History
A. Explain patterns of historical continuity and change by challenging arguments of historical inevitability.
B. Use historical interpretations to explain current issues.
People in Societies
A. Analyze how issues may be viewed differently by various cultural groups.
B. Identify the causes of political, economic and social oppression and analyze ways individuals, organizations and countries respond to resulting conflicts.
C. Explain the role of diverse cultural institutions in shaping American society.
Geography
A. Explain how the character and meaning of a place reflect a society's economics, politics, social values, ideology and culture.
B. Evaluate the consequences of geographic and environmental changes resulting from governmental policies and human modifications to the physical environment.
C. Use appropriate data sources and geographic tools to analyze and evaluate public policies.
Economics
A. Analyze how scarcity of productive resources affects supply, demand, inflation and economic choices.
B. Identify factors which inhibit or spur economic growth and cause expansions or recessions.
C. Explain how voluntary worldwide trade, specialization and interdependence among countries affect standards of living and economic growth.
D. Analyze the role of fiscal and regulatory policies in a mixed economy.
E. Explain the use of a budget in making personal economic decisions and planning for the future.
Government
A. Evaluate, take and defend positions about issues concerning the alignment of the characteristics of American democracy with realities in the United States today.
B. Explain how the U.S. Constitution has evolved including its philosophical foundations, amendments and court interpretations.
C. Analyze how citizens participate in the election process in the United States.
Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities
A. Evaluate various means for citizens to take action on a particular issue.
B. Explain how the exercise of a citizen's rights and responsibilities helps to strengthen a democracy.
Social Studies Skills and Methods
A. Obtain and evaluate information from public records and other resources related to a public policy issue.
B. Critique data and information to determine the adequacy of support for conclusions.
C. Develop a research project that identifies the various perspectives on an issue and explain a resolution of that issue.
D. Work in groups to analyze an issue and make decisions.
