Author: Mr. Kertes

Philosophy 12 Homework (Sept. 14-18)

by Mr. Kertes

The bulk of the homework for this course is reading in advance of lessons and in preparation of the activities for the in-class work. For reading at home, focus on skimming, previewing, taking basic notes, and having a sense of the readings before we will go over them in-class. Do not try to “fully read” or “fully understand” the readings when doing this at home. Most quizzes and journal assignments assess whether you have done this previewing and preparing.

(It is okay, and valuable, to tackle texts and concepts that you don’t fully understand at first. That’s called LEARNING. It is normal to feel unease when tackling new and complex things. Step by step you will figure it out, and we will cover it during class to help you do this.)

We will cover each reading during class. That means that if you do not fully understand a text we will cover it during class. Previewing and preparing, before the lesson or seminar, is essential for being ready to learn about the text during class. In short, there is no other way to understand a difficult academic text other than to preview it first, then go to class to learn more. When you do this, you come prepared with questions, you know the overall topic, and you have a sense of what will be discussed in class.

Philosophy seems hard, especially at first. What makes it seem hard are the new concepts, key terms, layers of meaning, and using “high level” texts. But philosophy is not hard: It just requires a systematic process of breaking things down, looking at each thing closely, and then using synthesis to bring them back into your own understanding. Here are the steps to make it easy to learn this or any other advanced topic or concept: Preview, take notes, read closely, discuss, ask questions, reflect, review. We will do this together, in class, for all of the main concepts. But to do this well, you must preview texts, take some notes of what you preview, and come to class prepared to walk through the next step by step as part of the learning process.

What You Should Have Finished Already:

What You Should Read (Preview) by Sept. 16:

What You Should Read (Preview) by Sept. 21:

Supplemental Readings (optional, good to have read by Sept. 21):

Sept. 14 to Sept. 18 Philosophy 12

by Mr. Kertes

This week’s overview

What to read (homework for this week, to prepare for next week)

Update for Week 1 (Sept. 9 to Sept. 11)

by Mr. Kertes

Review – How to Learn, How to Think

Sept 8-13:

Sept. 9 to Sept. 11, 2026 (Philo 12)

by Mr. Kertes

UPDATES

For parents/guardians:

  • Informal Meet and Greet (drop-in, no need to RSVP or to schedule)
    • Sept. 10th from 3:15-5:00 PM and 7:00-8:30 PM (in room 308)

Upcoming key items:

  • Seminar 1 is on Wednesday Sept. 9 (readings will be provided that day)
  • Journal 1 is due Friday Sept. 11 (this will be done in-class)
  • Quiz 1 is on Monday Sept. 14 (Quiz 1 Study Guide)

Readings for week 1 (which will all be covered in-class):

Notes for week 1 (which will be covered in-class):

HOMEWORK

Readings (to do at home, from Sept 14-18) (for Quiz 2 – Metaphysics on Sept. 21st):

Quiz 2 Study Guide

Supplemental readings:

Philosophy 12

by Mr. Kertes

Welcome

Course Calendar

Key Dates (Semester 1)

Key Dates for Parents/Guardians

  • Informal Meet and Greet (drop-in, no need to RSVP or to schedule)
    • Sept. 10th from 3:15-5:00 PM and 7:00-8:30 PM (in room 308)
  • Student-Led Conferences (drop-in, no need to RSVP or to schedule)
    • Nov. 19th from 3:15-5:00 PM and 7:00-8:30 PM (in room 308)
  • Informal Progress Reports (please see the note below for more information)
    • #1 – Oct. 2nd
    • #2 – Nov. 13th
    • #3 – Jan. 15th
    • #4 – Jan. 29th

Notes for Parents/Guardians

  • To schedule a conference (by phone or in person) please email tomkertes@sd52.bc.ca or call/text 778-884-5343. Conferences may be schedule at a time throughout the semester.
  • Please feel free to email or call/text with any questions or concerns. The sooner things are communicated the quicker supports can be provided for your child.
  • The informal progress reports are handed out to students on the dates above. If a student is not currently passing, or is at risk of not passing, an emailed version of the report will also be sent to the child’s parent or guardian.
  • An informal progress may include a Notice of Insufficient Evidence, to let your child know that they may not pass the course, provide a timeline for catching up, and provide an opportunity for consultation. This will be communicated with parents/guardians as well.
  • Student progress reports and learning summaries will also be available at the MyEd portal at the mid-term and end of term. In addition, S/P/T school conferences are scheduled in October. Information on S/P/T conferences is provided by the office for all parents and guardians.

