Canadian and World Issues (CGU4U)
Course of Study (2015/16)
Unit 1 – Introduction to Studying and Analyzing Issues
Students begin the course by defining key terms and ideas such as: What is an issue? What is a world issue? What are facts? What are Opinions? How can you validate information? What are political and social perspectives? What is a political spectrum? How does the media influence our perspectives of the world? And more. The unit culminates with an assignment in which students must identify and analyze a world issue using the knowledge and skills they have just acquired.
Unit 2 – Introduction to Demographic Methods, Theories and Issues
This unit introduces students to a number of fundamental skills and concepts to help them study, analyze and understand both current and historical demographic issues. Topics include: What is Demography? Measuring Demographics; the Theory of Demographic Transition; Population Theories and Views; and Demographic Issues. The unit culminates with a debate in which students discuss different demographic issues using a chosen theory/perspective and back their arguments up using current demographic data.
Unit 3: Introduction to Economic Issues
This unit focuses on food and agricultural issues as an entry point for understanding broader, global economic issues. Topics include: Introduction to food and agricultural issues; the relationship between historical agricultural development and current social/political inequities; the Green Revolution; and biotechnology and farming. The unit culminates with a case study and an argumentative essay.
Unit 4: Introduction to Environmental Issues
This unit introduces students to basic terms, concepts and theories related to a variety of current environmental issues with a focus on global warming and climate change. Topics include global atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions and the link to the global warming; global warming and hurricanes, and the cost of global warming. The unit culminates with a short research report on CO2 emissions and climate change.
Unit 5: Introduction to Geopolitical Issues
The geopolitics unit focuses on a number of introductory concepts including types of political organizations, types of conflict, the costs of conflict, and the reduction of conflict. The unit culminates with a case study on the Rwandan Genocide.
Unit 6: Independent Study/Final Exam
In this unit students will have the opportunity to select and research a current world issue that has not been covered in detail in this course, prepare a detailed report, and then deliver a comprehensive seminar about their chosen issue. The unit culminates with a final exam that allows students to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired over the course of the year.
Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement
The assessment/evaluation in this course is divided into the four categories of the Achievement Chart. The Knowledge category embraces what students know, the facts and information contained in the course. The Application category includes assessments of the students’ application of their knowledge, particularly as demonstrated through applying social scientific theory and concepts to a variety of current issues. The Thinking/Inquiry category is used to gather assessments that demonstrate the students’ abilities to think and analyze what it is they have learned. Finally, the Communication category comprises assessments of how well the students communicate orally and in writing.
Teachers must assess Learning Skills separately on the report card. Learning Skills (Homework Completion, Independent Work, Team Work, Initiative) play a critical role in the achievement of curriculum expectations. It is the school’s expectation that all assignments be submitted on time.
Overall evaluation of the course is divided as follows:
Term Work - 70%
Final Exam/Culminating Activity - 30%.