Friday, December 19, 2014

December 19


Merry Christmas! Please enjoy your break! Please remember that you have your Unit 3 Final Exam on Tuesday, January 6th. Please see the study guide below.



This exam will be entirely multiple choice format. It will be on Tuesday, January 6th. Please study the following material:
  • make sure that you have read Chapters 9-12 in Perspectives on Ideology
  • study all key concepts from the Chapters 9-12 Worksheets (see below)
  • study all questions/answers from the Chapters 9-12 Worksheets
  • "Political Challenges to Liberalism" (PowerPoint presentation)
Review the following notes/packages:
  • Democratic Systems
  • Non-Democratic Systems
  • types of dictatorships
  • techniques of dictatorships
  • Civil Rights Movement
  • authoritarian systems (China notes)
  • review the economic and political spectrum (again!)
  • re-read the notes on rights that I put on the board (Charter of Rights and Freedoms to War Measures Act)
  • FLQ Crisis 1970
Know the following key concepts/key events/key terms/key people:
  • assimilation
  • self-interest
  • humanitarianism
  • Indian Act
  • residential school system
  • enfranchisement
  • the White Paper
  • the Red Paper
  • “war on terror"
  • authoritarianism
  • consensus decision-making
  • direct democracy
  • military dictatorship
  • oligarchy
  • one-party state
  • party solidarity
  • representation by population
  • proportional representation
  • representative democracy
  • responsible government
  • democracy
  • single-member constituency (first past the post)
  • the Senate
  • the House of Commons
  • the House of Representatives
  • the Senate
  • mixed-member proportional system
  • lobby groups
  • American Bill of Rights
  • Anti-Terrorism Act
  • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
  • emergency and security legislation
  • illiberal
  • language legislation
  • Bill 101
  • Bill 178
  • Bill 86
  • Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
  • respect for law and order
  • terrorism
  • rendition
  • the War Measures Act
  • enemy aliens
  • internment
  • the Emergencies Act
  • USA PATRIOT Act
  • consumerism
  • environmental change
  • extremism
  • pandemics
  • postmodernism
  • global warming
  • Kyoto Protocol
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • drought



Merry Christmas! Please enjoy your break! Please remember that you have a multiple choice test on Tuesday, January 6th. This test will cover material from the Authoritarian and Single-Party States unit, and will use old Diploma Exam questions. On Friday, January 9th you will write a Paper 2 on Topic 3: Authoritarian and Single-Party States. Please see this post for advice on how to write a Paper 2. Remember for this Paper 2 that you're writing on January 9, 2015 you only need to know Hitler and Stalin. I split you into three large groups: Mao, Castro and Peron. Each of your groups will need to be further subdivided into the following subtopics:
  • origins and nature of the single-party state (in Mao's China, Castro's Cuba and Peron's Argentina)
  • establishment of authoritarian and single-party states
  • domestic policies and impact: political, economic, social and religious policies; status of women, treatment of religious groups and minorities
Ultimately, each group will need to put together a substantial presentation on their assigned dictator and these sub-topics.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

December 17


You wrote your Chapter 10 Test today. We also started a film study of the HBO documentary "Shouting Fire" today, which we should be able to finish off tomorrow. Please remember that your Chapter 12 Key Terms and Questions are due on Friday.


We started talking about your IA Historical Investigation assignment that will be due during your Grade 12 year. I gave you a booklet that looked at the various parts of the IA, and I went through a PowerPoint presentation on the IA as well. You picked your IA topics today as well. We're booked into a computer lab tomorrow so we can do a little bit more initial work on the IA. On Tuesday, January 6, 2015 you will be writing a multiple choice exam on the Authoritarian and Single-Party States unit (Unit 7 Dictatorships on the wiki). This exam will use old Diploma Exam questions. On Friday, January 9, 2015 you will be writing a Paper 2 on Topic 3 topics (Authoritarian and Single-Party States).


