English courses 08-09

English Language Arts 9
The Language Arts 9 curriculum reinforces a foundation of reading, writing, listening, speaking and representing skills that will prepare students for the academic rigor of senior high school. Communicating through a variety of media (oral, visual, written), students explore the forms of expression that are best suited to their learning profile as well as discovering their capacity to communicate in formats that may be outside their “comfort zone”. Through the formats of Writer’s Workshop and Independent Novel Studies, students are afforded opportunities to develop well-rounded skills through exposure to a wide variety of reading and writing genres. 

English 10-1 (5 credits)
Pre-requisite: English Language Arts 9
English 10-1 is the first in a series of 3 5-credit courses designed for students who wish to be actively involved in enhancing their skills in critical reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing.  In order to improve these skills, students will study a variety of literary genres and printed materials to identify thought, detail and purpose, establish both personal connections and critical understanding, and to write effectively to express thoughts, feelings, experiences and critical viewpoints. This writing will be for various audiences and purposes in response to reading, viewing, and listening. Students will gain accurate information through listening and viewing, be able to identify (and comment critically on) the purpose, message and intended audience of such communication; and speak effectively while presenting information and expressing thoughts, feelings, and critical viewpoints, employing the appropriate language, tone and non-verbal behaviour to suit the audience, occasion and purpose. Emphasis in this course is placed on the practical (the use of language and communication skills in daily life and the workplace), the personal (using literature as a tool to enhance self-understanding and self-expression), and the critical (using language and communication skills to express ideas, opinions and viewpoints) aspects of communication and language use.
*see course sequence chart*

English 20-1 (5 credits)
Pre-requisite: 60% + in English 10-1
English 20-1 is the second in a series of 3 5-credit courses designed for students who wish to be actively involved in enhancing their skills in critical reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing.  In order to improve these skills, students will experience, respond to, and create a variety of texts.  Experiencing texts will involve: reading a variety of literature and printed material, identifying thought, detail and purpose, while seeking to establish a personal connection with and a critical/literary understanding of the material; and gaining accurate information through listening and viewing, being able to identify and comment critically on the purpose, message, intended audience, and structure of such communication.  Creating texts will involve: writing correctly and effectively while describing and expressing thoughts, feelings, experiences, and critical/literary viewpoints.  This writing will be for various audiences and purposes in response to reading, viewing, and listening, and effectively communicating/transmitting thoughts, feelings, experiences, opinions, critical/literary viewpoints, and information through modes of representation other than writing (primarily oral and graphic).  These representations will be for various audiences and purposes, and will be created primarily in response to reading, viewing, and listening. Emphasis in this course is placed on the practical (the use of language and communication skills in daily life and the workplace), the personal (using literature as a tool to enhance self-understanding and self-expression), and the critical (using language and communication skills to express ideas, opinions and viewpoints) aspects of communication and language use.  Of particular interest is the critical understanding and assessment of literature, specifically literary structure and technique. *see course sequence chart*

English 30-1 (5 credits)
Pre-requisite: 60% + in English 20-1
English 30-1 is the last in a series of 3-5 credit courses designed for students to enhance their ability to read, write, listen, speak, view and represent in a variety of critical and personal contexts.  In order to improve these skills, students will be actively involved in experiencing and creating a variety of texts, as well as reflecting on their approaches to both these activities.
*see course sequence chart*