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English Departmental Statement The English department strives to both cultivate life-long knowledge and appreciation of English literary traditions and language and promote literacy through the study of various genres and the application of diverse modes of delivery. It also endeavors to foster an open and collaborative learning environment in which cultural diversity is embraced. Through their study of the English language and the rich literary traditions of the United States, Britain, and Asia, our students are given many opportunities to appreciate and enjoy fine literature and to become confident and fluent users of English. This confidence and fluency helps them to operate effectively in a world of ever-increasing challenge and complexity; they become adept at communicating clearly and purposefully, responding creatively to the world around them and expressing their opinions eloquently. Course Selection In order to graduate with a High School Diploma, students must successfully complete at least four compulsory units of English including at least one Grade 12 course or Advanced Placement course. Advanced-level English courses are offered at each grade level. Students with a genuine interest in literature may benefit from the challenges and rewards of the Honors and Advanced Placement English courses. Students who successfully pass the Advanced Placement examination in Grade 12 will be granted university credit. Language Arts support courses are offered at Grades 9, 10 and 11. Students with a need to develop their literacy skills may benefit from taking a Language Arts class in conjunction with a compulsory English course. To complement the learning of English, the department offers an elective course in Journalism for Grade 11 and 12 students. Students are given the opportunity to learn multi-media skills and discover new talents.
Standards In all English courses, students will:
Course Description The objectives of this course are to enable students to further develop their literacy skills as they experiment with various types of reading and writing. Students are exposed to a broad selection of literature and are encouraged to achieve a deeper level of understanding and analysis as they explore a wide range of literary elements and devices. Major texts under study include Falling Leaves, Romeo and Juliet, and The Odyssey. During the course, students develop skills in process writing, interpreting and comparing texts, writing for different audiences and purposes, presenting and supporting an argument, and synthesizing information from a variety of sources. Students engage in a variety of learning tasks such as discussions, role-plays, dramatizations, group work, presentations, independent research, and individual writing assignments.Various resources are used throughout the year, including Elements of Literature, 3rd Course, films, and non-fiction supporting materials. Learner Outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to literature, nonfiction texts, and media, formal essays and other types of writing, comprehensive tests, student-facilitated presentations, and a research project.
Course Description The objectives of this course are to enable students to further develop their literacy skills as they experiment with various types of reading and writing. The Honors track of this course encourages students to seek greater analytical depth in the coursework. Students are provided with enrichment activities and opportunities to further enhance their skills. The course moves at an accelerated pace, and students will study a greater breadth of higher-level literature compared to that in ENG 1C. Major texts under study include Falling Leaves, Romeo and Juliet, and The Odyssey. During the course, students develop skills in process writing, interpreting and comparing texts, writing for different audiences and purposes, presenting and supporting an argument, and synthesizing information from a variety of sources. Students engage in a variety of learning tasks such as discussions, role-plays, dramatizations, group work, presentations, independent research, and individual writing assignments.Various resources are used throughout the year, including Elements of Literature, 3rd Course, films, and non-fiction supporting materials. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to literature, nonfiction texts, and media, formal essays and other types of writing, comprehensive tests, student-facilitated presentations, and a research project.
Course Description The objectives of this course are to expose students to a wide range of literature covering multiple genres, including short story, novel, poetry, drama, and autobiographical nonfiction, from authors of various cultures. Major texts under study include Into Thin Air and The House on Mango Street. Students make personal responses to literature, analyze literary techniques, and write for a variety of purposes and audiences. During the course, students develop skills in critical and interpretive reading, essay writing, oral presentation, and independent research. Students engage in a variety of learning tasks such as co-operative research, discussion, and group activities. Moreover, they begin to develop advanced skills in creative and process writing and critical thinking. Various resources are used throughout the year, including Elements of Literature, 4th Course, films, and non-fiction supporting materials. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to literature, nonfiction texts, and media, formal essays and other types of writing, comprehensive tests, student-facilitated presentations, and a research project.
Course Description The objectives of this course are to expose students to a wide range of literature covering multiple genres, including short story, novel, poetry, drama, and autobiographical nonfiction, from authors of various cultures. The Honors track of this course encourages students to seek greater analytical depth in the coursework. Students are provided with enrichment activities and opportunities to further enhance their skills. The course moves at an accelerated pace, and students will study a greater breadth of higher-level literature compared to that in ENG 2C. Students in this course are prepared for and encouraged to take the Advanced Placement track. Major texts under study include Into Thin Air and The House on Mango Street. Students make personal responses to literature, analyze literary techniques, and write for a variety of purposes and audiences. During the course, students develop skills in critical and interpretive reading, essay writing, oral presentation, and independent research. Students engage in a variety of learning tasks such as co-operative research, discussion, and group activities. Moreover, they begin to develop advanced skills in creative and process writing and critical thinking. Various resources are used throughout the year, including Elements of Literature, 4th Course, films, and non-fiction supporting materials. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to literature, nonfiction texts, and media, formal essays and other types of writing, comprehensive tests, student-facilitated presentations, and a research project.
Course Description The objectives of this course are to expose students to a diverse selection of American literature spanning six major literary periods from Native American folklore to the contemporary period across a variety of genres. Major authors under study include Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, and Amy Tan. Students trace the changes in attitudes, ideas and styles that have occurred over the past few centuries and reflect upon their own experiences. Students are encouraged to develop a personalized appreciation of literature and to further develop their writing style as they respond, with insight and empathy, to what they read. During the course, students fine-tune their skills in recalling, interpreting, extending and analyzing. They respond creatively to texts, engage in critical and interpretative reading, write for different audiences and purposes, synthesize information and evaluate texts, all of which helps them grow as active, independent readers and thinkers. Students engage in a variety of learning tasks such as discussions, role-plays, group work, presentations, independent research and individual writing assignments. Various resources are used throughout the year, including Elements of Literature, 5th Course, The Joy Luck Club, films and non-fiction supporting materials. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to literature, nonfiction texts, and media, formal essays and other types of writing, comprehensive tests, student-facilitated presentations, online discussion forums, and a research project.