I'm going to give you a little advice for writing your Paper 2 in January 2015. Some of this advice applies to the actual Paper 2 Exam that you will be writing in May 2016. The actual Paper 2 Exam consists of five topics, we'll deal with three of them over the course of this semester, and next year. The topics that we cover are Topic 1: Causes, Practices and Effects of War, Topic 3: Authoritarian and Single-Party States, and Topic 5: The Cold War. We'll deal with Topic 1 and Topic 5 next year. The Paper 2 that you write in January 2015 deals only with Authoritarian and Single-Party States. On the actual Paper 2 Exam, each of the five topics will have six questions, and you will have to answer two of them. For the Paper 2 that you're writing in January 2015 you just have to answer one of the questions.

Here are some general rules about the Paper 2 that you'll write in May 2016:
  • For each topic on the Paper 2 Exam, three out of the six questions will be 'named' questions. This means that in Topic 3, three of the questions will refer to particular states or leaders. (ex. Analyze the methods used by either Castro or Mao to maintain his position as the ruler of a single-party state.)
  • For each topic on the Paper 2 Exam, two out of the six will be 'open-ended' or general questions. This means you can choose any suitable example that you have studied. (ex. Examine how and why one leader of a single-party state was able to make a successful bid for power.)
  • For each topic on the Paper 2 Exam, one out of the six will ask about 'social, economic or gender issues'. (ex. Discuss the role and status of women in two single-party states, each chosen from a different region.)
Make sure that you know what your IB command terms mean.  (ex. analyze, compare and contrast, discuss, evaluate, examine, to what extent)

For the upcoming Paper 2 in January 2015, make sure that you review Hitler and Stalin.

The themes that you should study for Topic 3 are as follows:

Origins and nature of authoritarian and single-party states

This theme asks you to look at the rise to power of authoritarian and single-party state leaders or the emergence of authoritarian or single-party states. You need to consider what kind of circumstances made it possible for this to happen and what kinds of methods were used by the leader to take power.

Establishment of authoritarian and single-party states
This theme asks you to look at the leader or the state once power has been assumed and other political parties or groups have been suppressed. You need to consider how power is maintained, probably through the use of popular policies and/or terror.

Domestic policies and impact
This theme asks you to look at the way the state is actually structured and what kind of policies are carried out. You need to consider what kind of programme is put into practice and how economic and social policies are created and implemented. You will also need to know something about the role of women, attitudes towards religion and the kind of culture that developed inside the state.

Other pieces of advice:

  • choose your question carefully
  • on the actual Paper 2 Exam, you'll only have about 45 minutes to write each answer (remember you answer two questions for a 90 minute exam)
  • make sure that you do a quick 5 minute plan for your essay (if it's a compare and contrast question, set up a chart with similarities that two leaders had in common, and their differences in the other column)
Do's:

  • Do read the question very carefully and make sure that you can answer it. If a specific time period is mentioned, do you have enough material to cover it all? If the question asks about social and economic policies, do you know enough about both?
  • Do answer the question that is asked on the exam paper and not a similar one you prepared earlier!
  • Do plan your answer and include this plan on your exam answer sheets.
  • Do begin with an introduction and always refer to the question in the introduction.
  • Do define any key words such as 'totalitarian' or 'authoritarian' if the question mentions these.
  • Do use a comparative structure if the question asks you to compare and contrast.
  • Do include DATES! When you are writing about why something happens, you will usually need to refer to what came before (cause and effect), and so knowing the order in which events happen is very important.
  • Do refer to the question in each paragraph, to make sure that your answer stays focused.
  • Do finish with a conclusion that sums up your arguments.
  • Do include some reference to different historical interpretations, if this is appropriate.
Don'ts:

  • Don't write down everything you know about a topic; you need to select only relevant material.
  • Don't leave out facts and dates. Your arguments need to be supported, so saying that Castro used guerrilla tactics to come to power is fine, but you need to support this statement with evidence of how he did this.
  • Don't just list what historians say about a topic; use historiography to support your arguments not replace them.
  • Don't use quotations to replace your arguments. If you use quotations, explain why and link them to your arguments.
  • Don't use 'I think ... ' or 'In my opinion ... ' but instead write, 'It is clear that..,' or 'Given the evidence. it can be seen that., .' Try to keep an 'academic' tone to your writing.
Introductions and conclusions - don't neglect these!