Key Dates for Students

  • Seminars: Sept. 9th, Sept. 23rd, Oct. 14th, Oct. 28th, Nov. 18th, Nov. 25th, Dec. 2nd, Dec. 9th, Dec. 16, Jan. 6th, Jan. 13th
  • Journals: Sept. 11th, Sept. 25th, Oct. 16th, Oct. 30th, Nov. 27th, Dec. 11th, Dec. 18th, Jan. 8th
  • Quizzes: Sept. 14th, Sept. 21st, Oct. 5th, Oct. 19th, Nov. 23rd, Dec. 7th, Dec. 14th, Jan. 11th
  • Mid-Term Exam: Nov. 2nd to Nov. 9th
  • Presentation: Must be completed by Jan. 14th
  • Essays: Due by Jan. 14th
  • Final Exam: Jan. 18th to Jan. 29th

Course Overview

PART 1

PART 2

  • Unit VI: Epistemology: What is the nature of knowledge?
  • Unit VII: Polity and Ethics: Do I have rights? What is justice?
  • Unit VIII: Axiology: What is a “good life”?
  • Optional Assignments – Presentation, Philosophy Essay, Synthesis Essay
  • Final Week – Epistemology Final Exam
    • Final Exam Study Guide
    • Learning Story Study Guide
    • Final Exam Part IA Study Guide
    • Final Exam Part IB Study Guide
    • Final Exam Part II Study Guide
    • Final Exam Part III Study Guide

Course Outline

Download the course outline here.

Course Readings

Note on the AI-generated Summaries

(AI-generated content for this course is marked as “AI-generated”. Read the above note for more information.)

Review – How to Learn How to Think

Supplemental readings:

Readings (to do at home, from Sept 8-13) (for Quiz 1 – Fundamentals – on Sept. 14th):

Study Guides

Readings (to do at home, from Sept 14-18) (for Quiz 2 – Metaphysics on Sept. 21st):

Supplemental readings:

Study Guides

Readings (to do at home, from Sept 21-Oct 4) (for Quiz 3 – Cosmology on Oct. 5th):

Supplemental readings:

Study Guides

Readings (to do at home, from Oct 5-Oct 18) (for Quiz 4 – Ontology on Oct. 19th):

Supplemental readings:

Study Guides

Readings (to do at home, from Oct 19-Nov 22) (for Quiz 5 – Epistemology on Nov. 23rd):

Supplemental readings:

Readings (to do at home, from Nov 23-Dec 6) (for Quiz 6 – Polity on Dec. 7th):

Readings (to do at home, from Dec 7-Dec 13) (for Quiz 7 – Ethics on Dec. 13th):

Readings (to do at home, from Dec 14-Jan 11) (for Quiz 8 – Axiology on Jan. 12th):

Course Glossary – Key Terms

Readings for Presentation and Essays


Ontology, Artificial Intelligence

Metaphysics, Existence

Epistemology, Power, Meaning in Life

Philosophical Questions, Real World Answers

Reading Packets

  • Packet 1
  • Packet 2
  • Packet 3
  • Packet 4
  • Packet 5
  • Packet 6

Essays, Chapters, and Passages (Course Texts)

Legal Studies 12

by Mr. Kertes

Course Overview

  • Unit I: Introduction: Fundamentals of Law
  • Unit II: Overview: Assignments, Marking, and Grading
  • Unit III: History of Law in Canada (Includes Indigenous Law, Self-Determination)
  • Unit IV: Rule of Law: Legislative, Judicial, and Executive Powers in Canada
  • Unit V: Constitutional Law, Treaties, and Aboriginal Rights and Law in Canada
  • Midterm Week – Fundamentals of Law Mid-Term Exam
  • Unit VI: Criminal Law, Civil Law, and Regulatory Law
  • Unit VII: Labour Law, Forestry, Mining, Fishing, and other Resources
  • Unit VIII: Family Law
  • Final Week – Applications of Law Final Exam

Course Outline

Download the course outline here.

