Contemporary Issues: Problems Facing Our Nation and World

Transcription

1 Elizabethtown Area School District Contemporary Issues: Problems Facing Our Nation and World Course Number: 405 Length of Course: 1 Semester Grade Level: Elective Total Clock Hours: 120 Length of Period: 80 minutes Date Written: 2010 Periods per Week/Cycle: 5 Written By: John Spittal Credits: 1.0 Weighting: 1.0 Course Description: This course is an introduction to contemporary problems facing our nation and will provide students with the opportunity to scrutinize contemporary problems on the local, county, state, national, and international levels. In doing so, students will examine, but not be confined to, economic, religious, social, political, and military events. In addition to focusing on current events, where applicable, in-depth research will be conducted to determine the historical causes for current situations. The Internet will be widely used as a source for obtaining immediate and historical information pertaining to current events. 1

2 I. Overall Course/Grade Level Standards Students will KNOW and be able TO DO the following as a result of taking this course. A) Identify the who, where, when, what, and why of contemporary issues. B) Identify the point of view of contemporary issues. C) Form an opinion of contemporary issues using different viewpoints. D) Identify areas of agreement and disagreement and clearly identify controversy. E) Interpret maps as they relate to contemporary issues. F) Relate major historical events to contemporary issues. 2

3 II. Content Major Areas of Study List all units of study below: Unit Estimated Time Materials 1. The 5 W s of Current Events 2 weeks All of the following in all units Newspapers Computers 2. Domestic Contemporary Issues 6 weeks TV news programs 3. Foreign Contemporary Issues 9 weeks Newsmagazines Current Issues Book Taking sides Clashing Views on Controversial Political Issues (book) 3

4 III. Course Assessments Check types of assessments to be used in the teaching of the course and provide examples of each type. x Objective Tests/Quizzes x Constructed Responses Essays x Reports x Projects Portfolios x Presentations x Performance Tasks Response Journals Logs x Computer Simulations Research Papers x Class Participation x Note Taking x Daily Assignments x Writing Samples Provide copies of common assessments that will be utilized for all students taking this course. Overall course/grade level standards will be measured by a common course assessment. Unit objectives will be measured on an ongoing basis as needed by the classroom teacher to assess learning and plan for instruction. List common assessments below and recommend date/time frame for administration (at least quarterly). Structured Debates Argumentative Essays Analyzing an Issue Essay Daily Event Presentations Final Exam Name of Common Assessment When given? 4

5 Current grading scale % = A 83-91% = B 74-82% = C 65-73%= D 0-64% = F PA Proficiency Levels Advanced Proficient Basic Below Basic Standard EASD Grading Scale 5

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7 Name of Unit: 5 W s of Current Events Essential Question: How do you identify the who, where, when, what, and why of current events? Aligned to Aligned to PA Unit Objectives/Key Question Priority Course Standard Standard 1. How do you identify the who, when researching contemporary issues? E A, B, D, E A,B,C,D 2. How do you identify the where, when researching contemporary issues? 3. How do you identify the when, when researching contemporary issues? 4. How do you identify the what, when researching contemporary issues? 5. How do you identify the why, when researching contemporary issues? 6. How do you identify Bias when researching contemporary issues? E A, B, D, E A,B,C,D E A, B, D, E, F A,B,C,D E A, B, D, E A,B,C,D E A, B, D, E, F A,B,C,D E A, B, C, D, E, F A,B,C,D 4a

