1855 Trollope Street

Halifax, NS
491-4444; 491-1700 (Fax)
English Department
J. MacDonald
juliamac@staff.ednet.ns.ca
ext.2831303
The general curriculum outcomes are the foundation for all English language arts curriculum guides. They identify
what students are expected to know and be able to do upon completion of study in English language arts. Although the
statements of learning outcomes are organized under the headings Speaking and Listening, Reading and Viewing,
and Writing and Other Ways of Representing, it is important to recognize that all these language processes are
interrelated and can be developed most effectively as interdependent processes. Extensive specific curriculum
outcomes provide a continuum from grade 10 to 12.
Speaking and Listening
Students will be expected to speak and listen to explore, extend, clarify, and reflect on their thoughts, ideas,
feelings, and experiences.
Students will be expected to communicate information and ideas effectively and clearly, and to respond
personally and critically.
Students will be expected to interact with sensitivity and respect, considering the situation, audience, and
purpose.
Reading and Viewing
Students will be expected to select, read, and view with understanding a range of literature, information,
media, and visual texts.
Students will be expected to interpret, select, and combine information using a variety of strategies,
resources, and technologies.
Students will be expected to respond personally to a range of texts.
Students will be expected to respond critically to a range of texts, applying their understanding of language,
form, and genre.
Writing and Representing
Students will be expected to use writing and other forms of representation to explore, clarify, and reflect on
their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and learnings; and to use their imagination.
Students will be expected to create texts collaboratively and independently, using a variety of forms for a
range of audiences and purposes.
Students will be expected to use a range of strategies to develop effective writing and other ways of
representing and to enhance their clarity, precision, and effectiveness.
COURSE CONTENT AND STUDENT EVALUATION - ENGLISH 10-12
The course mark is based on a balanced assessment of the following ways in which students demonstrate
achievement of course outcomes. As stated in the General Curriculum Outcomes, we are aware that all these
language processes are interrelated and interdependent. Therefore, teachers usually employ specific learning
and assessment strategies that allow them to address a number of outcomes at once.

INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO ENGLISH 12

The semester course work is assessed as follows:
Learning Outcomes
Speaking
and
Listening

Reading
and
Viewing

Learning Activities

GCO 1: Students will be small-group discussion

expected to speak and listen informal debate
to explore, extend, clarify, oral presentations
and reflect on their
thoughts, ideas, feelings,
and experiences.
GCO 2: Students will be
expected to communicate
information and ideas
effectively and clearly,
and to respond
personally and critically.

small-group discussions
debates
oral presentations
seminars
re-enactments

GCO 3: Students will be

expected to interact with
sensitivity and respect,
considering the situation,
audience, and purpose.

examine different models of

oral language communication
small-group discussions
informal debates
oral presentations
seminars

GCO 4: Students will be engage extensively in selfexpected to select, read, and selected reading
view with understanding a talk and write about reading
range of literature,
and viewing experiences
information, media, and
question texts
visual texts.
make connections
explore how and why readers
and viewers construct different
meanings from the same text
discussion groups
listen to the teacher read aloud
GCO 5: Students will be
expected to interpret,
select, and combine
information using a
variety of strategies,
resources, and
technologies.

read a variety of print texts

view visual and media texts
develop strategies for
collecting and processing
information
note taking
paraphrase and summarize

GCO 6: Students will be respond to reading and viewing

expected to respond
in personal and reflective ways
personally to a range of small-group discussions
texts.

Assessment

Percentage

Informal
10%
small group
discussions
self-assessment
peer assessment
post-event discussion
15%
Formal
debate
group presentation
individual presentation
5%
Reflection
learning-log

Informal
booktalks
reading journal
assignments

10%

Formal
tests / quizzes
research project
essay

15%

Independent Reading
portfolio
reading journal

10%

GCO 7: Students will be

expected to respond
critically to a range of
texts, applying their
understanding of
language, form, and
genre.
Writing
and
Representi
ng

GCO 8: Students will be

expected to use writing and
other ways of representing
to explore, clarify, and
reflect on their thoughts,
feelings, experiences, and
learnings; and to use their
imagination.

deconstruct texts examining

choices made in their creation,
the values and beliefs they
reflect, and their contexts

expressive writing
free writes
marginal notations
reading journal entries

GCO 9: Students will be

expected to create texts
collaboratively and
independently, using a
variety of forms for a
range of audiences and
purposes.

paragraphs
letters
narratives
reviews
scripts / storyboards
news / sport / weather reports
flier / ad design

GCO 10: Students will

be expected to use a
range of strategies to
develop effective writing
and other ways of
representing and to
enhance their clarity,
precision, and
effectiveness.

generate several drafts of a

piece of writing
refining, editing and
proofreading
experiment with sentence
length and construction
use print and electronic aids to
proofread
use audio / visual technology
to communicate a message /
feeling
generate text for the purpose of
a listening audience

Informal
reading journal

10%

Formal
assignments
essays

15%

Creative Expression
portfolio

10%

Total semester course work will be given a mark out of 100%, which equals 85% of the final grade. The final
exam will account for the remaining 15%.