Social Studies 11

Debating an Issue

Index

Debating an Issue

- 1 Example of How to Debate an Issue

- 101 Resources for Researching Debate Issues

Standard Marking Criteria for Longer Answers

101 Resources for Researching Debate Issues

It is good to start investigating debate issues fairly early in the course. At latest, start by the beginning of Module 4. It is likely that many of your Issues Log entries for Module 4 will be related to the issue.

If you are working by yourself on the project, you will be able to select your issue and side. It is best not to choose which side you are on until you have investigated both sides (or all sides) of the issue.

If you are working in a group, your instructor may lead the choice of an issue and provide directions about the process. For example, there may be several students on each side, with each student taking one facet of the issue. The debate format may include rebuttals, or there may be a period of questions from other students.

The following lists will give you a head start on locating resources for Issues Log entries and debate information. (Note: There aren't exactly "101 Resources." The number in the title is just meant to mean "lots of resources.") The publications listed were selected by a librarian.

The "givens" in the list are points that both sides would probably accept. Discussing them would not be a good use of debate time.

 

Issue 1: Has Canada done its part to help create a better world?

 

Course theme: Canada's role in world affairs since 1901

Given: Canada should be a responsible member of the world community.


Facet 1A: Canada's war efforts

  • Textbook pages: 56-59, 62-63, 70-71, 144-147, 152-153, 156-157, 164-165, 188-189, 236-237, 335.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 1
  • Publications:
    Morton, Desmond. A Military History of Canada. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1992 Hillmer, J.L., et al. Empire to Umpire: Canada and the World to the 1990s. Toronto: Copp Clark Longman, 1994.


Facet 1B: Canada's efforts to foster peace

  • Textbook pages: 166-167, 216-217, 336-337.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 1
  • Publications:
    Granatstein, J.L., and David J Bercuson. War and Peacekeeping: From South Africa to the Gulf— Canada's Limited Wars. Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1991.

    Hillmer, J.L., et al. Empire to Umpire: Canada and the World to the 1990s. Toronto: Copp Clark Longman, 1994.


Facet 1C: Canada's alliances and treaties

  • Textbook pages: 78-79, 210-211.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 1
  • Publications:
    Bureau of Legal Affairs, Treaty Section. Treaties in Force for Canada: A List of Treaties of Canada in Force as of January 1, 1988. Ottawa: The Dept., 1988.

    Hillmer, J.L., et al. Empire to Umpire: Canada and the World to the 1990s.Toronto: Copp Clark Longman, 1994.

    Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada, Human Rights Directorate. Multilateral Treaties in the Area of Human Rights to which Canada is a Party (as of September 30, 1992). Ottawa: The Directorate, 1992.

    Osmanczyk, Edmund. The Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Relations. New York: Taylor and Francis, 1990.


Facet 1D: Canada's trade and foreign aid

  • Textbook pages: 12-15, 46, 228-229, 232-233, 260-261, 280-281, 308-309, 320-321, 358-361, 362-365.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 1
  • Publications:
    Hillmer, J.L., et al. Empire to Umpire: Canada and the World to the 1990s. Toronto: Copp Clark Longman, 1994.

    Watson, William. Globalization and the Meaning of Canadian Life. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998.
  • Phone: For general information about CIDA's activities, call 1-800-230-6349. At time of writing, a free pamphlet called CIDA and International Cooperation was available.


Facet 1E: Canada's immigration policy

  • Textbook pages: 12, 22-25, 37, 54-55, 170-171, 230-231, 270-271, 314-315.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 1
  • Publications:
    Knowles, Valerie. Strangers at Our Gates: Canadian Immigration and Immigration Policy, 1540-1997. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1997.

    Charon, Milly. Worlds Apart: New Immigrant Voices. Dunvegan, Ont.: Cormorant Books, 1989.


