The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.

Intelligence plus character

- that is the goal of true education.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
1

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
MS. SHIMADAROOM 45


CONTACT INFORMATION:
Cellphone #: 562-587-5015
Email: Carolyn.shimada@hsv-k12.org
Website: www.senorashimada.weebly.com
If you want to discuss anything related to school, please feel free to try and reach me any time by email or
phone. If I am not immediately reachable, I will do my best to get back to you as quickly as possible.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will cover contemporary issues that impact our daily lives and communities. Issues we will explore
include, but are not limited to, education policy, poverty in America, immigration,
terrorism, international trends, and civil rights. The purpose of this course is not to
simply read and casually discuss current events. Students will use analytical
reasoning, critical thinking, and evaluative skills to
both understand the importance of contemporary
issues and also help gain the necessary skills and
mindsets to accomplish individual short and long term
life goals. These skills and rigorous work will put
students on a pathway to being college-ready and
RAC (Responsible, Active, and Concerned) citizens of our classroom and society. This
course will provide students the opportunity to develop their ideas and effectively
express their viewpoints through written and verbal communication. There will be a
strong emphasis on each students strengths and the unique identity that they offer to
our classroom and society.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to
Think critically about contemporary issues. Students will not just memorize dates and factsthey will
understand the importance and lessons to be drawn from current events.
Apply analytical reasoning to understand contemporary issues; students will ask questions such as Why?
Why now? How come? What if
Make informed evaluations about contemporary issues; students will not simply accept arguments, but rather
they will develop and defend their own unique opinions using evidence.
Demonstrate being a RAC (Responsible, Active, and Concerned) citizen in our classroom and in society.
Demonstrate persuasive, evidence-based writing skills through unit essays and writing assignments.

CLASSROOM RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Be ready.
2. Be responsible.
3. Be respectful.
4. Be resilient.




The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character
- that is the goal of true education.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
2
TUTORING AND GUIDANCE

I will be available almost every day before and after school for tutoring and to discuss class assignments or any other
class-related work or issues. I will also be available most weekends to meet for tutoring.
Students who wish to come to tutoring before school should inform me at least one day before they want to
come to tutoring. Before school tutoring will start at 7:00 am.
Students who wish to come to tutoring after school should inform me during class that day. I will stay at
school until 4:15 every day and can stay even longer if necessary.
Students who wish to meet on the weekend for tutoring should have their parent/guardian contact me.
Tutoring will usually take place at the Starbucks on Memorial and Mastin Lake.

TEXTS AND RESOURCES
We will rely on a variety of rigorous readings such as scholarly articles, current events articles, opinion-
editorial pieces, etc.

REQUIRED MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS
Charged laptops. Contemporary Issues occurs during the first period
of the day, so there should be no excuse for coming to class with a laptop with a dead battery.
Students must join our class website (www.edmodo.com/shimada). The code to join is: zzi3nh. Our class
website will model that of many college courses, in which daily powerpoint presentations, class work, and
assignments will be posted for students to view and download.
It is also highly recommended that students subscribe to Remind, a system that lets me send you reminders
and updates directly to your cell phone. In order to subscribe, simply text @msshimad to 256-693-2860.
Please note that the code is not my full last name, since it doesnt have the second a.
We will be using pens/pencils scotch tape, loose-leaf paper, and drawing markers, tissues, and hand sanitizer
in class throughout the year. We would greatly appreciate any contributions of these materials for the class to
use.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Students with disabilities that may require assistance must contact the guidance office for coordination of their
academic needs.

ASSIGNMENTS

Students will be responsible for following a particular contemporary issue, in which they will find a weekly
article that will later be used as evidence in their final research paper.
Students will complete their Cornell class notes and in-class work and submit them online.
Students will have an exam or write an essay at the end of each unit covered during the course.
Students will write a final research paper at the end of the year to demonstrate their understanding of the
big themes covered throughout the year, as well as show their analytical reasoning, critical thinking and
evaluative skills.
Other assignments beyond those listed (such as in-class debates) will be given throughout the semester. Both
students and parents will be informed of such additional assignments.

GRADING POLICY

Final grades are determined by an overall average of exams, essays, daily grades (class notes and work), homework,
and projects:
Assessments: 60%

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character
- that is the goal of true education.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
3
o Final research paper: 15%
o Exams: 20%
o Essays: 20%
o Other: 5%
Class work: 30%
o Daily participation (classwork/participation): 20%
o Weekly article/homework: 10%
Do Now/Reflect: 5%
Cornell Notes: 5%

ATTENDANCE POLICY AND MAKEUP WORK

Attendance in class is essential to a students success in the course. Please see the HCS 2014-2015 Student Handbook
for all rules and policies regarding absences and makeup work.

