CHC 2DI MAJOR ASSIGNMENT
Canada: Defining Values
Purpose:This assignment will provide students an opportunity to develop:
Knowledge/Understanding
-understanding of the problems faced by Canadians during the period 1914-1945
-understanding how these issues shaped Canadian nationhood
Thinking/Inquiry
-the ability to select, categorize and organize appropriate evidence
-the ability to draw conclusions from historical evidence
-the ability to ask guiding questions and develop an appropriate thesis
Communication
- the ability to use evidence to support an argument
-the ability to write a well structured, well developed argumentative thesis essay
-the ability to document sources using a bibliography and footnotes/endnotes
Assignment Requirements:
- FOCUS: Your essay needs to include a consideration of the following:
“What is Canada - What are its core values, and where do they come”
2. Write a formal argumentative essay based on the evidence in the documents provided.
3. Length: 750-1000 words.
4. Typed, double-spaced.
5. Title page.
6. Correctly formatted bibliography and footnotes/endnotes. The standard for documentation for this project can be found on the WCI History Department web site/documentation.
Process:
1.Keep in mind the focus of the assignment and skim read the documents provided to develop an impression of the information they contain. Ask yourself/record several questions to help focus your reading. These questions should require more than a “yes” or “no” answer.
The Primary Documents to be examined include:
- World War One Documents
- Great Depression Documents
- Additional On-Line Sources:
Good Bright Days
King's Diary on Dieppe
The Memory Project
The Memory Project (D-Day)
The Memory Project (Conscription)
Collections Canada: Canada at War
The Canadian Letters Project
CBC Digital Archives
Native Canadians at War
2.After skim-reading the documents, go back over them, reading this time for more detail. While doing so, record information pertinent to the focus above:
How did these events shape Canada/Canadians?
3.Create a Mind Map on which you identify MAJOR EVENTS in Canadian History that shaped us, and identify the CORE VALUES you have identified.
Be sure to record exact quotations and the sources (including page numbers) from which they come in an EVIDENCE ORGANIZER.
3. Categorize the evidence you have recorded in your EVIDENCE ORGANIZERinto arguments.
4. Using the focus questions provided above, develop a working thesis that incorporates the focus questions and recognizes any concessions you may make while developing your argument. Skim through the documents again to see whether the evidence really supports your thesis. Be prepared to revise and polish your thesis as you proceed through this process.
5. Develop an outline that:
a. clearly states your thesis
b. briefly outlines any pertinent background information about the topic. Such
information may form the basis of a “background paragraph” or may be
incorporated into an “extended introduction”.
c. outlines a concession paragraph that admits the merits of the opposing view to your thesis, but explains why such evidence does not negate your thesis.
d. outlines each argument in support of your thesis. In each case, the argument should be clearly identified, specific evidence should be bulleted, and a summary explanation that explains how the argument proves the thesis should be provided.
6. Using your outline, write a rough draft. Pour your ideas out as quickly as possible without pausing to revise. Let the rough draft sit for at least a day, and then go back to make revisions, polish language, complete documentation of sources and smooth out the rough sections. After revisions have been made, give the draft to an editor for a second opinion.
7. Prepare a final draft based on suggestions made by your editor. Make sure you have checked the following useful guides on the WCI History Department website:
Essay Checklist & Incorporating/Introducing quotations
8. Hand in the following to your teacher:
- T-Chart
- Outline
- Final Copy
Evaluation40 Marks
A. Process - Mind Map10 Marks
Evidence Organizer10 Marks
Outline 10 Marks
B. Final Draft–100 Marks
- please see the marking rubric/marksheet distributed by your teacher