Introduction

There is no formula for a good introduction. While some students will state very clearly how they will structure their answers, others may simply give some relevant background and their thoughts on the question. Examiners will want to know that you have understood the question and have grasped its implications. Think of it as a 'first impression', leading the examiner to think 'Good, they are on the right track'. Also, if you are answering an 'open-ended' question that may, for example, ask about the rise to power of a leader, then you can state here what time period you will focus on. In the case of Nasser, for instance. would you begin in 1952 or 1948 or earlier? Also, are there terms that need to be defined? If so, it is a good idea to do this in the introduction.

Conclusion
Here is your chance to make a 'lasting impression'. You will need to summarize your arguments concisely, but not by repeating them one by one, this is tedious add much to the answer. If you have a nice quotation that is relevant (make sure it is!) and sums up your argument, then use it in the conclusion. It may spark the marker's interest and leave a good impression.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

December 16


I told you to read through the USA PATRIOT Act and Anti-Terrorism Act section of the Social 30-1 study booklet. We watched a documentary called "Unconstitutional" (or at least part of it), and as you watched the video, you were supposed to complete the film study questions in the 30-1 study booklet. Please remember that you are writing your Chapter 10 Test tomorrow, and you can find the study guide below.


This test is multiple choice format, with 55 questions. Please review the PowerPoint "Political Challenges to Liberalism". You're responsible for all key terms and questions from the Chapter 10 Worksheet.

Please review the following as well:
  • Democratic Systems (handout notes)
  • Non-Democratic Systems (handout notes)
  • Structure of Canadian Government
  • Structure of American Government
  • similarities/differences between the parliamentary system and presidential system
  • types of dictatorships
  • techniques of dictatorships
  • authoritarian systems
  • proportional representation concept
  • first past the post system
  • review political and economic spectrum (again!)



I finished off the Adolf Hitler PowerPoint today. I will upload a revised version of this presentation this afternoon to the wiki. If you are interested in looking into the Holocaust, please check out the PowerPoint on the Holocaust and the 36 Questions About the Holocaust that is on the IB 20 wiki. You should also check out the Hitler PDF document that Mrs. Breadner uploaded to the wiki that is from an IB companion textbook.

Monday, December 15, 2014

December 15


You wrote your Unit 3 WRA I three source analysis assignment today in the Blenheim Room. If you missed class today, and it was an explained absence, you will have to make arrangements to write this assessment on another day. Please remember that you have your Chapter 10 Test on Wednesday. Please see the study guide below.



This test is multiple choice format, with 55 questions. Please review the PowerPoint "Political Challenges to Liberalism". You're responsible for all key terms and questions from the Chapter 10 Worksheet.

Please review the following as well:
  • Democratic Systems (handout notes)
  • Non-Democratic Systems (handout notes)
  • Structure of Canadian Government
  • Structure of American Government
  • similarities/differences between the parliamentary system and presidential system
  • types of dictatorships
  • techniques of dictatorships
  • authoritarian systems
  • proportional representation concept
  • first past the post system
  • review political and economic spectrum (again!)




We continued our Authoritarian and Single Party States unit today, by watching Part 2 of the A&E Biography of Adolf Hitler, "The Fatal Attraction of Adolf Hitler". After the documentary, I continued the lecture from the "Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany" PowerPoint presentation.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

December 11


I did a homework check on your Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions today. We watched the Smithsonian Channel documentary "9/11: The Day that Changed the World", which took the rest of the period. We'll finish off the documentary tomorrow, and then look at the USA PATRIOT Act. Please check out the important dates below.

  • Unit 3 WRA I three source analysis is on Monday, December 15th
  • Chapter 10 Test is on Wednesday, December 17th (please see the study guide below)

This test is multiple choice format, with 55 questions. Please review the PowerPoint "Political Challenges to Liberalism". You're responsible for all key terms and questions from the Chapter 10 Worksheet. Please review the following as well:
  • Democratic Systems (handout notes)
  • Non-Democratic Systems (handout notes)
  • Structure of Canadian Government
  • Structure of American Government
  • similarities/differences between the parliamentary system and presidential system
  • types of dictatorships
  • techniques of dictatorships
  • authoritarian systems
  • proportional representation concept
  • first past the post system
  • review political and economic spectrum (again!)



