AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS  

Online for the 2011-2012 school year!

Teacher: Thomas J. Shaheen. E-mail:  Thomas.Shaheen@gmail.com

Why take this course?

Did you wonder what was really going when student protesters took to the streets in Iran – or Egypt?  Or how Mexican drug gangs became a security problem across the border? What if you were in debate competition and had to show how U.S. national debt affects our foreign policy with China? Those are the “current events” that we will examine as we go behind the headlines to learn more about comparisons between the U.S. and six other countries, their different forms of government, their economies and their citizens.

Comparative government and politics is a critical field of study for young people. The 21st century has taught us that we cannot ignore the world around us. Events around the world now directly or indirectly impact our lives, and American students face the challenge of interpreting many puzzling international events. The AP Comparative Government and Politics course focuses on government and politics in other countries and provides a theoretical framework to compare political systems around the world.  In today’s world, we cannot afford not to know.

REQUIRED BOOKS

TEXTBOOK: Mark Kesselman, et.al.  Introduction to Comparative Politics, Labeled as *AP Edition, Fifth Edition, hardback, 9 chapters. Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-0-495-79377-9 or ISBN-10: 0-495-79377-9.

Supplemental Readings

- Current readings from The Economist and other Web-based magazines and news sources

- AP Briefing Papers – provided by instructor, published by the College Board

- Essays and papers published on current topics of study – provided by instructor

 Who should apply:

Reliable Internet and E-mail access is a MUST.  Students grades 9 through 12 are welcome to apply.  Academic performance should be average or above, and student should be familiar with basic essay writing.  Students must be self-motivated and punctual with assignments.

 How to apply:

E-mail instructor at Thomas.Shaheen@gmail.com and request a simple application form (or with any questions). Once your application is reviewed and you are accepted into the course, proceed with registration and payment to PAhomeschoolers.com

 

 Course fee: 

$375 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION BY JULY 1, 2011. PLUS COST OF  BOOKS.

$400 REGULAR REGISTRATION BY AUGUST 31. PLUS COST OF BOOKS.

 Course Description:

This course will provide students with the conceptual tools necessary to develop an understanding of some of the world’s diverse political structures and practices. It will encompass the study of specific countries and their governments, and the general concepts used to interpret and compare the political relationships and institutions.  We’ll explore questions such as: What makes a country a democracy? Is government control of industry better than privatization? What really happened in that revolution and why?

This course will prepare students for the AP Comparative Government and Politics exam offered through the College Board annually in May.  (Note:  This exam may be taken in conjunction with the optional AP United States Government exam offered on the same dates; see separate course offering.)

Six countries form the core of the AP Comparative Government and Politics Examination: Britain, China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria and Russia. These countries provide a foundation for developing paradigms of different types of political systems.  The class will also study an overview of United States government – as a framework for understanding and comparing governments and economic systems.

This course will highlight substantive topics and questions with regard to each country such as the sources of political authority and political power, society and politics, citizen and state, political frameworks and political change.  These are all topics in which all AP students in comparative politics will be tested on the AP Exam.

The course reqires weekly online discussions with classmates and instructor via message posting on a class web board.  The syllabus will include assigned text and online readings, assigned chapter outlines, essay papers, current and world event discussions, and exam preparation in the form of a practice test.

I will closely monitor all class-work and online discussions.  I will also be available via E-mail.  I expect students to complete all assignments by assigned deadlines and to maintain open and honest communication with me at all times regarding class work or home issues that may affect class work.

Instructor qualifications:

This will be my 5th year teaching this AP Comparative Government & Politics course online.

I have a Masters degree in Public Policy from Regent University and a B.A. in Business Management from Moravian College. I have experience teaching and mentoring high school students in conducting model government sessions at the annual City on the Hill Youth Leadership Conference.  I have professional experience in direct lobbying, grassroots advocacy, local political campaigns, legislative research and analysis, newsletter editing and writing opinion columns published by major newspapers -- in my more than 20 years as Vice President for Policy of the Pennsylvania Family Institute. I am married with four adult children (one a senior in college), who collectively have experienced homeschooling, cyber charter school, public school and later, public and private colleges.

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