Predeparture Student Research

Research and Oral Presentation:

An important component of the Québec curriculum unit is student research and an oral presentation. Ask students to use the format of a skit, interview, TV news report or "commercial" to make their presentations more creative and interesting to student viewers. If a visual component, such as a poster, is required, it may be hung in the classroom for reference and enrichment during the Québec unit. Let students know that they will present this report twice: once in the classroom and once "on location" during the trip itself.

Research Topics:

People: Jacques Cartier, Samuel de Champlain, Jean Talon, Bishop Laval-Montmorency, le Comte de Frontenac, les filles du roi, les coureurs des bois, General James Wolfe, le Marquis de Montcalm and Benedict Arnold.

Places: Place Royale & Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Le Château Frontenac, Place d'Armes and la rue du Trésor, La Basilique de Notre-Dame, Les Plaines d'Abraham, La Citadelle, Le Parlement, Les ChutesMontmorency, La Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.

Culture: Maple syrup industry, Winter Carnival, French-Canadian cuisine.

Student Grouping:

Many students prefer to work with a partner, but they may also be given the option to work alone. Groups larger than three are not recommended.

Timeline:

Distribute research topics several weeks before the Québec Unit is to begin. Set the due date for written work at least a week before the Unit will begin. This will allow time to read and grade written work, and provides a "catch-up" week for students who are absent, who do not submit work on time, or whose work is weak and will need to spend more time on it.

Guidelines and Grading:

Written expectations for student research and presentations should be distributed when research topics are introduced. This includes the due date, length of report, format, sources and how to cite them, penalty for late work and a grading rubric.