Course Calendar

Course Readings

Review – How to Learn How to Think (read in advance… will be covered in-class, notes will be done in-class)

Sept 8-13:

  • Reading 1A (to be posted)
  • Reading 1B (to be posted)

Sept 14-20:

  • Reading 2A (to be posted)
  • Reading 2B (to be posted)

Sept 21-Oct 4:

  • Reading 3A (to be posted)
  • Reading 3B (to be posted)

Oct 5-Oct 18:

  • Reading 4A (to be posted)
  • Reading 4B (to be posted)

Oct 19-Nov 22:

  • Reading 5A (to be posted)
  • Reading 5B (to be posted)

Nov 23-Dec 6:

  • Reading 6A (to be posted)
  • Reading 6B (to be posted)

Dec 7-Dec 13:

  • Reading 7A (to be posted)
  • Reading 7B (to be posted)

Dec 14-Jan 11:

  • Reading 8A (to be posted)
  • Reading 8B (to be posted)

Course Glossary – Key Terms

Definitions will be added as we work through the course.

  • adversarial system
  • appeal
  • authority
  • balance of probabilities
  • beyond a reasonable doubt
  • bill
  • burden of proof
  • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
  • case law
  • civil law
  • civil liberties
  • Code of Hammurabi
  • codified
  • common law
  • constitutional law
  • contract
  • contract law
  • crime
  • criminal law
  • cross-examination
  • Crown
  • damages
  • detention
  • discrimination
  • divine right
  • domestic law
  • due diligence
  • employment law
  • English common law
  • estate law
  • evidence
  • examination for discovery
  • exeuctive branch
  • false imprisonment
  • family law
  • Federal Court of Canada
  • federal system
  • fraud
  • freedom
  • Great Binding Law
  • habeas corpus
  • harassment
  • human rights
  • injunction
  • intent
  • international law
  • invoke
  • judge
  • judiciary
  • jurisdiction
  • jury
  • Justice of the Peace
  • knowledge
  • legal authority
  • litigants
  • litigation
  • lobby groups
  • Magna Carta
  • mediation
  • mens rea
  • mental capacity
  • mischief
  • Mosaic Law
  • motive
  • Napoleonic Code
  • negligence
  • negotiation
  • offer
  • pardon
  • parole
  • particulars
  • parties to an offence
  • perjury
  • plaintiff
  • pleadings
  • procedural law
  • property law
  • provincial court
  • public law
  • Québec Civil Code
  • regulatory laws
  • remedy
  • restitution
  • reverse onus
  • right
  • Rule of Law
  • rule of precedent
  • search warrant
  • sentence
  • statutory authority
  • subpoena
  • substantive law
  • summons
  • Supreme Court of Canada
  • system
  • Ten Commandments
  • theory
  • tort
  • tort law
  • transcript

English First Peoples 10

by Mr. Kertes

Course Overview

  • Unit I: Introduction: Fundamentals of Literary Studies
  • Unit II: Overview: Assignments, Marking, and Grading
  • Unit III: Storytelling (My Story)
  • Unit IV: Film Studies (Language and Place)
  • Unit V: Creative Writing (Short Stories)
  • Midterm Week – Textual Analysis and Literary Studies
  • Unit VI: Expository Essay
  • Unit VII: Textual Analysis Essay
  • Unit VIII: Public Speaking
  • Final Week – Thinking Made Visible

Course Outline

Download the course outline here.

Course Calendar

Course Readings

Review – How to Learn, How to Think

Sept 8-13:

Sept 14-20:

  • Reading 2A (to be posted)
  • Reading 2B (to be posted)

Sept 21-Oct 4:

  • Reading 3A (to be posted)
  • Reading 3B (to be posted)

Oct 5-Oct 18:

  • Reading 4A (to be posted)
  • Reading 4B (to be posted)

Oct 19-Nov 22:

  • Reading 5A (to be posted)
  • Reading 5B (to be posted)

Nov 23-Dec 6:

  • Reading 6A (to be posted)
  • Reading 6B (to be posted)

Dec 7-Dec 13:

  • Reading 7A (to be posted)
  • Reading 7B (to be posted)

Dec 14-Jan 11:

  • Reading 8A (to be posted)
  • Reading 8B (to be posted)

Course Glossary – Key Terms

Definitions will be added as we work through the course. 

  • TBD

Contact

Introduction: Mr. Kertes di waayu. Kittitas ada Boosn di wil ‘waatgu. Canadian ada Boosn 'nüüyu. Kxeen di wil dzogu.

About: Mr. Kertes is a high school English and Socials teacher in Prince Rupert, which is in the territory of the Ts’msyen, at Charles Hays Secondary School (CHSS) - home of the Rainmakers. The language of the Ts'msyen is Sm’algya̲x. He is a specialist in literacy instruction.