Grade 11/12 Humanities courses

English 11: Literary Studies

4 credits

Literary Studies 11 allows students to delve deeply into literature. Students can explore specific themes, periods, authors, or areas of the world through literary works (fiction and nonfiction) in a variety of media. Some of the curricular competencies in this course include helping students: to recognize and understand the role of story, narrative, and oral tradition in expressing First Peoples values and belief systems; to think critically, creatively, and reflectively to explore ideas within texts; to recognize how personal, social, and cultural experiences directly connect to culture, gender, sexual orientation, and socio-economic factors. The discussions, assignments, and projects are designed to foster students’ development in reflecting and responding to text; speaking, listening, and expressing; using design processes and writing to plan and create meaningful work for different audiences. Units may include short fiction, novel, poetry, and drama.

Genocide Studies 12

4 credits, satisfies Social Studies 11/12 graduation requirement

Genocide 12 examines the political, legal, social, and cultural ramifications of the intentional destruction of peoples while recognizing that this process is not inevitable, and attempts can be disrupted and resisted. Various case studies from around the globe and through modern history will help extend and clarify this challenging topic.

Students are expected to know the following:

• origins and development of the term “genocide”

• economic, political, social, and cultural conditions of genocide

• characteristics and stages of genocide

• acts of mass violence and atrocities in different global regions

• strategies used to commit genocide

• uses of technology in promoting and carrying out genocide

• recognition of and responses to genocides

• movements that deny the existence of or minimize the scope of genocides

• evidence used to demonstrate the scale and nature of genocides

• international law and enforcement

Students will be studying the Rwandan Genocide and have options for independent research into various other genocides that could include Cambodia, Canada, Darfur, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine, Yugolsavia, and more.

Law Studies12

4 credits, satisfies Social Studies 11/12 graduation requirement

“Without knowledge of rights, no rights truly exist”

survey Canadian law from its origins to emerging issues
use case studies and original documents to understand that Canadian law is based on a small number of basic and logical principles
class activities include discussion, research, oral reports, and projects

Philosophy 12

4 credits, satisfies Social Studies 11/12 graduation requirement

What is it? Who are the famous players? How might philosophy be helpful and influence the way we live today?
In this introductory course, you’ll learn a little about the history of philosophy, including Plato, Aristotle, the Skeptics, the Cynics, the Epicureans, the Stoics, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, the Romans, and the Existentialists. Philosophy provides the foundation for law, politics, science, psychology and religion and so if you are interested in these subjects philosophy could be helpful to you.
What is real? How do you know something is real and you are not just dreaming? Do you have a soul? Is there a God? Do we need money? Why? Is happiness contagious? If you could get paid for doing nothing, would you? (Really?!)
Dr. Train will teach using thought experiments, perspective changing exercises, role play, relaxation, meditation, conversation, discussion, and debate. There is a field trip to a first year UBC philosophy lecture.

20th Century History 12

4 credits, satisfies Social Studies 11/12 graduation requirement

This course looks at the major events and trends of the Twentieth Century. Students develop their learning around what happened and why events unfolded the way they did. The 20th Century saw both World Wars, the Roaring Twenties and the Depression years, the Cold War, and the rise of the Great Dictators. Inventions and innovations in the world of technology allowed for huge leaps in communications, transportation, medicine, and globalization. Civil rights, revolutions and social change around the world are important themes in this course.
Students will work with a variety of activities, including presentations, reenactments, research and design activities using the inquiry process, and individual and collaborative projects. Students are assessed on their projects, assignments and through unit tests. Some tasks are individual and some are collaborative.
Expect to spend 1 - 2 hours per week outside of class time on this course.

Page updated

Report abuse