Angela Biondolillo » Participation in Government

Participation in Government

Participation in Government 


Course Syllabus, Requirements & Curriculum Outline- Fall Semester 2020


Instructor: Ms. Biondolillo


Welcome to the Participation in Government Course at Bronx Collegiate Academy. It is my hope that you will find this one semester course to be an exciting look into the foundations of our government, society and the American political system. As a required course for graduation, the Participation in Government (P.I.G.) course is designed to bring local, state and national politics to life and to assist you in becoming active participants in the political process. You will use this knowledge to make well-informed decisions as individuals as well as members of a democratic society. 


The Participation in Government Course at Bronx Collegiate Academy is a semester long course (approx. 20 weeks).  The objectives of this course go beyond a basic analysis of how our government “works.” Students will develop a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the American political system, as well as their rights and responsibilities. Given that this course aligns with a highly controversial time in our nation, a substantial portion of the course will be dedicated to making sense of current events.  


All assignments must be turned in on or by the assigned due date. There will be a letter grade deduction for each day that an assignment is late, unless accompanied by a “legal” written excuse. 


Recommended Supplies

  1. 1 or 2 inch three ring binder with dividers or a 3 subject spiral notebook
  2. Daily Writing Utensil



Overall Evaluation for the Semester:

Current Events/ Homework 30%

Exams – 20%

Projects- 20%

Participation 20%



*Weekly Current Event Analysis -  unless otherwise stated by the instructor in class, this write-up will be due by the first day school day of each week. (If school is not in session on a Monday as per the academic calendar you must submit the current event analysis on Tuesday of that week or it will be marked & credited late. Current Event analysis must follow our agreed upon parameters. 


*Bi- weekly current event quiz that requires you to be familiar with national and international leaders, law makers, political figures, as well as regions of the world

* Homework Assignments consist of various tasks including, but not limited to finishing in-class activities as well as reading articles, selected passages and responding to accompanying questions



Outline of Participation in Government Curriculum Basics 


Introduction: Current Events and Developing Lenses and systems for inquiry

–Research skills, critical media analysis, current events model, question creation. 


Unit 1: Trump’s America (2016-2020)

–Did he do his job?


Unit 2: Election & Understanding the parties and my political identity

–Getting to know the identity of candidates as we examine controversial political issues and where they stand. 


Unit 3: Understanding the Legislative and Judicial Branches

–Law making process

–Judicial powers

–Roles in the House/Senate

–Identities of representatives

–How IT ALL works. 


UNIT 4: Analyzing the current State of our union, discussing goals for a more idealized system, and articulating your role in the process

-Identify shortcomings and strengths in our nation, propose fixes or improvement plans and actions that you can take to promote change. 







Dear Parent/Guardian, 


I would like to welcome you and your child to a new school year at Bronx Collegiate Academy!  There are a few things you should know to ensure your child has a successful year in our Participation in Government course.  


Firstly, this credit is required for graduation; it is not wise to put graduation in jeopardy by not taking this course seriously. More importantly, this course serves as a transition for high school seniors into the real world and into higher-level education.  Students will develop skills that are directly useful in every day life.  They will be challenged with college level work and it is expected that every student strive to meet the high standards set for them.  We will be exploring controversial issues that some students might be sensitive to, but it is with the intention of raising awareness of how to take control over their lives to the greatest extent possible.  


We will spend a great deal of our time analyzing the media, so that students become responsible consumers of it and are able to think critically about the information they access.  Every week, your child MUST complete a current events assignment and must present their work and collaborate with classmates in discussion of these topics; this facet is essential to earning credit for this course.  Speaking and communicating is crucial to student success after leaving high school, regardless of the path they choose.  Even if this makes students uncomfortable, it is a requirement.  


Please encourage your child to be at school, on time, and prepared for class every day; attendance is crucial to their development and promotion.  If there is any reason that your child cannot be here, please let me know in advance.  

It is very important to me that we communicate and collaborate to motivate and keep your child on track.  If you ever have any questions or concerns, please call or text me at (347) 598-0346 or email me at [email protected].  


Please store my phone number and email address and have your child bring this letter back to me with your signature and contact information.  Thank you. 


Parent/Guardian Name: _____________________________

Signature: _________________________________________

Phone Number:  _____________________________

Email: ______________________________________