Grade 12 - Social Studies

AP: Macroeconomics (Credit: 0.50)

AP Macroeconomics students learn why and how the world economy can change from month to month, how to identify trends in our economy, and how to use those trends to develop performance measures and predictors of economic growth or decline. They'll also examine how individuals, institutions, and influences affect people, and how those factors can impact everyone's life through employment rates, government spending, inflation, taxes, and production. The equivalent of a 100-level college-level class, this course prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in business, political science and history. This course has been authorized by the College BoardÂ® to use the AP designation. Course Materials Optional Macroeconomics for Today, 7th ed. Irvin B. Tucker (South-Western/Thomson Learning, 2010). ISBN-10: 0538469447 / ISBN-13: 9780538469449 Acceptable alternate: 6th ed. (2008). ISBN-10: 0324591373 Acceptable alternate: 5th ed. (2007). ISBN-10: 0324407998 Acceptable alternate: 4th ed. (2005). ISBN-10: 0324301979

AP: Microeconomics (Credit: 0.50)

AP Microeconomics studies the behavior of individuals and businesses as they exchange goods and services in the marketplace. Students will learn why the same product costs different amounts at different stores, in different cities, at different times. They'll also learn to spot patterns in economic behavior and how to use those patterns to explain buyer and seller behavior under various conditions. Microeconomics studies the economic way of thinking, understanding the nature and function of markets, the role of scarcity and competition, the influence of factors such as interest rates on business decisions, and the role of government in promoting a healthy economy. The equivalent of a 100-level college course, AP Microeconomics prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in business, history, and political science. This course has been authorized by the College BoardÂ® to use the AP designation. Course Materials Optional Microeconomics for Today, 7th ed. Irvin B. Tucker (South-Western/Thomson Learning, 2010). ISBN-10: 0538469412 / ISBN-13: 9780538469418 Acceptable alternate: 6th ed. (2008). ISBN-10: 0324591381 Acceptable alternate: 5th ed. (2007). ISBN-10: 0324408005 Acceptable alternate: 4th ed. (2005). ISBN-10: 0324301928

AP: U.S. History Semester 1 (Credit: 0.50)

This course is only semester 1 of AP U.S. History.

AP: U.S. History Semester 2 (Credit: 0.50)

This course is only semester 2 of AP U.S. History.

AP: US Government & Politics (Credit: 0.50)

Course materials required. See 'Course Materials' below. AP U.S. Government and Politics studies the operations and structure of the U.S. government and the behavior of the electorate and politicians. Students will gain the analytic perspective necessary to critically evaluate political data, hypotheses, concepts, opinions, and processes. Along the way, they'll learn how to gather data about political behavior and develop their own theoretical analysis of American politics. They'll also build the skills they need to examine general propositions about government and politics, and to analyze the specific relationships between political, social, and economic institutions. The equivalent of an introductory college-level course, AP U.S. Government and Politics prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in political science, law, education, business, and history. This course has been authorized by the College BoardÂ® to use the AP designation. Course Materials Required The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity, 5th ed. Ann G. Serow and Everett C. Ladd, eds. (Lanahan Publishing, 2010). ISBN-10: 1930398166 / ISBN-13: 9781930398160 Acceptable alternate: 4th ed. (2003).ISBN-10: 1930398093 Acceptable alternate: 3rd ed. (2003). ISBN-10: 1930398034 American Government: Power and Purpose, 13th ed. Theodore J. Lowi, Benjamin Ginsberg, Kenneth A. Shepsle, and Stephen Ansolabehere (W. W. Norton, 2013). ISBN-10: 0393124134 / ISBN-13:9780393124134 Acceptable alternate: 12th ed. (2012).ISBN-10: 0393138194

AP: US History (Credit: 1.00)

In AP U.S. History, students investigate the development of American economics, politics, and culture through historical analysis grounded in primary sources, research, and writing. The equivalent of an introductory college-level course, AP U.S. History prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in history, political science, economics, sociology, and law. Through the examination of historical themes and the application of historical thinking skills, students learn to connect specific people, places, events, and ideas to the larger trends of U.S. history. Critical-reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments hone students' ability to reason chronologically, to interpret historical sources, and to construct well-supported historical arguments. Students write throughout the course, responding to primary and secondary sources through journal entries, essays, and visual presentations of historical content. In discussion activities, students respond to the positions of others while staking and defending claims of their own. Robust scaffolding, rigorous instruction, relevant material, and regular opportunities for active learning ensure that students can achieve mastery of the skills necessary to excel on the AP exam. This course has been authorized by the College BoardÂ® to use the AP designation. Course Materials Semesters 1 and 2: Required AP U.S. History requires a college-level U.S. history textbook. Students may use any college-level U.S. history textbook to successfully complete the course. Though students may use any college-level textbook, resources such as page references and scaffolded reading guides are provided in the course to support students who use any of the following texts: America's History, 8th ed. James A. Henretta et al. (Bedford, Freeman, & Worth, 2014). ISBN-10: 1457628937 / ISBN-13: 9781457628931 -OR- American History: Connecting with the Past, 14th AP ed. Alan Brinkley. (McGraw-Hill, 2011) ISBN-10: 0076621421 / ISBN-13: 9780076621422 -OR- America: A Narrative History, 9th ed. George Tindall and David E. Shi (W.W. Norton, 2013) ISBN-10: 0393912620 / ISBN-13: 9780393912623