Facet 1F: Canada's environmental efforts

  • Textbook pages: 134-135, 196-197, 228-229, 248-249, 276-277, 280-281, 325, 348-349, 374-383.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 1
  • Publications:
    Brown, Lester R., et al. Annual. State of the World: A Report on Progress Toward a Sustainable Society. New York, New York: Norton.

    Keating, Michael, and the Canadian Global Change Program. Canada and the State of the Planet: The Social, Economic, and Environmental Trends that are Shaping Our Lives. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1997.

    Brown, Lester R., et al. Vital Signs 1998: The Environmental Trends that are Shaping Our Future. New York: Norton, 1998.
  • Phone: For general information about Canada's environmental efforts, call 1-800-668-6767. At time of writing, a free pamphlet called Investing in our Future was available.

     

Issue 2: Has Canada usually intended to be fair to its Aboriginal peoples?

Course theme: The Aboriginal peoples of Canada

Given: Canada should be fair to all its members.


Facet 2A: Aboriginal political rights

  • Textbook pages: 16-17, 76-77, 108-109, 178-179, 197, 214-215, 268-269, 274-275, 344-347.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 2
  • Publications:
    Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Key Legal Decisions Concerning Aboriginal Rights in Canada. Victoria, B.C.: Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Province of B.C., 1995.

    Comeau, Pauline, and Aldo Santin. The First Canadians: A Profile of Canada's Native People Today. Toronto: J. Lorimer, 1990.

    Asch, Michael. Home and Native Land: Aboriginal Rights and the Canadian Constitution. Vancouver, BC: Process Research: UBC Press, 1993.

    Miller, J.R. Skyscrapers Hide the Heavens: A History of Indian-White Relations in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1991.

    Krotz, Larry. Indian Country: Inside Another Canada. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1990.


Facet 2B: Aboriginal land ownership

  • Textbook pages: 16-17, 76-77, 108-109, 2680-269, 274-275, 344-347.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 2
  • Publications:
    Notzke, Claudia. Aboriginal Peoples and Natural Resources in Canada. North York, Ont.: Captus University Publications, 1994.

    Coates, Ken, ed. Aboriginal Land Claims in Canada: A Regional Perspective. Toronto: Copp Clark Pitman, 1992.
  • Phone: For more information about British Columbia treaty-making or the Nisga'a Treaty, call Aboriginal Affairs at 1-800-880-1022.


Facet 2C: Aboriginal education

  • Textbook pages: 16-17, 76-77.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 2
  • Publications:
    Miller, J.R. Shingwauk's Vision: A History of Native Residential Schools. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1996.

    Assembly of First Nations. Breaking the Silence: An Interpretive Study of Residential School Impact and Healing as Illustrated by the Stories of First Nations Individuals. Ottawa: The Assembly of First Nations (Health Commission), 1994.


Facet 2D: Aboriginal culture

  • Textbook pages: 16-17, 76-77, 197, 268-271, 274-275, 318-319.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 2
  • Publications:
    Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. First Nations in Canada. Ottawa: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 1997.

    Comeau, Pauline, and Aldo Santin. The First Canadians: A Profile of Canada's Native People Today. Toronto: J. Lorimer, 1990.

    Francis, Daniel. The Imaginary Indian: The Image of the Indian in Canadian Culture. Vancouver, B.C.: Arsenal Pulp Press, 1992.

    Cole, Douglas, and Ira Chaikin. An Iron Hand Upon the People: The Law Against the Potlatch on the Northwest Coast. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1990.

     

Issue 3: Has Canada treated its French-speaking citizens with equity?

Course theme: French-English relations in Canada

Given: Canada should be fair to all its members.


Facet 3A: Language rights

  • Textbook pages: 20-21, 66-67, 224-225, 270-271, 288-289.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 3
  • Publications:
    Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. Official Languages: Basic Facts. Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, 1993.

    Reid, Scott. Lament for a Notion: The Life and Death of Canada's Bilingual Dream. Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 1993.


