Key takeaways
- The course is one semester long and aims to build a thorough grounding in how American government works along with skills for responsible democratic participation.
- Course materials are chosen for balance and readability, avoiding any political agenda.
- The first three months use a Great Courses lecture series on US government, paired with readings on the Constitution, major political issues, and media bias.
- The course ends with a persuasive paper on a topic of the student's choice, drawing on writing skills from Eleventh Grade Literature and Writing.
Course overview
Our one-semester American Government course aims to provide a thorough grounding in how the American government works, and the knowledge and skills needed to be a responsible participant in our democracy. Course materials are chosen for their balanced approach and lack of political agenda, as well as readability.
Over the first three months, students complete a series of lectures in US government from the Great Courses. Along the way, students complete readings in the constitution, the major political issues, and media bias.
Students then complete a persuasive paper advocating a position of their choice, making use of skills learned in the writing component of Eleventh Grade Literature and Writing.