English, Grade 10, Academic
Curriculum Policy:
English, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10, 2007 (Revised)

Curriculum Policy: 

English, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10, 2007 (Revised)

Course description:

This course aims to enhance students’ oral communication, reading, writing, and media literacy skills essential for success in secondary school and everyday life. Students will analyze literary texts from both contemporary and historical contexts, interpret and evaluate informational and graphic texts, and produce oral, written, and media texts in various formats. A key focus will be on the strategic use of effective communication techniques. This course is designed to prepare students for the mandatory Grade 11 university or college preparation course.

Units and Descriptions:

• Unpacking Poetry
  This unit equips students with the skills to unpack the powerful messages contained in poetry. They will explore the techniques poets use to convey their themes and engage with poetry in a meaningful way. Assignments include analyzing various poems, writing original poetry, and investigating spoken word poetry, culminating in a recorded spoken word performance.
• Exploring the World of Humour
  Students will delve into the world of humor through the study of short fiction and non-fiction humor writing. By examining various forms of humor, such as satire, irony, and slapstick, students will enhance their analytical skills and understand how biases and values are communicated. Assignments include formal analyses, creative responses, and writing their own humorous text.
• Shakespeare’s Relevance Today
  This unit focuses on the relevance of William Shakespeare today through the study of Julius Caesar. Students will analyze themes of friendship, citizenship, pride, fate, and power, considering the play’s characters and conflicts in relation to their own lives. Assignments include rhetoric investigations, creative projects, and an introduction to formal academic essay writing.
• Literature and Media Connections
  In this unit, students will study George Orwell’s Animal Farm, a satirical allegory of communism. They will examine how language influences, persuades, and manipulates, demonstrating their understanding of media conventions alongside the novel. Assignments will include an essay and a social media campaign.