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.

            Responsible citizenship is the ultimate goal of social studies.  Basic to this goal is the development of critical thinking.  The “responsible citizen” is one who is knowledgeable, purposeful and makes responsible choices.  Responsible citizenship includes:

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

Canada has evolved into a sovereign nation with a unique identity.  In order to understand the development of their country as a nation and its role in the world community, students will examine some of the forces that have shaped Canada and the factors that give Canadians their unique identity. The object of this study is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate more effectively as citizens of Canada and the world.

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

§         Assess the strengths and weaknesses of Canada as a nation

§         Assess the effect of regionalism on Canada

§         Understand why Canada has developed as a diverse community

§         Develop and analyze possible solutions to current challenges to Canada as a nation.

Topic B:  Citizenship in Canada

            Responsible citizenship in a democratic society such as Canada’s requires the understanding and the exercising of rights and responsibilities by individuals and groups.  In this unit, students will gain an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and the knowledge and skills necessary for participation in the Canadian political process and in Canadian society.

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

§         Assess the strengths and weaknesses of Canada’s democratic system

§         Evaluate the adequacy of human rights protection in Canada

§         Assess a variety of points of view on controversial citizenship issues before forming an opinion

§         Develop and examine possible solutions to current citizenship issues.

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

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

Evaluation:

Grades obtained are cumulative to the end of the semester.

Term work:

Assignments/Projects:                                             40%

Homework/ Class work/ Participation:                  15%

Quizzes:                                                                     25%

Theme Tests:                                                            20%

Final Grade:

Term work                                                                  75%

Final Exam                                                                 25%

Social Studies 10 – Canada in the Modern World

Sequence of Events (dates are approximate)

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

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

Sub-topic – Canada and the World

Sovereignty, Security and Cooperation (September 11 – October 24, 2003)

Theme I: Diversity (October 27 – November 21, 2003)

Theme II: Unity

Topic B:  Citizenship in Canada

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

Theme III – Citizen Participation (December 8 – 17, 2003)

Theme I – Rights and Responsibilities  (December 18, 2003 – January 28, 2004)

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