In situations in which a student has an excused absence, it is incumbent on the student to take any handouts and
assignments he/she missed from the Missed Work folders located in our classroom. There will also be a
model notebook located next to the Missed Work folders for students to refer to for missed class notes and work.
Students can also access all handouts, assignments, and notes on the class website (see Required Materials above).

CLASSROOM POLICIES/PROCEDURES

1. Tardy Policy:
At the bell for class to begin, all students should be in the classroom in their seats and should already
be working on the DO NOW for the day. I will shut the door as soon as the bell rings. After the third
tardy, I will send a referral to the office. Any student who is more than ten minutes late will be
considered as skipping. Any student who misses more than 47 minutes of a class will be counted as
absent. If this is the first block of the day, you will not be allowed into the classroom without a tardy
slip from the front office.

2. Hall Pass Policy:
All students in the halls during classes MUST have a hall pass. Absences from class will be monitored
and allowed accordingly. All students have four passes per semester per block period to use for the
restroom, to get water, to talk to another teacher, etc. After these four passes are used, the student
will not be allowed to leave without a security or administrative escort. Hall passes may not be used
during the first or last ten minutes of class for any reason. Any unused passes at the end of the
semester will be rewarded with 1% extra credit on the final semester grade.

3. Discipline Policy:
Inappropriate behavior in the classroom will be dealt with by the teacher. The consequences in this
class are (in order):
Warning
Written Reflection
Parent Contact
After-School Detention
Office Referral
** I reserve the right to skip any parts of the above hierarchy if students behavior is extreme
and he/she needs to be sent out of class for being excessively disruptive.**
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character
- that is the goal of true education.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
4

4. Makeup Work Procedure:
Attendance is required in order to receive a high grade. If you must be absent, especially if you are
home sick, check either Edmodo or the class website (see above) and try to complete the assignment
before returning to school. You have until the school day after your return to turn in makeup work.
Please note that not all classwork is able to be made up, so your grade will suffer from excessive
absences.

5. Turning In/Giving Back Papers:
Most assignments will be submitted on Edmodo. Hard copies of classwork will be collected after the
allotted work time is over. Tests will be placed in the designated area in the classroom.

6. Transitioning out of the Room:
When class is over, I will dismiss you, not the bell. Please make sure all of your books and materials
are put away and the area around your desk is clean and neat before you leave. No one will leave the
classroom until all areas are clean and everyone is seated in their desk. You are dismissed when I say
Have a good day.

7. Cell Phones:
Cell phone usage is not allowed at Johnson. We have laptops to use for research, so there is no need
for you to have your phone out during class. In the case of emergencies, students must use the phone
in the office. Incoming calls must also come through the office. If you use your cell phone in my
classroom, I will take up the cell phone and take it to the office along with a referral.
First offense: Get it back at the end of the day
Second offense: Parent must come pick it up at the end of the following day
Third offense: Will be given back at administrators discretion
Students may, however, use the phones in the hall but cannot talk on phones nor listen to music. The
phone must be away upon entrance into the classroom.

8. Food and Drinks:
Unless explicitly specified, food may not be consumed in class. Only drinks purchased at school are
allowed in the classroom. Students are not allowed to go to vending machines during class time. All
drinks in the classroom must have a screw top (no cans).


COURSE SCHEDULE
Unit Zero: Preparing for a successful semester as a RAC (Responsible, Active, Concerned) Citizen
Students will become invested in our Big Goals for the school year of achieving 80% mastery on all assignments and
demonstrating qualities of being RAC citizens in our classroom and in society.
Unit One: Following contemporary issues: The 24-hour news cycle and the impact of contemporary media
forums
Describe current news stories from various perspectives, including geographical, historical, political, social, and
cultural.
Evaluating the impact of current news stories on the individual and on local, state, national, and international
communities.
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character
- that is the goal of true education.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
5
Examining current news trends.
Analyzing news stories and their implications for nations of the world.
Locating areas affected by events described in news stories.
Compare information presented through various media, including television, newspapers, magazines, journals, and
the Internet
Discuss the reliability of news stories and their sources.
Describe the use, misuse, and meaning of different media materials, including photographs, artwork, and film
clips.
Discuss the role of intentional and unintentional bias and flawed samplings.
Unit Two: Education as a contemporary issue
Unit Three: Poverty in America as a contemporary issue
Unit Four: Immigration as a contemporary issue
Unit Five: Terrorism as a contemporary issue
Unit Six: An overview of contemporary issues internationally (Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America)
Unit Seven: Growing up LGBTQ in America
Unit Eight: Civil rights: An examination of the three most prevalent isms
Unit Nine: We are the ones weve been waiting for: How can you affect social change?
In addition, the course will cover several shortened, miniature units at relevant times of the year.