8 Name of Unit: Domestic Contemporary Issues Essential Question: What role should the United States government play in domestic contemporary issues? Unit Objectives/Key Question Priority Aligned to Course Standard Aligned to PA Standard 1. Should the United States government enforce E A, B, C C the current federal laws outlawing marijuana? 2. Should the United States legalize medical E A, B, C C marijuana? 3. Should the United States legalize marijuana for I A, B, C C personal use? 4. Prison or treatment for drug offenders? I A, B, C C 5. Is the death penalty for juveniles cruel and E A, B, C C unusual punishment? 6. What causes crime? E A, B, C C 7. Is the federal budget deficit as bad as it looks? E A, B, C A C 8. Should Social Security benefits be cut to help I A, B, C C the budget deficit? 9. Should the government give vouchers to allow I A, B, C C children to attend religious school? 10. Should the government expand health care to E A, B, C C cover every American? 11. Should the United States restrict immigration E A, B, C C as a matter of national security? 12. Should states be allowed to issue drivers C A, B, C C licenses to illegal immigrants? 13. Are immigrants good for the United States C A, B, C C economy? 14. Should the United States Constitution be I A, B, C C amended to ban same sex marriage? 15. What causes poverty? E A, B, C C 16. What role does the United States government I A, B, C C have in reducing poverty? 17. Who are the poor? E A, B, C C 18. Should welfare work requirements be I A, B, C C increased? 19. Should the United States government curtail E A, B, C C civil liberties to prevent terrorist attack? 20. What is the government s role in regulating the E A, B, C C use of natural resources? 21. Should Pennsylvania extract as much natural gas as possible? I A, B, C C 4b

9 22. Should the United States government promote I A, B, C C oil drilling wherever possible? 23. Should the United States government promote I A, B, C C green technologies? 24. What are the green technologies? I A, B, C C 25. What are the pro s and con s of fracking? I A, B, C C 4c

10 Name of Unit: Foreign Policy Issues Essential Question: What role should the United States government play in foreign contemporary issues? Aligned to Aligned to PA Unit Objectives/Key Question Priority Course Standard Standard 1. How and when should the United States get out of Iraq? E A, B, C, D, E, F , What should be conditions on the ground in E A, B, C, D , order to end the War in Afghanistan? 3. Should the United States strike preemptively E A, B, C, D, F , when necessary? 4. Should the United States reinstate the draft? C A, B, C, D Should the United States be involved in peace I A, B, C, D, F , keeping missions overseas? 6. Should the United States focus on promoting democracy and human rights overseas? E A, B, C, D , Should the United States lead nation-building I A, B, C, D, E, F , efforts around the world? 8. Should the United States increase foreign aid? E A, B, C, D, E, F Should the United States increase funding for C A, B, C, D , AIDS programs in sub-saharan Africa? 10. Should the United States support limiting E A, B, C, D greenhouse gases? 11. Should the United States drill for oil anywhere I A, B, C, D, F they want? 12. Do free-trade agreements help or harm the E A, B, C, D United States economy? 13. How does globalization affect developing I A, B, C, D , nations? 14. Should the United States emphasize nonproliferation or counter-proliferation of nuclear weapons? I A, B, C, D , Should the United States force North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons? C A, B, C, D, E, F , Should the United States reduce its armed C A, B, C, D, F , forces around the world? 17. Should the US restrict Chinese imports? C A, B, C, D Should the United States pressure Russia to C A, B, C, D , adopt more democratic reforms? 19. Should the United States lift the embargo against Cuba? I A, B, C, D, F d

11 20. Should the United States expand free trade agreements throughout the Americas? E A, B, C, D, E, F , How much should the United States do to help Haiti? I A, B, C, D Should the United States do whatever it takes E A, B, C, D, E, F , to bring peace to the Middle East? 23. Should the United States consider military action against Iran, if they refuse to give up nuclear weapons research? I A, B, C, D, E, F , What is human trafficking? E A, B, C, D What is being done to stop human trafficking? E A, B, C, D What are the different kinds of modern day I A, B, C, D , slavery? 27. What is genocide? E A, B, C, D Where is genocide taking place? E A, B, C, D, E, F , Where are treatable diseases killing people? I A, B, C, D, E, F What is the United States government s role in helping wipe out treatable diseases? I A, B, C, D Where is sanitation and clean water a rarity? I A, B, C, D, E, F , What can be done to bring clean water and I A, B, C, D , sanitation to those who need it? 33. Where is there slavery today? E A, B, D, E, F , What are the different types of modern day E A, B, D, E, F , slavery? 35. What is being done to stop modern day slavery? E A, B, D, E, F , e