DENNIS RANDALL - PRESENTER
Dennis is the Social Studies Department Chair of Copper Hills High School were he has taught U.S. History, AP* Government and Politics, and Student Government. He also taught twelve years at Alta High School teaching U.S. History, AP* United States Government, AP* European History, Honors World History, and Honors ninth grade Social Studies. Dennis has also taught at Brighton High School and Eastman Junior High School.
Dennis has been a consultant for the College Board* for 12 years as well as a guest lecturer for AP* College Board* Workshops. He was named teacher of the year at Copper Hills High School, Teacher of the month - Jordan Chamber of Commerce, has been twice nominated for the Huntsman Award and has received the Golden Eagle Award of Merit
GOVERNMENT - U.S.
CLASS SYLLABUS
Setting up the AP* Class
a. The Acorn Book
b. Curriculum goals set by the College Board*
c. Who gets the class?
d. College Board* standards for taking an AP* Class
Textbooks
a. What is out there
b. What do you use and why?
c. Book Review
d. Supplemental Materials
What does the AP* test look like?
a. Multiple choice questions
b. What can kids expect?
c. How do I write them?
d. Essay questions
1. What will they cover?
2. How can I write them?
3. How do I correct them?
4. What can I do to help the kids?
5. Preparing a rubric
Study Skills
a. How do I get them to understand the material?
b. What has worked for others?
Curriculum (what do they need to know and how can I help them?)
a. The Constitution
1. Why is it necessary?
2. What do the kids need to know?
3. How do we change it?
b Federalism
1. The Federalist Papers (can the kids translate them?)
2. Is Federalism good or bad? Can it be both?
c. Public Opinion
d. Elections and Campaign Reform
1. How does the Electoral College Work?
2. Unit rule or chaos?
3. Campaign Finance Reform
4. What did McCain do to us?
e. What in the World is the Iron Triangle?
f. What do kids really need to know about Congress?
1. Difference between the party organization and congressional organization
2. What do the committees do?
3. What is the key vocabulary kids need and what key words does the College Board* expect them to know?
g. What about the modern day presidency?
1. Who really declares war?
2. How powerful is the president?
h. The Judiciary
1. Is politics involved in the court?
2. What really is the role of president?
3. What is the real difference between activism and restraint?
i. Civil Liberties
1. What is the difference between civil liberties and civil rights?
2. What cases do the kids need to know?
3. What is the rule of the 14th Amendment?
4. What is incorporation?
j Civil Rights
1. How do I get my kids to understand racial, gender and other conflicts?
2. What is affirmative action and has it become time to end it or do we still need it?
3. Does prejudice still exist?
Reviewing for the test
What is the grading like? (or why did my kid get that score?)
1. How is the grading set up?
2. How do I help my kids understand their scores?
Mini Essay Session
