WR-Assignment 1

Analyze Characteristics


In this assignment you will:

  • Identify the most important/significant characteristics, policies, or causes
  • Explain why they’re the most important (and for what reasons)
  • Support your explanation with examples/evidence from Social Studies content
  • Communicate effectively in a well-organized written response

Canadian Identity and Aspects of Nation

  • Geography
  • Culture
  • Ethnicity
  • Linguistics
  • Civic Responsibility
  • Patriotism
  • Collective Identity
  • Politics
  • Religion and Spirituality
    •
Click on each of the following tabs to view your tasks.

Identify the characteristic(s)/aspect(s) you consider to be most important:


Using the included visual, choose at least one characteristic/aspect.

  • Choose one(s) where you can provide/explain the most examples
  • Choose one(s) you know more about why it would be considered important

Explain why it is the most important


  • Provide reasons why your choices are the most important
  • Provide examples from your knowledge of Social Studies to prove why your choices are the most important
  • Be specific and don’t generalize with your explanations!

Support your explanation with examples from Social Studies


  • Support your choice with specific examples from readings in the textbook, history or current events
  • Use key terms from your readings/web pages in your response
  • Evidence and examples included should be specific and must be accurate/appropriate to support your choice(s) of characteristics/policies/causes

Communication


NOTE: You are not required to write an essay but it must be in paragraph form

  • Paragraphs have introductory sentences and concluding sentences
  • Social Studies terminology & vocabulary should be included – you are marked on it
  • Ensure your writing is organized with grammar and mechanics corrected


WR-Assignment 1: Marking Rubric

Scoring Categories and Scoring Criteria for Assignment I

Focus EXPLANATIONS AND SUPPORT (8 marks) COMMUNICATIONS (2 marks)
When marking Explanations and Support, the marker will consider the:
  • quality of explanations
  • selection and quality of support
  • understanding of the assigned task
 When marking Communication, the marker will consider the:
  • organization and coherence
  • vocabulary (e.g., specificity, accuracy)
  • sentence construction (e.g., clarity, completeness)
  • grammar and mechanics (e.g., consistency of tense, punctuation, spelling, capitalization)

Proportion of error to the length and complexity of the response must be applied when awarding a mark for Communication.
Excellent

E

 Explanations are deliberate and comprehensive, revealing a perceptive understanding. Support is specific and accurate and errors, if present, do not detract from the response. A thorough understanding of the assigned task is demonstrated.
8
The writing is fluent and purposefully organized. Vocabulary is precise. The writing demonstrates confident control of sentence construction, grammar and mechanics. Errors, if present, are inconsequential.
2
Proficient

Pf

 Explanations are appropriate and purposeful, revealing a clear understanding. Support is relevant and appropriate, but may contain some minor errors. A clear understanding of the assigned task is demonstrated.
6.4
The writing is logical and clearly organized. Vocabulary is specific. The writing frequently demonstrates effective control of sentence construction, grammar, and mechanics. Errors do not detract from communication.
1.6
Satisfactory

S

 Explanations are general and straightforward, revealing an acceptable understanding. Support is relevant but general, may be incompletely developed, and/or contains minor errors. An acceptable understanding of the assigned task is demonstrated.
4.8
The writing is generally clear and functionally organized. Vocabulary is adequate. The writing demonstrates basic control of sentence construction, grammar, and mechanics. Errors do not seriously interfere with communication.
1.2
Limited

L

 Explanations are overgeneralized and/or redundant, revealing a confused, though discernible, understanding. Support is superficial, may not always be relevant, and may contain significant errors. An incomplete understanding of the assigned task is demonstrated.
3
The writing is uneven and incomplete, but is discernibly organized. Vocabulary is imprecise and/or inappropriate. The writing demonstrates a faltering control of sentence construction, grammar and mechanics. Errors hinder communication.
1
Poor

P

 Explanations are tangential or minimal, revealing a negligible understanding. Support, if present, is incomplete, may be marginally relevant, and contains significant and/or frequent errors. A minimal understanding of the assigned task is demonstrated.
1.6
The writing is unclear and disorganized. Vocabulary is ineffective and frequently incorrect. A lack of control of sentence construction, grammar, and mechanics is demonstrated. Errors impede communication.
.4
Insufficient

INS

 Insufficient is a special category. It is not an indicator of quality. It is assigned to responses that are: off-topic, do not contain a discernible attempt to address the task, OR are too brief to assess in any scoring category.

If the response is deemed Insufficient, your teacher will contact you to clarify the expectations of the assignment and provide an opportunity to redo your response.


Example WR-Assignment 1

Social Studies 20-2
Written Response Assignment 1


ASSIGNMENT 1
Value: 10%
Suggested Time: 20 to 25 minutes
 

Canadian Identity and Aspects of Nation

  • Geography
  • Culture
  • Ethnicity
  • Linguistics
  • Civic Responsibility
  • Patriotism
  • Collective Identity
  • Politics
  • Religion and Spirituality
    •
 

What characteristic(s) are most important/significant to shaping our Canadian identity?


Write a response in which you must
  • Identify the characteristic(s) that is/are the most important to Canadian identity
  • Explain why the characteristic(s) is/are the most important
  • Support your response using your understanding of Social Studies content


Student Example: WR-Assignment 1 Response
I think that culture and geography are the most important characteristics to Canadian identity.

While Canadians (and other people in the world) might think that Canadians do not have a culture due to our support and adoption of multiple cultures, the diversity of cultures as well as our core Canadian culture makes up who we are. For instance, as we celebrate and support multiculturalism through Heritage Day festivals and supporting different language subjects in schools (such as Mandarin, French, Spanish, or German), our Canadian culture is also important in our values of being polite, tolerant, and accepting of new people to Canada (such as the Syrian refugees).

In addition, the geography of Canada is an important part of our identity. Canada’s geography is so different within and between provinces, and from oceans, to mountains, to the tundra of the territories, to the coasts of the Maritimes, these geographical locations connect strongly to the individual Canadians who live in these areas, as well as when they move to other locations in Canada.

Social 20-2 Outcomes
  • Identify main ideas underlying a position or issue
  • Determine the strengths and weaknesses of arguments
  • Communicate effectively