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English

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2024-2025 School Year

Department Staff:

K. Levely – Department Head

C. Murphy – Department Assistant Head

N. Bailey

A. Daniels

A. Dean

N. Ebel

N. Fanara

S. Hyde

C. Piva

B. Sorensen

The English curriculum is based on the belief that language learning is critical to responsible and productive citizenship, and that all students can become successful language learners. The curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills that they need to achieve this goal. It aims to help students become successful language learners.

Successful language learners:

  1. understand that language learning is a necessary, life-enhancing, reflective process;
  2. communicate – that is, read, listen, view, speak, write, and represent – effectively and with confidence;
  3. make meaningful connections between themselves, what they encounter in texts, and the world around them;
  4. think critically;
  5. understand that all texts advance a particular point of view that must be recognized, questioned, assessed, and evaluated;
  6. appreciate the cultural impact and aesthetic power of texts;
  7. use language to interact and connect with individuals and communities, for personal growth, and for active participation as world citizens.

The English program in Grades 9 to 12 includes compulsory courses and optional courses.

The compulsory courses emphasize strong core competencies in listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and representing. As part of their program in Grades 9 and 10, students must take one compulsory course in English in each grade. These courses are offered in three types, academic, applied, and locally developed.

Students choose between course types on the basis of their interests, achievement, and postsecondary goals. The course types offered in Grades 9 and 10 are defined as follows:

  1. Academic courses develop students’ knowledge and skills through the study of theory and abstract problems. These courses focus on the essential concepts of a subject and explore related concepts as well. They incorporate practical applications as appropriate.
  2. Applied courses focus on the essential concepts of a subject, and develop students’ knowledge and skills through practical applications and concrete examples. Familiar situations are used to illustrate ideas, and students are given more opportunities to experience hands-on applications of the concepts and theories they study.
  3. Open courses are designed to prepare students for further study in the subject, and to enrich their education generally. These courses comprise a set of expectations that are appropriate for all students.

Locally developed compulsory credit (LDCC) courses in English in each of Grades 9 and 10 are available, which may be used to meet the compulsory credit requirement in English for these grades. The Grade 9 and 10 LDCC courses prepare students for success in the Grade 11 English workplace preparation course.

Grade Course Code Course Name
9 ENG1D1 English, Academic
9 ENG1P1 English, Applied
9 ENG1L1 English, Locally Developed
10 ENG2D1 English, Academic
10 ENG2P1 English, Applied
10 ENG2L1 Locally Developed English, Optional
11 ENG3U1 English, University
11 ENG3C1 English, College
11 ENG3E1 English, Workplace
12 ENG4U1 English, University
12 ENG4C1 English, College
12 ENG4E1 English, Workplace
12 EWC4U1 The Writer’s Craft, University
12 OLC4O1 The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Cour…

Course Name: English, Academic

Grade: 9
Course Code: ENG1D1
Description: This course emphasizes the analytical reading, writing, oral communication and thinking skills that students need for success in secondary school academic programs and their daily lives. Students will study and interpret texts from contemporary and historical periods, including short stories, poems, and short essays, and will investigate and create media  

Course Name: English, Applied

Grade: 9
Course Code: ENG1P1
Description: This course emphasizes key reading, writing, oral communication, and thinking skills that students need for success in secondary school and their daily lives. Students will study plays, short stories, newspaper and magazine articles and will describe and create media works. An important focus will be the correct use of spoken and written language.

Course Name: Essential English

Grade: 9
Course Code: ENG1L1
Description: This course is designed for students who are working below grade level and who have experienced significant difficulties in previous English courses. It provides them an opportunity to develop the necessary skills to prepare them for either the Grade 9 Applied English, the Grade 10 Locally Developed optional English course or the Grade 11 Workplace Preparation courses and for successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. This course emphasizes key reading, writing, oral communication, and thinking skills that students need for success in secondary school and their daily lives. Students will read a variety of narrative and expository forms, poetry, drama, and practise the skills necessary for clear and accurate spoken and written language. In particular, course activities will help develop confidence, self-esteem, and provide motivation to succeed in high school and life.

