RELIGION DEPARTMENT
IONA CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL
Course Code: HRE 4M1
Course Name: Church and Culture, College/University, Grade 12
Description/Rationale
This course is designed to help students continue to develop their understanding of Christian ethics and morality.
Focus will be placed on the moral teachings of the Catholic Church. The Scripture, Tradition, Magisterium and
Strands
of Study
and and
Overall
Expectations
history
of the Church
will be reviewed
examined
more deeply than ininclude:
previous courses, while connections and
comparisons to the teachings of other faiths and philosophies, both Christian and non-Christian are explored. The
objective all along will be for students to enrich their appreciation of the Catholic religion as a whole.
Strands of Study and Overall Expectations include:
I. Scripture:



illustrate how Scripture can be used in analysing and critiquing personal and social situations
explore Jesus’ ethical stance through the Sermon on the Mount and his image of the Kingdom
use Scripture (e.g., Covenant, Prophecy, Beatitudes, Paul and the early Church) as a framework to explore
current notions of happiness
II. Profession of Faith:



explore the origin and purpose of Catholic social teaching
connect Church teaching to contemporary ethical and moral issues as part of personal development
define key tenets of Catholic Social Teaching (e.g., human dignity, solidarity, social sin, the common good)
III. Christian Moral Development:



define the Catholic understanding of the nature of sin and reconciliation, both social and individual, and
explore sin’s impact of human happiness
apply Church teaching to contemporary ethical and moral issues
explore contemporary issues of social sin, forgiveness and restorative justice
IV. Prayer and Sacramental Life:


define the broad meaning of the term “vocation” as an adoption of a stance before all forms of work as
service to God and for others
express in a prayer or ritual form gratitude for God’s grace in our lives and appreciation for creation
V. Family Life Education:


understand the concept of dignity of the human person and its impact on our inherent sense of responsibility
towards self and others
apply related Church teaching to values and practices that promote or undermine the sacredness of life
Efforts will be made to meet the individual learning needs of students in order to ensure these
expectations are being met.
Course Breakdown
UNITS OF STUDY:
TEXTS AND RESOURCES:
1. Mapping the Ethical Experience
In Search of the Good
2. The Naming of God and Ethics
Catechism of the
Catholic Church
3. “Where your Treasure Is, There
Your Heart Will Also Be”
Resources:
The course will use a variety of resources including
video, CD-ROM, Internet Applications and a variety of
print sources. The textbook will be distributed to
students during the first week of the course. The text
and all other resources assigned to students are the
responsibility of the student. Any damage incurred will
result in payment for replacement. Replacement cost
for the text will be posted in the classroom.
Evaluation Structure:
Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking
Communication
Application
Bible - NRVS
4. Church: The Sacrament of God’s
Grace/Norms and Moral Living
25%
25%
25%
25%
These are assessed in both term work and summative
work as follows:
TERM WORK - 70% SUMMATIVE WORK – 30%
Culminating Task – 10%
+ Final Exam –
20%
5. The Good Life: Our Search for
Happiness
Evaluation Policy
Students will be assessed & evaluated according to the work produced & skills displayed. Methods of providing feedback will include
assessing work in process & evaluating completed assignments, tests, co-operative learning activities, simulations and presentations.
Student marks will be determined by evaluating process & product according to 4 categories & 4 levels. Please see the chart below for
specific skills and key words used to determine student competency in the different categories.
Category
Knowledge/Understanding:

Knowledge of facts & terms
 Understanding of concepts &
relationships
Thinking:

Critical thinking skills

Creative thinking skills
 Inquiry Skills
Communication:

Communication of ideas and information

Use of symbols & visuals
 Oral & written communication
Application:




Level 1:
Level 2:
Level 3:
Level 4:
50-59%
60-69%
70-79%
80-100%
Limited display of:
Some success in:
-knowledge and
understanding
-knowledge and
understanding
-critical and creative
thinking skills and/or
processes
-critical and creative
thinking skills and/or
processes
-conveying of meaning
through various forms
-conveying of meaning
through various forms
-knowledge and skills
to make connections
between various
contexts
-knowledge and skills to
make connections
between various contexts
Considerable display
of:
-knowledge and
understanding
Thorough understanding of:
-knowledge and understanding
-critical and creative thinking
skills and/or processes
-critical and creative
thinking skills and/or
processes
-conveying of meaning through
various forms
-conveying of meaning
through various forms
-knowledge and skills to make
connections between various
contexts
-knowledge and skills
to make connections
between various
contexts
Applications in familiar contexts
Transfer of concepts to new contexts
Making logical conclusions and
predictions
Use of technology
Feedback will also be provided for student learning skills. Skills like working independently, team work, organization, work habits and homework, and initiative
are assessed independently student achievement and will be conducted through the use of a rubric indicating specific criteria to be achieved to receive each of the
following letter grades:
E –Excellent
G – Good
S – Satisfactory
N - Needs Improvement
Other Evaluation Issues
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



LATE ASSIGNMENTS The due dates for major assignments will be clearly articulated by the teacher when the task is assigned. The teacher will establish a
deadline and an acceptance period of 1 school day following the deadline. The teacher will also allow for submission of assignments before the deadlines of the
acceptance period for the purpose of assistance in revising. If a student does not hand in the assignment by the deadline, a mark reduction will be applied to the
assignment submitted thereafter up to a total of 10%. If the assignment is not submitted by the end of the acceptance period the student will receive a mark of
zero. Refer to the Student Handbook for further details.
INCOMPLETE ASSSIGNMENTS Assignments will be graded according to the extent with which they meet the criteria established in the rubric or
evaluation structure.
MISSED TESTS. Teachers will give the class ample notice for up-coming tests/evaluations. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements for an
alternative assessment date (which may not be during class time) with the teacher before the scheduled time for the test/evaluation. If a test is missed due to a
legitimate reason, verification (note only to be handed in on the day of the student’s return) from a parent/guardian must be given to the subject teacher
indicating that the parents are aware the student has missed a test. If a test is missed as a result of truancy, a mark of zero will be assigned with no
opportunity for a re-write.
PLAGIARISM in any form reflects academic dishonesty and will result in a mark of zero for the assignment in question. Refer to the Student Handbook for
further details.
ATTENDANCE It is the responsibility of each student to be punctual and in attendance, with proper materials, at all classes and scheduled activities. Students
who miss classes may put their credit in jeopardy. It is the student’s responsibility to catch up on missed work when absent.