Lesson Name: Origins of the Modern State System

Category: Canadian and World Politics

Course Code: CPW 4U1

Created By: Mark Melnyk

School: Markville Secondary School

Level: Grade 12

Time: Part 1 - 45 Minutes

 

 

 

 


Rationale:

Part 1: Lecture The main objective of the lesson is to introduce students to the background of the Modern State System from the time of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.

Part 2: Country Simulation Students will be introduced to the Country Simulation, also called the Philosopher’s Salon. This simulation will run throughout the first month of class allowing students to practice and live the theories and actions that they will be studying.

 

 

Expectations:

Ø      describe the main ways in which sovereign states and non-state participants cooperate and deal with international conflicts;

Ø      evaluate 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;

Ø      describe the participation of several states in international relations in terms of their objectives, resources, and methods;

Ø      identify ways of preventing war and conflict between states (e.g., military preparation, international law, peace movements);

Ø      explain the effects on national sovereignty of the trend towards global decision making (e.g., the decreased power of states to make policies to control the flow of goods and services, ideas, and cultural products);

Ø      identify the causes and consequences of non-governmental international conflict and violence (e.g., terrorism, tribalism, organized crime).

Ø      describe factors that make states powerful and factors that make states weak;

Ø      identify key influences in the history of international relations;

Ø      explain the role and function of ideologies in national and international politics;

Ø      explain how nationalist and internationalist ideologies shape ideas, as well as conflict or cooperation within and among nations;

 

 

Instructions:

  1. Introduction: The fact that this course is designed for University preparation should be stated to the students each lesson.
    Part 1: This lesson will again focus on the need to break down lectures, find the key information, and practicing listening and note taking skills.


  2. Lesson (45 Minutes):  Have a student in charge of the Powerpoint so that the instructor is free to move around the room (you will want to provide this student with the Lecture Outline provided through Powerpoint Notes).

  3. Begin the lecture by giving a few pointers to students about effective note taking skills. Remind them not to try to copy down every word off the screen, or being said by the instructor, but to write down the main themes, points and examples. The lecture will follow the Powerpoint presentation available on the website, highlighting the Origins of the Modern State system.
    Note: For more information relating to this lecture, refer to the Textbook – Chapter 1 and 2.
     
  4. Lesson Closure: Move to the Country Simulation to apply the material learned in the lecture.

 

 

 

Materials:

Þ    LCD Projector and Computer

Þ    Lecture on Powerpoint called Origins of the Modern State System

Þ    Course Pack

Þ    Philosopher’s Salon Handout

Þ    Textbooks: Allen Sens, Peter Stoett, Blobal Politics: Origins, Currents, Directions, 2nd Edition, Nelson – Thomson Learning, 2002. For more information go to the publishers website: http://www.globalpolitics2e.nelson.com/

 

 

Assessment & Evaluation:

Part 1: Oral analysis of the Lecture
Part 2: The evaluation of the Country Simulation is outlined in the Handout, but the main components involved are the Simulation, the Presentation and the ultimate end goal, the Salon Test.