February 27

Social 33

I gave you most of today's class to work on Activity 5 and 6 on dictatorships. These activities should be completed on a separate piece of paper, I will do a homework check on it on Monday. Please remember that you have your Democracy Unit Final on Monday as well. It is 25 multiple choice questions and a written assignment. Please make sure that you study for it! The study guide is here, although I also sent it to you by e-mail as well.

Social 20-1

We started Unit 2 material today. I went through a presentation on "The Causes of World War I", which I will send to you tonight. I also collected your Chapter 3 Key Terms and Questions. Your Chapter 4 Key Terms and Questions are due on Monday. Here are some upcoming important dates for you:

• Unit 1 Written Response Assignment I (three source analysis) is on Tuesday, March 3rd
• Chapter 3-4 Test is on Thursday, March 5th (note the change of date, please see the study guide here)
• Unit 1 Final Exam is on Monday, March 9th (the study guide will be published here on the blog a week before the unit exam)
  

Social 30

We started our look at economic systems today, specifically capitalism. We looked at competing economic values associated with group welfare (collectivism) and individual welfare (individualism). We also looked at some introductory material associated with economics and did a quick comparison of a centrally planned economy and a market economy. We'll continue our study of capitalism on Monday after your Democracy Quiz (31 multiple choice questions). Make sure that you study for this Democracy Quiz and your Democracy Unit Final (which is on Wednesday). If you missed today's class, you'll need to get the notes from a classmate. Here is a link to the study for these exams.

February 26

Social 30

All of today's class was spent writing your first in-class position paper in the Blenheim Room. You should hopefully get the results of this essay next week. Please remember that your civil rights movement questions are due tomorrow. You have a couple of exams next week that you should be studying for, you have a 31 multiple choice question Democracy Quiz on Monday, and a 66 multiple choice question Democracy Unit Exam on Wednesday. I gave you a study guide yesterday for these tests, please check this post for the study guide.

Social 20-1

I finished off the PowerPoint presentation on "Contending Loyalties", and I have already sent it to your e-mail accounts, so please check your e-mail tonight. Your Chapter 3 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow, and your Chapter 4 Key Terms and Questions will be due on Monday. I took in your French Revolution DBA today as well. Here are some upcoming important dates for you:

• Unit 1 Written Response Assignment I (three source analysis) is on Tuesday, March 3rd
• Chapter 3-4 Test is on Thursday, March 5th (note the change of date, please see the study guide here)
• Unit 1 Final Exam is on Monday, March 9th (the study guide will be published here on the blog a week before the unit exam)

Social 33

We did a quick review of the techniques of dictatorship at the beginning of class, and then we looked at a comparison of fascism and communism, two forms of dictatorship. We then started one of our case studies for our study of dictatorship: Mussolini's fascist Italy. We started watching a biography of Mussolini, which we will finish tomorrow. I did a homework check on Activity 4, and I gave back your Chapter 4 booklets (Canada and the USA) today as well.

February 25

Social 30

I gave you a handout that compared the Canadian, American and Swedish governments at the beginning of class. Also, you have some homework that is due on Tuesday, and that is the advantages and disadvantages worksheet. By completing this worksheet, you will be reviewing many key concepts in the Democracy Unit. You have your Position Paper #1 tomorrow, go directly to the Blenheim Room. Your Civil Rights questions are due on Friday. You have a Democracy Quiz on Monday, March 2nd and the Democracy Unit Exam is on Wednesday, March 4th. Both of these exams are multiple choice format, and are made up of past Diploma Exam questions. I gave you a quick study guide for both of these exams, here's what you should study:

• review Chapters 1-3 key terms and questions
• review Case Studies 2-6 key terms and questions
• review political spectrum, economic-political grid and values associated with the various ideologies
• review the American and Canadian political system
• review the Swedish government
• individualism and collectivism
• review government key terms
• different electoral systems (for example, "first past the post" and proportional representation)

You will have to apply your knowledge of the material in the Democracy Unit in order to be successful on these exams.

Social 33

We reviewed the techniques of dictatorship at the beginning of class. I had you copy some notes from the board. We watched a video called "The Wave", as you watched this film you were to write down examples of the techniques of dictatorship. I gave you some time to finish Activity 4, which is due tomorrow.

