Welcome to the course page for Grade 10 Academic English. This course extends the range of analytic, reading, writing, oral communication, and thinking skills that students need for success in secondary school academic programs. Students will study and interpret challenging texts from contemporary and historical periods, including novels, poems, plays, and opinion pieces, and will analyse and create effective media works. An important focus will be the thoughtful use of spoken and written language.

Course Strands

Literature Studies and Reading
Students will:

• read and demonstrate an understanding of a range of literary and informational texts, both contemporary and from historical periods;
• demonstrate an understanding of the elements of a range of literary and informational forms, with a focus on novels, poems, plays, and opinion pieces;
• identify and explain the effect of specific elements of style in a range of literary and informational texts.

Writing
Students will:

• use a range of print and electronic sources to gather information and explore ideas for written work;
• identify the literary and informational forms suited to various purposes and audiences and use the forms appropriately in their own writing, with an emphasis on adopting a suitable voice;
• use a variety of organizational techniques to present ideas and information logically and coherently in written work;
• review their written work, independently and collaboratively, with a focus on support for ideas and opinions, accuracy, clarity, coherence, and effective use of stylistic devices;
• edit and proofread to produce final drafts, using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, according to the conventions of standard Canadian English specified for this course, with the support of print and electronic resources when appropriate.

Language
Students will:

• use the knowledge of vocabulary and language conventions to speak, write, and read competently and effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences, using a level of language appropriate to the context;
• use listening techniques and oral communication skills to participate in classroom discussions and more formal activities, such as dramatizing, presenting, and debating, for a variety of purposes and audiences.

Media Studies
Students will:

• analyse a range of media forms to identify their elements, audiences, and production practices, and draw conclusions about how these factors shape media works;
• use knowledge of a range of media forms, purposes, and audiences to create media works, and use established criteria to assess the effectiveness of the works.