Hi everyone. I will be posting information about homework, assignments, projects, and upcoming quizzes and tests on this blog. Please check the site on a regular basis to keep up to date. To my current students, if you have any questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail or post a comment. If there are any teachers that have any requests or questions, or if you want an invitation to the Alberta Social Studies Ning, please find my contact information under "View My Complete Profile".
We started looking at the role of conflict diamonds in fuelling unrest in Africa today by starting a film study on "Blood Diamond" today. We'll finish this film on Thursday (remember there's no school tomorrow or Wednesday). Please see the study guide for the Chapter 15-16 Test below.
Chapter 15-16 Test Study Guide:
This quiz will follow the typical format: a matching section, a multiple choice section and a short answer section. Please use the following study guide.
Study from your textbook and the following PowerPoint presentations:
"Quality of Life, Human Rights, and Democratization" (ppt)
"Impacts of Globalization on Groups in Society" (ppt)
study the reading "Human Rights Abuses in a Globalized World: Burma Case Study" (from Globalization 101 website, I gave you a copy of this article in class)
Key Terms:
Chapter 15 Key Terms (from Unit 4 Worksheet)
Chapter 16 Key Terms (from Unit 4 Worksheet)
additional key terms from the presentations that correspond to Chapters 15 and 16
Key Questions:
What are human rights?
What is democratization?
What is quality of life?
What is standard of living?
How are ideas about human rights and democracy related?
How are globalization, human rights, and democracy related?
How have ideas about human rights changed over time?
What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
What is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
In what ways does globalization affect the lives of children and youth?
In what ways does globalization affect the lives of women?
human rights abuses in Burma
Social 30-1
We did some Diploma Exam essay preparation today by looking at how to approach writing an essay with an economics-themed source. I will send the essay outline that we put together in class today.
I went through a PowerPoint presentation today called "Impacts of Globalization on Groups in Society". I will send this presentation out to you tonight. I gave you some time to work on your Chapter 16 Key Terms and Questions for the remainder of class.
Social 30-1
We finished watching "Shouting Fire" today in class, and then we looked at the issue of privacy in a world with CCTV cameras. I gave you a short reading on CCTV camera usage in the UK and we watched an excerpt from a documentary on CCTV camera use in Europe. I also gave you the Chapter 13 and 14 Booklet today, which is due next Friday.
You wrote your Unit 3 Final Exam in class today, which took the entire period. Your Chapter 12 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow.
Social 10-1
I gave you some notes today on human rights, civil rights, inalienable rights, entrenching rights, the War Measures Act (used in Canada during WWI, WWII, the FLQ Crisis), the Canadian Bill of Rights (1961, not entrenched in the Canadian constitution), and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I also gave you a sheet on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( a worldwide goal for human rights, serves as a model for other documents, such as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but it's not legally binding. Many UN member states ignore this Declaration). You were to complete the chart activity on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the application of the notwithstanding clause during class time. If you did not complete this chart, here is a hyperlink to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Also, it is really important that you read the article "Human Rights Abuses in a Globalized World" that I gave you yesterday. Your Chapter 15 Key Terms and Questions were due today.
We started watching an HBO documentary on the issue of freedom of speech in the United States called "Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech", which we will continue on Friday. You can find this video in its entirety on YouTube broken into 5 parts, the first video in the series is here. Please remember that your Unit 3 Final Exam is tomorrow, please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it).
Social 10-1
I went through a PowerPoint presentation today called "Quality of Life, Human Rights and Democratization", which I have already sent to your e-mail accounts. Your Chapter 15 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow. Please make sure that you read the article that I gave you on human rights abuses in a globalized world as well. Your TNC Dossier Assignment was due today and it looks like most people handed it in.
You wrote your Unit 3 Final Exam today, which took almost the entire period. Your TNC Dossier Assignment is due tomorrow. At the end of the Unit 3 Exam you were to have picked up a copy of the Unit 4 Worksheet. Your Chapter 15 Key Terms and Questions are due on Thursday.
