Course Syllabus

2020 - 2021 Explorations in Social Studies 11

Faculty

Section Teacher
D & G Ms. E. Konopaki
D & G Mr. D. Costello
D & G Mr. T. Stevens
D Mr. C. Vytasek
G Mr. N. Allen

Contacting Me

As the teacher for this course, I can be contacted in the following ways:

  • Name: Nick Allen
  • Office: 108A
  • Email: nallen@stgeorges.bc.ca
  • Phone: 604-224-1304

I am available for contact during regular school hours 8:30 am to 3:15 pm.

Course Description

The goal of Explorations in Social Studies 11 is to support students in gaining a fuller understanding of the causes and consequences of local issues and gain the tools needed to dig deeper into topics they are interested in. To do so, students learn how to look an events through historical, political, economic, ethical, and cultural lenses. Moreover, together we grow out media literacy, reading for understanding, and research skills so that students can explore topics of their choice and produce an argumentative research paper equivalent to what is expected in a first year university course. This paper is considered the capstone of the course.

Course Expectations

St. George’s School expects all students at the Senior School to be interested and motivated in achieving their personal best while at the School. We expect students will be engaged in their endeavours, responsible to their studies, classmates and teachers, and demonstrate integrity in their pursuit of learning.

Workload

Students are expected to come to class ready to think. Teachers of Explorations of Social Studies 11 do not believe in assigning homework. If work is done at home, there will be a unique reason for it or a student was not able to complete our in-class activities before the end of class.  

Submitting work

Students in this course are expected to complete work assignments on the date assigned and to submit their work on Canvas.

If circumstances prevent the student from completing a work assignment on the assigned due date, the student must inform the teacher prior to the due date for the work assignment. The teacher may provide a second due date through 5th block system. 

Work is only accepted through Canvas, not email. 

Instructional Aims

Based on the B.C. Ministry of Education curriculum, students will learn through the following experiences:

  • Introduction to the different fields of social studies and how they apply to daily life.
  • How to take in information: reading for understanding, media literacy, and research.
  • How to communicate ideas at university: research essay and argument writing in assessments.
  • Understanding and viewing relevant and important current events through different perspectives.

Learning Outcomes

Based on the B.C. Ministry of Education curriculum, students will learn and be evaluated on the following knowledge and skills. Each outcome's weight is in bold. 

  • Research: How to gather information, analyze sources, and judge the quality of source. 10%
  • Academic writing: Writing APA argumentative essays. 15%
  • Media Literacy: Evaluate different forms of media and their purpose and impact. 10%
  • Social/Culture: Consider how different social groups are constructed and impacted. Explore how daily issues have an impact on our daily lives, relationships, customs, beliefs. 12%
  • Political: The role that politics plays in decision making. 12%
  • Historical: Consider the historical background of an event and predict future trends. 12%
  • Economic: Consider the role of economics in issues. 12%
  • Ethics: Consider the ethical frameworks to decision making. 12%
  • Reading for Understanding: Reading non-fiction written sources. 10%

Assessment and Evaluation

A student's final mark will be determined by evaluation of their ability to demonstrate proficiency in these skills and learning these concepts.

Major assessments for this course include:

  •  An argumentative APA essay.
  •  A research log. 
  •  Mini-writes. 

We anticipate adjustments may be made throughout the year due to the extenuating circumstances we are facing. Any adjustments will be posted here and discussed as a class.

Both the school’s assessment expectations and supports that teachers provide can be found online. Academic dishonesty to any degree is not acceptable.

There are a variety of academic supports available at St. George’s for students. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the range of supports available to them which include:

  • Faculty support
  • 5th Block
  • Head of Grade
  • Student Success Centre
  • Personal Counselling

First Peoples Principles

We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are honoured to live, work, and play on this land together.

As part of contribution to reconciliation, this course makes First Peoples Principles of Learning visible in class by:

  • ultimately supporting the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors
  • being reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place)
  • recognizing the consequences of one’s actions
  • being embedded in memory, history, and story
  • exploring one’s identity

Literacy/Numeracy

This course makes literacy/numeracy visible by using the following comprehension tasks and strategies:

  • Places a major focus on research, academic essay writing, APA citations, media literacy, and reading for understanding in an effort to promote the literacy of St. George’s students. 

Learning Resources

Resources that will be used as part of this course include:

  •  All resources in Explorations of Social Studies 11 will be posted to Canvas. This should be considered a student's home base for things course related. 

Canvas Information

Canvas is where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.

St. George's School Student Code of Conduct

St. George’s School shares a proud tradition as a learning community committed to both academic excellence and character development. We strive for growth within our personal lives while maintaining respect for and contributions to the broader community.

The purpose of the Student Code of Conduct is to ensure that

  1. A safe, caring, and productive teaching and learning environment exists.
  2. We maintain appropriate balances among individual and collective interests and responsibilities.
  3. There is clarity around standards and expected student behaviour at school, in the community, and online through social media.
  4. We encourage and practice environmental stewardship.

