ENG4U: English, University Preparation, Grade 12

Course Description

This course emphasizes the consolidation of the literacy, communication, and critical and creative thinking skills necessary for success in academic and daily life. Students will analyze a range of challenging literary texts from various periods, countries, and cultures;  interpret and evaluate informational and graphic texts; and create oral, written, and media texts in a variety of forms. An important focus will be on using academic language coherently and confidently, selecting the reading strategies best suited to particular texts and particular purposes for reading, and developing greater control in writing.   The course is intended to prepare students for university, college, or the workplace.

Prerequisite:  English, Grade 11, University Preparation

Course Texts: 

• Pride and Prejudice (replacement cost:  $20.00)
• The Great Gatsby (replacement cost:  $20.00)
• Hamlet (replacement cost:  $20.00)

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS

Oral Communication

• Listening to Understand: listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes;
• Speaking to Communicate: use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes;
• Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as listeners and speakers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in oral communication situations.

Reading and Literature Studies

• Reading for Meaning: read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, informational, and graphic texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning;
• Understanding Form and Style: recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate understanding of how they help communicate meaning;
• Reading With Fluency: use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently;
• Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as readers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading.

Writing

• Developing and Organizing Content: generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience;
• Using Knowledge of Form and Style: draft and revise their writing, using a variety of literary, informational, and graphic forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience;
• Applying Knowledge of Conventions: use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively;
• Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.

Media Studies

• Understanding Media Texts: demonstrate an understanding of a variety of media texts;
• Understanding Media Forms, Conventions, and Techniques: identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning;
• Creating Media Texts: create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques;
• Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts.

Student Expectations

• Students are expected to have a dictionary for use in class and at home.
• Use of secondary sources is not permitted

Learning Practices

• Modeling of Reading
• Individual Conferences
• Exemplars / Modeling of Assignments

Units of Study *some variation in order may occur

Unit 1: Personal Essay Writing/Character Analysis

• Evaluation
  • Writing Assignment
• Resource
  • Teacher handouts
     
    

Unit 2 : Figurative Use of Language

• Evaluation
  • Quiz #1
  • Quiz #2
  • Poetry Writing Assignment and/or Test
• Resources
  • “The Rime of The Ancient Mariner”   “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”
  • Sound and Sense, Adventures in English Literature, The Educated Imagination
  • Teacher handouts

Unit 3: Novel Study – Pride and Prejudice

 

• Evaluation
  • Vocabulary/ Sentence Tests
  • Reading Quizzes
  • Comparative essay with another novel
• Resources
  • Pride and Prejudice;  other novels for comparative study

Unit 4: Shakespeare

• Evaluation
  • Vocabulary/ Sentence Tests
  • Reading Quizzes
  • Test/ Writing Assignment
  • Essay
  • Dramatic Presentation
• Resources
  • Hamlet by: William Shakespeare
     

Unit 5: Novel Study – The Great Gatsby

• Evaluation
  • Content Activity
  • Writing Assignment
  • Media Presentation
• Resources
  • The Great Gatsby

Course Mark Breakdown

Term Work: 70%

Summative Evaluation: 30%      (Part One 20%, Part Two 10%)

Knowledge/ Understanding	20
Thinking	30
Communication	30
Application	20

External link:  www.mla.org