ROSEDALE HEIGHTS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

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1 ROSEDALE HEIGHTS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Grade 12 Canadian & International Law University Preparation CLN4U TORONTO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

2 Course Overview Canadian & International Law, Grade 12, University Preparation Prerequisite: Any university or university/college preparation course in Canadian and world studies, English or social sciences and humanities Course Developer: Joel Gottlieb 2007 Course Description This course examines elements of Canadian & International law in social, political, and global contexts. Students will study the historical and philosophical sources of law and the principles and practices of international law and will learn to relate them to issues in Canadian society and the wider world. Students will use critical-thinking and communication skills to analyze legal issues, conduct independent research, and present the results of their inquiries in a variety of ways. Ministry Document The Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 and 12 Units: Titles and Time Unit 1 Heritage, sources, philosophy of law 20 hours Unit 2 Rights & Freedoms 20 hours Unit 3 Criminal Law & Procedures 30 hours Unit 4 Regulation & Dispute Resolution 20 hours Unit 5 Methods of Legal Inquiry & 10 hours Note: Culminating Activity 10 hours Unit Overviews Unit 1: Heritage, sources, philosophy of law Unit Description This unit addresses the sources of law from their roots in political and social philosophy as well as religion and custom. Distinctions between the various branches of the law like public & private law, civil and criminal law, domestic and international law will be raised. Theories and justifications for various legal systems with a particular focus on the democratic will of the people reflected through a popularly elected legislature s laws will be addressed. The relationships between society, peace, corruption and respect for the law will be studied. Students will also look at the role of individuals who have brought about legal reform and the value of a responsive legal system.

3 Activity Assessment Focus 1. Sources of Primary & Secondary sources Law Bible Koran Plato, Socrates, Draco, Justinian and others 2. Religion & Philosophy 3. Law & Society Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Theories of law. Bases of law in faith, politics, power, democracy Morality, justice and the law. Corruption, the law and society. Role of voluntary compliance by citizens and political/government officials Law and Values Conflict between Society s values and the Law Role of the Supreme court as a protector of values 4. Law Reform Influence of individual citizens Canadian and non-canadian on law reform Role of collective action Power of individual through lawsuits Unit 2: Rights and Freedoms In this unit students will address the rights and freedoms of Canadians, the power of governments in Canada at all levels, the importance of the Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Students will address Majority and Minority Rights in Canada as they relate to legislatures, language groups, ethnic groups and immigrants. The responsibilities of the judiciary as well as the legislatures will be addressed in the context of the adversarial and inquisitorial systems. Speakers from the government who will explain their positions and relevant cases will address the role of Officer of the Court. Human Rights cases concerning gender, religion, tribunals and other current rights issues will be studied directly. Activity Assessment Focus 1. Charter of Rights Knowledge/Understanding The document 2. Canadian Constitution Charter cases Thinking/Inquiry The document Supreme court research 3. Human rights Charter of Rights and Canadian Constitution: Rulings Debate Philosophy 4. Legislature & Judiciary Conflict resolution 5. Minority & Majority Rights Tribunals

4 Unit 3: Criminal Law & Procedures In this unit students will address practical, procedural and philosophical aspects of criminal law and justice. They study theories of criminal law, reasons for different types of sentences, sentencing procedures, impact of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, jurisdictional issues, roles of different courts, use of the criminal law to punish corporate criminal offenders, concepts of justice, forensics, arrest procedures, searches, evidence rules and the wrongfully convicted. They do this with the use of the text and through the study of many Canadian and especially Ontario cases. Lawyers from both the defence and the Crown side of the court also address them. Activity Assessment Focus 1.Theories of Crime Philosophy Historical & present Knowledge & Understanding practices Thinking/Inquiry Sentencing theories 2. Criminal Trial Process Police work Court procedures 3. Concepts of Justice Wrongful conviction Charter of Rights YCJA Actual sentencing 4. Case Analysis (Formal) Supreme court case analysis Unit 4: Regulation and Dispute Resolution Students study Environmental law and the various governments roles and effectiveness. Students look at corporations power, citizens power and the roles of the state in addressing labour issues, rights of employees and the collective rights of unions. Students address the rights of corporations and companies to make profits. Students also focus on the philosophy, history and importance of international treaties, organizations and laws with a focus on war crimes and trade issues. Students address the roles that they might play in these complex and changing areas of the law.

