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GOVERNMENT & U.S. POLITICS

This course provides teachers with an overview of the basic structure and content necessary for an Advanced Placement course in Government and Politics: United States. The instructor will focus on the development of the content for each of the six units included in the course as well as the development of course objectives, learning activities, teaching strategies, and the use of multiple resources. Emphasis will be placed on preparing students for the AP examination. An analysis of past AP examinations will be included as well as a review of the standards established for the grading of the annual exams. A major portion of the course is devoted to the development of an AP Government and Politics course by each participant including the resources necessary for the implementation of such a course. 

Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:

  • Develop a curriculum for an AP U. S. Government and Politics course.
  • Understand the content of each unit within the AP U. S. Government and Politics course.
  • Develop unit guides for each unit within the AP U. S. Government and Politics course.
  • Develop an awareness of the texts and materials available for teaching the AP U. S. Government and Politics course.
  • Understand and improve teaching techniques and strategies appropriate for teaching an AP U. S. Government and Politics course.
  • Develop strategies for preparing students to take the AP U. S. Government and Politics examination.

Day 1

  • Overview of the Advanced Placement (AP) Program
  • Access to the AP U. S. Government and Politics Course
  • Content of Courses in AP United States Government and Politics
  • Planning and Developing Unit Guides for AP 
    U. S. Government and Politics 
  • Selection of Texts and Materials for AP Courses in U. S. Government and Politics
  • Correlating Your Texts to the AP U. S. Government and Politics Units
  • The Advanced Placement Examination: Preparing Your Students for the Multiple Choice and Essay Questions
  • Using Past Free-Response Questions to Teach AP 
    U. S. Government and Politics

Day 2

  • The Advanced Placement “Reading”
  • Development of Rubrics and Sample Grading of the Free-Response Portion of the AP U. S. Government and Politics Examination
  • Techniques and Strategies for Teaching the AP U. S. Government and Politics Course
  • Computer Software Exercises for Data Analysis
  • Planning and Developing Unit Guides for AP U. S. Government and Politics (continued)

Day 3

  • Sample Grading of the Free Response Portion of the AP U. S. Government and Politics Examination (continued)
  • Techniques and Strategies for Teaching the AP U. S. Government and Politics Course (continued)
  • “Best Practices” Sharing Session
  • Planning and Developing Units for the Advanced Placement Government and Politics Course (continued)

Day 4

  • Group Presentations of Unit Guides for the AP U. S. Government and Politics Course
  • Participant Sharing Session of Methods, Techniques and Materials for Units 1 - 6
  • Debriefing/Evaluations

Maria Schmidt, J.D. - Former Supervisor of Social Studies for the Westfield Public Schools in Westfield, N.J. Experience includes authoring the curriculum for and teaching the AP U.S. Government and Politics at Westfield High School. Served as a Reader, Table Leader and Question Leader for the AP Government and Politics annual exam scoring session. Currently serves as a consultant to the College Board presenting workshops for new and experienced teachers of AP U.S. Government and Politics throughout the Middle States region and nationally. Authored the 1993 edition of the “Teacher's Guide to Advanced Placement Courses in United States: Government and Politics” published by the College Board. In 2002 and 2005 edited the 4th and 5th editions of “Multiple-Choice and Free-Response Questions in Preparation for the AP United States Government and Politics Examination” and the accompanying “Teacher’s Manuals” published by D & S Marketing Systems, Inc.

"Great Instructors, free materials, zeroing in on topics for AP. What more could you ask for?"

- Past Client