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Socials 11 - A Tourist in Your Own City

Socials 11: "A Tourist in Your Own City"

LIST OF COMMUNITIES / NEIGHBOURHOODS:
 
ARBUTUS-RIDGE
 
OAKRIDGE
DUNBAR-SOUTHLANDS
 
RENFREW-COLLINGWOOD
FAIRVIEW
 
RILEY PARK
GRANDVIEW-WOODLAND
 
SHAUGHNESSY
HASTINGS-SUNRISE
 
SOUTH CAMBIE
KENSINGTON-CEDAR COTTAGE
 
STRATHCONA-DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE
KERRISDALE
 
SUNSET
KILLARNEY
 
VICTORIA-FRASERVIEW
KITSILANO
 
WEST END
MARPOLE
 
WEST POINT GREY
MOUNT PLEASANT
 
YALETOWN
 
 
ASSIGNMENT [Total of 100 marks]
 
This project is a group project, but it has individual components that all members must complete. Your assignment is to select, and then investigate a neighbourhood / community in Vancouver. [Browse the list above.]
 
You will be given 3 library research periods with some time in the computer lab.  It is recommended that you exchange email addresses and / or phone numbers with members of your group so that you can contact each other throughout the length of this project.
 
You will be responsible for:
 

1)  A Demographic Analysis of your neighbourhood (Group) 25 marks 

  • A brief summary of the history of your neighbourhood
  • Population Statistics including: age-sex structure of population (+ implications / predictions)
  • A population pyramid with an explanation of the findings and any associated statisticsIndicators of socio-economic class
  • Voting patterns

and any other noteworthy statistics

Consider:

  • How has your neighbourood demographically changed over time?
  • If you had to project 20 years into the future, are there services in place to deal with the changing population?
  • Do you think there are any "connections" between the factors listed above? If so, explain what they are and how they are related.

 2)  A Walking Tour of historic, interesting, or unique aspects of your neighbourhood
      (Group) 15 marks

This project is interactive.  Yes, you are going to have to spend time in your neighbourhood. Look for historic or unique areas that other people may be interested in knowing about.  You should include:

  • a map that indicates the route one must take on your tour. Show main streets and indicate which areas are residential, commercial spaces, parks, etc.
  • a write up about why these sites and locations are interesting.
  • addresses or locations of buildings and sites of interest.
  • details on the commercial area (i.e. information on shops and food venues that will give the tourist various leisure opportunities).

3)  A Café or Restaurant Review (Group / Individual) - 10 marks

This part of the assignment is not like a review in a newspaper.  For the most part it is meant to be informative but it is also to sell the food venue to the tourist.
Avoid food chains, such as Starbucks and MacDonalds, which are very generic.  We are looking for a restaurant or café that is one of a kind.


You are required to conduct a brief interview with the owner / proprietor / manager of the establishment and ask questions to find out about any unique aspects about the venue such as: specialty food items and/or other events (i.e. sponsored events, music nights, etc.).

4)  A Class Presentation (Group/Individual) - 25 marks
  • An Audio-Visual component (Examples: Video Documentary, a photo-essay, a brochure/pamphlet, PowerPoint, etc.) 
  • You are asked to prepare a presentation that includes and conveys the knowledge gained from all of the components in the assignment. 
  • All members must contribute to this presentation.
  • Be creative and have fun with this aspect of the project!
5)  A Brief Report (1 to 2 pages) on a social issue concerning your neighbourhood (Group) - 15 marks
In analyzing your demographic information, certain issues may appear to be of concern in your neighbourhood.
Find out if this is in fact the case. If not, why not?
If so, what if anything is the community doing to combat or address these issues. 
  
6)  Peer / Self Evaluation - 10 marks
     This sheet will be handed out later.  Each person is responsible for feedback.
 FINAL NOTE:
The final tour guide should include the following sections with copies for everyone's work.
It should begin with a brief introduction to your neighbourhood and be followed by a copy of your demographic analysis; your walking tour; your individual reviews; and your report on the social issue.  Please organize your time wisely. 
 

TIPS ON PRESENTING VISUALS

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in order to understand why the visuals are important to your assignment you must include some written information (i.e. a brief legend).

W5 CLASSIFICATION FOR VISUALS

  • WHAT is it? [What is in the picture? Name the building(s), people, etc.]
  • WHERE is it? [Location / Point of View - from which angle is it taken?]
  • WHEN was it taken? [Date - Month? Day? Year? Time of day? Season?]
  • WHY did you include it in your assignment? [Why did you choose it? Why is it significant or relevant to your project?]
  • WHO took the photograph or drew the picture? [Usually indicated on the title page - "Photographs by: ______ "]

A complete Works Cited of the resources used in this assignment. 

W5 Powerpoint Presentation will be shown in one of your library periods.                                                           

RESOURCES ON THE LIBRARY REFERENCE SHELVES

Use WEB CAT (our school library's on-line Catalogue) or search the Vancouver Public Library to locate books on Vancouver or your specific area / community.
Many of the V.P.L. library branches have reference files that include articles and information specific to their own neighbourhood. Call the local branch library to check on the availability of these files and / or visit the library in person.
The GENERAL SUBJECT HEADINGS / Dewey Classifications are:
 
  • VANCOUVER - DESCRIPTION AND TRAVEL  [917.11 ]
  • VANCOUVER - HISTORY [971.1 ]
IN OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY ...
  • Community Profiles / City of Vancouver Planning Department [REF 307.7609 COM] - also available on-line
  • Exploring Vancouver by Harold Kalman [917.11 KAL]
  • The Vancouver Guide by Terri Wershler [917.11 WER]
  • The Greater Vancouver Book by Chuck Davis[971.1 GRE]
  • Vancouver the way it was by Michael Kluckner [971.1 KLU]
Don't forget to check WEB CAT for other titles.
 

USEFUL INTERNET SITES

 
BC STATS - CENSUS DATA - You may look up data by Postal Code or by Census Tract Number.
  • Postal Codes - Pick a Secondary School (or Elementary School) in the neighbourhood and type in the school's postal code.
    Check the bulletin board in the library for:
    • the map of Schools in the Vancouver District, to identify which schools are in your area.
    • the VSB School Directory to retrieve addresses and postal codes for each school.
  • Census Tract numbers are a bit more complicated.
    The Census Tract numbers are assigned at census time and there may be more than one census number allocated to your area / neighbourhood.
    The Census number is always 7 digits preceding the decimal point, and it is crucial that you inlcude a decimal point and the 00 after the decimal.

    For example:  The Census Tract number for Vancouver is:  9330005.00

    A census number for Hastings-Sunrise might be:  9330053.01  (Notice:  The number is 7 digits in length, there is a decimal and numbers following the decimal.
  • For now, take down all of the census numbers that are associated to your area/neighbourhood.
    Your teacher will discuss how to use the data from these census areas later.     
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