Westlake Girls’ High School
Level 2 Social Studies
Course Description
Teacher in Charge:
Senior Social Studies focuses on how societies work and ways people can participate in their communities as informed, critical, active, and responsible citizens. The focus at Level 2 is to understand how people meet their responsibilities and exercise their rights in local, national, and global contexts; and understand how conflicts can arise from different cultural beliefs and ideas can be addressed in different ways.
Topics include:
- Gun Debate in the USA
- NZ Cannabis Debate
- The Use of the Death Penalty (Criminology and Psychology)
- The Global Refugee Crisis and social action
- Current Cultural Conflicts- e.g. North vs South Korea and Roe vs. Wade (US Supreme Court overturns landmark decision), participation of transgender athletes in sport.
Students will also participate in a Crime Seminar at school where different speakers associated with crime and punishment in the community will give presentations, including prison wardens, NZ Police dog handlers and Psychologists/Sociologists/Criminologists.
Students may enter Level 2 Social Studies without having done the Level 1 course the previous year. A comprehensive introduction to key Level 2 skills will be undertaken early in Term 1.
Students that take this subject will have opportunities to further develop their general knowledge, essay writing, research, and critical thinking skills.
The standards and topics offered in this course may be altered at the discretion of the Head of Department.
Course Overview
Term 1
We will complete an introduction to the key concepts and skills using the debate in NZ over Cannabis legislation. We will look at a range of different perspectives.
Our first main unit will be on the US Gun Debate. Student will look at liberal and conservative perspectives on the debate over whether of not there should be greater gun control. We will also relate our learning from this to the situation over gun control legislation in New Zealand.
Term 2
Our second main unit of work will be on the clash of values and beliefs concerning the death penalty. Firstly, we will look at the global situation and then do a formative case study on the Bali 9. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by the Indonesian Government. We will look at the debate around this case. Finally, we will focus on the American justice system's use of the death penalty. Students will examine the I am Troy Davis social action campaign and why people around the world called for the Georgia Pardons and Patrols Board to grant African American man Troy Davis clemency. This will be the case study for 2.5 internal assessment.
For the next unit we turn our attention to the global refugee crisis, focusing on the war in Syria. Students work collaboratively to raise awareness about the people at the centre of this humanitarian crisis.
Term 3
Our final unit of work is based on the theme of cultural conflict. The context will be defined by NZQA shortly so the case study for 2023 is not confirmed but in the past we have explored the values and beliefs of North Koreans and why increasing numbers of citizens are demanding change in the most secretive nation on Earth. From the Mass Games to the Kim Family Dynasty- this topic is sure to challenge your thinking. Other possible topics are Roe vs Wade being overturned, and the participation of trans-gender athletes in sport today.
Term 4
We will be solely focus on revision for the NCEA external examination. We only do one external standard and it will be based on the unit covered in Term 3.
Recommended Prior Learning
Course Material Costs
$20 to cover photocopying and consumables such as coloured card, paint etc... needed for social actions.
Pathway
This course will help prepare you for our complex world. Students planning to pursue careers that are people-focused will benefit for the issues and skills covered. If you are thinking about going into journalism, law, psychology, criminology, politics, social research, policy making, the Police, nursing, social work, teaching, public relations, business, and customer service then this is the course that will help you in the future.
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is eligible for subject endorsement.
External
NZQA Info
Social Studies 2.2 - Conduct a reflective social inquiry
Assessments:
Term: 1, Week: 9
NZQA Info
Social Studies 2.3 - Describe how cultural conflict(s) can be addressed
NZQA Info
Social Studies 2.4 - Describe personal involvement in a social action related to rights and responsibilities
Assessments:
Term: 3, Week: 3
NZQA Info
Social Studies 2.5 - Describe a social action that enables communities and/or nations to meet responsibilities and exercise rights
Disclaimer
Courses will only run based on minimum entries
Selecting a course does not guarantee entry into this course
You may apply for an exemption if you do not meet the prerequisites of a course or if the course requires this for entry
Standards offered can be altered at the discretion of the HOF or HOD of the Department
Some standards in NCEA courses might be optional depending on student strengths
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