Tuesday, September 30

You are writing your dictatorships unit multiple choice exam today. For the next two days, we will be working on essay writing followed by an in-class essay assignment. Keep in mind though, that you need to read pages 263-275 in your text to prepare for the next unit on economics (For Tuesday, October 7).

Monday, September 29

You will finish watching “The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union” which has about ten minutes of viewing time left. The rest of the class is to be used to study and prep for tomorrow’s multiple choice exam on dictatorships. You also need to keep abreast of the elections happening and would do well to take some time to look at the issues/platforms and candidates.

Friday, September 26

Today, you will have a number of handouts in your portfolio. Be sure to pull them out. You will have one on how to successfully answer Multiple Choice exams, one on what will be in the exams and, attached to this one, a number of reading quizzes that you can do for practice (but not for marks so you can discuss it with others).
Today, you will finish watching "The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union".

Thursday, September 25

We will finish up our notes on Fascism with Mussolini. You are to be sure to focus on getting all of your readings completed (reading actively) with a special focus on Nazi Germany fascism (we touched on this already but not at the needed depth of the text). We will also begin watching "The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union".

Wednesday, September 24

Make sure you check your portfolio when you come in as there is a page with a few notes on Leninism that I want you to read and attach to your Marxist notes (It just briefly states how Lenin altered Marx's views to suit his own purpose).
Today we will look at the steps necessary to maintain a dictatorship (note skeleton provided) and the political system of the USSR (including Glastnost) (note skeleton provided). If there is time, we will move on to the characteristics of fascism.
Keep up with your readings, even if they don't fit the lectures. The bottom line is that the lectures should round out the readings, not preclude them.

Tuesday, September 23

Today, we will finish off the notes from Friday on Marxism (and dictatorship introduction). I have not finished marking your essays, but have created a new marking rubrics which should make the process of understanding what you are doing (and how I am marking) much easier. In addition, I have put a "Dictatorship" point form overview booklet in your portfolios to help you with this unit. Keep in mind that what you learn here will be reinforced when we move on to more specific examples in the second half of this course.
If we have time, we will move on to discussing "The Political System of the Former USSR"

Friday, September 19

Today we are starting our unit on Dictatorships. I handed out a reading outline for you as well as key questions for this unit. It is up to you to prepare for class by doing the readings and questions stated on that outline.
We discussed Autocracy in depth today and examined ways that dictatorships begin, as well as some of the views that support the "Great Man" theory. If you didn't read the reading for this class, you will have a busy weekend.

Read pages 156-168 (you were to have done this for today) and the handout on Dictatorships that was in your folder.
Answer questions 1,2 and 14 on page 169
Do definitions on pages 169-170
Do questions 1a, b, and c, 4, 5a, 7a and b, 8 a, b, c, and d, and 10a and b. Also, do the first part of question one on page 171 (just make a list, number it and determine the three strongest for and against authoritarianism)

You are also to read the handout on the Government of the former USSR (also in your folder)

Thursday, September 18

Today, you are writing your first MC exam (Democracy... 75 questions). Everyone has attended so that's awesome for getting the results back quickly.

Wednesday, September 17

Today, we worked on the format of the first essay that students will be handing in. The original due date was Thursday, but I am bumping it to Friday to allow more time to study for the democracy unit exam (mc) tomorrow. I also hande dout a study guide for the democracy unit (please ignore any reference to dictatorships).
When it comes to this first essay, the goal is to ensure that you understand how to put one together and how to tie values with concepts, philosophers and your support. It is NOT an essay that you will master, but a work in progress to simply be the first step on the path to mastery. Not "getting" it and trying will lead to success... so don't panic!

Tuesday, Sept. 16

Today, we went over what is expected in a Social Studies essay. There are handouts for this. If you were not here, they are in your portfolio.

Friday, September 12

Today, we will complete the notes on the media, pressure groups..... we will then discuss the government of Sweden.
This weekend, you are to read pages 103 to 116; however, is suggest you read ahead as you will feel overwhelmed next week.
You will have a reading quiz on 103-116 (role of political parties) on Monday.

Questions due Monday:

Define Socialism
Define Democracy
In a visual of your choice show the similarities and differences between the Canadian Political System and the Swedish political system.

Thursday, September 11

You are to hand in your Editorial cartoon assignment.
We will finish the notes from yesterday, starting with backbenchers.
We will carry on discussing the media, pressure groups, opinion polls and lobbyists
You are to read pages 73 to 85 for tomorrow (democracy in Sweden)

Tuesday, September 10

Today, we will discuss the role of political parties in a democracy.
You also need to hand in the questions from yesterday.
You are also doing a quiz (see blogger from yesterday)
For tomorrow, you are to read pages 119-135 in Ideologies

Tuesday, Sept 9

Your homework is due.
In your portfolios is an outline to the end of the unit to simplify your life.
Today we are going to look at the U.S. system of government. You need to read pages 103 to 118 in your text for tomorrow and also there will be a quiz on pages 54 - 72 now that we have reviewed it in-depth.
In addition, you are to do the questions I will give out in class.