Course Description The objectives of this course are to prepare students for taking the Advanced Placement course in senior year. Students with a genuine interest in the subtleties of language and finer elements of literature will find this course both challenging and rewarding. There will be a focus on the comprehensive analysis of texts through critical inquiry, as well as discussion of the social, cultural, and historical context of the texts under explication. Students will build a foundation in using analytical tools to read literature. They will read a wide variety of literature, from sixteenth to the twenty-first century, from nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry, written by authors from diverse cultures and backgrounds. The course is based on W. W. Norton and Company’s Introduction to Literature, which guides students in understanding the elements of literature. In addition, students are also required to complete five full-length text studies, including Lord of the Flies. Students will begin to develop their analytical writing skills in order to respond to what they read. In addition, they will engage in a variety of learning tasks such as small and large group discussions, student-led seminars, and independent research. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to literature, nonfiction texts, and media, formal essays and other types of writing, comprehensive tests, student-facilitated presentations, online discussion forums, and a research project.
Course Description The objectives of this course are to expose students to British literature, from Old English to contemporary times through several genres. Major texts include Beowulf, Macbeth, and Pride and Prejudice. Students read texts that cover a variety of settings and situations which encourage students to develop a sense of self by exploring the lives and experiences of others. They develop skills in logical, creative, and critical thinking. They learn to respond to literature by speaking, researching, and writing. Students engage in a variety of learning tasks such as discussions, individual and group presentations, independent research, speeches, debates, and written assignments. Various resources are used throughout the year, including Elements of Literature, 6th Course, novels, films and non-fiction supporting materials. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to literature, nonfiction texts, and media, formal essays and other types of writing, comprehensive tests, student-facilitated presentations, online discussion forums, and a research project.
Course Description A rigorous academic course, Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition requires that students read a wide variety of literature, from sixteenth to the twenty-first century, from nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry, written by authors from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Designed to mimic an introductory university-level literary analysis and composition course, EAP5C follows a similar curriculum as one typically found in American universities. Students are required to read six novels, four full-length plays, a collection of poetry from Perrine’s Sound and Sense, and supporting articles and nonfiction essays. Novels under explication include Atonement, The Bluest Eye, The Great Gatsby, The Woman Warrior, Slaughterhouse Five, and The Good Earth. Students explore these texts in depth and trace the development of universal themes over time, place, and culture while reflecting on their own engagement with the literature. Further, they will learn the basic tenets of several literary theories to advance their critical inquiry into the texts. Students will develop their analytical writing skills in order to respond to what they read. In addition, they will engage in a variety of learning tasks such as small and large group discussions, student-led seminars, independent research, and practice examinations. Students will also focus on test-taking strategies using a Princeton Review guided textbook in the spring semester to prepare them for the standardized AP exam in May. Those who score a 3, 4, or 5 on this exam may earn university credit. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to literature, nonfiction texts, and media, formal essays and other types of writing, comprehensive tests, student-facilitated presentations, online discussion forums, and a research project.
Course Description This course parallels ENG 1C/EHS 1C as a support for students and is designed to develop students' academic English proficiency, which will benefit them throughout their school, university, and working lives. Language Arts takes students beyond being able to engage in casual conversation with their classmates and paves the way Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to various written and visual texts, formal essays and other types of writing, oral presentations and activities, and a research project.
Course Description This course is a continuation of ELA 1C and parallels ENG 2C/EHS 2C as a support for students. The objectives of this course are to continue to build students’ foundation in literacy skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students continue to practice various literacy strategies with an emphasis on the genre-based approach to literacy skills. During the course, students develop their skills through learning tasks such as discussions, role-plays, group work, presentations, independent research and individual writing assignments. Various resources are used throughout the year, including Elements of Language, 4th Course, graphic organizers, films, and non-fiction supporting materials. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to various written and visual texts, formal essays and other types of writing, oral presentations and activities, and a research project.
Course Description This course is a continuation of ELA 2C and parallels ENG 3C as a support for students. The objectives of this course are to continue to build students’ foundation in literacy skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students continue to practice various literacy strategies with an emphasis on the genre-based approach to literacy skills. The course includes a major unit on persuasive speaking and writing and business writing. During the course, students develop their skills through learning tasks such as discussions, role-plays, group work, presentations, independent research and individual writing assignments. Various resources are used throughout the year, including Elements of Language, 5th Course, graphic organizers, films, and non-fiction supporting materials. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on written and oral responses to various written and visual texts, formal essays and other types of writing, oral presentations and activities, and a research project.
Course Description This course will appeal to students interested in writing for the school newspaper or helping to produce the yearbook. Besides developing their own journalistic skills, they will learn to be critical consumers of media. Students will learn the basics of journalistic writing including news writing, feature writing, sports writing and editorial writing. In addition, students will learn the fundamentals of photography, advertising and design. They will be evaluated primarily on their ability to produce publishable stories and/or photographs and advertising. The course employs Writing and Editing School News as a primary text and other supporting materials are used to guide students in their learning process. Students are responsible for regularly publishing The Eagle, the AIS student newspaper. Learner outcomes Students will be able to:
Assessment Students will be assessed on various types of written articles, information gathering, research skills, and visual presentation. |
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