Course Name: English, Academic

Grade: 10
Course Code: ENG2D1
Description: This course extends the range of analytic, reading, writing, oral communication, and thinking skills that students need for success in secondary school academic programs. Students will study and interpret challenging texts from contemporary and historical periods, including novels, poems, plays, and opinion pieces, and will analyze and create effective media works. An important focus will be the thoughtful use of spoken and written language.
Prerequisite: ENG1D1 or ENG1P1
Crossover Course recommended for change of level

Course Name: English, Applied

Grade: 10
Course Code: ENG2P1
Description: This course extends the range of key reading, writing, oral communication, and thinking skills that students need for success in all areas of the curriculum. Students will study novels, poems, magazines, and reports, and will describe, design, and produce effective media works. An important focus will be the clear and coherent use of spoken and written language.
Prerequisite: ENG1D1 or ENG1P1
Crossover Course recommended for change of level

Course Name: Locally Developed English, Optional

Grade: 10
Course Code: ENG2L1
Description: This course emphasizes key skills in reading, writing, oral communication and thinking that students need for continuing success in their secondary school subjects, and to communicate with others in their lives outside of school. Students will read key informational and literary text forms, including novels, editorials, magazine feature articles and poetry, for personal and academic purposes. They will use their knowledge of media to create media works collaboratively. The writing process will be used to produce clear, complete writing in a variety of narrative and non-narrative forms for real-life purposes, using appropriate and correct language. In particular, the course will encourage students to develop and reflect upon the strategies that will improve their literacy competence and confidence.

Course Name: English, University

Grade: 11
Course Code: ENG3U1
Description: This course emphasizes the development of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students will analyse challenging texts, both contemporary and historical; conduct research and analyse the information gathered; write persuasive and literary essays; and analyse the relationship among media forms, audiences, and media industry practices. An important focus will be on understanding the development of the English language.
Prerequisite: ENG2D1

Course Name: English, College

Grade: 11
Course Code: ENG3C1
Description: This course emphasizes the development of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students will study the content, form, and style of informational texts and literary works from Canada and other countries; write reports, correspondence, and persuasive essays; and analyse media forms, audiences, and media industry practices. An important focus will be on establishing appropriate voice and using business and technical language with precision and clarity.
Prerequisite: ENG2P1

Course Name: English, Workplace

Grade: 11
Course Code: ENG3E1
Description: This course emphasizes the development of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students will study the content, form, and style of informational texts and literary works; write explanations, letters, and reports; and investigate the connections among media forms, audiences, and media industry practices. An important focus will be on using language clearly, accurately, and effectively in a variety of contexts.
Prerequisite: ENG1P1 or ENG141 or ENG231

Course Name: English, University

Grade: 12
Course Code: ENG4U1
Description: This course emphasizes consolidation of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students will analyse a range of challenging texts from various time periods, countries, and cultures; write analytical and argumentative essays and a major paper for an independent literary research project; and apply key concepts to analyse media works. An important focus will be on understanding academic language and using it coherently and confidently in discussion and argument.
Prerequisite: ENG3U1

Course Name: English, College

Grade: 12
Course Code: ENG4C1
Description: This course emphasizes consolidation of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students will analyse informational texts and literary works from various time periods, countries, and cultures; write research reports, summaries, and short analytical essays; complete an independent study project; and analyse the interactions among media forms, audiences, and media industry practices. An important focus will be on establishing appropriate style and using business and technical language effectively.
Prerequisite: ENG3C1

Course Name: English, Workplace

Grade: 12
Course Code: ENG4E1
Description: This course emphasizes consolidation of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students will study informational texts and literature from various countries and cultures; write summaries, reports, résumés, and short essays; complete an independent research project; and explain the connections among media forms, audiences, and media industry practices. An important focus will be on using specialized language related to the workplace accurately and coherently in appropriate contexts. Prerequisite: ENG3E1

Course Name: The Writer’s Craft, University

Grade: 12
Course Code: EWC4U1
Description: This course emphasizes knowledge and skills related to the craft of writing. Students will investigate models of effective writing; use a workshop approach to write a variety of works; and make considered decisions for improving the quality of their writing. They will also complete a creative or analytical independent study project, and investigate opportunities for publication and for writing careers.
Prerequisite: ENG3U1

Course Name: The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course, Open

Grade: 12
Course Code: OLC4O1
Description: Please note: even though OLC4O1 is a compulsory Grade 12 English credit, it does not fulfill the Grade 12 English requirement for post-secondary acceptance. This course is designed to help students acquire and demonstrate the cross-curricular literacy skills that are evaluated by the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Students who complete the course successfully will meet the provincial literacy requirement for graduation. Students will read a variety of informational, narrative, and graphic texts and will produce a variety of forms of writing, including summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces, and news reports. Students will also maintain and manage a portfolio containing a record of their reading experiences and samples of their writing.

Eligibility requirement: Students who have been eligible to write the OSSLT at least twice and who have been unsuccessful at least once are eligible to take the course.

Updated on Tuesday, July 09, 2024.
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