Social 30-1
You wrote your Unit 3 WRA II Essay today in the Blenheim Room. This took the entire period. You have your Unit 3 Final Exam on Thursday, please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it). I recommend that you copy and paste this study guide into Word and then print it off so you have a hard copy. Your Chapter 12 Key Terms and Questions are due on Friday.
We watched a video in class today called "Unconstitutional" which examined the erosion of civil rights in the United States post-9/11 with the passage of the Patriot Act. If you missed class today, you might want to watch the video embedded below.
I also gave you a booklet that covered the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Patriot Act. Make sure that you read this booklet!
Upcoming Important Dates:
Unit 3 WRA II Essay is on Tuesday, May 24th
Unit 3 Final Exam is on Thursday, May 26th (see the study guide below)
Unit 3 Final Exam Study Guide:
This exam will be entirely multiple choice format. It will be on Wednesday, June 2nd. Please study the following material:
make sure that you have read Chapters 9-12 in Perspectives on Ideology
study all key concepts from the Chapters 9-12 Worksheets (see below)
study all questions/answers from the Chapters 9-12 Worksheets
"Political Challenges to Liberalism" (PowerPoint presentation)
Review the following handouts/notes/packages:
Democratic Systems
Non-Democratic Systems
types of dictatorships
techniques of dictatorships
Civil Rights Movement
authoritarian systems (China notes/booklet)
review the economic and political spectrum (again!)
re-read the notes on rights that I put on the board (civil rights, human rights, Charter of Rights and Freedoms to War Measures Act, etc.)
FLQ Crisis 1970 film study and document analysis booklet
Know the following key concepts/key events/key terms/key people:
assimilation
self-interest
humanitarianism
Indian Act
residential school system
enfranchisement
the White Paper
the Red Paper
“war on terror"
authoritarianism
consensus decision-making
direct democracy
military dictatorship
oligarchy
one-party state
party solidarity
representation by population
proportional representation
representative democracy
responsible government
democracy
single-member constituency (first past the post)
the Senate
the House of Commons
the House of Representatives
the Senate
mixed-member proportional system
lobby groups
American Bill of Rights
Anti-Terrorism Act
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
emergency and security legislation
illiberal
language legislation
Bill 101
Bill 178
Bill 86
Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
respect for law and order
terrorism
rendition
the War Measures Act
enemy aliens
internment
the Emergencies Act
USA PATRIOT Act
consumerism
environmental change
extremism
pandemics
postmodernism
global warming
Kyoto Protocol
World Health Organization (WHO)
drought
Social 10-1
Most of today's class was spent writing your Unit 3 WRA I in-class writing assignment. Please remember that you have your Unit 3 Final Exam on Tuesday, please see the study guide here. Your TNC Dossier Assignment is due on Wednesday, May 25th.
You wrote your Chapter 10 Test today, which took most of the period. You will get the results of this test back tomorrow. We'll continue looking at the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Patriot Act tomorrow.
Social 10-1
We played a Unit 3 Review Game today. Please remember that your Unit 3 Final Exam is on Tuesday, May 24th, please see the study guide here. Your TNC Dossier Assignment is due on Wednesday, May 25th. Don't procrastinate!! You are writing your Unit 3 WRA I (3 source analysis) tomorrow. Review how to write a WRA I tonight!
You wrote your Unit 3 WRA II Essay today in the Blenheim Room. I will try my best to have these essays marked within a week. I will be highly motivated to do this because my two Social 30-1 classes are writing their Unit 3 WRA II next Tuesday. Please remember that you are writing your Unit 3 WRA I on Thursday, so it would be a good idea to review how to write a WRA I again. Your Unit 3 Final Exam is on Tuesday, May 24th, please see the study guide below.
Unit 3 Final Exam Study Guide:
Please make sure that you have read Chapters 10-14. Please make sure that you have the following PowerPoint presentations, and that you study from them:
"Foundations of Economic Globalization"
"The Expansion of Economic Globalization"
"Challenges and Opportunities of Economic Globalization"
"The Impact of Economic Globalization on Environments"
"Globalization and Sustainability"
Make sure that you have reviewed the Key Terms from Unit 3 (all the terms listed on the Unit 3 Worksheet, plus the extra key terms that appeared in the PowerPoint presentations). The Unit 3 Final Exam will consist of 55 multiple choice questions.
