Welcome Raptors!
I am extremely happy to be a part of the East Ridge Raptor Community of Learners!!! I look forward to supporting you as you explore and learn about our world and our nation. My goal it to make courses relevant and engaging...to prepare you to enter and participate in today's world as citizen of your community, state and and nation...and an ever broadening global community.

AP US government and politics is a college level political science course focused on student learning and preparation for the AP US government and politics exam (an expectation of students taking this course). Students taking this course will need strong organization and time management skills. Reading for comprehension and developing writing skills will also be significant components of the course.

This course is designed to provide students with the factual knowledge and analytical skills to understand and engage critically with the issues and structures within the US government. This course will provide students with a scope of study equivalent to that obtained in most introductory college US Government and politics courses. This two-trimester course fulfills the requirement for Political Science.

Successful completion of Political Science is a graduation requirement set by the Minnesota Department of Education and South Washington County Schools. The course immerses students in the governmental and political environment with the objective to engage them as participants in the civic process and responsible members of society. This course provides fundamental knowledge in the areas of American government, the political process, citizenship, civics, and problems of democracy. A realistic appraisal of government and politics will enable students to be critical citizens who can add in a constructive way to our American political community.

All sections of Political Science at ERHS in 2012-2013 will occur in a blended (Hybrid) environment...this means that students will meet once a week minimum in a traditional classroom...and the rest of the activities and learning will be through online interaction with the teacher, classmates and students.

East Ridge High School
Gordon Denn