ENGLISH
The aim of all levels of English Language Arts is to provide students with opportunities for personal and intellectual growth through speaking, listening, reading, viewing, and writing. With the challenges facing us in the 21st century, the ability to communicate effectively and to function in a rapidly changing society becomes even more critical. Through the variety of opportunities provided in English Language Arts, these skills are practiced and developed through an examination of relevant issues, such as responsibility, the power of belief, personal discovery, and our place in society. In grades 11 and 12 senior students choose to take English 11 and 12 or Communications 11 and 12. Both streams count as equal credit for high school graduation. English Language Arts 11 and 12 focus on the expressive and functional purposes of language and are challenging, theoretical treatments of English that prepare students to take English courses at the post-secondary level. Communications 11 and 12 focus on the practical, less theoretical language skills students need to function in daily life and the workplace. While Communications 12 does not eliminate post-secondary options, many universities will not accept applications from students who do not have credit for English Language Arts 12. However, it is possible for students to be accepted to some community colleges and technical school programs if they have credit in Communications 12. Students and parents are encouraged to speak with a member of the English Department or their grade counsellor if they have questions concerning whether to take English 12 or Communications 12. ENGLISH 8English 8 students will further develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students will be encouraged to read for enjoyment and understanding, and will analyze, criticize, and respond to a variety of literary works. Assignments range from highly structured written activities to oral presentations, creative writing, and group exploration of literature. Students will engage in topics that may include individual experiences, children in war, persecution or personal responsibility. ENGLISH - English 9 (MEN--09) In English 9, students broaden their skills in reading and composition with specific practice in vocabulary building and writing narrative, descriptive, and expository paragraphs. They continue the study of the novel and short story concepts learned in Grade 8, looking particularly at character, conflict, and theme. Reading and basic analysis of non-fiction prose is introduced. Students also continue their exploration of poetry: its forms, content and terminology. Formal and informal essay writing is introduced. Topics studied may include personal responsibility, science-fiction and fantasy, Shakespeare and mystery. ENGLISH - English 9 DI (MEN--09-DI) English 9 DI follows the English 9 curriculum as above. Students will study literature and themes that correspond to historical time periods, in addition to making connections to today’s world. Students will learn to evaluate and think critically in a twenty-first century classroom by sharing their opinions/ideas while incorporating technological tools. ENGLISH - English 10 (MEN--10) (Provincial Exam - Mandatory) In English 10, topics such as the nature of prejudice, the consequences of fear and ignorance, the inhumane behaviour of human beings in certain circumstances, and the effect of media on attitudes are reflected within the course content. Reading will cover the novel, short story, non-fiction, biography, and poetry. Students will continue to practice writing with particular emphasis on exposition including articles, letters, biographical sketches, and personal anecdotes. In addition, students are encouraged to develop visual representation of their ideas. Formal and informal essay writing is further practiced, with specific training in the formulation of a thesis and the selection and organization of supporting evidence. Students in this course must write the mandatory provincial exam, worth 20% of their final grade. ENGLISH - English 10 DI (MEN--10-DI) English 10 DI follows the English 10 curriculum as above. Students will study literature and themes that correspond to historical time periods, in addition to making connections to today’s world. Students will learn to evaluate and think critically in a twenty-first century classroom by sharing their opinions/ideas while incorporating technological tools. ENGLISH - English 11 (MEN--11) Students in English 11 study literature ranging from novels and short stories, to drama and poetry, which examine individuals who face crucial decisions in crisis situations or who, through introspection, discover the forces which govern much human behaviour. Increasing emphasis will be placed on group cooperative learning activities, on writing formal essays and short stories, and on examining visual representations of ideas. Various topics of study may include horror, civilization or prejudice. ENGLISH - Communications 11 and 12 (MCOM-11 and MCOM-12) (Provincial Exam - Mandatory) In both these courses students will be using and appreciating a variety of communication forms in a variety of contexts. This can include informational communications (e.g. letters, summaries), mass media (e.g. newspapers, magazines) and literary communications (e.g. short stories, poetry). Communications courses focus on English as used in daily life and the workplace. A student who completes Communications 11 will go into Communications 12. Skills learned in Communications 11 are intended for further use in Communications 12. English 12 is not recommended after Communications 11. The Communications stream is accepted by most career and vocational programs. Students in Communications 12 must write the mandatory provincial exam, worth 40% of their final grade. ENGLISH - English 12 (MEN--12) (Provincial Exam - Mandatory) The course is organized to focus on contemporary themes and issues relevant to young adults. These include the role of materialism, personal relationships, gender issues, and future trends in society. Students are encouraged to make selections of interest to them. To be successful, they will demonstrate competence in reading and writing analytical essays, in interpreting sophisticated fiction, in writing personal responses, and in presenting their ideas in a variety of forms. Students will practice recognizing bias, questioning the validity of ideas, and following logical argument. Students in this course must write the mandatory provincial exam, worth 40% of their final grade. ENGLISH - Literature 12 (MLIT-12) [open to students in Grades 11 and 12] Literature 12 is a survey course of the most influential works written in the English language. Material spans several hundred years, from the Anglo-Saxon Beowulf to the more existential writers of the 20th century. In this course students debate ‘the big questions’ of life and routinely ponder the more active-discussion topics of sex, politics, and religion. Art, music, and film are also used to bring these master works to life. As a historical panorama of English literary thought, Literature 12 provides a highly practical background for future studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences and qualifies as an ‘academic 12’ in all post-secondary institutions in BC. A ‘B’ or better in English 11 is strongly recommended, as are effective writing skills. Students may take Literature 12 in either grade 11 or 12, and would take it concurrently while also enroled in an English 11 or 12 class. ENGLISH - Writing 12 (MWR--12) (Dynamics) “Language is the armory of the human mind, and at once contains the trophies of its past and the weapons of its future conquests” (Samuel Taylor Coleridge). This is a course for students to explore and experience the power of language. It is recommended for students excited by the creative, pragmatic and persuasive use of words. Dynamics offers development of language use in both written and oral communication, with emphasis on confidence building through effective organization and presentation of ideas. It is useful for students exploring a wide variety of career paths that require a high level of oral skill, including business, sales, tourism, teaching, journalism, etc. This course MAY be counted as an academic 12 in some post-secondary institutions, some depending on the program of study. Consult the calendar for each institution.
