Challenge and Change in Canada

Introduction:
This course has focused on how Canadians are responding to changing social forces, on an individual and group basis. Your summative evaluation will be an analysis of a significant social trend and how Canadians are responding.

Your task:

1. You will prepare a medium-length (750 – 1000 words) paper outlining a social scientific analysis of a particular instance of social change in Canada. It should be 3 – 4 pages, typed, double-spaced. You may not research either your student seminar topic or the topic of your original reflection posting. Remember, you are trying to identify trends or change in Canada. Don’t just describe your topic.

2. Your written submission must adhere to the following format:

a) A title page as per Southwood Style Guidelines

b) An introductory paragraph that introduces your topic, the question you will be addressing and clearly states your hypothesis. You’ll probably want to include some history/background on your topic. Briefly outline what information you will be presenting to support your hypothesis.

c) A series of body paragraphs which present, in detail, the evidence you will use to support your hypothesis. You must have at least three areas of investigation or focus. All assertions must be supported by evidence and must be cited. You will need to address the specific conditions for and impediments to change as appropriate. Consider the implications of your research from an anthropological, sociological and/or psychological perspective as appropriate. These do not have to be the topics of your three paragraphs, since each topic could have an emphasis more on one discipline than another.

(d) A concluding paragraph that restates your hypothesis and summarizes your most important points. Hint: please do not start it with “In conclusion…”

e) A formal bibliography, as per Southwood Style Guidelines, listing all reference material in alphabetical order. You must have a minimum of three sources. I strongly urge you to use the Southwood Library databases, since these sources go deep and are universally reliable. While you should try for a mix of print and electronic sources, there is no restriction on the type of medium required. However, since this is a senior course, Wikipedia cannot be used as one of your sources.  You can use the Source Log to keep track of your sources.  Remember that you can save this document, and adapt it to create a custom source log sheet for the variety of sources you use.

3. Your written submission must include in-text citations. In this course, we use the reference format developed by the Modern Languages Association. Known as MLA format, this style of formatting requires you to use bracketed in-text citations rather than footnotes. Please refer again to the Southwood Style Guide or your blue sheet handout for specific details on how to cite.  Citation Guides

4. We’ve looked at a number of research reports from Statistics Canada. Consider using them as a guideline as to what a good report should look like.

Process:

You will have three library/CATC periods to work on this project, in addition to extensive work on your own time. The dates are as follows:
Work Period 1 _______________________
Work Period 2 _______________________
Work Period 3 _______________________

Stage 1 Advise teacher of general topic by __________________________

Stage 2 Hand in preliminary point form outline with research notes and rough bibliography attached (worth 10% of your mark) by _______________________________. I would strongly suggest you photocopy your notes so that you can continue to work on your essay while your notes are in my possession.

Stage 3 Final submission of essay and bibliography by __________________________. If you do not hand it in on time, you may not receive it back by the final exam.

Final cut off date (beyond which I will not accept the essay). ______________________________

 

Evaluation

Please see the attached rubric below. Please include this rubric with your assignment.

Topics

Potential Topics for this assignment (you may choose another subject with my approval):

Gun control trends                                  Racial profiling                                   Funding for the Arts
Corporal punishment of children         Prisoner rights                                   Domestic violence
Gay and lesbian adoption                     Changing face of religion                 Sharia Law
Cyber-dating                                             Violence in sports                             Vegetarianism
Cosmetic surgery trends                       National I.D. cards
Accessibility for the disabled                 Aboriginal justice                              Teen driving laws
The debt crunch                                       Popularity of mass transit                Divorce trends
Trends in post-secondary education  Changes in the auto sector              Youth and technology
Seniors and technology                         Multi-generation families                  Women in sports
Volunteerism in Canada                        Work opportunities for youth            Canada’s military role
Common law relationships                   Economic inequality                          Going “green”
Homelessness                                        Doctor shortage                                  Alternative schools
“Helicopter” parenting                             Elder abuse                                        Child abuse
Funding for healthcare                            Funding for religious education
Bullying legislation                                   Assisted suicide

 Writing and Formatting Help

Guidelines for writing a Social Issues Paper

Click here to download the HSB 4UI Summative Evaluation Rubric

For source logs, a Works Cited formatting sample, and guidelines on correctly integrating parenthetical MLA citations please visit the Bibliographic Resources page.