- Federal, State, and Local Government
• Unit Five-Law
• Unit Six-Citizenship
• Unit Seven-Intro to Economics
• Unit Eight-Government, Policy, and the Economy
• Unit Nine-Personal Finance

Contact Information
The best way to get in contact with me outside of class will be via email or by phone. I will check my email throughout the day and will make an effort to respond to any questions, comments, or concerns of any student, parent, or guardian.
Email: johnathan.castator@ucps.k12.nc.us        Phone: (704) 753-2810      

 

 

Course Grading 

• Test and Projects- 40%
• Classwork/ Homework/Current Events-40%
• Quizzes - 20%

 

Tutoring Hours: Tuesday or Thursday before school or by request

 

The Grading scale for this class is based upon on a 10-point scale.

100%- 90%      A

89%- 80%        B

79%-70%         C

 69%-60%         D

59%  and below will result in failure of the course!

 

 

Required Materials

• One three ring binder
• Four dividers
• Paper
• Pens, Pencils, Highlighter

Class rules

• Be respectful: raise your hand to speak, treat others the way you want you want to be treated, respect each other and refrain from being disruptive
• Be on time: tardiness is unacceptable, excessive tardiness will result in an office referral and a phone call home
• Be prepared: have all required materials ready and available everyday

 

Classroom expectations and Procedures

 

Start of Class: Enter classroom in an orderly fashion and take your seat. Begin warm-up posted on white board. 

End of Period: Wait in seat to be verbally dismissed by teacher, not by the bell. There will be no packing up early or congregating by the door.

Turning in Assignments/Homework: I will collect all classwork assignments from you. To submit assignments, pass the paper to the front of your row.  Person on the front of the row hands papers to teacher.

Beverage & Food: THERE IS NO FOOD ALLOWED. You may only have a bottle of water. 

Cell Phone Policy: During the class period your cell phones and other electronic devices should remain in the backpack and away from sight. If any student is caught their phone during class they will receive a warning. After a second offense student will be sent to office per school policy.

Missing/Late Work Policy: All assignments are due in class on the day assigned. If you do not have an assignment on the day it is due you may turn it in late up to five days with 10 points being taken off daily. Assignments are accepted during school hours, not via email unless a parent calls and explains an extenuating circumstance.

Absent Work: Any work due on the day of absence is due the day of return. To retrieve makeup work gather materials from the makeup folders. It is your responsibility to check the makeup folders for the day/days that you were absent. You have one week to complete your makeup work, after that it is a zero. Makeup time for tests or quizzes need to be scheduled in advance. Test and quizzes can be made up before or after school or during my planning which is third period. You may not makeup test or quizzes during lunch.                                 Bathroom Policy:
Students must remain in the classroom during the first and last ten minutes of the class period. No more than three students will be allowed out during a class period. Students are responsible for material missed during the bathroom break.                                                                                                                           Academic Integrity: It is the responsibility to the student to do his or her own work. All projects require a Works Cited page. Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive a zero AND an office referral. School rules for plagiarism will be applied.

Binder: Your binder must be brought to class every day, and it must remain organized. Your binder must be set with four sections. Your binder should contain: class documents, warm-ups, notes, and graded assignments

 

Please ensure that you and your parent/guardian have read all of the information listed within this syllabus.

Contract:

Please take this form home and read it over with a parent/guardian, and please sign and return it. This will serve as a classroom contract. I look forward to working with each of you this academic year.

Student Signature: _______________________________________                 Date: ____________

 

Parent Signature: _________________________________________               Date: ____________