POLS
Reflection Journals
Textbook, Ch. 3, 41-66. “Regionalism”.
Online
Cochrane, Christopher, and Andrea Perrella. 2012. “Regions, Regionalism and Regional Differences in Canada.” Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue Canadienne De Science Politique45 (4). Cambridge University Press: 829–53. doi:10.1017/S0008423912001011.
Reflection Journals
Value: 15% of final grade (10 reflections in total, 1.5% of grade each)
Due Date: End of each module (see course schedule)
Purpose: The Reflective Journal Entries are a series of low-stakes learning activities to facilitate the ongoing development of critical writing skills and engagement with course material. There will be 10 Reflective Learning Journal entries to be submitted in this course.
Description: Students must submit a 350 – 500 word Reflective Journal Entry for each module. Each entry should follow a 3-2-1 format, including:
What are the 3 most important points from the module materials? here isn’t an ‘objective’ right or wrong answer here – what do you think the most important points are, and why? Briefly explain and summarize those 3 points, and explain why you think they are the 3 most important.
What are 2 ideas that arose from the module that you found particularly interesting? Two ways that students often approach this is either ideas you encountered in the material, or ideas of your own that emerged while you were reading the material. Remember to explain why you thought they were interesting;
1 question that you still have about the material. If something was unclear, or there was something that the material didn’t answer.
Your reflection should use in-text citations, using Chicago author-date format. Since your reflection is meant to guide your engagement with the module readings (chapter from the textbook, and one academic article) you only need to cite these two sources.
Each reflection will be given a mark assessing whether students have followed the instructions provided and submitted their journal on-time. Check the grading rubric for greater detail. Late entries will receive a maximum mark of 50%, but must be completed in order to move on to the next module.
Completed Reflective Journal Entries will be submitted to the appropriate assignment submission link in Canvas. Entries posted there are only visible to yourself and your instructor.
Discussion
Read the following article describing western alienation from “the National Post”.
As you discovered in this module, regionalism is a defining aspect of Canada, and regional alienation exists in various forms. Western alienation in particular has been an influential force in Canadian politics, and Canada’s equalization program has been a source of grievance from Alberta in particular.
What is your take on equalization? Should it be maintained, changed, or scrapped entirely?