5 Activity Assessment Focus 1. Environmental Law Pollution Forms of liability Collective responsibility Powers of governments and individuals 2. Labour Law Rights & 3. Principles of International Law, Treaties and Agreements 4. Global Conflicts and Global Conflict resolution techniques and history. Knowledge and Understanding Thinking and Inquiry responsibilities of employees, unions and management Human rights. History & Philosophy Principle of National Sovereignty War crimes Tribunals International courts. NATO, UN, peacekeeping Rule of law and its relationship to war Corruption index and its relationship to war Unit 5: Methods of Legal Inquiry and Students study how cases are researched and how courts come to decisions. They learn how to formulate questions, evaluate the credibility of sources, classify and clarify information and identify various career opportunities in the legal field. Activity Assessment Focus 1. Guest Speakers Careers in the legal Knowledge and field Understanding Case analysis 2. Case Analysis Thinking and Inquiry Types of cases Specific cases 3. Evaluation of credibility Consideration of and clarity of sources evidence Rules of evidence Teaching/Learning Strategies Teachers will adapt teaching/learning strategies throughout this course to suit students needs. Although the expectations for all strands are listed separately in the policy document, instructional strategies encompass all of the strands in a holistic way.

6 Unit 1. Heritage, sources, philosophy of law 2. Rights and Freedoms 3. Criminal Law and Procedures 4. Regulation and Dispute Resolution 5. Methods of Legal Inquiry and Teaching/Learning Strategies Lecture, guest speakers, independent work, small group work, teacher directed discussion, debate, whole group collaboration, writing, editing, student/teacher conferencing, tests, short essays, research, case analysis, student presentations, Socratic questioning Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement The assessment/evaluation in this course is divided into the four categories of the Achievement Chart. The Knowledge category embraces what students know, the facts and information contained in the course. The category includes assessments of the students application of their knowledge, particularly as demonstrated through projects, tests, short assignments and case analyses. The Thinking/Inquiry category is used to gather assessments that demonstrate the students abilities to think and analyse what it is they have le arned. Finally, the category comprises assessments of how well the students communicate orally and in writing. Teachers must assess Learning Skills separately on the report card. Learning Skills (Homework Completion, Independent Work, Team Work, Initiative) play a critical role in the achievement of curriculum expectations. It is the school s expectation that all assignments be submitted on time. Overall evaluation of the course is divided as follows: Term Work - 70% Culminating Activity - 30%. The weighting of the Achievement Chart categories in this course is evenly divided across all four categories at 25% each of: Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Culminating Activity 30% This culminating grade will be determined by a traditional exam worth 15% and a performance task worth 15%. Performance Task: In small groups, students analyze and decode a supreme court judgment. Individually, students will write an outline of the facts of the case, the issues considered by the court and the majority and minority opinions of the court. Students will also identify whether they agree with the minority or majority position and provide reasons why. Students will be involved individually and as a group in student/teacher conferencing throughout the task. Finally, students will present their case and their

7 findings to the class. Note: Presentation marks are individual. Students will be involved in peer assessment for accountability, personal growth and learning, although no student marks apply directly to this final grade. Culminating Performance Task Knowledge/ Understanding Thinking/ Inquiry Per Cent Value Outline 5% Presentation 10% Textbooks and/or Essential Resources Alexandrowicz, A. et al., Dimensions of Law: Canadian and International Law in the 21 st Century. Emond Montgomery Ltd. Toronto 2004