Curriculum Connections for Grades 11-12
This course examines elements of Canadian and international law in social, political, and global contexts. Students will be expected to: 1) evaluate different concepts, principles, philosophies and theories of law by: - analyzing contemporary legal situations that raise the question of conflict between what may be legally correct but is generally viewed as unjust; 2) describe the relationship between law and social values by: - analyzing how society uses law to express its values; 3) explain the major concepts, principles, and purposes of international law by: - explaining why the sovereignty of nation states is an overriding principle of international law; - identifying global issues that may be governed by international law; - explaining the role and jurisdiction of the agencies responsible for defining, regulation, and enforcing international laws; 4) evaluate the effectiveness of international laws, treaties, and agreements in resolving conflicts of a global nature by: - explaining the purpose of international jurisdictional and boundary treaties; - evaluating the effectiveness of international treaties for the protection of human rights; - explaining the role of the International Court of Justice in The Hague in resolving issues between nations; 5) explain the factors that make framing, interpreting, and enforcing law on a global scale a complex and difficult process by: - explaining how and why the use of force to resolve conflicts is limited in international law; - identifying domestic laws, past and present, in various countries that conflict with the principles of international law and explain how they violate those principles; - describing the difficulties and evaluate the effectiveness of international intervention in conflicts between nations. Canadian and World Issues: A Geographic Analysis (CGW4U) Grade 12, University Preparation This course examines the global challenges of creating a sustainable and equitable future, focusing on current issues that illustrate these challenges. Students will be expected to: 1)analyze instances of international cooperation and conflict and explain the factors that contributed to each by: - describing the contributions of individuals who have been influential in addressing global issues and evaluate the impact of their work; - analyzing the evolving geopolitical role of a selected region or country and evaluating how its actions contribute to international cooperation or conflict. Canadian and World Politics, (CPW4U) Grade 12, University Preparation This course examines Canadian and world politics from a variety of perspectives. Students will investigate the ways in which individuals, groups, and states work to influence domestic and world events, the role of political ideologies in national and international politics, and the dynamics of international cooperation and conflict resolution. Students will apply critical thinking and communication skills to develop and support informed opinions about current political conflicts, events, and issues. They will be expected to: 1) explain the rights and responsibilities of individual citizens, groups, and states in the international community by: - evaluating the extent to which the rights and responsibilities of states in the international community are parallel to the rights and responsibilities of citizens in democratic national communities (e.g., based on analysis of the Geneva Conventions,…); - describing the rights and obligations of selected international groups; 2) describe the main ways in which sovereign states and non-state participants cooperate and deal with international conflicts by: - analysing the participation of government and non-governmental organizations in the global community; - identifying ways of preventing war and conflict between states; 3)describe the structure and function of international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations by: - explaining the origins, functions, and objectives of selected international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) (e.g., International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent, …); - explaining the origins, functions, and objectives of international cooperation organizations; - evaluating the effectiveness of selected international organizations in meeting their stated objectives; 4) evaluate the role and operation of the international human rights protection system by: -identifying the most important international human rights documents (e.g., Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1976; Declaration of the Rights of the Child, 1959;World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki, 1964) and assessing their significance; - explaining the role of states and key agencies (e.g., U. N. Commission on Human Rights, Commission on the Status of Women) in international controversies about human rights; - evaluating the effectiveness of the actions of international organizations or states in cases of human rights violations (e.g., decisions of the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, Amnesty International); 5) analyse the factors that determine the power and influence of a country by: - analysing how natural resources and human resources help to determine the power and influence of a country; - evaluating the accuracy and usefulness of common classifications of states (e.g., developed or developing; Western and/or non-aligned; major, medium, or small powers) used in describing relationships among states; - analysing the rise and development of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and corporations as world powers (e.g., International Committee of the Red Cross/ Red Crescent,…); 6) analyse how international organizations, the media, and technology are able to influence the actions of sovereign states by: - identifying major influences on the development of international relations from antiquity to 1945 (e.g., the development of empires and colonization, the impact of religions, the growth of nation states); 7)evaluate Canada’s role and influence in international relations by: - describing the types of influence exerted by other nations and groups on Canada and Canadians; 8) explain the role and function of ideologies in national and international politics by: - explaining the role of religious beliefs in national and international politics (e.g., religious fundamentalism, secularism, relationship between religions and states); - describing the main characteristics of the world’s major political ideologies (e.g., fascism, …); - analysing how predominant social and cultural beliefs and ideologies can affect minority groups both positively and negatively (e.g., through immigration policies and multiculturalism programs; through racial profiling, restriction of rights, genocide, or ethnic cleansing); 9) analyse how social and cultural beliefs and political ideologies influence national and international politics by: - identifying the key components of nationalist ideology (e.g., the definition of a nation, types of nationalism, the role of theorists and groups, national symbols and images); - determining the origins and effects of nationalistic and ethnocentric conflicts and rivalries; 10) use methods of political science inquiry to locate, gather, evaluate, and synthesize information by: - formulating questions that lead to a deeper understanding of a political issue and an awareness of the different ways in which the issue can be approached; - conducting research by selecting and using a variety of relevant and reliable primary and secondary sources (e.g., written, visual, oral, and electronic) that present a range of perspectives; - evaluating the credibility of published and Internet sources and information (e.g., by considering the authority, impartiality, and expertise of the source and checking the information for accuracy, logical errors, underlying assumptions, prejudice, and bias); analyse information gathered about political events, issues, and trends according to fundamental principles of political interpretation and analysis by: - distinguishing among opinions, facts, and arguments, and judge arguments on the basis of the quantity and quality of evidence presented and the methods used by authors to verify their claims; - providing interpretations of political events from different perspectives (e.g., gender, cultural, economic); - making inferences and drawing conclusions, based on analysis of data and application of political theories, about political events, issues, and trends and their relationship to social, economic, and cultural systems; 11) communicate knowledge, opinions, and interpretations about events, issues, and trends relating to politics and citizenship, using a variety of forms of communication by: - expressing opinions, understandings, arguments, and conclusions, as appropriate for different audiences and purposes, using a variety of styles and forms (e.g., … simulations, debates, group presentations, … reports, essays); - using an accepted form of documentation to acknowledge all sources of information, including electronic sources; - using appropriate terminology to communicate political concepts, opinions, and arguments. |