Learning Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues
Notes to Teacher
REQUIRED RESOURCES:
The Learning Guide employs the textbook Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues,
written by M. Cranny and G. Moles and published by Prentice Hall. (ISBN 0-13-088877-X).
ORGANIZATION:
The Learning Guide is divided into five units. The first four are based on the Counterpoints:
Exploring Canadian Issues textbook. The fifth unit makes use of sample Social Studies 11
exams.
Unit 1 consists of eight sections that lead students through an examination of the historical
events in Canada’s history from 1896 through 2000. These sections are based on
Chapters 1 – 8 of the Counterpoints text. Each section includes: a reading guide that covers
the material in one of the eight chapters in the unit; a short quiz that reviews the key
vocabulary and significant individuals or events of the chapter; and a short essay assignment.
Unit 2 consists of four sections that lead students through an examination of law and
government in Canada. These sections are based on Chapters 9 – 12 of the Counterpoints
text. Each section includes: a reading guide that covers the material in one of the four
chapters in the unit; a short quiz that reviews the key vocabulary and significant individuals
or events of the chapter; and a short essay assignment.
Unit 3 consists of six sections that lead students through an examination of population issues
around the world and their implications for Canada and Canadians. These sections are based
on Chapters 13 - 18 of the Counterpoints text. Each section includes: a reading guide that
covers the material in one of the six chapters in the unit; a short quiz that reviews the key
vocabulary and significant individuals or events of the chapter; and a short essay assignment.
Unit 4 consists of writing three essays based on the themes explored in Units 1 – 3 of the
Learning Guide and the Counterpoints text. Teachers should encourage their students to
attempt these essays – especially if students have not been required to write many of the
section essays – as they complete the relevant units. As is the case with the section essays, a
scoring rubric is provided for use by students and teachers. It is based on the 6 point scale
used for marking essay questions in the BC Ministry of Education’s Social Studies 11 exam.
Students should be given a copy of this rubric and instructed in its use; it is hoped that if
students have a clear understanding of how their writing is being assessed, they will be better
able to address those attributes when composing their essays.
© 2005 Better Classroom Guidebooks
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Unit 5 consists of sample Social Studies exams drawn from the BC Ministry of Education’s
web site www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/specs/grade11/ss/. If a teacher has used the
Counterpoints text as the main resource for a course of studies, the exams will provide a
useful summative review. If students are expected to write a final exam for their course, the
samples will help familiarize them with writing exams.
INTENDED USERS:
The Learning Guide was designed for use by teachers of Canadian history and social studies
courses. It can be used in a variety of settings, for example:
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in conventional classrooms as guided reading assignments for the Counterpoints
textbook in preparation for teacher designed activities;
in any classroom as “make up” assignments for students who experience extended
absences;
in multi-grade classrooms where teachers must present several different social
studies courses;
in classrooms where students enter and exit a program at varied times and require
self-paced study materials.
EVALUATION
Each reading guide and quiz is provided with an answer key for the teacher’s use.
A marking rubric is provided for evaluating the essays. If students are instructed in this
rubric’s use, they should have a better understanding of how to select and organize
information. This will help improve the organization of their compositions (as well as
making the teacher’s marking task easier).
An examination of the student mark record will show that each section mark is an average
of the student’s work on a chapter’s reading guide, quiz and essay.
Teachers are encouraged to check out the BC Ministry of Education’s website at
www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/specs/grade11/ss/ and examine the sample Social Studies 11
exams. These may be used as practice exams or as an end-of-course review.
Teachers who only use parts of the Counterpoints text will have to modify the student mark
record to incorporate the other resources and activities that make up their course. Please feel
free to modify or replace the student mark record with one that suits your own circumstances.
© 2005 Better Classroom Guidebooks
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COPYRIGHT
The Learning Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues is copyrighted by Better
Classroom Guidebooks.
The Learning Guide is provided on CD-ROM and all of its materials are provided in MS
Office formats which will allow purchasers to modify the individual components to suit the
needs of their own classes. The Learning Guide, in its original or modified form, may not be
provided to students in any editable format.
When purchased by a school, the Learning Guide may be used by any number of teachers in
that school and their students. Similarly, when purchased by an individual, the Learning
Guide may be used by that individual and any number of his or her students.
The Learning Guide and its files may not be transferred to any other parties in either original
or modified form.
© 2005 Better Classroom Guidebooks
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