Course Description:

Canadian and World Politics, Grade 12, University

Preparation (CPW4U)

This course examines national and international political issues from a variety of

perspectives. Students will learn about the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups,

and states within the international community; analyze the different ways in which Canada

tries to settle its conflicts with other nations; and evaluate the role of nationalist and

internationalist ideologies in shaping relations among states.

Prerequisite: Any university or university/college preparation course in Canadian and world

studies, English, or social sciences and humanities.

Grade

12

Canadian and World Politics/Model United Nations

Open

CPW4U

Credit Value:

1.0

Ontario Ministry of Education Document(s):

Canadian and World Studies The Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 and 12, 2000

Prerequisite(s):

Any university or university/college preparation course in Canadian and world studies, English, or social sciences and humanities.

Corequisite(s):

DND/DoDDS

Department:

Social Sciences

AFNORTH International School

Dept Head:

Developer(s):

Teachers, AFNORTH High School

Development Date:

August 2003

Revision Date:

Sep 2006

Overall Expectations: The curriculum expectations for this Grade 12 course in politics are organized into several major strands. (weighting) Participation in the International Community (25%) Power, Influence, and the Resolution of Differences (25%) Values, Beliefs, and Ideologies (25%) Methods of Political Inquiry (25%)

Overall Expectations

Participation in the International Community By the end of this course, students will: · explain the rights and responsibilities of individual citizens, groups, and states in the international community; describe the main ways in which sovereign states and non-state participants cooperate and deal with international conflicts; evaluate the role of Canada and Canadians in the international community; describe the structure and function of international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; evaluate the role and operation of the international human rights protection system.

Power, Influence, and the Resolution of Differences

By the end of this course, students will:

• describe factors that make states powerful and factors that make states weak;
• identify key influences in the history of international relations;
• evaluate Canada’s role and influence in international relations.

Values, Beliefs, and Ideologies

By the end of this course, students will:

• explain the role and function of ideologies in national and international politics;
• explain how nationalist and internationalist ideologies shape ideas, as well as conflict or cooperation within and among nations;
• demonstrate an understanding of the many similarities and differences in the aspirations, expectations, and life conditions among the peoples of the developed and the developing nations.

Methods of Political Inquiry

By the end of this course, students will:

• correctly use social scientific methods to gather, organize, and synthesize information;
• develop supportable conclusions about political events, issues, and trends and their relationships to social, economic, and cultural systems;
• communicate knowledge, beliefs, and interpretations of politics and citizenship, using a variety of formats;
• use political knowledge, skills, and values to act as responsible citizens in a variety of contexts.

Course Units in Sequence
	The expectations are grouped into ten units of study:
THE MODEL EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM		Students will become familiar with the history of the model European Parliament, its organs, committees, agencies and its functions and role today. Emphasis is on preparing the student for the AFNorth Model European Parliament and The Hague International Model United Nations in the first semester. Global citizenship is an ongoing topic which is covered through presentations of current events and formal dispute resolutions through model government simulations.
The Global Citizen: What does that mean to you? (18 hours)
NON/INTER-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS		Students will become familiar with the role and function of non and inter-governmental organizations. Emphasis will be placed on the major NGOS and IGOS and those relevant to the student vis-à-vis country assignment and individual citizenship.
THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM		Students will become familiar with the history of the United Nations, its organs, committees, agencies and its functions and role today. Emphasis is on preparing the student for the AFNorth Model European Parliament and The Hague International Model United Nations in the first semester.
POWER BLOCS		The students will become familiar with the role, function and organization of blocs. Emphasis will be placed on the blocs relevant to the student’s country assignment.
World Systems: How are world decisions made? (26 hours)
COUNTRY RESEARCH		The teacher will assign each delegate one aspect of their country to research, write a report and present an oral report. Topics covered will include geography, history, economy, foreign policy and power blocs. This is conducted four times per year in preparation for and to coincide with four different government simulations. Case studies are presented and studied either through current events presentations or referring to the textbook International Relationships.
Case Studies: How are conflicts resolved internationally? (26 hours)
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE & DEBATE		The student will become familiar with both Robert’s Rules of Parliamentary Procedure but also with rules of procedure particular to the MEP, THIMUN, HMCE and the NATO conference.
WRITING RESOLUTIONS/COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS		The student will learn the correct procedure for writing a resolution according to the Rules of Procedure for The Model European Parliament and The Hague International Model United Nations. Resolutions topics will come from the research pertaining to committee questions.
PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES		The student will learn how to determine and employ the most appropriate techniques, procedures and formats for live presentations to audiences of varying size and political point of view.

HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS	Students will become familiar with the history of the government of the United States, its organs, committees, agencies and its functions and role today. Emphasis is on preparing the student for the Harvard Model Congress and NATO conference in the second semester.
NATO Model Conference Canadian International Relations: What role should Canada play in the world? (23 hours)	Students will become familiar with the history of NATO, its organs, committees, agencies and its functions and role today. Emphasis is on preparing the student for the Harvard Model Congress and NATO conference in the second semester. Canada’s role on the world stage is presented through the chronology presented by the textbook International Relationships and a study of its participation as a member of major international organizations.
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES Students will engage in studies, research, discussion and debate over The Art of the Possible: The International Community in 2020 (17 hours) the economic, social and political aspects of a wide variety of contemporary issues and events, their origins and their potential future ramifications.

Teaching Strategies:

This course provides students the opportunity to explore, analyse and reflect on the world of contemporary politics through a variety of teaching and learning strategies. Critical thinking skills such as formulating a resolution, gathering objective information, identifying bias, debating to persuade, dissuade or to inform, and problem solving in individual, team and group situations are the primary goals of most of the activities. Focused inquiry, data analysis, note-taking and guided Internet and hard document searches are examples of the research skills that students practice. Communication skills will be perfected through formal presentations, role plying and open debate.

Parliamentary debate employs its own specialized vocabulary and forms of expression to express concepts. Teaching and learning strategies take into account the formative aspect of both the written and oral forms of the language for both ESL/ELD students and native speakers of English.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the following:

- specialized vocabulary/idioms