The core values which provide the foundation for the Student Code of Conduct are:

  • Empathy
  • Humility
  • Integrity
  • Respect
  • Responsibility
  • Resilience

Conduct Expectations

  1. I commit myself to strive for honourable behaviour in my daily life, according to the standards as set forth by the School. I will try to be faithful to my parents, my School, my friends, and myself.
  2. I will avoid bringing any ill-repute to the School at any time, including evenings, weekends, or over any school break or holiday.
  3. I will comply with all school policies as they relate to upholding the standard of excellence of St. George’s School at all times.
  4. I understand, accept, and will respect all of my school-related commitments and responsibilities.
    • I will arrive to school on time and attend all classes, assemblies, practices, rehearsals, and field trips as outlined by my teachers.
    • I will obtain necessary permission to leave class or school.
  5. I will take pride in my personal appearance.
    • I will be dressed appropriately at all times for all events as outlined by the School.
    • I will abide by the grooming rules as outlined in the Standards of Dress and Appearance section and always observe the accepted standards of personal hygiene.
  6. I will behave in a way that always brings credit to the School, with integrity, empathy, respect, and humility.
    • I recognize that the taking of tests and exams requires an exemplary standard of honesty and will not misrepresent myself by cheating, copying, or plagiarizing.
    • I recognize that integrity is a clear expectation and that borrowing of possessions of others without their consent is stealing.
    • I will care for all property, whether it is public or a peer’s personal possessions.
    • I will avoid disruptive behaviour at all times, and will strive to treat all others with great respect.
    • I will adhere to the School’s policies regarding the appropriate use of technology, including online communication, electronic devices, and the internet.
    • I will avoid any possession, use, or distribution of alcohol, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cannabis and illicit drugs or related paraphernalia, weapons, replica weapons, or any other dangerous or illegal items or substances.
  7. I will demonstrate responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship. It is the commitment and obligation of all students, faculty, parents/guardians, and administration to ensure that all academic work stems from the student’s own efforts. Academic Dishonesty erodes the ethical climate of honesty, respect, responsibility, fairness, and trust in our school community. At St. George's School, Academic Dishonesty to any degree is not acceptable. In addition to any other consequence, students found to have engaged in Academic Dishonesty shall not receive a mark for work that is the result of Academic Dishonesty.

Academic Dishonesty includes any conduct with the intent to gain an unfair advantage in connection with an academic assessment. Academic Dishonesty can occur in many ways. Common forms of Academic Dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating, falsification, plagiarism, and tampering.

  • Cheating occurs when an individual undermines the integrity of an assessment (including homework and other assignments, reports, projects, quizzes, tests, exams, or other forms of performance evaluations). Examples of cheating include:
    • Copying any part of an assessment;
    • Allowing others to copy any part of an assessment;
    • Improperly giving or receiving assessment information;
    • Using unauthorized resources for or during an assessment;
    • Submission of the same assessment more than once; and/or
    • Skipping classes to avoid an assessment.
  • Falsification: occurs when an individual has changed information in order to make one believe something that is not true. Examples of falsification include: 
    • Falsifying research findings, whether in laboratory experiments, field trip exercises, or other assignments;
    • Alteration or falsification of academic reports or other academic records for any purpose;
    • Submission of false credentials;
    • Making false representation on an application for admission; and/or
    • Requesting the extension of a deadline or delaying the taking or sitting of an assessment citing reasons known to be false, including submitting false documentation supporting that request.
  • Plagiarism: occurs when an individual submits or presents the work and/or idea of another person as his or her own, in essence lying. This includes the copying of images, sound, video, and other forms of intellectual property. Examples of plagiarism include:
    • Lack of recognition given to the original author for phrases, sentences, and ideas of the author incorporated in a paper or project; and/or
    • A portion of a document is copied from an author, or composed by another person, and presented as original work of the student.
  • Tampering occurs when individual has interfered with information for the purpose of academic gain. Examples of tampering include:
    • Unauthorized access to, use of, or alteration of computer data and information;
    • Gaining academic advantage by using technology that inhibits the use of the resources by others;
    • Damage to or destruction of library or laboratory resources; and/or
    • Willful or negligent damage to the academic work of a fellow student and/or teacher.

Academic Supports

There are a variety of academic supports available at St. George’s for students. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the range of supports available to them which include:

  • Faculty support
  • 5th Block
  • Head of Grade
  • Student Success Centre
  • Personal Counselling

Bullying

St. George’s School does not tolerate bullying. Students are prohibited from bullying.

Bullying is conduct that is unwelcome to others, including other students and faculty members. This includes conduct which a reasonable person knows, or ought reasonably to know, is unwelcome to the recipient. Unwanted physical contact, verbal abuse and threats, unwelcome remarks including jokes, innuendo, or taunting (in verbal, written or digital form) about a person’s body, race, gender, attire, (perceived) sexual orientation, or religion are all forms of bullying. Other examples of bullying may include but are not limited to:

  • Physical violence such as hitting, pushing or spitting at another student;
  • Interfering with another student’s property, such as by stealing, hiding, or damaging it;
  • Using offensive names when addressing another student;
  • Teasing or spreading rumours about another student or their family;
  • Belittling another student’s abilities and achievements;
  • Writing offensive notes or graffiti about another student;
  • Unreasonably excluding another student from a group activity;
  • Ridiculing another student’s appearance, way of speaking or mannerisms; and/or
  • Misusing technology (internet or mobiles) to hurt, intimidate, embarrass, or humiliate another person.

Anyone who is the target of bullies is encouraged to report the bullying and not to suffer in silence. Speaking out and reporting bullying ensures the School can appropriately address the bullying and may help prevent other students from future bullying.

Students are required to:

  • Refrain from engaging in any kind of bullying;
  • Intervene to help support any student who is being bullied, unless it is unsafe to do so; and
  • Report to a member of faculty, staff, or administration any witnessed or suspected instances of bullying.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due