Core: U.S. and Global Economics (Credit: 0.50)

U.S. and Global Economics offers a tightly focused and scaffolded curriculum that provides an introduction to key economic principles. The course covers fundamental properties of economics, including an examination of markets from both historical and current perspectives; the basics of supply and demand; the theories of early economic philosophers such as Adam Smith and David Ricardo; theories of value; the concept of money and how it evolved; the role of banks, investment houses, and the Federal Reserve; Keynesian economics; the productivity, wages, investment, and growth involved in capitalism; unemployment, inflations, and the national debt; and a survey of markets in areas such as China, Europe, and the Middle East. U.S. and Global Economics is designed to fall in the fourth year of social studies instruction. Students perfect their analytic writing through a scaffolded series of analytic assignments and written lesson tests. They also apply basic mathematics to economic concepts. Students read selections from annotated primary documents and apply those readings to the course content. The content is based on standards from the National Council for History Education (1997), the National Center for History in the Schools (1996), and the National Council for Social Studies (1994) and is aligned to state standards.

Core: U.S. Government and Politics (Credit: 0.50)

In U.S. Government and Politics, students examine the history, principles, and function of the political system established by the U.S. Constitution. Starting with a basic introduction to the role of government in society and the philosophies at the heart of American democracy, this course provides students with the knowledge needed to be informed and empowered participants in the U.S. political system. Through critical reading activities, feedback-rich instruction, and application-oriented assignments, students develop their capacity to conduct research, analyze sources, make arguments, and take informed action. In written assignments, students address critical questions about U.S. politics and the role of individual Americans in the politics and political organizations. In discussion activities, students respond to political opinions, take a position, and defend their own claims. Formative and summative assessments provide students â€” and teachers â€” with ample opportunities to check in, review, and evaluate studentsâ€™ progress in the course. This course is aligned to state standards, the College, Career, and Civil Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards (2013), the National Standard for Civics and Government (1994), and the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in Social Studies.

Honors: U.S. and Global Economics (Credit: 0.50)

U.S. and Global Economics is a wide-ranging course that provides an introduction to key economic principles. Students gain an understanding of choices they must make as producers, consumers, investors, and taxpayers. They have ample opportunity to develop their points of view and apply what they learn to the promotion of civic action. Topics include an examination of markets from both historical and current perspectives; the basics of supply and demand; the theories of early economic philosophers such as Adam Smith and David Ricardo; theories of value; the concept of money and how it evolved; the role of banks, investment houses, and the Federal Reserve; Keynesian economics; the productivity, wages, investment, and growth involved in capitalism; unemployment, inflations, and the national debt; and a survey of markets in areas such as China, Europe, and the Middle East. U.S. and Global Economics is designed to fall in the fourth year of social studies instruction. Students perfect their analytic writing through a series of analytic assignments and written lesson tests. They also apply basic mathematics to economic concepts. Students read extensive selections from crucial primary documents and apply those readings to the course content. The content is based on standards from the National Council for History Education (1997), the National Center for History in the Schools (1996), and the National Council for Social Studies (1994) and is aligned to state standards.

Honors: U.S. Government and Politics (Credit: 0.50)

U.S. Government and Politics is a vigorous, writing-intensive course that uses the perspective of political institutions to explore the history, organization, and functions of the U.S. government. Students are encouraged to use their knowledge of the structures and processes of governing to develop their own views on current political issues and apply what they have learned to the promotion of civic action. Beginning with basic theories of government, moving to the Declaration of Independence, and continuing to the present day, the course explores the relationship between individual Americans and the governing bodies. It looks closely at the political culture of the country and gains insight into the challenges faced by presidents, congressional representatives, and other political activists. It also covers the roles of political parties, interest groups, the media, and the Supreme Court. U.S. Government and Politics is designed to fall in the fourth year of social studies instruction. Students perfect their analytic writing through a series of analytic assignments and written lesson tests. Students perform frequent close readings of primary documents and apply those documents to the course content. The content is based on standards from the National Council for History Education (1997), the National Center for History in the Schools (1996), and the National Council for Social Studies (1994) and is aligned to state standards.