Canadian History, Identity and Culture with Mr. Spencer Your first and last name: ________________________ http://education.davidspencer.ca/history/identity/cu Back to the list of Units Date Assigned: February 17, 2009 Date Due: April 27, 2009

CU: Culminating Unit for Canadian History, Identity and Culture

If you have any questions about this assignment please contact Mr. Spencer by phone or e-mail.

Your CU (Culminating Unit) can be an educational and rewarding experience if you complete the various stages on time during the CU process listed below. The CU will help to develop your time management, research, writing, communication, technology and self-expression skills. Thgis CU is worth 15% of your final mark.

Writing for the web: During class, you will learn some basics about the parameters for writing for the web. You will also learn the basics of an online software programming language called MediaWiki. This is the same software used to create and manage Wikipedia. For your CU you will be researching and writing in preparation to post your CU writing and bibliography on the web. With your teacher's and parent's permission, you may actually post your CU on the web after you have completed all the CU requirements.

Topic: Select a topic relating to the course. Topics are available here
<http://www.canadianidentity.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Topics_for_2009>

Thesis: A thesis is a sentence that stands alone and clearly states the writer's point of view, perspective or opinion. The thesis is not a question. The supporting arguments of the essay must prove this thesis. A thesis could be argued by someone with an opposing viewpoint. The thesis for a social science essay must appear as the last sentence in the essay introduction and as the first sentence in the conclusion. Write your thesis and inquiry/focus questions.

Bibliography: As you gather research, write your research notes and record the source title of each book, periodical, video or web site you use. Follow the MLA (Modern Language Association) guidelines for setting up your final bibliography as shown on the attached handout sheet. You should have a variety of at least five (5) sources from books, web sites, magazines, interviews or video references. To help you with producing reference citations, please visit the Citation Machine <http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=1>.

Embedded Citations: For social science research papers, the embedded citation method of referencing is preferred over footnotes. Use the MLA method of embedded citations when quoting statements, statistics or information that is not in your own words. Give credit to the author, researcher, web developer,graphic designer, artist or photographer. Use (Author's last name page number). For example, if the author of a book is John Smith and the page you found the information on is page 29, the embedded citation would be (Smith 29)

CU Log: In order to track your progress, create an CU Log chart and record your tasks starting today. Use a full page of paper to create your CU Log chart. If you wish, you may use a computer program to create your CU log .

CU Log

Entry Date Location Start Time Finish Time What I Did What I Need 1 February 23 Brampton Library 3:30 P.M. 5:00 P.M. Found two books. Signed out a video. Info on the important dates for my issue. 2 February 24 at School 1:00 P.M. 3:00 P.M. researched on the Internet and interviewed a teacher need to summarize my notes and make embedded citations 3

Essay Structure: Write a 1000-1500 word research report ready to post on the web. Your are writing content for a web site about Canadian Identity. Your essay should be typed, doubled spaced using a size 12 point "Arial" font. Use your computer word processor to count the number of words. Spell and grammar check all aspects of each portion of this assignment before you hand it in for marking.
Your essay must have the following structure:

Marking Rubric: Mr. Spencer will use a marking rubric as the marking scheme for this assignment. Follow the criteria exactly. The marking rubric for the essay can be found here.
<http://education.davidspencer.ca/history/identity/cu/marking/>

CU Library Research Date
On Monday March 2, 2009 at 9:55 a.m., we meet as a class at the Four Corners Branch of the Brampton Library located at 65 Queen Street East. (map). You will be provided with research instruction, a worksheet and an opportunity to sign out books and library cards. We will have lunch at a restaurant downtown and research and write in the library until 2:30 p.m.

Bring your Library card and show Mr. Spencer at 9:55 a.m. Marks: ___/5

CU Part One Due Date
Date Due: Monday March 23, 2009

The following CU components are due today:
1. CU Topic
You should have selected your CU Topic from the list provided by Mr. Spencer. There should be a different topic for each student in our class. No duplicates please.
Marks: ___/3

2. Thesis and Focus Questions
Your thesis and focus questions are due today. Have Mr. Spencer check your thesis and return modifications to you. Once your thesis is approved by Mr. Spencer, you may continue to do your research.
Marks: ___/5

3. Resources Gathered
Show Mr. Spencer your jot notes, print outs and resources that you have found so far. Make sure that you write the title of the source (book, web site, video, interview) and the page number(s) where you found the information. For each quote and statistic, make sure that you gather the information you need to write an embedded citation. Read the MLA "Guidelines for Preparing a Bibliography" handout to learn how to correctly write an embedded citation.
Marks: ___/5

4. Bibliography Check #1
Record your sources during your research. As you conduct your research, create a bibliography that lists the author(s), publication name, publisher and date of publication for each resource. See the MLA "Guidelines for Preparing a Bibliography" handout for listing books, periodicals, web site addresses, interviews and videos.
Marks: ___/5

5. CU Log Check #1
Make sure that you write in your entries each time you work on your CU.
Marks: ___/10 

CU Part Two Due Date
Date Due: Monday April 6, 2009

The following CU components are due today:
1. Resources Gathered
Show Mr. Spencer your jot notes, print outs and resources you have found so far.
Marks: ___/5

2. Photos, Images or Charts
Show Mr. Spencer your photos, images or charts and the URL or book sources and page numbers.
Marks: ___/15

3. Embedded Citation Check #1
Show Mr. Spencer your four (3-4) embedded citations indicating where you have used a source for statistics, provided a quote from an author or speaker. Ideas and quotations that are not your own must be acknowledged in your essay as an embedded citation. You should have at least one embedded citation in each of Paragraph 2, 3 and 4.
Marks: ___/3

4. Bibliography Check #2
As you conduct your research, create a bibliography that lists the author(s), publication name, publisher and date of publication for each resource. See the MLA "Guidelines for Preparing a Bibliography" handout for listing books, periodicals, web site addresses, interviews and videos.
Marks: ___/5

5. CU Log Check #2
Make sure that you write in your entries each time you work on your CU.
Marks: ___/10

6. CU Rough Draft Due
Show Mr. Spencer your rough draft. It should be typed out (double spaced) and ready for revision.
Marks: ___/20  

 

CU Part Three
Date Due: Monday April 27, 2009

The following CU components are due today:
1. Final Good Copy of CU
Marks: ___/5
The final good copy of your CU is due today. Hand in your your good copy (typed double spaced),bibliography, rough copy and research notes. Include a cover page with the following:

CU Topic Title by "your name"     Date handed in Course: Canadian History,Identity and Culture Course Code: CHI4U Course Advisor: Mr. Spencer Peel Alternative School North

2. Bibliography Check #3
Your bibliography must be typed and alphabetically list the author(s), publication name, publisher and date of publication for each resource. Refer to the "Guidelines for Preparing a Bibliography" handout for listing web site addresses, interviews and videos. Do NOT number your entries. Organize them in alphabetical order by author's last name.
Marks: ___/5

3. CU Log Check #3
Make sure that you write in your final entries for work done on your CU.
Marks: ___/10