CLN 4U – Culminating Task (10% of overall grade)

Comparative Essay

Dates: Work Periods (May 22,28, June 4,6 and 10)

Annotated Bibliography- Due Tuesday, May 28 @ 11:59 PM
Research Paper- Tuesday, June 11 @ 11:59 PM

Overall expectations:

• A1.4 interpret and analyze legal issues

• A1.5 use the concepts of legal thinking
• A1.6 evaluate and synthesize their findings to formulate conclusions and/or make
informed judgements/predictions about the issues
• E1.5 describe ways in which countries exercise legal power outside their own borders and
ways in which they cooperate or do not cooperate in the administration of criminal justice
across borders
• A1.7 communicate their ideas, arguments, and conclusions using various styles and
formats as appropriate for the audience and purpose
• A1.9 use terminology appropriate to the audience and purpose when communicating the
results
• 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

Your final research essay topic will be chosen by you. Please visit the course content in
the vLe to view possible topics (listed below as well). Please note the course content
provides you with links to begin your research if you choose from the list below. You are
also able to come up with your own topic; just be sure to get it approved.

Step 1: Choose a legal issue

Some examples of contemporary issues might include: workplace safety, access to
clean water, resource extraction and development, mental illness, decriminalization of
street drugs, the justice system, freedom of expression for journalists, the rule of law,
piracy human rights of children, wrongful convictions, prison conditions or the
relationship between certain groups and members of the justice community.
Essentially you can take on any legal issue of your choice involving International Law,
Domestic Criminal/Civil Law, Environmental Law etc.
I would suggest taking on an issue of controversy or one that has a good deal of
research.
Step 2: Select a Country of Interest to Compare with Canada

This is to be a comparative essay, where you will take on a country of your choice and
compare their legal practices with Canada. The goal in the end should be an evaluation
of which country operates more efficiently.

Step 3: Create and submit an annotated bibliography

(Due Tuesday, May 28 @ 11:59 PM) into the drop box. We will go over the format of an
annotated bibliography in class and I will post the content as well.

Annotated Bibliography. You must submit all research under a proper

bibliographic reference by type of source (Book, Website, Journal Article, etc) in
alphabetical order with summary of research (brief description, how is it relevant,
how will it be used – see Annotated Bibliography handout).

Your annotated bibliography must include have 4 – 6 varied sources. The annotated
bibliography counts as process work for the research essay and is a necessary
component for the final product. Failure to meet the deadline will result in a loss of 10%
per day.

Step 4: Polish and submit the essay

Due: Tuesday, June 11 @ 11:59 PM

As you research and write your final essay, think through and apply the concepts of
legal thinking that we have focused on throughout the course.

Continuity
and
Legal
Change
Significance

Legal
Interrelationships Perspective

These concepts should be central to your inquiry, and clearly addressed in your final
essay.
  The final product must be submitted on Tuesday, June 11 @ 11:59 PM. Failure
to submit to drop box on this day will result in a mark of zero.
 Your paper should be between 1000-1200 words, 12pt. Font, Chicago Style


Be sure to submit all work to D2L by the deadlines listed:

Annotated Bibliography: Due Tuesday, May 28 @ 11:59 PM

Research Paper: Tuesday, June 11 @ 11:59 PM

Refer to detailed rubrics for assessment purposes.

Good luck. 😊

Criteria Level 1(50-60%) Level 2(60-70%) Level 3(70-80%) Level 4(80-100%)

Knowledge/ -demonstrated - demonstrated some - demonstrated - demonstrated
Understanding limited knowledge knowledge of knowledge of significant knowledge
 Knowledge of of content/topic content/topic content/topic of content/topic
content/topic -demonstrated little -demonstrated some -demonstrated -demonstrated
 Knowledge of legal to no knowledge of knowledge of legal knowledge of legal significant knowledge
thinking concepts legal thinking thinking concepts thinking concepts of legal thinking
concepts concepts

Thinking/Inquiry - little to no - some effective -effective research -thoroughly effective

 Research/processing research and research and and processing research and
skills processing skills processing skills skills processing skills
 Connections made -little to no critical -some critical and -critical and -highly critical and
between topic and legal and creative creative thinking skills creative thinking creative thinking skills
thinking concepts thinking skills used used when making skills used when used when making
 Insightful when making connections making connections
connections made to connections -sources are somewhat connections -sources are varied,
research -sources are not varied, reliable and -sources are reliable and connect
 Effective use of varied, reliable and connect specifically to reliable and specifically to topic
sources (reliable and do not connect topic and legal thinking connect and legal thinking
appropriate) specifically to topic categories specifically to topic categories
and legal thinking and legal thinking
categories categories
Communication -ideas are not - some ideas are - ideas are - ideas are
 Ideas are communicated communicated clearly communicated communicated clearly
communicated clearly clearly or and/or effectively clearly and/or and/or effectively and
and effectively effectively -ideas are somewhat effectively very thoroughly
 Ideas are organized -ideas are organized -ideas are -ideas are thoroughly
and presented disorganized -some organized organized
 Judgements and -judgements and conclusions/judgements conclusions/ conclusions/
conclusions are conclusions are not communicated judgements are judgements are
communicated clearly present or not communicated communicated
and logically communicated
clearly or logically

Application -little to no -knowledge and -knowledge and -knowledge and

 Knowledge is knowledge or research are applied research are research are
applied to research and research is applied somewhat effectively applied effectively thoroughly applied
content -little to no -some connections are - clear and -clear and insightful
 Clear and insightful connections are made between insightful connections are made
connections are made made research and topic connections are and are thorough
between research and -Chicago Style is -Chicago Style is not made -Chicago Style is used
topic not used or used used consistently - Chicago Style is effectively and
 Knowledge of incorrectly used effectively consistently
Chicago style formatting and consistently
is applied effectively