Social 20-1

I started a presentation today called "Contending Loyalties" which I will finish tomorrow in class. Your Chapter 3 Key Terms and Questions are due on Friday. Your French Revolution DBA is due tomorrow. You have your Chapter 3-4 Test on Thursday, March 5th. The study guide is below.

Chapters 3-4 Test Study Guide

This test will be on Thursday, March 5th. It will consist of a matching section (10 key concepts) and a short answer section.

• study the PowerPoint presentation "Contending Loyalties"
• make sure that you have read Chapters 3 and 4 (it is all testable material)
• know the key concepts from Chapters 3 and 4 (please see the Unit 1 Worksheet for these)
• study your answers to the Chapter 3 and 4 questions from the Unit 1 Worksheet (all could potentially be on the quiz)
  

February 24

Social 20-1

Most of today's class was spent writing the Chapter 1-2 Test. You should get the results of this test back next week. Please remember that your Waterloo Film Study questions are due tomorrow (homework check marks), and your French Revolution DBA is due on Thursday. I have sent the DBA to you by e-mail, so check your e-mail accounts. If you didn't receive this e-mail, please let me know and I will send it to you again.

Social 33

We started our unit on dictatorships today in a unique way. If you missed today's class, you missed an interesting learning experience. I gave you a few handouts on dictatorship and you were to complete Activity 3 in class, otherwise, you have some homework tonight. You should have some class time tomorrow to work on Activity 4, so you don't need to move ahead.

Social 30

Most of today's class was spent in one of the library computer labs examining the civil rights movement in the United States. This is potentially useful for your in-class essay on Thursday. Please remember that your detailed USA/Canada comparison chart notes are due tomorrow. You should be preparing for your in-class position paper tonight. I will be in tutorial tomorrow and Thursday, if you have any questions related to your essay.

February 23

Social 33

We looked at four different electoral systems today, and I wrote some notes on the board about first past the post, single-member constituency and second ballot, preferential voting, and proportional representation. I gave you a handout that covered the advantages and disadvantages of proportional representation, and on the back side of that handout there were some fictional election results from a first past the post system. These election results should have helped illustrate some problems with first past the post. We then looked at the 2008 Canadian Federal Election and recast the election to reflect number of seats we'd see if the popular vote translated into percentage of seats in the House of Commons. Also, I am posting the study guide for your Democracy Unit Final, which is next Monday. Please see the study guide below.

Democracy Unit Final Study Guide:

1. Key Concepts/Key People/Key Terms:

• Thomas Hobbes
• John Locke
• political spectrum
• radicals
• moderates
• liberals
• conservatives
• reactionaries
• absolute monarchy
• dictatorship
• democracy
• fascism
• communism
• anarchy
• rule by many
• rule by few/elites
• direct democracy
• representative democracy
• first past the post
• proportional representation
• universal suffrage
• majority rule
• minority rights
• Canadian Constitution
• Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• political parties
• media
• interest groups

2. Advantages/Disadvantages of Direct Democracy (from ppt)
3. Advantages/Disadvantages of Representative Democracy (from ppt)
4. Techniques/Characteristics of a Democracy (from ppt)
5. Canadian Political System:(handouts)

• executive, legislative, judicial branches of government (roles)
• Prime Minister and Cabinet (which branch? what roles/responsibilities do they have?)
• Leader of the Official Opposition (roles/responsibilities)
• the Queen and the Governor General (roles/responsibilities)
• MPs in the House of Commons (roles/responsibilities)
• the House of Commons and the Senate (which is elected? which is appointed? what is the purpose of the Senate? which branch do they belong to?)

6. American Political System:(handouts)

• executive, legislative, judicial branches of government (roles)
• checks and balances in the U.S. system of government
• separation of powers
• President and Cabinet (which branch? what roles/responsibilities do they have?)
• the House of Representatives/Congressmen (roles/responsibilities)
• the Senate/Senators (roles/responsibilities)
• different terms in office, voting methods for President (4 yrs), House of Representatives (2 yrs), and the Senate (6 yrs) --WHY?

