October 27-31 (week 10)
Monday 10/27
- present party platforms
- HW: Read Chapter 10: Campaigns and Elections
Tuesday 10/28
- Chapter 10: Campaigns and Elections
- Gerrymandering activity
Thursday 10/30 (end of 2nd term)
- Chapter 10: Campaigns and Elections continued
- political commercials
- HW: Question #12 (due Monday 11/3)
Do you think it is okay for someone with a lot of money but no political experience to run for president of the United States? Which is more important for a candidate to have: ambition or experience? Candidates today like to define themselves as outsiders; do we want nonprofessional politicians in Washington?

November 3-7 (week 11)
Monday 11/3
- NO CLASS: LONG WEEKEND
Tuesday 11/4 (Election Day!)
- Electoral College maps and election day prep
Thursday 11/6
- Election recap

October 13-17 (week 8)

Monday 10/13

- Current political events discussion

Tuesday 10/14

- Chapter 8: Political Participation and Voting continued

- HW: study for test over Chapters 6-8 on Tuesday 10/16

Thursday 10/16

- TEST: Chapters 6-8

- HW: Read Chapter 9: Political Parties

October 20-24 (week 9)

Monday 10/20

- Political parties: From America First to The World Socialist Party

Tuesday 10/21

- Chapter 9: Political Parties

- HW: Political party examination:

Visit the Web site of a “third party” political party to see what it says about the following current political issues:

The state of the family

Gay rights

Health care

The War in Iraq

The economy

Where on the political spectrum does the party reside? Why is it a separate party and not part of one of the big parties?

Thursday 10/23

- Chapter 9: Political Parties

- HW: Question 11 (due Monday 10/27)

In the past, critics frequently charged that there were very few differences between the two major parties. Is that true today? What do you think the Republicans stood for in the 2004 presidential election? The Democrats? Social critic Jim Wallis claims that both parties have become “morally vacuous.” He charges that the Democrats are obsessed with “radical individualism,” while the Republicans are absorbed with materialism. Would you agree?