Outcome Chart - Ontario - Law CLN4C: Legal Studies

This chart contains media-related learning outcomes from Ontario, Curriculum for Law CLN4C: Legal Studies, with links to supporting resources on the MediaSmarts site.

The Inquiry Process and Skill Development in Legal Studies

Overall Expectations

The Inquiry Process in Legal Studies: use the legal studies inquiry process and the concepts of legal thinking when investigating current legal issues

Specific Expectations

A1.1 formulate different types of questions to guide investigations into current legal issues

A1.2 select and organize relevant evidence and information from primary and secondary sources

A1.3 assess the credibility of sources relevant to their investigations

A1.4 interpret and analyse legal issues (e.g., arguments for and against legislation limiting the right to medical treatment for refugees in Canada; Quebec legislation restricting students’ rights of assembly to protest higher tuition fees) using evidence and information relevant to their investigations and a variety of tools and strategies

A1.6 evaluate and synthesize their findings to formulate conclusions and/or make informed judgements or predictions about the legal issues they are investigating

A1.7 communicate their ideas, arguments, and conclusions using various formats and styles, as appropriate for the audience and purpose

A1.8 use accepted forms of documentation (e.g., endnotes or footnotes, author/date citations, reference lists, bibliographies, credits) to acknowledge different types of sources (e.g., case law, legislation, websites, blogs, books, articles, oral interviews, archival sources)

MediaSmarts Resources

Lesson Plans

Legal Foundations

Overall Expectations

Purpose and Processes of Law: explain purposes of law, legal structures and processes, and fundamental principles of justice in Canada

Specific Expectations

B1.1 explain the purpose of various categories of law (e.g., substantive/procedural, provincial/ federal/international, public/private) and various areas of law (e.g., administrative, constitutional, criminal, tort, contract, employment)

B1.2 explain the relevance of specific areas of law to everyday life (e.g., contract law – relevant to: employment, purchasing goods and services, prenuptial agreements, purchasing property or renting accommodation; family law – relevant to: separation and divorce, child custody issues, wills and inheritance issues; copyright law – relevant to: the downloading and use of music, images, and digital software from the Internet)

MediaSmarts Resources

Overall Expectations

Development of Law: explain how governments and societal attitudes and values have influenced the development of law in Canada

Specific Expectations

B2.1 explain how shifting societal attitudes, values, and customs have influenced the development of Canadian law (e.g., laws relating to: the definition of marriage and family, voting rights, environmental conservation and stewardship, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, language, disability, treaty rights and land claims)

MediaSmarts Resources

Overall Expectations

Law and Diversity: analyse the ability of Canadian law to uphold the rights and accommodate the needs of diverse individuals and groups

Specific Expectations

B3.1 explain various provisions in Canadian law (e.g., Charter guarantees of rights [including equality rights, language rights, and minority language education rights]; Charter limitations clause [section 1] and notwithstanding clause [section 33]; constitutional protection of Aboriginal rights [Charter section 25, and Constitution Act section 35]) that may be used to accommodate the interests and needs of diverse groups (e.g., First Nations, Métis, and Inuit groups; women; racialized groups; new Canadians and refugees; vulnerable groups such as people with physical or intellectual disabilities, children, and the elderly; corporations and businesses; environmental groups; migrant workers; various ethnic groups)

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Rights and Responsibilities

Overall Expectations

Fundamentals of Human Rights Law in Canada: explain the legal importance of human rights law in Canada, with particular reference to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Specific Expectations

C1.1 explain the legal significance and scope of the rights and guarantees in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

C1.2 explain the legal concept of competing rights, with reference to specific conflicts between different Charter rights and between human rights legislation and other legislation

MediaSmarts Resources

Overall Expectations

Rights and Responsibilities: analyse from a legal perspective how the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups, and governments are connected

Specific Expectations

C2.2 analyse from a legal perspective issues related to the right of individuals, groups, and governments to use natural resources, and the corresponding responsibilities/regulations related to environmental protection

MediaSmarts Resources

Overall Expectations

Influences on Human Rights Issues: analyse from a legal perspective the role of forces such as globalization, technological change, media influence, and evolving societal attitudes in strengthening or weakening protections for human rights in Canada and abroad

Specific Expectations

C3.2 evaluate from a legal perspective the impact of advances in technology on human rights protection in Canada and in the world

C3.3 analyse from a legal perspective the influence of the media, including social media, on public awareness of human rights issues (e.g., potential for exposing human rights abuses; potential for sensationalizing trivial issues and/or underreporting or neglecting serious issues; potential for bias as a result of concentration of ownership; influence of social media in encouraging political and social activism)

MediaSmarts Resources

Contemporary Legal Issues

Overall Expectations

Law and Society: analyse the role of law in contemporary society

Specific Expectations

D1.3 explain the role of law in responding to various contemporary social issues

MediaSmarts Resources

Overall Expectations

Legal Structures and Processes: describe laws and processes for dealing with different types of legal offences and disputes in Canada

Specific Expectations

D2.3 analyse situations in which legal judgements balance the competing rights and interests of individuals, groups, and governments

MediaSmarts Resources

Overall Expectations

Emerging Legal Issues: explain the legal implications of a variety of current issues, both in Canada and internationally

Specific Expectations

D3.2 explain the legal implications of issues related to public security and protection

D3.3 describe the influence of new technologies on various law-related professions (e.g., technologies such as: wireless communications devices, voicerecognition software, trace evidence processing technology, encryption software for protection of personal information, law-enforcement tools such as tasers, DNA databases, surveillance technology, software for data collection and storage)

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