ENGLISH 10 COURSE OPTIONS:
- COMPOSITION 10: MYSTERY
Crime, murder mysteries, whodunits—detective fiction has been hugely popular since its inception. These stories challenge the reader to try to solve the mystery on their own and entertain us by showing off the deductive skills of talented investigators. We will read key stories in the genre from the proto-detective Oedipus the King to the birth of detective fiction proper in Edgar Allan Poe and its development through Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler and noir movies, all the way up to the present day. The course will include plays, short stories, novels, poetry, film and TV. Students will gain an appreciation of genre and literary history while developing their skills in literary analysis.
- CREATIVE WRITING 10
Creative Writing is designed for students who have an interest in creative expression through language. Students will sharpen their skills as literary artists through the exploration of identity and story in a wide range of genres. Within a supportive community of writers, students will collaborate and develop their skills through writing and design processes that encourage students to reflect on, extend, and refine their writing. Possible areas of focus include contemporary creative forms such as slam poetry, oratory, rap, drama, song, and graphic novels; creative non-fiction, historical fiction, poetry, song lyrics; multimodal creative forms that combine visual, written, and oral texts.
- ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 10
English First Peoples is open to all students and designed for those who are interested in exploring contemporary texts from outside traditional reading lists and responding to texts in and beyond the written word. With an emphasis on oral self-expression and communication in a variety of contexts, Students who take this course will also strengthen their oral language proficiencies. EFP is grounded in First Peoples teaching and learning methods and examines the power of storytelling and its influences on cultures and histories. Moreover, the course expands students’ understanding of what it means to be an educated Canadian and global citizen. The course centers identity, history, community, experience and dialogue in the learning process through a survey of Indigenous literatures across a variety of genres including short stories, memoir, novels and graphic novels, poems, drama and film, all created by Indigenous artists from Canada and around the world.
- NEW MEDIA 10: FILM STUDIES
Film Studies combines the traditional study of literature with a relatively new art form: film. Students will be introduced to texts, both literary and visual, from a variety of genres, time periods, styles, and writers/directors. As movies are visual narratives, students will learn to consider and interpret film as they would a short story, novel, play or poem. Like all English Language Arts courses, this class will help to develop reading/viewing comprehension with an emphasis on communication skills.
ENGLISH 11 COURSE OPTIONS:
- LITERARY STUDIES 11: ENGLISH LITERATURE (ENRICHED/PRE-AP)
Who should take this class?
- Grade 11 & 12 students interested in literature, history, or philosophy.
- Grade 11 students looking for an enriched option or interested in taking AP English 12.
Have fun while experiencing the richness and variety of English literature in its social, philosophical, and historical contexts! Any student who likes to read, discuss, and write about literature will love this class, but it is primarily valuable to students who are planning to study at university level and to enrichment students who wish to prepare for AP English Literature and Composition 12. The learning standards and levels of assessment for this course are the same as for a regular English 11 course.
- COMPOSITION 11: JOURNALISM
Journalism (previously New Media Lab) is a hands-on, real-world exploration of media in the online age. We run an actual media website, producing engaging content for a general audience. We learn vital skills for the fast-paced digital world. Highlights include studying and imitating actual media websites online; self-selected topics including sports, gaming, beauty, music, style, technology etc. in a writing workshop to produce high quality work for publication; selecting work roles within our organization including social media strategy, graphic design and illustration, and editorial leadership; using blogging and wiki sites; and keeping up-to-date on topics of current interest.
- CREATIVE WRITING 11
- ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 11
- NEW MEDIA 11: FILM STUDIES
ENGLISH 12 COURSE OPTIONS
- AP ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION 12
- ENGLISH STUDIES 12
- ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 12
ENGLISH ELECTIVES
COMPOSITION 12: ACADEMIC READING & WRITING
Many first-year students in post-secondary institutions find the reading load and level they encounter, as well as the writing standards expected of them, rather overwhelming. As a result, students often find the academic transition between high school and university or college can a difficult one. Academic Reading & Writing 12 is a course designed to “bridge the gap” between English 12 and the literacy skills required in first year college/university programs. The main objective is to improve students’ reading and writing skills in all academic areas, including the Arts-based disciplines (English, History, Political Science, Sociology, etc.), psychology, business, the sciences and others.
COMPOSITION 12: JOURNALISM
Journalism (previously New Media Lab) is a hands-on, real-world exploration of media in the online age. We run an actual media website, producing engaging content for a general audience. We learn vital skills for the fast-paced digital world. Highlights include studying and imitating actual media websites online; self-selected topics including sports, gaming, beauty, music, style, technology etc. in a writing workshop to produce high quality work for publication; selecting work roles within our organization including social media strategy, graphic design and illustration, and editorial leadership; using blogging and wiki sites; and keeping up-to-date on topics of current interest.
CREATIVE WRITING 12
This course is designed for students who have an interest in creative expression through language. Students will sharpen their skills as literary artists through the exploration of identity and story in a wide range of genres. Within a supportive community of writers, students will collaborate and develop their skills through writing and design processes that encourage students to reflect on, extend, and refine their writing. Possible areas of focus include contemporary creative forms such as slam poetry, oratory, rap, drama, song, and graphic novels; creative non-fiction, historical fiction, poetry, song lyrics; multimodal creative forms that combine visual, written, and oral texts.
CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT THROUGH LANGUAGE 11
This course will enable students to enhance their language proficiency in the areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will critically inquire into, deconstruct, create and communicate a range of different texts. This course will encourage students to continue to develop an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of cultures in Canada while still developing and preserving pride in their own heritage and language.
LITERARY STUDIES 12: ENGLISH LITERATURE
This is a fun class with an academic focus for students who like to read, discuss, and write about literature. It offers students curious about literature the opportunity to read some of the most inspiring, witty, and wise texts written in English over the past 2000 years. In this course, students will develop a critical appreciation for the richness and variety of English literature, in its social and historical contexts.
NEW MEDIA 12: FILM STUDIES
Film is a young but undeniably spectacular and popular storytelling tool. Films, like good books, give us the ability to transcend place and time and explore different worlds. In this introduction to visual storytelling, students will view and discuss films from a variety of genres, styles, time periods, and writers/directors. Film Café will help students develop their critical thinking and communication skills as well as an appreciation for artistic expression.