Page 331 - Social Sciences Humanities - The Ontario Curriculum Grades 9 to 12 - 2013

A. RESEARCHANDINQUIRYSKILLS OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
Throughout this course, students will:
A1. Exploring: explore topics related to philosophical questions and/or issues, and formulate questions to guide their research;
A2. Investigating: create research plans, and locate and select information relevant to their chosen topics, using appropriate philosophical research and inquiry methods;
A3. Processing Information: assess, record, analyse, and synthesize information gathered through research and inquiry;
A4. Communicating and Reflecting: communicate the results of their research and inquiry clearly and effectively, and reflect on and evaluate their research, inquiry, and communication skills.
SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
A1. Exploring
Throughout this course, students will:
A1.1 explore a variety of topics related to philo­ sophical questions and/or issues (e.g., Does a meaningful life require that there be a divine plan? Do people living in the present have a moral obliga­ tion to redress the wrongs done by their ancestors – for example, against Aboriginal peoples? Is science the best way to gain knowledge? Can a work of
art be beautiful even if it portrays evil or ugly things? Can a society that is divided between the very rich and the very poor be just?) to identify topics for research and inquiry
A1.2 identify key concepts (e.g., through discussion, brainstorming, use of visual organizers) related to their selected topics
A1.3 formulate effective questions to guide their research and inquiry
Teacher prompts: “If you were gathering supporting arguments and evidence for the statement ‘People who are obese should face constraints similar to those that are placed on smokers’, what questions would you ask? Whose perspectives would it be important
to consider?”
A2. Investigating
Throughout this course, students will:
A2.1 create appropriate research plans to investi­ gate their selected topics (e.g., outline purpose and method, identify sources of information)
A2.2 locate and select information relevant to their investigations from a variety of primary sources (e.g., interviews; observations; original documents in print or other media such as film, photographs, music) and secondary sources
(e.g., research reports, textbooks, websites, brochures, newspaper articles; critical analysis in journals or book reviews)
Teacher prompt: “How can you determine whether a philosophical source is primary or secondary?”
A2.3 based on preliminary research, formulate arguments and anticipate counter-arguments
Teacher prompts: “What are the strongest ideas that are emerging from your initial investigation?” “Can you identify an answer to a big question of philosophy that you can support or prove?”
RESEARCH AND INQUIRY SKILLS
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