7. Political Spectrum (know it VERY well), print off Ideology notes from the blog (check under Social 33 links)

Social 20-1

We finished watching the battle sequence from the movie "Waterloo". Your "Waterloo" film studies will be due on Wednesday. Please remember that you have your Chapter 1-2 Test tomorrow, please make sure that you are ready for it. Please use the study guide to help you figure out what you need to be reviewing.

Social 30

I went through four different electoral systems at the start of today's class(if you missed today's class, you will need to get these notes from a classmate): first past the post, single-member constituency and second ballot, preferential voting, and proportional representation. I then gave you some readings/handouts on government in Sweden. You are responsible for reading, understanding, knowing this material. I don't spend a lot of time on government in Sweden, so you need to make sure that you understand the material that you have been given on this topic. I also gave you the essay topic for Position Paper #1, which will be written on Thursday, February 26th in the Blenheim Room. I am also sending this essay topic and an outline sheet to you by e-mail. I will try to post study guides for next week's quiz and unit exam on democracy in tomorrow's post.

February 19

Social 30

We looked at the structure of the American government today. I had you add notes to a diagram of the U.S. government. If you missed today's class, you'll need to get the notes from a classmate. I also gave you a comparison chart of the American and Canadian government that you are to complete using the following pages from Ideologies: pages 54-68. This USA/Canada Comparison Chart is homework and it is due tomorrow. I also gave you a booklet with questions that deal with the comparison between the American and Canadian political systems, this booklet is due on Monday, February 23rd. You will also have your first in-class position paper next Thursday, there will be more details about this next week. Please remember to go to Room 241 tomorrow!

Social 20-1

I finished off "The Napoleonic Age" PowerPoint presentation today, and I have sent it to you already, so please check your e-mail. We had enough time to watch an episode of "The Turning Points of History: Napoleon's Invasion of Russia". Tonight would be a good night to do some review for your Chapter 1-2 Test, which is on Tuesday, February 24th. Here is a link to the study guide.

Social 33

I did a homework check on the Chapter 4 booklet at the beginning of class. I gave you a reading booklet called "Canadian and American Government" with a comparison chart at the back of it. I gave some class time to read over this booklet and complete the chart. Then we went over the answers to the chart to make sure that everyone was on the same page. Tomorrow, you will have a short quiz on democracy. Please see the study guide for this quiz below.

Democracy Quiz Study Guide:

This short quiz has a true and false section, a matching section, a short answer section and a definition section. Here's what you need to review for this quiz:

• the political spectrum (know the differences between a radical, a reactionary, a conservative, moderates, where socialism, liberalism, conservatism, communism and fascism are on the spectrum, know where Canadian political parties might fall on the political spectrum, know the values associated with groups on the political spectrum)
• know about the 3 branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial
• be able to define democracy, direct democracy and representative democracy
• be able to list off advantages and disadvantages of direct democracy and representative democracy
• know what a constitution is and what its role might be in a democracy
• be familiar with these key terms: democracy, direct democracy, representative democracy, periodic elections, independent courts, free press, representation by population, a referendum and minority rights
  
  

February 18

Social 30

We finished looking at some sample student essays from a previous Diploma Exam. You can find other samples of student writing at the Alberta Education website. We watched a short video on government in Canada, and then brainstormed a list of advantages and disadvantages of the Canadian political system. We'll start looking at the American political system tomorrow.

Social 33

I gave you back the results of the multiple choice section of the Introduction to Political Systems Test. I went through the structure of the American political system as well today. You are responsible for completing the Chapter 4 booklet for homework tomorrow. This is worth double homework check marks, for the Canadian section and the American section.

Social 20-1

You wrote your World Geography Test today at the beginning of class. We then continued our examination of the life of Napoleon Bonaparte and the impact that he had on European affairs and the rise of nationalism in Europe. Also, I forgot to mention that you have your Chapter 1-2 Test next Tuesday (the 24th), please see the study guide below.

Chapter 1-2 Test Study Guide:

This test will be on Tuesday, February 24th. The test has a matching section and a short answer section.

