Canada in the Modern World

Mrs. E. Vanderkolk

2003-2004 -- Semester I

Program Rationale:

            Social Studies is a school subject that assists students to acquire basic knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes needed to be responsible citizens and contributing members of society.  The content of social studies draws upon history, geography, economics, other social sciences, and the humanities.  The content serves as the context in which important skills and attitudes are developed.

Topic A: Challenges for Canada:  The 20th Century and Today

In this unit, students will acquire an understanding of forces and events that have influenced the development of Canada and are shaping the lives of Canadians today.  This study will focus on the achievement and maintenance of Canada’s sovereignty, the effects of regionalism and the development of a national identity.

In order to encourage critical and creative thinking, students should acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to:

§        Assess the action required to maintain Canadian sovereignty in an interdependent world

§        Interpret the long-term effects of regionalism on Canada

§        Assess the importance of Canada developing a strong national identity

Topic B:  Citizenship in Canada

            Responsible citizenship requires an understanding of the structure and function of government, as well as a willingness to exercise the rights and duties of citizenship in a changing Canadian society. In this unit, students will be provided with an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and the knowledge necessary for participation in the Canadian political process. Citizenship in a democratic country like Canada is based upon the assumption that people will be actively involved in decisions affecting the community and in protecting and respecting basic human rights.

            In order to encourage critical and creative thinking, students should acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to:

§        Examine the process whereby decisions affecting themselves and society are made (politics and government)

§        Design and evaluate alternative methods of providing for the protection of human rights in society (rights and responsibilities)

§        Examine how questions that involve the needs of the individual and the needs of the state are resolved. (citizen participation)

Current Events

            Throughout the course, current news events that relate to the content studied will be discussed in class.  Questions/issues related to news events discussed in class will be included in assignments and quizzes for both topics.

Textbooks

The following textbooks will be used throughout the course:

Canada Today – Scully, Smith, McDevitt

Discovering Canada – Kirbyson, Bain, Dreyer

Evaluation:

Grades obtained are cumulative to the end of the semester.

Term work:

Assignments/Projects:                                              40%

Homework/ Class work/ Participation:                   15%

Quizzes:                                                                      20%

Theme Tests:                                                             25%

Final Grade:

Term work                                                                  70%

Final Exam                                                                 30%

Topic A:  Challenges for Canada:  The 20^th Century and Today

Theme III – Identity  (September 2 – September 10, 2003)

Theme I – Sovereignty (September 11 – October 24, 2003)

Theme II – Regionalism (October 27 – November 21, 2003)

Topic B:  Citizenship in Canada

Theme I – Politics and Government (November 24 – December 5, 2003)

Theme II – Citizen Participation (December 8 – 15, 2003)

Theme III – Rights and Responsibilities  (December 15, 2003 – January 26, 2004)

Student Responsibilities and Expectations:

1. You will need the following supplies (every day) -- a 3-ring binder, loose leaf paper, and a pen that works.  In addition, it will be beneficial to have a minimum of two highlighter markers (yellow and pink).

2. Doing well in senior high courses is a challenge.  In addition to regular attendance in class, you will be expected to allocate time for homework (30 – 60 minutes daily), and for studying for examinations.

3. A large part of your grade will (directly and indirectly) come from your actions within our classroom.  If you come prepared to TRY, you will do very well.  You will be expected to show regular participation in class discussions and activities.  This means that you will arrive in class on time, prepared to learn. Late arrivals interfere with everyone’s performance in class.  Students that are distracting or disrupting others will be given one opportunity to correct their behaviour; if this doesn’t happen, the student will be asked to leave.

4. Read a newspaper, listen to the news on the radio, or watch TV news daily, in order to contribute to discussions on current events.

5. Students are responsible for all assignments, quizzes or tests completed by the class.  If you miss anything, it is your responsibility to catch up with the class.   Note:  An excusable absence (for marks purposes) is a medical or unavoidable personal emergency.  Please give advance notice of any excusable absence whenever possible.  If you are inexcusably absent for any quiz or test, you will not be given the opportunity to rewrite the test, and will be assigned a grade of zero.

6. Late assignments will be deducted by 25% per day.  The exception will be when Homework is randomly checked “on the spot”.  If your homework is not completed at that time, you will receive an “incomplete” for that assignment.

7. Plagiarism is forbidden.  If any two (or more) students have identical (or practically identical) assignments, you will both/all receive a mark of zero.  Working together does not mean copying each other’s answers.  If you cannot adapt to this, work alone.

8. Essays and assignments should never contain unquoted passages from any printed source (i.e. the textbook, internet sources, etc.).  The questions are always better answered in your own words, and usually require that you apply the information gleaned from notes, the text, etc. Quotations must be properly identified and the reference cited.  An assignment containing excessive copying from any printed source will receive a mark of zero.

9. Over the course of the year, we will be completing several projects using the various pieces of technology available in the room.  Please remember that the technology is a tool, and you are free to use these tools in whatever way you feel will enhance your projects the most.  Projects are another way to share and demonstrate what you have learned.  Creativity is encouraged, and will enhance your presentations.  Rubrics (scoring criteria) given with each project are guidelines for completion, and should be referred to throughout the time spent working on your project. 

10. If you require any help, PLEASE ask for my help!! Remember, the day before an exam is too late.  

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