Monday, September 8

I am giving you tonight to do the questions I handed out in class on Friday. Make sure you do them!!! (listed below). Today, we examined the government of Canada and its setup (Federal and Provincial). You also had a quick recall activity on the spectrum and quadrant.
In addition, tonight, you are to go to Parties and Leaders at www.nodice.ca/elections/canada/

Make an outline of the five major parties , their political slant, and their leaders,

as well as who is running here (if you can find it).
then place them on the political spectrum…..

Friday, September 5

You will be given your first essay topic: (Due Thursday September 18):
“How should democratic governments make decisions”
► Discuss and write notes on the following Political philosophers

Thomas Hobbes
John Locke
Jean Jacques Rousseau

discuss the relationship between government and power
► Discuss and write notes on the spectrums (see pp. 18 - 20 Ideologies).
Handout out sheet on Ideologies
Do handout #2
(Score one point for each agree on questions 1, 3, 4, 8 and 9, and one point for every “disagree” on questions 2, 5, 6, 7, and 10. Low scores reflect little support for conservatism; high scores indicate strong conservative leanings.)
► Discuss and write notes on the Characteristics of Democracy
In order to prepare for the next class, read the following:
pp. 54 – 72 Ideologies and 31 to 53
Do questions on Ideologies sheet for Tuesday.
Print out the following lecture notes before class:

Thursday, September 4

Today students were expected to have read pages 1 to 13 in Ideologies. We then went over the terms they were to know:


facts values beliefs critical thinking
tolerance ideologies societies political systems
scarcity systems resources economic systems

and categorized them according to whether they were dominantly economic, political, or both.

At this point, they were instructed to take their answers to questions about their country and decide if the answers were dominantly economic or political and highlight them in different colours.

Students were then introduced to the idea of grouping, based on freedom or control.

I used the word “black” and had them brainstorm word associations (all ended up being negative).

I then had them brainstorm word associations for right and left (right came out positive, left came out negative).

I then put up the words “freedom” and “control” and had them decide if these were positive or negative (so that we ended up with freedom being “right” and control being “left”)

I then had them draw an economic spectrum and a political spectrum

Using their answers about their countries, they now had to go through them and decide if they were geared at freedom or control.

While they were doing this, I put up the following words on the board:
Democracy
Capitalism
Public
Private
Socialism
Dictatorship

They had to determine the meanings (which we did on the board as a class) and then label them correctly on their spectrum

For tomorrow, they are to have read pages 13 to 30 in Ideologies

Wednesday, September 3

Today I introduced the class, handing out course outlines. Students were paired up to work on a "create your own country" assignment (below). They were also given a readings list for this unit on Politics (also below) and told to read pages 1 to 12 in their "Ideologies" textbook.
___________________________________________________________________________

ASSIGNMENT ONE: BUILDING A COUNTRY FROM SCRATCH
Your Country: __________________________________________
Your Names: __________________________________________

Population: __________________________________________
Average Age: __________________________________________
Types of Resources: __________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

Problems already identified that must be addressed:
High unemployment
Weakened infrastructure (the large-scale public systems, services, and facilities of a country or region that are necessary for economic activity, including power and water supplies, public transportation, telecommunications, roads, and schools).
Anarchy (a situation in which there is a total lack of organization or control) leading to violence
Isolationist mentality which has resulted in minimal trade with the rest of the world
High illiteracy rates
High infant mortality rates
` Malnutrition

Questions you need to answer about your country:

· Give an overview on the laws of your land (at least 15 “laws”) and reasons for them (hint: look at the list above and figure out what you need to worry about…)
· How are they enforced?
· Who decides on the penalties for breaking them?
· Who pays for education
· Who decides what is to be/not be taught?
· Who owns the resources?
· How are goods distributed?
· How are the poor, elderly or inform cared for?
· How does the government pay for itself?
· What about international relationships (will you have trade? Who decides, how is it conducted and for what purpose)?
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Social Studies 30
Topic A – Political and Economic Systems, Theme I: Democracy
Student Outline


INTRODUCTION
Whether an individual is politically active and involved, or cares little for things political, he or she is affected in many ways by the decisions of politicians and governments. Throughout history and in the present day, there have been and there are many types of political systems. In general, political systems can be grouped or are grouped as either democratic or authoritarian. In this section of Topic A, you will be introduced to the topic of political and economic systems, and will begin your study by examining democratic systems of government.

As I already stated, this course requires a lot of independent, but essential, reading. In addition to this, there are also other readings which can be enriching. While I will touch on these, it will be up to you to determine whether or not you wish to read them.

All reading are taken from Ideologies.

Essential Readings (check them off once you have read them)

Chapter 1 (pp. 1 to 12) ________________
Chapter 2 (pp. 13 to 30) ________________
Chapter 3 (pp. 31 to 53) ________________
Case Study 1 (pp. 54 to 72) ________________
Case Study 4 (pp. 103 to 118) ________________
Case Study 5 (pp. 119 to 135) ________________

Enrichment Readings (check them off once you have read them)

Case Study 2 (pp. 73 to 85) ________________
Case Study 3 (pp. 86 to 102) ________________
Case Study 6 (pp 136 to 155) ________________