Dufferin-Peel CDSB - St. Edmund Campion

St. Edmund Campion Secondary School Department of Canadian & World Studies

COURSE NAME: Canadian and International Politics

COURSE CODE: CPW 4U1

LEVEL: Grade 12, University

COURSE OVERVIEW

Students examine national and international political issues from a variety of perspectives. Students learn about the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups, and states within the international community, analyze the different ways in which Canada tries to settle its conflicts with other nations, and evaluate the role of nationalist and internationalist ideologies in shaping relations among states.

CURRICULUM STRANDS AND OVERALL EXPECTATIONS

Participation in the International Community

By the end of this course, students will:

§ Explain the rights and responsibilities of individual citizens, groups, and states in the international community;

§ Describe the main ways in which sovereign states and non-state participants cooperate and deal with international conflicts;

§ Evaluate the role of Canada in the international community;

§ Describe the structure and function of international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations;

§ Evaluate the role and operation of the international human rights protection system.

Power, Influence and the Resolution of Difference

By the end of this course, students will:

§ Analyse the factors that determine the power and influence of a country;

§ Analyse hoe international organizations, the media and technology are able to influence the actions of sovereign states;

§ Evaluate Canada’s role and influence in international relations.

Values, Beliefs and Ideologies

By the end of this course, students will:

§ Explain the role and functions of ideologies in national and international politics;

§ Analyse how social and cultural beliefs and political ideologies influence national and international politics;

§ Compare the aspirations, expectations and life conditions among the peoples of the developed and developing nations.

Methods of Political Inquiry and Communication

By the end of the course, students will:

§ Use methods of political science inquiry to locate, gather, evaluate and synthesize information;

§ Analyse information gathered about political events, issues and trends according to fundamental principles of political interpretation and analysis;

§ Communicate knowledge, opinions and interpretations about events, issues, and trends relating to politics and citizenship, using variety forms of communication.

UNITS OF STUDY

Unit One: The Nature of Politics: The Art of the Possible?

Unit Two: Ideologies and Government: How are world decisions made?

Unit Three: Canadian International Relations: What role should Canada play in the world?

Unit Four: War and Peace: How are conflicts resolved internationally?

Unit Five: Independent Case Studies: The Future of the International Community

Please Note: Unit 5 will consist of a case study of a country/region that is currently in the process of change. This independent study will include written assignments and an oral presentation.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

A final grade is recorded for every course, and a credit is granted and recorded for every course in which the student's grade is 50% or higher. The final grade for each course in Grades 9–12 will be determined as follows:

• Seventy per cent (70%) of the grade will be based on evaluations conducted throughout the course. This portion of the grade should reflect the student’s most consistent level of achievement
throughout the course, although special consideration should be given to more recent evidence
of achievement .

• Thirty per cent (30%) of the grade will be based on a final evaluation in the form of an examination, performance, essay, and/or other method of evaluation suitable to the course content and administered towards the end of the course.

Term Work

50%

Country Study

10%

Research Essay

10%

Final Exam

30%

Within these four areas, marks will be obtained using the four categories specified in the Ontario Curriculum: Canadian and World Studies, Grades 11 and 12 revised 2005.

The categories of knowledge and skills are described as follows:

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING Knowledge of technical terminology, procedures and standards. Understanding of concepts. Understanding of relationships between concepts.	25%
THINKING Thinking skills and inquiry design skills. Identifying problems, planning, formulating questions, selecting strategies and resources.	25%
COMMUNICATION Communication of information for different purposes. Use of language, symbols and visuals. Use of various forms of communication.	25%
APPLICATION Application of skills in familiar contexts and transfer of concepts to new contexts. Application of procedures and technology.	25%

<-- PLEASE REFER TO THE STUDENT AGENDA FOR THE EVALUATION POLICY -->

Term Work	50%
Country Study	10%
Research Essay	10%
Final Exam	30%