English Language Arts/AP English

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This course is designed to develop an appreciation for language through reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and representing. Students build skills through daily reading, writer’s workshops, class discussions, presentations, and collaboration. Classes are structured around mini-lessons and emphasis is put on exploratory learning.

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This course is designed to develop an appreciation for language through reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing and representing.  Topics include the theme of belonging, historical fiction, poetry and coming of age stories. Students explore these themes through class discussions, book clubs, different writing techniques and structures, drama, storytelling, art and more. 

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This course develops a variety of communication skills focusing on effective expository writing as well as critical and creative responses to texts. Independent reading, book clubs, and writing in a variety of forms is a key component of this class. The course concludes with an exam related to the topics/themes taught throughout the year.

10F  (1.0 cr.)

This course gives students many opportunities to gain competency in the six language arts skills. They have the opportunity to listen, speak, read, write, view, and represent in a variety of combinations and relevant contexts. Students will study The Giver, Unwind, Internment, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, poetry, plays and film. Additional books include: Uglies, The Marrow Thieves, The Hate U Give, All American Boys, April Raintree, The Book Thief, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. We will focus on developing persuasive essay writing skills.

11G Images of Faith: Enhancing Visual Literacy  (0.5 cr.)

By studying visual images and films students will develop the ability to read visual texts with greater confidence, understanding, and skill. Students will examine religious themes in what they view, responding in written and visual form.

20F  (1.0 cr.)
Prerequisite: Language Arts 10F

This course continues to develop the six areas of language arts. Areas of study include public speaking, introduction to Shakespeare, and novel study. Understanding and making choices to make an idea or story accessible to new audiences is one key focus in this course.

30S Literary Focus  (1.0 cr.)
Prerequisite: Language Arts 20F

This course includes the in-depth study of both classic and contemporary texts. Students continue to develop the capacity for critical engagement with a wide variety of forms (novels, plays, poems). This course has a particular emphasis on creative writing. To this end, students will participate in a province-wide playwriting contest.

40S Comprehensive Focus  (1.0 cr.)
Prerequisite: Language Arts 30S

This course will incorporate study of selected novels and other literary and visual texts with a variety of writing and public speaking skills to provide a broad foundation of experience for further study in literature and language arts.

40S Literary Focus

40S Literary Focus  (1.0 cr.)
Prerequisite: Language Arts 30S

This course focuses on literary theories. The emphasis will be on analyzing text critically through: Psychoanalytical, Feminist, and Marxist lenses. Authors may include Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Shakespeare and others.

40S Transactional Focus  (1.0 cr.)
Prerequisite: Language Arts 30S

This course is focused on Literacy Beyond Literature — how to observe, discuss, read, form opinions about and create various forms of communication that are integral to how society is conveying meaning in the 21st century. Media literacy, documentary film making, and graphic or non-fiction novels may be some of the topics covered in this course.

42S Literary Specialization  (1.0 cr.)

Advanced Placement: Modern Literature from Around the World
Prerequisite: Comprehensive Focus 40S – average of 75% or higher

This college-level literature course allows students to engage in analysis and discussion of literature in preparation for the AP exam in May. An emphasis will be on close reading and analytical writing. A broad range of novels, poetry, and short texts will be explored through authors such as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Mary Shelley, Jamaica Kincaid, Colkson Whitehead, and Kazuo Ishiguro.