Welcome to Challenge and Change in Society (HSB4M1)!

This course examines the theories and methodologies used in anthropology, psychology, and sociology to investigate and explain shifts in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour, and their impact on society. We will analyse cultural, social, and biological patterns in human societies, looking at the ways in which those patterns change over time. We will also explore the ideas of classical and contemporary social theorists, and will apply those ideas to the analysis of contemporary trends.

Unit 1: What are Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology?

You are introduced to the purposes, major concepts, terminology, research methods, and practitioners of the three social science disciplines. The culminating activity is a unit test. The social science research process begins with selecting a topic, forming a hypothesis, and completing an annotated bibliography.

Unit 2: Social Change

How do social scientists examine social change?  What forces cause it?  How has technology altered our lives and created social change? 

Unit 3: Social Trends

What social trends or large-scale changes have we experienced in Canadian society?  What global trends are taking place? How do social scientists study and evaluate these trends?

Unit 4: Social Challenges

What social challenges do we face in the beginning of the 21st century?  What are the issues and forces that shape them?   

Unit 5: Final Project and Test

Using ethical guidelines, appropriate methodology, and primary and secondary sources, students develop a position on a social issue of importance to anthropology, psychology, or sociology and, using a research design appropriate to the issue and discipline, carry out a research project in at least one of the disciplines. Teachers may wish to include steps of the social science report process in the 70% term work. The final written report and oral presentation should be included in the 30% course culminating activities along with an exam.

Semester Calendar 

Assignments

The final grade will be assessed using the following formula:

Unit Assignments/Tests:                     50%

Class Work:                                        20%

Summative Evaluation:                       30%

Achievement Chart

Knowledge/Understanding      25%

Thinking/Inquiry                       25%

Communication                      25%

Application                               25%

link to curriculum document

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