Onto the next Unit - Political Systems!!!

So, we have officially wrapped up our talks about the economy and are now going to be looking at political systems.  Just as a refresher - when we are looking at political systems, typically we look at how much freedom is given to individual citizens and how much control is given to the government.  Your political system dictates how your country is run.  For this, we will be looking at several different types of democracies, as well as the opposite to democracy - dictatorships (which is NOT communism!!!).

This first week will be a nice and easy (not the hair dye) introduction into the very basics of democracy.  Review what we went through in our first unit - philosophers such as Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu,Rousseau and Mill to refresh what they said about political systems and to review the basics of democracies and dictatorships and your spectrums.

So what will this week look like?

Tuesday:

• Geomeer Presentation in the the theatre at 9 am.  I'm not sure how long this will take us
• Why Democracy Matters

Wednesday:

• Anticipation Guide - How did democracy develop? - You will need your textbooks
• Introduction Notes
• Categorizing the characteristics - You will need scissors and glue

Thursday:

• Rants by Gage and Sarah T.
• Finish categorizing (if needed)
• Vocab: Presidential, Parliamentary and Direct democracies
• Notes on types of democracies
• Comparing Canada and the US democracies - You will need a phone or iPod with a QR scanner and headphones

Friday:

• Writing Assignment in the lab - You won't get this one ahead but can use your notes, and it will be a rough draft.  You can get feedback if you are going to change your work.
• Due at the end of class

Almost done with Economics!

This is our last week to be looking at economics, which means that you will be having your test on FRIDAY!!!! It will be covering everything we have learned about economics - capitalism pros and cons, communism pros and cons, shift to modern liberalism, Canada and Sweden's mixed economies and neo-conservative reaction - and is strictly a multiple choice test.  Somewhere between 35-45 questions I believe.  We will be reviewing in class this week, but it would be best if you started to review now rather than later.

There is very little new content that we will be covering this week, so we will have the opportunity to review material and go through interpreting sources and how to best use those techniques on your exam.  Be prepared to be finished writing when the bell rings - no extension into the next class, you will have until the end of break.

As well, all assignments/essays have been marked and updated, so you can check out your current marks on PowerSchool, it is all there.

So what's up with this week?

Monday:

• Vocabulary: Neoconservatism, Reagonomics, Monetarism
• Make sure you get the flow chart answers so you can finish that
• Video: Arguments against the Welfare State
• Notes - Supply Side Economics
• Interpreting Sources

Tuesday:

• Trickle Down Economics - Good or Bad?
• Finish Notes
• Comparing Keynesian Economics to Monetarism

• Interpreting Sources

Wednesday: 

• Comparing Government Actions
• New Deal vs. Obamanomics 2008
• Canada's new tax breaks - good or bad?
• Video review questions

Thursday:

• Rants by Kelsi-Leigh and Mikayla
• Review - please let me know how you guys would like to review.  Having only half the class play a game is not that fun or helpful to those who don't participate...

Friday:

• Test day!!!!

Almost Done with Economics

Last week, we were covering the shift to modern liberalism and why it was seen as necessary following the 1929 Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression.  Not only did the economic atmosphere change following these two catastrophic events, but the social attitudes in the United States and Canada changed.  There was more of an emphasis on the need for greater government involvement in hopes of protecting citizens from anything like that happening again.

This week, we will be looking at Canada's version of the Welfare State, along with how it is used in Europe.

Monday: 

• Vocabulary: Monetary and Fiscal Policies
• Article on the Great Depression
• Vocabulary: Keynesian Economics, New Deal and Welfare State 
• Review Questions and Video

Tuesday: 

• Vocabulary: Progressive Taxation, Flat Tax and Mixed Economy
• Canada's Mixed Economy
• How Our Tax System Works
• Bring a calculator to class

Wednesday:

• Flat Tax - Good or Bad? Debate
• Sweden's Welfare State - Democratic Socialism

Thursday:

• Rants by  Shalan and Dylan
• Finish Sweden's Welfare State
• Interpreting Sources
• Is Paying Taxes so Bad?
• Review Questions and Video

Friday: 

• Swinging back to traditional capitalism
• Flow Chart Activity - you need your textbook, glue and scissors