Syllabus

US Government & Economics
Archbishop Ryan High School
Mr. Finnegan
2007-2008 Syllabus

US Government
During the first semester we will be studying the Government of the United States of America. We will focus on: the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the legislative branch of government and the legislative process, the executive branch of government and the Presidency, the judicial branch of the government with emphasis on the Supreme Court and the American justice system, political parties, state and local government, citizenship, and American and global current events. We will also intensely study the full Constitution of The United States of America.

Economics
During the second semester we will be studying Applied Economics. We will focus on the laws of supply and demand, capitalism in America, making and maintaining a personal budget, and entrepreneurship. The class will also create, finance, maintain, market, and staff a student run business.
*Course Requirements: All students are expected to have the following: A two-subject notebook, one section for notes, and one section for journal entries; an e-mail address; Students will not be required to bring textbooks to class everyday, you will be told when to bring your textbooks and you are required to have them when told to bring them. All students are expected to follow the rules and regulations that are outlined in the Archbishop Ryan Student handbook. When I am talking in class no one else is to be talking at any time for any reason. When another student is called on and is talking to the class, no other student is to be talking for any reason.
*Notes: This year I will give notes two ways: in class with a projector; and posted on a web page that I will maintain throughout the year. Notes will be posted online after they are given in class, Please be aware that some of the notes that are given in class will not be available online, and that at the end of each quarter there will be an open notebook test in which only handwritten notes will be allowed to be used; no print-outs of my online notes will be permitted for the open notebook test. It is important to maintain a written notebook for these reasons. The website where you can find my notes is: http://finngov2007-08.blogspot.com/.

*Contact: The best way for you or your parents to communicate with me throughout the school year is through e-mail. My e-mail address is finngov@yahoo.com. 

*Grading: Your quarterly grade will be calculated based upon the following formula:
Tests: 50%
Project: 20 %
Assessment: 20%
Journal: 10%

*This grading formula is subject to change, but will be the formula for most quarters.