CHV 2O (Civics)
Canadian & World Studies Department
Colonel By Secondary School

Civics Web Links:

A few links to Canadian & International News Media: *
- The Guardian Online
- The Washington Post
- The BBC
- The New York Times
- Google News
- The Economist
- Ottawa Citizen
- Globe & Mail
- Toronto Star
- The National Post
- CBC
-Macleans Magazine
- Reuters

*Students should read news media with a critical perspective. If you read something online and wish to discuss the issue for further clarification, please bring the Article to your teacher's attention. Also, it is important to obtain your information from a multiplicity of sources to encourage a range of perspectives.

Course Outline:

This course explores what it means to be an informed, participating citizen in a democratic society. Students will learn about the elements of democracy and the meaning of democratic citizenship in local, national, and global contexts. In addition, students will learn about social change, examine decision-making processes in Canada, explore their own and others' beliefs and perspectives on civics questions, and learn how to think and act critically and creatively about public issues.

Strands:
—Informed Citizenship
—Purposeful Citizenship
—Active Citizenship

Assessment & Evaluation:
Assessment and evaluation are tools to aid in and develop the learning process. Students should differentiate between the two, incorporating the feedback and measure of their progress into their own strategies for success. Should any questions about either assessment or evaluation arise at any time throughout the course, it is imperative answers be sought.

Assessment and Evaluation will reflect student learning and curriculum expectations in the following categories of achievement: Knowledge & Understanding, Thinking & Inquiry, Application, and Communication.

Knowledge & Understanding:
-knowledge of facts and terms
-understanding of concepts principles and theories
-understanding of relationships between concepts

Thinking & Inquiry:
-critical thinking skills (e.g., conducting analysis, detecting point of view and bias)
-creative thinking skills (e.g., problem solving that uses multiple perspectives)
-inquiry skills (e.g., formulating questions; organising and conducting research; analysing, interpreting, and evaluating information; drawing conclusions)

Application:
-application of concepts, skills, and procedures in familiar context
-transfer of concepts, skills, and procedures to new contexts
-making logical conclusions or generalizations
-making predictions and planning courses of action
-use of technology, equipment, and materials
-making connections (e.g., between past, present, and future contexts and roles; between subjects; between subjects and the world outside the school)

Communication:
-oral communication (e.g., debates, role playing) for different audiences and purposes
-written communication (e.g., reviews, short essays, long essays, letters) for different audiences and purposes

Summative Evaluation:
The sum of student learning and skills development will be measured within the last 30 days of the course in the four categories of achievement (above). This summative evaluation will comprise 30% of the final grade for the course.

Textbook:

Alan Skeoch (et. al.), Civics: Participating in a Democratic Society, Toronto: McGraw Hill Ryerson. 2000.