Has anyone used Sonlight's Amer. Government, part of core 400?

[Linda in NE]

I'm looking for reviews/insights about the course, the teacher's guide, the text chosen, and the extra readings. Is it truly a two-semester course, or one semester stretched out to fill a full school year?

Would this be usable in a co-op setting? If not, why not? If so, what adaptations would be necessary?

I'm sure I'll have other questions as I think about it some more. Thanks, in advance, for any help you can give.

[Mandy in TN]

I have not used this core, but the opinion on the SL boards is that this core is over 2 semesters worth of work.

http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/history-geography/basic-american-government.htm (http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/history-geography/basic-american-government.htm)
Here is the link to Cathy Duffy’s review of the Government spine.

Along with the government spine core 400 covers government with two other books- Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men and The Case for the Godless Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness.

In addition to covering just American Government core 400 also covers quite a bit of American history with Never Before in History: America’s Inspired Birth and Lies My Teacher Told Me.

Then, the student also reads 7 biographies/ historical fiction that I would count towards the social studies credit and not the literature credit-
Black Like Me
The Dry Divide
Eternity in Their Hearts
The Jungle
Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot
Up from Slavery
Where the Broken Heart Still Beats

It has even been suggested that, if used as written, there is enough work in this core to give a student a full year of government and a full year of American history. I don’t know about that, but there is certainly more than one semester’s worth of work here.

I would think that this would be a very expensive course to do as a co-op, because (unless you had a group of people who were all SL fans) I can't imagine asking families to spend $126.90 for the history/ civics books and $72.78 for the biographies/ historical fiction for an American Government co-op. Also, you would need a group of families willing to do a lot of work outside of class.

Also, you may want to ask these questions over on the Sonlight choosing forum.

HTH-
Mandy

[Linda in NE]

We wouldn't be doing the whole thing, just the Amer. Government text with the two books you listed. I might also add in some other things along the way (i.e., the Federalist Papers, the Anti-Federalist Papers). So, the cost would not be so prohibitive for the students. I'm looking for reviews of the material, whether it's interesting/engaging, reading/comprehension level, etc.

[Mandy in TN]

There are three books that look to me like they are used explicitly for govt:

Basic American Government $36
Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men $24.95
The Case for the Godless Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness $14.95

But Never Before in History: America’s Inspired Birth and Lies My Teacher Told Me are both listed under History/Civics and regarding Never Before in History the catalog states "If one wishes to pursue the goal of discovering Christian and Biblical roots for the American system, this, too, is one of the best-argued presentations available on the market at a non-doctoral level."

You should definitely ask on the SL board, because I'm sure they know the answers. I'm sorry that I am not more help. :(
Mandy