THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Mrs. E. Vanderkolk

2004-2005

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.

In Social Studies 33, students will focus on the following topics/ Knowledge outcomes:

Topic A: Political and Economic Systems

            Important differences exist in the way societies make decisions and how they satisfy their needs and wants. These differences reflect the value placed on individual and collective goals within political and economic systems. Consequently, the degree of freedom and control varies among different political and economic systems. The objective of this study is to enable students to acquire an understanding of major political and economic ideas and systems so that they can participate as effective and responsible citizens.

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

Topic B: Global Interactions

Global interaction has been largely motivated by nations and groups seeking to promote and protect their own interests. In addition, international organizations and individuals have worked toward humanitarian goals. Concern about the consequences of conflict, a desire for peace, and an awareness of the interdependence of nations have led to increasing efforts and initiatives toward international cooperation. In order for students to participate effectively as responsible citizens of Canada and the world, they should understand how other nations and groups have sought to protect and promote their own national interests. Students should also appreciate how individuals and groups contribute to, and are affected by global interactions, and how these interactions have consequences for their lives and the global community.

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

As well, as they work through the two topics, students will be expected to incorporate and demonstrate the following Process, Communication, Inquiry and Participation skills.

Process Skills

Process skills help one acquire, evaluate and use information and ideas. These skills include gathering, organizing, interpreting, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating.

Students will be expected to develop the ability to:

Communication Skills

Communication skills help one express and present information and ideas. These skills include oral, visual and written expression.

Students will be expected to develop the ability to:

Inquiry Strategies

Inquiry strategies are combinations of skills that help one answer questions, solve problems and make decisions using process, communication and participation skills.

Students will be expected to develop the ability to:

Participation Skills

Participation skills enable one to interact with others. These skills include working effectively, individually and cooperatively, in group situations.

Students will be expected to develop the ability to:

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:

A Changing World

A History of the Twentieth Century

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 / Essays / Projects:                                 25%

Homework / Class work / Participation:                       15%

Daily Quizzes:                                                                 10%

Theme Tests:                                                                   50%

Final Grade:

Term work                                                                         50%

Provincial Diploma Exam                                                50%

Diploma Examination:

Social Studies 30/33 Diploma Examination Part A (written response): 

Wednesday, June 9, 2004

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.*

Social Studies 30/33 Diploma Examination Part B (multiple choice):

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2003

                        9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.*

*Note:  students may have an additional ½ hour to complete their exam if necessary.

Social Studies 30 – THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD -- Sequence of Events (dates are approximate)

Topic A: Political and Economic Systems  (September 1 - December 17, 2004)

Theme I: Political Systems

Theme II:  Economic Systems

Topic B: Global Interactions: The Twentieth Century and Today (January 3 - June 10, 2005)

Theme I: Interactions Among Nations (1919-1945)

Theme II: The Rise of the Superpowers and the Emergence of the United Nations (1946-1975)

Theme III:  Interactions in the Contemporary World (1975 – Present)

back

Project Room Home 

©Prairie Land Regional Division #25. Permission granted to duplicate information found on this website for educational purposes only.   This site updated March 2006.