• Make sure that you have read both Chapter 1-2 from your textbook Exploring Nationalism
• Study Chapter 1-2 Key Terms from the Unit 1 Worksheet
• Study your answers to the questions from the Unit 1 Worksheet for Chapter 1-2

Study the following PowerPoint presentations:

• "Nation and Identity" (Chapter 1 material + supplementary material)
• "Shaping Nationalism: The French Revolution" (Chapter 2 material + supplementary material)
• "The Napoleonic Age" (Chapter 2 material + supplementary material)

February 17

Social 20-1

We finished watching the History Channel documentary called "The French Revolution" today in class. We then started looking at the impact that Napoleon Bonaparte had on France by watching a A & E Biography of Napoleon. As you were watching this video you were to take notes on a timeline of significant events in Napoleon's life. Tomorrow, you have your World Geography Test, please see the study guide here. Also, when we finish this test we'll continue looking at the life of Napoleon. I also collected your Chapter 2 Key Terms and Questions at the end of class.

Social 33

Most of today's class was spent writing your Introduction to Political Systems Test. After the test, I gave you a few handouts on the Canadian political system: the structure of Canadian government, a seating plan for the House of Commons, how a bill becomes law in Canada, and finally, your homework assignment. You are to go to this website to complete the Canadian Government Internet Assignment sheet that I gave you in class. Also, the Canadian section of your Chapter 4 Question booklet is due tomorrow.

Social 30

I went over in greater detail how to write an effective position paper. I gave you numerous handouts on this, and also had you practice differentiating between arguments and examples. I gave you a handout with three sample essays and how they would be marked in Edmonton in June. We'll look at the other two essays tomorrow in class. Please remember that your Case Study #1 Parliamentary Democracy in Canada (this worksheet has a diamond pattern around the border) is due tomorrow. I took in your Case Studies 2-6 from Ideologies at the beginning of class.

February 11

Social 30

A large part of today's class was spent writing the short answer quiz on Basic Political Ideology. After you finished the quiz, we started talking about writing position paper essays. We'll talk more about position papers after the long weekend. I also collected your Stoerpenberg Camp charts today. Please remember that your Case Studies 2-6 are due on Tuesday, February 17th, and Case Study #1 (Democracy-Canada) is due on Wednesday, February 18th.

Social 33

I gave you time to work on the Canadian section of the Chapter 4 question booklet. This will be due on Tuesday, February 17th. Also, on Tuesday, February 17th, you will have your Introduction to Political Systems Test, please see the study guide below.

Introduction to Political Systems Test Study Guide:

1. Key Concepts/Key People:

• ideology
• government
• politics
• to govern
• economics
• individualism
• collectivism
• fascism
• conservatism
• liberalism
• radical
• conservative
• reactionary
• liberal
• absolute monarchy
• democratic socialism
• communism
• representative government
• Thomas Hobbes (ideas/beliefs)
• John Locke (ideas/beliefs)
• norms
• mores
• rule by few/elites (dictatorships)
• rule by many (democracies)

2. Political Spectrum:

• similarities/differences between groups
• values supported by each group (radical, liberal, conservative, reactionary)
• placement on spectrum of various groups

3. Forms of Government:

• advantages/disadvantages of each type of government that we have examined (absolute monarchy, democratic socialism, communism, representative government, fascism)

Test Format:
30 multiple choice questions
1 writing assignment (letter to the editor on a particular issue, information is given to help you write your letter)
Test Date: Tuesday, February 17th

Social 20-1

We started watching the video "The French Revolution". We'll continue watching this video after the long weekend. Please study for the World Geography Test, which is on Wednesday, February 18th. Here is a link to the World Geography Test Study Guide.

February 10

Social 20-1

I finished off the presentation on "The French Revolution" today. I have sent this PowerPoint presentation to you already. I would like you to print it off, 4 slides per page and put it in your binders. I will be doing homework checks on this eventually. I also went through some origins of the political spectrum with you today as well, this will be very useful for you next year in either Social 30-1 or 30-2. We'll continue looking at the French Revolution tomorrow. Here is a link to the World Geography Test Study Guide. This first graphic represents the seating order in the National Assembly in 1789. Later we will see the development of the political groupings that we discussed in class, in particular the Jacobins, the Girodins and the conservatives.