We watched the A & E Biography of Adolf Hitler called "The Fatal Attraction of Adolf Hitler". We'll continue to look at the emergence of a single-party state in Nazi Germany tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

December 10

Sorry for the later post tonight. I've been having a rough couple of days...

I gave back your Unit 2 Essays today. I covered the concept of illiberalism, so if you missed class today, you need to get the notes that you missed from a classmate. We also watched a video on the FLQ Crisis from the History's Turning Points series. As you watched this video, you were supposed to fill in the blanks on the film study that is in your Social 30-1 study booklet. Please remember that your Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow. On Monday of next week, you'll be writing your Unit 3 WRA I using the Quest A+ system. On Wednesday, December 17th you'll be writing your Chapter 10 Test, please see the study guide below.


This test is multiple choice format, with 55 questions. Please review the PowerPoint "Political Challenges to Liberalism". You're responsible for all key terms and questions from the Chapter 10 Worksheet. Please review the following as well:
  • Democratic Systems (handout notes)
  • Non-Democratic Systems (handout notes)
  • Structure of Canadian Government
  • Structure of American Government
  • similarities/differences between the parliamentary system and presidential system
  • types of dictatorships
  • techniques of dictatorships
  • authoritarian systems
  • proportional representation concept
  • first past the post system
  • review political and economic spectrum (again!)



I showed you a video from the BBC 20th Century History series called "Stalin and the Modernization of Russia". We also looked at historiography with the PowerPoint presentation "Stalin and the Historians". We're starting our examination of the emergence of the single-party state in Germany under Hitler tomorrow.

Thursday, December 04, 2014

December 4


I went through some additional notes for page 267 in your Social 30-1 study booklets. We also talked a little about the controversy and debate that is taking place in Alberta Legislature surrounding Bill 10 and Bill 202. Here is a link to an article with some videos about both Bill 10 and Bill 202.

Here are some very important due dates for next week:
  • USA-Canada Comparative Government Assignment is due on Monday, December 8th
  • US Civil Rights Movement Essay Outline is due on Tuesday, December 9th
  • Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions are due on Wednesday, December 10th
  • Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due on Thursday, December 11th



I continued with the Joseph Stalin and the USSR PowerPoint lecture today. I also showed you the Stalin and the USSR PDF that Ms. Breadner put up on the IB 20 wiki from an IB companion textbook for Topic 3 on the Paper 2. You must complete questions in both work sections from the "stalinandtheussr" PDF document that you can find on the IB 20 wiki under Unit 7 Dictatorships.

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

December 2

Sorry for the later post tonight...

We completed our case study example of an authoritarian government today by examining China. I showed you a couple of videos from the BBC 20th Century History series, "One Man's Revolution" and "China Since Mao". I strongly encourage you to read the Modern History of China notes that are in your 30-1 study booklet. Please remember that questions 1-14 and long answer question 2 from the U.S. Civil Rights Movement are due tomorrow.


I covered a lot of background material for our Authoritarian and Single-Party States unit today by lecturing on the 19th century political spectrum, the 20th century political spectrum, the principles of individualism and collectivism, the economic-political grid, and the techniques of dictatorship. We'll cover some basic economics tomorrow before we jump into talking about Joseph Stalin.

Monday, December 01, 2014

December 1


I went through the non-democratic systems section of the "Political Challenges to Liberalism" PowerPoint presentation. I also assigned some homework that is due on Wednesday: you must complete questions 1-14, and long answer question 2 on the Civil Rights Movement assignment that is in your 30-1 study booklets. You must also do the essay outline that is part of this assignment for Tuesday, December 9th. Please remember that your Comparative Government Assignment is due next Monday.


You wrote your Paper 3 essay today. I also talked a little bit about our next unit called Authoritarian and Single Party States. I will have to teach you a lot of background information on the 19th century political spectrum and the 20th century political spectrum and the economic political grid, as well as principles of individualism and collectivism.