Facet 3B: Conscription

  • Textbook pages: 18-19, 66-67, 152-153.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 3
  • Publication:
    Granatstein, J.L., and J.M. Hitsman. Broken Promises: A History of Conscription in Canada. Toronto: Copp Clark Pitman, 1985.


Facet 3C: Political power

  • Textbook pages: 250-253, 288-289, 296-297, 354-355.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 3
  • Publications (for Facet 3C):
    Gratton, Michel. French Canadians: An Outsider's Inside Look at Quebec. Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992.

    Freeman, Alan, and Patrick Grady. Dividing the House: Planning for a Canada Without Quebec. Toronto: Harper Collins, 1995.

    Young, Robert A. The Secession of Quebec and the Future of Canada. Montreal: Institute of Intergovernmental Relations. Queen's University, Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1995.


Facet 3D: Quebec separatism

  • Textbook pages: 226-227, 250-253, 288-289, 354-355.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 3
  • Publications:
    Gratton, Michel. French Canadians: An Outsider's Inside Look at Quebec. Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992.

    Freeman, Alan, and Patrick Grady. Dividing the House: Planning for a Canada Without Quebec. Toronto: Harper Collins, 1995.

    Young, Robert A. The Secession of Quebec and the Future of Canada. Montreal: Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, Queen's University, Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1995.

     

Issue 4: Should Canadian culture be sub sidized?

Course theme: Canadian culture

Given: Canadian culture is part of our identity as Canadians.

Facet 4A: Visual (painting, sculpture, etc.)

  • Textbook pages: 32-33, 60-61, 88-91, 130-131, 318-319.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 4
  • Publications:
    Tippett, Maria. By a Lady: Celebrating Three Centuries of Art by Canadian Women. Toronto, Ontario: Viking, 1992.

    Tippett, Maria. Art at the Service of War: Canada, Art, and the Great War. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1984.

    Murray, Joan. The Best Contemporary Canadian Art. Edmonton: Hurtig, 1987.


Facet 4B: Performance (theatre, dance, etc.)

  • Textbook pages: None highly relevant
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 4
  • Publications:
    Benson, Eugene, and L.W. Conolly, eds. The Oxford Companion to Canadian Theatre. Toronto; New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.

    Wyman, Max. Dance Canada: An Illustrated History. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1989.


Facet 4C: Film and recording

  • Textbook pages: 86-87, 201, 254-255.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 4
  • Publications (for Facet 4C):
    Canada Mandate Review Committee — CBC, NFB, Telefilm. Making Our Voices Heard: Canadian Broadcasting and Film for the 21st Century. Canada Mandate Review Committee - CBC, NFB, Telefilm, 1996.

    Knelman, Martin. Home Movies: Tales from the Canadian Film World. Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1987.

    Hehner, Barbara, ed. Making It: The Business of Film and Television Production in Canada. Toronto: Doubleday, 1987.

    Melhuish, Martin. Heart of Gold: 30 Years of Canadian Pop Music. Toronto: CBC Enterprises, 1983.


Facet 4D: Print and broadcast

  • Textbook pages: 86-87, 130-131, 140-141.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 4
  • Publications:
    Dorland, Michael, ed. The Cultural Industries in Canada: Problems, Policies and Prospects. Toronto: James Lorimer & Company, 1996.

    Vipond, Mary. The Mass Media in Canada. Toronto: James Lorimer, 1992.

    Canada Mandate Review Committee—CBC, NFB, Telefilm. Making Our Voices Heard: Canadian Broadcasting and Film for the 21st Century. Canada Mandate Review Committee - CBC, NFB, Telefilm, 1996.

    Skene, Wayne. Fade to Black: A Requiem for the CBC. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1993.


Facet 4E: Athletic

  • Textbook pages: 202-203, 282-283.
  • Socials 11 Web Links for Debate Issue 4
  • Publications:
    Kidd, Bruce. The Struggle for Canadian Sport. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1996.

    Hall, Ann, et al. Sport in Canadian Society. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991.

    Morrow, Don, et al. A Concise History of Sport in Canada. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press, 1989.