Social 33

I did a homework check on the Chapter 3 Questions today (Q 2-7) at the beginning of class. I also delivered a PowerPoint presentation to you called "Introduction to Democracy", which I have sent to you, so please check your e-mail. Please print off this PowerPoint (4 slides per page) and add it to your notes. I gave you a diagram on democracy and a handout that covered parliamentary democracy and presidential democracy. You were to answer the following questions based on the reading. If you didn't finish this in class, you have homework tonight. Please answer the following questions:
1. What is the main difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?
2. What are the disadvantages of direct democracy?
3. What is responsible government?
4. What are 4 main features of a parliamentary democracy?
5. In a parliamentary democracy, who is typically the head of state?
6. What are some criticisms of a parliamentary democracy?
7. What are 4 main features of a presidential democracy?
8. What are some criticisms of a presidential democracy?

Social 30

I gave you a reading and a note-taking chart on the Stoerpenberg Camp. You were to read this document and take notes on it in the chart provided. If you finished this in class, you were to work on your Case Study #1 Canada questions. Please remember that you have a short answer quiz tomorrow. Here is the link to the study guide for the Basic Political Ideology Quiz.

February 9

Social 33

I collected your paragraph responses related to the video "Forms of Government: What's the Score?" at the beginning of class. You also wrote a short quiz on individualism and collectivism today (and you got the results back too). I have assigned for homework the following from A Changing World, Chapter 3 questions on page 28, Q 2-7.

Social 20-1

I started a presentation today on "The French Revolution" which I will continue tomorrow. During this presentation you were to take notes on the structure of French society on the eve of the French Revolution. If you can understand the social hierarchy and social inequalities that existed in France prior to the Revolution you'll be able to understand underlying causes of the Revolution and development of French nationalism more easily. Here is the link to the study guide for the World Geography Test.

Social 30

I gave you a handout today called "The Language of Government" which you need to know inside and out! Also, I gave you an outline sheet and Case Study #1 Parliamentary Democracy: Canada booklet. You'll have class time tomorrow to work on this case study booklet. This case study booklet will be due next week. I am posting the study guide for a short answer quiz that you are getting on Wednesday.

Social 30 Basic Political Ideology Quiz Study Guide:

This quiz is on Wednesday, February 11th. It consists of two sections, a short answer section and a matching section. Please use the following study guide to focus your studying.

• know what direct democracy and representative democracy are, and be able to give contemporary or historical examples of each
• be able to define ideologies (two aspects)
• know the political spectrum and economic spectrum extremely well, be able to label each spectrum
• know the political-economic grid organization and be able to label it
• know the ideological values associated with the political spectrum
• be able to explain the difference between individualism and collectivism
• be able to classify countries by the political-economic grid quadrants
• be able to list ways in which citizens can participate in a democracy
• be able to list techniques found in every representative democracy
• be able to place various ideologies of the 20th century on a political spectrum

Know the following key terms:

• direct democracy
• representative democracy
• ideology
• democracy
• individualism
• collectivism
• federal government
• monarchy
• oligarchy
• republic
• theocracy
• totalitarianism
• bureaucracy
• anarchy
• communism
• fascism
• constitutional
• autocracy
• dictatorship
• nationalism
• unitary government
• plutocracy
• dynasty
  
  

February 6

Social 33

We finished off the video "Forms of Government: What's the Score?" today. You have a short one paragraph writing assignment based on this video that is due on Monday (most of you finished this in class). This is the question that you must answer in paragraph form: Which do you think is the best form of government? Why? Explain. I will do a homework check on this on Monday, so it should be some easy homework check marks. We also did some more classification on some historical examples of government and placed them on a spectrum similar to the one below:

We went over the answers to this worksheet in class.

Social 20-1

You wrote your Enlightenment Thinkers Quiz at the beginning of class today. I will give you the results of this quiz on Monday. I also took in your Chapter 1 Key Terms and Questions and did a quick homework check on it for completion, and then gave them back to you. We'll be starting the French Revolution next week, so please make sure that at the very least you have read a little in Chapter 2 in Exploring Nationalism, particularly the sections on the French Revolution.

