English (ENG1D)

Read broadly and engage in thoughtful exploration, discussions, and writing exercises. Central to the unit are P.A.C.T.S-focused activities, preparing students for advanced essay writing. This includes practicing structured response techniques, incorporating supportive evidence in their writing, and conducting deep textual analysis. The unit also introduces students to rhetorical devices and includes a media project to apply these concepts.

Simultaneously, the course encourages students to express themselves artistically using an online drawing tool, creating digital artworks. They will also examine the works of modern artists who use drawing as their primary medium, thereby broadening their literary and artistic appreciation and skills. This dual approach enhances their understanding of both narrative and visual expression.

In this unit, students will immerse themselves in the world of "Seedfolks" through its audiobook version. While listening, they will actively work on identifying and understanding various figures of speech, supplemented by comprehension questions to solidify their grasp of the content. An important aspect of their study includes creating a character chart and completing an assignment on literary devices, linking these directly to the themes presented in "Seedfolks."

To further enrich their understanding, the unit incorporates video analysis as a key component of the learning process. This comprehensive method of study merges auditory, textual, and visual learning strategies, providing a well-rounded approach to exploring the material.

In this unit, students dive into the world  of poetry, examining a range of poetic elements, forms, and techniques. They will get the chance to embrace and compose poetry in a style that suits their individual preferences. The course also focuses on the study of sound techniques in poetry, with practical activities like identifying these techniques in renowned poems like "Annabel Lee" and "Beat! Beat! Drums." Additionally, students can choose between crafting their own blank verse or free verse poems.

To round off the unit, students will be introduced to the energetic world of slam poetry, covering its fundamental aspects. This segment prepares them for the final task of the unit, where they will apply their newfound knowledge and skills in a culminating slam poetry performance.

In this unit, students will be introduced to Angie Thomas's influential work, "The Hate U Give," with a focus on its portrayal of societal racism. The unit involves various interactive activities, such as comprehension questions, worksheets, quizzes, and an in-depth literary essay.

The essay will primarily focus on elements like the novel's structure, grammar, sentence construction, and vocabulary. The objective of the assessment is to thoroughly evaluate students' abilities to critically dissect and understand the story, its characters, and the themes it presents.

This unit takes students on a journey through the world of media and communication, focusing on understanding and navigating the communication process. It aims to equip students with the skills needed to interpret and critically evaluate media texts. The course also includes an in-depth exploration of three types of journalistic writing: news reports, feature articles, and editorial pieces. A significant part of the unit is dedicated to developing students' proficiency in writing opinion essays, effectively preparing them for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

The final task of this course, accounting for 30% of the grade, acts as an all-encompassing evaluation. It brings together various learning outcomes from the entire course. This assessment is structured to gauge students' mastery and display of understanding, evaluated through their final work, active participation in discussions, and insightful observations.

• A laptop or desktop computer, ideally with browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
• Devices capable of video recording and scanning handwritten documents, including mobile phones, tablets, iPads, or webcams.
• A consistent and reliable internet connection.
• The novel "The Hate U Give" for course reading.

• Access to Google Suite or Microsoft Education, including access to word processing and presentation software (student accounts will be distributed by the school).
• A selection of additional reading materials.
• Availability of Canva for Education, accessible upon request.

Please note that this course is conducted fully online and does not necessitate the use of any physical textbooks.