AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS  

Online for the 2010-2011 school year!

Teacher: Thomas J. Shaheen

E-mail:  Thomas.Shaheen@gmail.com

 

Why take this course?

Did you wonder what was behind the controversy over China’s hosting of the Olympics? Or how the fate of U.S. banks affected economies all over the world? Or how Mexican drug gangs became a security problem across the border? 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 governments, their economies and their citizens.

 

Textbooks (Exact ISBN edition nos. to be provided at time of application)

Mark Kesselman, et.al.  Introduction to Comparative Politics, Advanced High School Edition. Boston:  Houghton Mifflin

Christian Soe, Ed.  Annual Editions:  Comparative Politics Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill Contemporary Learning Series.

 

Supplemental Readings

- Current readings from The Economist and other international Web-based 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:  $400 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 syllabus will include weekly online discussions with classmates and instructor via message posting on a class web board.  The syllabus will also 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:

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 lobbying, legislative research and analysis, newsletter editing and writing, and have successfully published opinion columns in major Pennsylvania newspapers including the Philadelphia Inquirer, Harrisburg Patriot-News and Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call — in my more than 19 as Vice President for Policy of the Pennsylvania Family Institute. This is my 4th year teaching this AP Comparative Government & Politics course online. I am married, with four young adult children (two in college) and am an “experienced” homeschooling father.

 

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