Social 30

I talked a little bit about value conflicts in political systems today, such as individualism vs. collectivism, individual freedom vs. state control, equality vs. elitism, status quo vs. change, and minority rights vs. majority rights, and how these value judgments are used to build essay questions for Diploma Exams. I then gave you the Case Studies Worksheet for Cases Studies 2-6. Please remember that your Chapter 1-3 Questions are due on Monday, February 9th, and Case Studies 2-6 are due on Tuesday, February 17th.

February 5

Social 30

I collected your answer sheets on "How a Liberal and Conservative Might View the Same Event" at the beginning of class. We then did some class brainstorming on characteristics/techniques of democracies. I also gave you a handout on citizen participation in a democracy and techniques of a democracy. I also gave you the Chapter 3 Questions. Please remember that your Chapter 1-3 Questions are due on Monday.

Social 20-1

I went through a presentation today called "The Enlightenment", which I have already sent to you. You will be tested on the Enlightenment thinkers tomorrow, your first quiz in Social 20-1. Please remember that your Chapter 1 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow. It's not a bad idea to have a look at yesterday's post for the World Geography Test study guide.

Social 33

I introduced the political and economic spectrum to you today. The booklet that I gave you on the political spectrum and economic spectrum is valuable, but here are another two resources that may help you understand these concepts further:

• Ideology Notes (there's a permanent link to this PDF document on the blog under Social 33 Links)
• Political/Economic Spectrum (again another permanent link on the blog)

I gave you a worksheet on the political spectrum before starting a video called "Forms of Government: What's the Score?" We'll continue with this video tomorrow, since you were still completing the chart.

February 4

Social 30

I quickly went through the collectivism and individualism charts that were in "The Many Shades of Opinion" booklet. I also gave you another booklet with diagrams of the Political Spectrum (similar to the diagrams that I had in the presentation "Introducing Government"). I gave you a reading called "How a Liberal and Conservative Might View the Same Event", with a question sheet. I gave you time to work on this activity in class before giving you the Chapter 1 and 2 Questions. I will give you the Chapter 3 Questions tomorrow. The Chapters 1-3 Questions will be due on Monday February 9th. If I were you, I would complete at least the Chapter 1 Questions tonight.

Social 33

I went through a very short presentation called "Ideology, Individualism and Collectivism". Once we have the e-mail list working I will send it to you. We then did various activities surrounding individualism and collectivism. Your first short quiz in Social 33 will be on individualism and collectivism, so make sure that you understand these two very important concepts. Tomorrow, we will talk about the political spectrum.

Social 20-1

I finished the presentation "Nation and Identity" today. I have sent this presentation to you already, so please check your e-mail. I handed out the Unit 1 Worksheet and assigned Chapter 1 Key Terms and Questions for homework, due on Friday. You have a World Geography Test on February 14th. I will post the study guide for this test below.

Social 20-1 World Geography Test Study Guide:

This test will take place on Wednesday, February 18th. It is simply a country identification test. You will be given a world map with certain countries identified and you need to be able to write out what country it is. Here are the countries that may appear on the test:

• any of the EU countries (there are 27 countries in the EU, a map of the EU is in your textbook on page 265)


• any of the NATO countries (there's some overlap here with the EU, but not all EU countries are members of NATO!)


• any of the G8 countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom


• full members of MERCOSUR: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and other associate members or countries that are achieving membership in MERCOSUR, such as: Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador


• to ask you to know ALL of the countries in the African Union would be cruel, so we'll focus on countries that came up last year or will likely be in the news this year: Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Zimbabwe


• other very important countries that will be in the news this year, or that we'll be talking about, or get mentioned in your textbook: Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica, Serbia, Georgia, China, India, Myanmar, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel


• **BIG HINT: if a country is a member of a few of these international organizations then there's a STRONG possibility that they will be on the test!!**

Please use the following links for studying for this test:

• World Geography Games


• Test Your Geography Knowledge


• Maps.com Online Games (the "Find It" games are excellent!)
  

February 3

Social 20-1

I gave you two handouts at the beginning of class one of which was an organizational webs for Social 20-1, and the other was an organizational web for Unit 1. I then started a presentation called "Nation and Identity", which I will finish tomorrow. I gave you some class time to read pages 20-29 in your textbook. If you wanted to read the rest of Chapter 1 in Exploring Nationalism, you could tonight as it will prepare you for the material that I will cover in the second half of the presentation tomorrow.

