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Courses: Global History 1 Global History 2 United States History A.P. American A.P. European A.P. Government A.P. Economics Half Year Courses	I SING AMERICA : THE LYRICS OF POLITICS AND PROTEST (New Course) FALL/SPRING – 1/2 credit From ragtime to rap, from anthems to American Idol, music has traditionally been a vehicle to enlighten the masses about pressing issues ranging from social activism to political protest to economic unrest. Oftentimes, exploring the poetry, context, and lyrics of songs can reveal more about society than a history textbook! This course will cover different genres of music from 1865 to the present MTV/Vote or Die generation interpreting songs and analyzing their long range political and social impact. This semester class meets in a two-period block and counts for a 1/2 credit in English and a 1/2 credit in Social Studies. YOU’VE COME ALONG WAY BABY (New Course) *** FALL/SPRING - 1/2 Credit The course draws on material from the women’s convention at Seneca Falls in 1848, the reform movements of the 19th century (abolitions and temperance), the suffrage movement and the 20th Amendment, the roles of women in war (a look at both world wars), the image of the flapper during the Jazz Age (1920s), the conformed woman of the 1950s, the modern-day women’s movement (1960s-1970s), including a case study of Roe v Wade and the “Working Girl” of the 1980s to the present-day glass ceiling breaker. FACING HISTORY AND OUR SElVES (New Course)* FALL/SPRING – 1/2 credit Through stories, poems, autobiographical accounts, music and art, students look at how both individual and national identities are formed, as well as how these identities influence behavior and decisionmaking. Through a variety of case studies, media/film, and guest speakers, the course will examine issues relating to human rights, tolerance, and democratic institutions. A series of questions will be explored during the course. Examples: What shape the choices individual and groups make in times of crisis? How can and should individuals and nations acknowledge histories of collective violence and genocide? What happens when individuals, communities, and nations choose to create memorials and monuments in response to a personal or collective tragedy? The course will help students make the essential connection between history and the moral choices they confront in their own lives. CURRENT EVENTS/CURRENT ISSUES * * * FALL/SPRING - 1/2 credit “May you live in interesting times.” If athletes use steroids, are sports still “sports?” Will you pay my Social Security benefits? Are Americans as divided on “moral values’ as the election seems to suggest? Can we, America and the world, end the “War on Terror” without destroying ourselves? If students wish they could spend more time in Social Studies discussing and learning about the present rather than the past, then this class is for them. We will discuss and analyze events as they happen and we will take an in-depth look at the national and global issues of our time. Students will participate in choosing topics and creating lesson plans. Activities will include small seminar discussions, research in the library and computer lab, films, short papers and a final research project on the (approved) topic of the student’s choice. SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY PROJECT ADVANCED SOCIOLOGY * * * The Social Construction of Self and Society: Introductory Sociology FALL - 1/2 credit Prerequisite: B and above average This course introduces you to the discipline of Sociology. It is a skills-based course that utilizes primary source materials drawn from recent professional social science journals. You will examine how self and society are constructed and sustained through the life course; the ritual nature of self and society; social inequalities with emphasis upon issues of class, race/ethnicity, gender; and mechanisms by which self and society are socially reproduced. A major research paper and a small field research project will be assigned. Tuition for 3 hours of college credit will be approximately $190.00. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW * * FALL/SPRING - 1/2 credit Should the school principal be allowed to search your locker? Can The Globe be censored by the school administration? Can universities consider an applicant's ethnic background before determining admission? It is the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution of the United States that decides the answers to these controversial questions. In the half-year course, Constitutional Law, you will discover how the Supreme Court has ruled on these and other thought-provoking issues. Through detailed examination of the Constitution itself, careful study of Supreme Court decisions and formal debate, you will learn how this "living document" affects you everyday. Other topics that will be discussed and debated are gun control, the death penalty and abortion. CONTEMPORARY ECONOMICS The New Realities of Life in the 21st Century (New Course) * FALL/SPRING – 1/2 credit The days of guaranteed pensions, uninterrupted healthcare, job security, and casual investing are over. The new reality requires savvy financial decisions based on proven principles. Individual financial decisions are now an undeniable fact of life. It is no longer acceptable to be a sideline spectator. You are now responsible for your economic well-being. Learn the economic choices available to you. Understand the personal implications of your financial decision-making. Practical projects are course requirements. There will also be outside reading assignments on various topics. * This course will satisfy the 1/2 year Economics requirement **This course will satisfy the 1/2 year Participation in Government requirement. *** This course will satisfy both the 1/2 year Economics requirement and the 1/2 year Participation in Government requirement.