Social 30-1
You spent most of today's class writing your Unit 3 WRA I. Please remember that you are writing your Unit 3 WRA II Essay on Tuesday. You will not be getting the essay question sheet in advance for the Unit 3 WRA II. Please make sure that you review how to write a WRA II (review the "Recipe for Success"). Your Chapter 10 Test is tomorrow, please see the study guide here. Your Unit 3 Final Exam is on Thursday, May 26th. I will be posting the study guide for this final this Thursday.
Most of today's class was spent dealing with the short 20 minute video called "The Story of Stuff". I really appreciate the degree to which you watched this video critically, and the conversation that we generated afterwards. Annie Leonard from the Story of Stuff Project has uploaded other videos to YouTube, so if you're interested in watching some more videos, have a look at the ones below. Also, have a look at the upcoming important dates below.
Unit 3 WRA II Essay is on Tuesday, May 17th in the Blenheim Room (go directly there tomorrow morning)
Unit 3 WRA I is on Thursday, May 19th
Unit 3 Final Exam is on Tuesday, May 24th (the study guide will be posted tomorrow)
TNC Dossier Assignment is due on Wednesday, May 25th
And here's another...
Social 30-1
We finished off the FLQ Crisis video from Friday at the beginning of class today. Here is the video that I forgot to post on Friday. It connects nicely to some of the themes that we addressed today in class with regard to anti-terrorism legislation that was passed in Canada and the United States after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In Friday's video we looked at the FLQ crisis, this is the interview on the steps of Parliament that features Trudeau's "just watch me" speech. It's an interesting little debate that is waged between Trudeau and the reporters over the issue on giving up/losing civil liberties in order to ensure security.
We watched a video from the CBC News in Review on the September 11th attacks today prior to talking about anti-terrorism legislation in Canada and the United State, because in order to fully understand why this legislation was passed, you need to see the context in which it was passed. The value conflict between ensuring security, peace and order in society versus individual freedom and civil liberties could be a potential topic on Part A of your Diploma Exam (it was on the January 2010 Diploma). Liberal democracies around the world, post-9/11 have had to deal with the issue of the extent to which they must ensure security and the balance between security and civil liberties. It would not be difficult to use a quotation that relates to this issue ("They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."--Benjamin Franklin) and then have the essay question: "To what extent should we embrace the perspective(s) in this source?" Would you be able to write an essay on that topic? Think of the source material that I've given you on the FLQ crisis, the Emergencies Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Patriot Act and the no fly list, and think about other ways you could prepare for this as a potential essay topic. Speaking of writing assignments, please remember that you have your Unit 3 WRA I (source analysis) tomorrow. Your Chapter 10 Test is on Wednesday, here's the study guide (there's more democracy-related questions on the test than authoritarianism/dictatorship questions). Please finish off the activities in the FLQ Crisis booklet (the document analysis fill in the blank exercise). At the back of the booklet there is information on the Emergencies Act which you MUST read over! I also gave you some handouts on the Patriot Act. We'll be dealing with this on Thursday again. Tomorrow, you have your Unit 3 WRA I (3 source analysis). If you have switched to Social 30-2 you will be writing a WRA III (3 speakers question).
I tried to go through a little easy preparation with you today in advance of your Unit 3 WRA II on Tuesday of next week. I will be sending the essay outline sheet that we started in class today, as well as the essay question sheet by e-mail this afternoon. There was at least one of you that forgot the essay question sheet behind in the class. Please remember that your TNC Dossier Assignment is due on Wednesday, May 25th. You also have your Unit 3 WRA I on Thursday, May 19th.
