Challenge and Change in Society, HSB4M, Grade 12,
University/College Preparation

 

Course Description

This course examines the theories and methodologies used in anthropology, psychology, and sociology to investigate and explain shifts in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour, and their impact on society. Students will analyse cultural, social, and biological patterns in human societies, looking at the ways in which those patterns change over time. Students will also explore the ideas of classical and contemporary social theorists, and will apply those ideas to the analysis of contemporary trends.

 

Course of Study

 

Unit Central Questions Enduring Understandings

Unit 1

What are Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology? How do these disciplines research the causes and effects of personal, societal, and cultural change?

 Students are introduced to the purposes, major concepts, terminology, research methods, and practitioners of the three social science disciplines.
The culminating activity is a unit test. The social science research process begins with students selecting a topic, forming a hypothesis, and completing an annotated bibliography.

Unit 2

How do cultures, societies and individuals define and promote well-being?

 Students define and categorize factors that contribute to a state of mental, emotional and physical well-being. They examine birth patterns, aging, health care provision, impediments to accessing health care, and the social and cultural implications of each of these topics. For the Unit Culminating Activity, students independently research and orally report on health-impairing activities from at least two social science perspectives. The social science report process continues with students proposing and revising a detailed research method.

Unit 3

How and why is Canadian society changing?

Students examine the nature of Canadian society from the perspective of the three social science disciplines. They examine positive social change and the role of various social institutions and policies in promoting or impeding change. The issues of gender, racism and discrimination are analysed as barriers to full participation in Canadian society. Students research patterns of hate crimes and develop materials (e.g., video, pamphlet, school presentation) to educate and to promote positive social interaction as one unit culminating activity. The social science report process continues with students conducting primary research and analysing their data.

 

Unit 4

How and why are societies changing worldwide?

 Students examine and debate different views of progress. They examine the causes and effects of contemporary positive global change in technology, medicine, social justice and human rights issues, ecological knowledge and resource management, legal and political developments, and the role Canadians have played in promoting or impeding change in these areas. The impediments to positive global change are then examined through case studies. Students independently research and report on one change that focuses on gender equality from a global perspective. The unit culminating activity is a summary of social science findings where students are asked to apply secondary and primary social science research (e.g., statistical information or interviews) to a specific gender issue.

Unit 5

Course Culminating Activities - Social Science Report and Final Examination

 

Using ethical guidelines, appropriate methodology, and primary and secondary sources, students develop a position on a social issue of importance to anthropology, psychology, or sociology and, using a research design appropriate to the issue and discipline, carry out a research project in at least one of the disciplines.

 

 


 

MARK BREAKDOWN & ASSESSMENT / EVALUATION                                                                                                               

Your midterm and final grades will be determined by your level of performance on a number of activities. Each of the activities you complete in this course (including tests) will be directly tied to the following achievement areas:

-  Knowledge and Understanding (evaluation of your knowledge of facts and terms and understanding of concepts and theories)

- Thinking/Inquiry (evaluation of your critical and creative thinking and inquiry skills)

- Communication (evaluation of your ability to communicate information and ideas in a variety of ways)

- Application (evaluation of your ability to transfer ideas, draw conclusions, make predictions, and make connections)

 

ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION

Essential Evidence

 

A.  COURSE WORK                                                                                     70%                                        

-QUIZZES & MIDTERM                                                              

-ASSIGNMENTS

                                                                                                           

B.  CULMINATING ACTIVITIES

1:  ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS & ACADEMIC READINGS
2:  FRIDAY PRESENTATIONS                          
3:  GREAT DEBATES


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FINAL WRITTEN EXAM                                                                             20%
SOCIAL SCIENTIST EXPERIMENT                                                              10%

 

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TOTAL                                                                                                          100%



NOTE: SOME ASSESSMENT/ eVALUATION COMPONENTS MAY BE ALTERED DEPENDING ON TOPIC INTEREST, CLASS DEMAND OR TIME CONSTRAINTS. STUDENTS WILL BE MADE AWARE OF ANY CHANGES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT MODIFICATIONS ARE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.