Social 20-1 Students: Check your e-mail!

Social 33

Most of today's class period was spent in small discussion groups discussing the impact of politics and government and economics on your everyday lives. Tomorrow we'll be looking at some key differences in the values of individualism and collectivism. I also started sending around the e-mail distribution list, don't worry if you didn't get your e-mail address down on this sheet of paper, I'll send it around tomorrow again.

Social 30

I finished off my lecture called "Introducing Government" and looking at the ideas of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. I will send this presentation out to you as soon as we have the e-mail distribution list up and running. I gave you a booklet entitled "Ideology Notes" which I had you read and highlight (you can download the "Ideology Notes" booklet here). This booklet is an excellent source of information on the political and economic spectrum and should be a booklet that you would use to study and review for exams. I also gave you a booklet called "The Many Shades of Opinion" to read today as well and complete the charts in this booklet. We also did an opinion survey, which we'll have more time to discuss in tomorrow's class. Here is your homework assignment tonight:

1. Complete the individualism and collectivism charts in "The Many Shades of Opinion" booklet.

2. Complete the opinion survey sheet that I gave you in class (we'll discuss this tomorrow).

3. Go to the following website: Political Compass, and complete the survey. Answer the questions as honestly as possible, and bring your results to class tomorrow, and be prepared to discuss your results.

Social 30 Students: Check your e-mail!

February 2

Welcome to the second semester...

Social 33

I went through some classroom rules and expectations, the course outline, and a little bit of information about the Diploma Exam as well. We watched a short episode from "WKRP in Cincinnati" as well, the point of which was for you to see that if you don't understand something try to relate it to your own personal experience to help you make sense of concepts, or ask me to explain the concept differently. If you don't understand let me know it's my responsibility to make this course material as easy to understand as possible so that you can be successful and get the credits you need to graduate from high school.

Social 20-1

I went through some classroom rules and expectations, the course outline for 20-1, as well as the question breakdown for Part B of the Final Exam in June, the type and frequency of tests throughout the semester, and the types of writing assignments that you will receive over the course of the semester. I also had you write a letter of introduction during class time. We'll be getting into the course material tomorrow, please make sure that you get the course textbook Exploring Nationalism.

Social 30

I went through some classroom rules and expectations, the course outline, and started looking at the need for government and the views of Thomas Hobbes on government. We'll look at John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and the political spectrum tomorrow. Tonight, please write a letter of introduction. Let me know some interesting things about you, your family, your interests, your extracurricular activities, and your goals for this semester.

Classroom Rules/Expectations of Behavior

I think that I have very simple, straight-forward classroom rules and expectations. Here's a quick recap:

• Please be on-task during classroom time (visit later)
• No cell phones (as per school policy); if your parents really need to get in touch with you, they should call the office. Please don't bring cell phones to class, or if you do, please remember to turn them off!
• Please don't listen to music on MP3 players or iPods during class time, unless I have given you permission to do so.
• Be polite. You should be listening during class lectures or when your classmates have questions to ask (you might have some of the same questions).
• Be on time. If you are late, please enter the classroom quietly and apologize for being late. If the door is locked, I have started the lecture or there is a class presentation in progress; I will open the door and let you in as soon as possible.
• Clean up after yourselves. Please don't leave garbage on the floor. I like my classroom fairly neat and tidy.
• Don't bring junk food to class. Healthy snacks only. Or you could always wait until lunchtime.
• You may chew gum in class on the following conditions: don't chew like a cow, I don't want to see the gum or hear you chewing it, that's just gross.
• Late assignments: 10% is deducted for every day an assignment is late. If you have an excused absence, then there is some flexibility with this rule.
• Please make sure that a parent or guardian calls the school to have absences excused. If you miss a test due to an unexcused absence you will be assigned a mark of "zero".
• I will be contacting parent/guardians if you have unexcused absences.
• Please adhere to the school's academic honesty policy which is on the back of your course outlines.
• If you are going away on holidays (please do not schedule holidays during examination periods in January and June), please let me know in advance. I can prepare materials for you, let you know what you'll be missing, and even give you handouts in advance. This way you won't feel "lost" when you come back from holidays.