TNC Dossier is now due on May 25th
Social 30-1
We started watching a video today on the FLQ Crisis of 1970 and the Canadian government's response to it. As you were watching this video you were to write down answers to fill-in-the-blanks questions. We will finish this video off next week. Please remember that your Civil Rights Movement Assignment is due on Monday, May 16th. Your Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, you have your Unit 3 WRA I. Please check the May 5th post to make sure that you have commented on the questions I posed about how Canadian political leaders could increase civic engagement of young people.
If you missed class today you should know that I gave out a handout on rights that you'll need to get. This handout covered rights, human rights, civil rights, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, entrenchment of rights and other topics. I also gave you a couple of handouts that you can use in tomorrow's in-class writing assignment where you will be writing an analysis of a propaganda poster. You had the remainder of class time to work on your Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions, which are due on Tuesday. Your USA-Canada Government Comparison charts are due tomorrow, as are your Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions. Your Chapter 10 Test is next Wednesday, please the study guide below. Don't forget to post your comments on the May 5th post.
Chapter 10 Test Study Guide:
This test is multiple choice format, with 55 questions. Please review the PowerPoint "Political Challenges to Liberalism". You're responsible for all key terms and questions from the Chapter 10 Worksheet. Please review the following as well:
Characteristics of Democracy (handout notes)
Characteristics of Dictatorships (handout notes)
Democratic Systems (handout notes)
Non-Democratic Systems (handout notes)
Structure of Canadian Government
Structure of American Government
similarities/differences between the parliamentary system and presidential system
types of dictatorships
techniques of dictatorships
authoritarian systems
proportional representation concept
first past the post system
review political and economic spectrum (again!)
Social 10-1
We finished going through the "Globalization and Sustainability" PowerPoint presentation today. We also watched a short interview between Jeff Rubin and George Strombolopolous as they discussed the future of globalization in a world with triple digit oil prices. Your Chapter 14 Key Terms are due tomorrow.
We finished watching "Shipbreakers" today and continued working through the "Globalization and Sustainability" PowerPoint presentation. We will finish the lecture tomorrow in class. Keep working on your TNC Dossier Assignment, it's due on May 18th.
Social 30-1
We watched a CBC News in Review from October 2009 on "Afghanistan's Troubled Election". You had the remainder of class time to work on your Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions (they are due on Thursday).
Upcoming Important Dates:
Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions are due on Thursday, May 12th
USA-Canada Government Comparison Assignment is due on May 12th
Civil Rights Movement Assignment is due on Monday, May 16th
Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due on May 16th
Unit 3 WRA I is on Tuesday, May 17th
Chapter 10 Test is on Wednesday, May 18th (study guide goes up on the blog on May 11th)
We started a PowerPoint lecture today called "Globalization and Sustainability". We started talking about the life cycle of a ship, and what happens to ships when they are built, when they are in operation, and where they go to "die". We started watching a NFB documentary called "Shipbreakers" today as well, which we will finish tomorrow. I also did a homework check on your Chapter 13 Key Terms and Questions today.
Social 30-1
Today we focused in on a case study of an ideological one-party state, specifically China. We watched a couple of videos from the BBC History of the 20th Century videos, one was called "One Man's Revolution" and the other "China Since Mao". Both of these videos are a bit dated, so I'd recommend you finish watching the NFB documentary that we started watching in class (but didn't finish due the lag on the network today). The film was called "Sunrise Over Tiananmen Square".
The film is based on the personal experiences of Shui Bo Wang, who was born in 1960, and hence was about 29 years old when the pro-democracy protests took place in Tiananmen Square. It has an interesting mix personal stories, first-hand accounts, photographs and animation as well. I do recommend that you finish watching it. Tonight would be a great night to finish off your half (if you're working with a partner) of the USA-Canada Government Comparison Assignment (which is due on Thursday). Your Civil Rights Movement Assignment is due next Monday.
We watched "Globalization is Good" today in class, and while you watched the video you were to complete the film study guide that went along with the film. We did have time to go over the answers at the end of the video as well. Please remember that your Chapter 13 Key Terms and Questions are due on Monday. This would be a great weekend to get some initial research completed on your TNC Dossier Assignment as well.