ENGLISH 8
English 8 students will further develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students will be encouraged to read for enjoyment and understanding, and will analyze, criticize, and respond to a variety of literary works. Assignments range from highly structured written activities to oral presentations, creative writing, and group exploration of literature. Students will engage in topics that may include individual experiences, children in war, persecution or personal responsibility.
ENGLISH - English 9 (MEN--09) In English 9, students broaden their skills in reading and composition with specific practice in vocabulary building and writing narrative, descriptive, and expository paragraphs. They continue the study of the novel and short story concepts learned in Grade 8, looking particularly at character, conflict, and theme. Reading and basic analysis of non-fiction prose is introduced. Students also continue their exploration of poetry: its forms, content and terminology. Formal and informal essay writing is introduced. Topics studied may include personal responsibility, science-fiction and fantasy, Shakespeare and mystery. ENGLISH - English 9 DI (MEN--09-DI) English 9 DI follows the English 9 curriculum as above. Students will study literature and themes that correspond to historical time periods, in addition to making connections to today’s world. Students will learn to evaluate and think critically in a twenty-first century classroom by sharing their opinions/ideas while incorporating technological tools. ENGLISH - English 10 (MEN--10) (Provincial Exam - Mandatory) In English 10, topics such as the nature of prejudice, the consequences of fear and ignorance, the inhumane behaviour of human beings in certain circumstances, and the effect of media on attitudes are reflected within the course content. Reading will cover the novel, short story, non-fiction, biography, and poetry. Students will continue to practice writing with particular emphasis on exposition including articles, letters, biographical sketches, and personal anecdotes. In addition, students are encouraged to develop visual representation of their ideas. Formal and informal essay writing is further practiced, with specific training in the formulation of a thesis and the selection and organization of supporting evidence. Students in this course must write the mandatory provincial exam, worth 20% of their final grade.
ENGLISH - English 10 DI (MEN--10-DI) English 10 DI follows the English 10 curriculum as above. Students will study literature and themes that correspond to historical time periods, in addition to making connections to today’s world. Students will learn to evaluate and think critically in a twenty-first century classroom by sharing their opinions/ideas while incorporating technological tools. ENGLISH - English 11 (MEN--11) Students in English 11 study literature ranging from novels and short stories, to drama and poetry, which examine individuals who face crucial decisions in crisis situations or who, through introspection, discover the forces which govern much human behaviour. Increasing emphasis will be placed on group cooperative learning activities, on writing formal essays and short stories, and on examining visual representations of ideas. Various topics of study may include horror, civilization or prejudice. ENGLISH - Communications 11 and 12 (MCOM-11 and MCOM-12) (Provincial Exam - Mandatory) In both these courses students will be using and appreciating a variety of communication forms in a variety of contexts. This can include informational communications (e.g. letters, summaries), mass media (e.g. newspapers, magazines) and literary communications (e.g. short stories, poetry). Communications courses focus on English as used in daily life and the workplace. A student who completes Communications 11 will go into Communications 12. Skills learned in Communications 11 are intended for further use in Communications 12. English 12 is not recommended after Communications 11. The Communications stream is accepted by most career and vocational programs. Students in Communications 12 must write the mandatory provincial exam, worth 40% of their final grade. ENGLISH - English 12 (MEN--12) (Provincial Exam - Mandatory) The course is organized to focus on contemporary themes and issues relevant to young adults. These include the role of materialism, personal relationships, gender issues, and future trends in society. Students are encouraged to make selections of interest to them. To be successful, they will demonstrate competence in reading and writing analytical essays, in interpreting sophisticated fiction, in writing personal responses, and in presenting their ideas in a variety of forms. Students will practice recognizing bias, questioning the validity of ideas, and following logical argument. Students in this course must write the mandatory provincial exam, worth 40% of their final grade. ENGLISH - Literature 12 (MLIT-12) [open to students in Grades 11 and 12] Literature 12 is a survey course of the most influential works written in the English language. Material spans several hundred years, from the Anglo-Saxon Beowulf to the more existential writers of the 20th century. In this course students debate ‘the big questions’ of life and routinely ponder the more active-discussion topics of sex, politics, and religion. Art, music, and film are also used to bring these master works to life. As a historical panorama of English literary thought, Literature 12 provides a highly practical background for future studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences and qualifies as an ‘academic 12’ in all post-secondary institutions in BC. A ‘B’ or better in English 11 is strongly recommended, as are effective writing skills. Students may take Literature 12 in either grade 11 or 12, and would take it concurrently while also enroled in an English 11 or 12 class. ENGLISH - Writing 12 (MWR--12) (Dynamics) “Language is the armory of the human mind, and at once contains the trophies of its past and the weapons of its future conquests” (Samuel Taylor Coleridge). This is a course for students to explore and experience the power of language. It is recommended for students excited by the creative, pragmatic and persuasive use of words. Dynamics offers development of language use in both written and oral communication, with emphasis on confidence building through effective organization and presentation of ideas. It is useful for students exploring a wide variety of career paths that require a high level of oral skill, including business, sales, tourism, teaching, journalism, etc. This course MAY be counted as an academic 12 in some post-secondary institutions, some depending on the program of study. Consult the calendar for each institution.