1. What are issues? How do issues affect the quality of life, citizenship and identity of Canadians?

2.  Criteria (standards for evaluating something) for what makes something an issue:  A topic that receives a wide range of responses from different people and that generally has an important impact on their quality of life, citizenship or identity. Issues generate much attention, either positively or negatively.  Is framed as an open-ended, unbiased question. This question is about a complex problem regarding a particular topic that cannot be easily “solved” with one clear right or wrong answer.

3.  Criteria (standards for evaluating something) for what makes something an issue:  Requires an informed response, supported by clear and relevant reasons and appropriate examples.  Requires critical thinking, and personal reflection about identity and worldview, to create an informed response  Requires background knowledge and research to create an informed response.

4.  Issues exist because people value and believe different things.  Last week, we devoted much class time to discussing our point of view on issues, our values and our beliefs about what’s essential for our quality of life.  Our individual and collective perspectives affect what issues are important to our selves.  Our individual and collective perspectives affect how we respond to issues.

5.  In your assigned groups, discuss the visual and caption that Miss. Hilsden has assigned to you.  Each group selects one individual to be the recorder/presenter. The recorder doesn’t participate in the discussion, instead, he/she records the points discussed. The recorder/presenter will also present this information to the class.  The rest of the group takes turns speaking, around the circle, and cannot repeat ideas that were already shared.