Social 30-1
I started off today by drawing your attention to the May 5th post where I put up a bunch of hyperlinks that will help you on the USA-Canada Government Comparison Assignment. You also have to post your answer to the questions posed on the May 5th post as well prior to next Friday. This assignment is worth double homework check marks. I went through a PowerPoint lecture called "Political Challenges to Liberalism" by focusing on the later part of the presentation and examples of non-democratic systems. I have sent this PowerPoint to you already. I then passed out a reading called "The End of Democracy?" from Maclean's magazine. I also gave you the Civil Rights Movement Assignment. I have sent you the essay outline sheets that you need to complete as part of the Civil Rights Movement Assignment already, so check your e-mail.
USA-Canada Government Comparison Chart is due on Thursday, May 12th
Civil Rights Movement Assignment is due on Monday, May 16th
I'm adding some links under the Social 30-1 Links on this page to help you out with your USA-Canada Political System Comparison Chart assignment (which is due next Thursday). Here some websites that I think will help (permanent links will appear on the right-hand side of the blog under Social 30-1 Links):
We also did some small group discussions about four questions related to democracy. Usually I have students post answers to these questions again for homework check marks. While we were having our class discussion today though another idea hit me. Given that we have had a recent federal election in Canada, I would like you to post comments here on the blog answering the following question: How can Canadian political leaders increase civic engagement among young people in Canada? What can they do appeal to young voters such as yourselves in the next federal election? When you post your comments, please post with your first name, last name initial and what class you're in (Kevin G. in Social 30-1 Period 3). Please take this homework assignment seriously, if the quality of answers is high and the answers are strong I will pass on your ideas to the appropriate MPs and other politicians. This is also worth double homework check marks! You have one week to post your answer on the blog on this day's post.
Social 10-1
We finished watching the video that we started yesterday called the Other Side of Outsourcing. I also went through a PowerPoint presentation with you the I will be sending to you this evening. Tomorrow we'll be watching a very pro-globalization video called Globalization is Good.
We finished watching "The Age of Wal-Mart" video and completed the film study that went along with it. I also showed you some exemplars of the TNC Dossier Assignment from previous semesters. Hopefully these examples gave you some ideas and inspiration. I will try to post the assignment sheet and rubric on the wiki in the next couple of days. The TNC Dossier Assignment is due on Wednesday, May 18th. This is the day after your Unit 3 WRA II.
Social 30-1
I talked a little bit about the Canadian federal election results at the beginning of class. I also did the computer usage request forms for your Diploma Exam at the beginning of class. I went through the structure of the American government and as I lectured you were to take some notes on the diagram. We watched a short video on electoral college system, if you want to watch it again, here is the hyperlink. As we watched this video I stopped it occasionally to point out a few quirks with this system, namely that you can win the popular vote and still not win enough electoral college votes to become president. I also talked about the 2000 election. In that election Florida was the key state. Previously in class I've talked a little bit about the differences between the types of ballots used in Canada and in the United States. In many counties in Florida during the 2000 election they used what's called a butterfly ballot where you punch holes in the ballot to indicate which candidate you are voting for. I think the following graphic illustrates nicely what this ballot looked like. I think you can see how this might have caused some confusion. If you can't see the ballot clearly, just click on it and you should see a larger view. If you want to look at past U.S. Presidential elections and see the U.S. electoral college maps for the past ten elections, have a look at Real Clear Politics. Have a look at the 1984 election, that was extremely one-sided!
We also looked at the system of checks and balances in the American presidential system.
You wrote your Chapter 10-11 Test today. I did a homework check on your Chapter 12 Key Terms as well. We'll finish off "The Age of Wal-Mart" video tomorrow as well as talk about the TNC Dossier Project.
Social 30-1
We talked about types of democratic systems today, and in particular direct democracy and representative democracy. We also looked at how a bill becomes a law in Canada, and different types of electoral systems from around the world. I gave you the essay question sheet for your Unit 2 WRA II which is on Wednesday.
