English and Moderns Department
Ascension of Our Lord Secondary School
Course Code: ENG 1D1
Course Name: Grade Nine English
Level: Academic
Student Name: ________________________
Textbook #: __________
Course Description:
This course is designed to develop the oral communication, reading, writing, and media literacy skills that
students need for success in their secondary school academic programs and in their daily lives. Students will
analyse literary texts from contemporary and historical periods, interpret informational and graphic texts, and
create oral, written, and media texts in a variety of forms. An important focus will be on the use of strategies that
contribute to effective communication. The course is intended to prepare students for the Grade 10 academic
English course, which leads to university or college preparation courses in Grades 11 and 12.
Overall Course Expectations or Strands:
1. Listening to Understand: listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes;
2. Speaking to Communicate: use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of
purposes;
3. Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as listeners and speakers, areas for improvement, and the
strategies they found most helpful in oral communication situations.
READING AND LITERATURE STUDIES OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
1. Reading for Meaning: read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, informational, and graphic texts, using a range of
strategies to construct meaning;
2. Understanding Form and Style: recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate understanding
of how they help communicate meaning;
3. Reading With Fluency: use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently;
4. Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as readers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they
found most helpful before, during, and after reading.
WRITING OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
1. Developing and Organizing Content: generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and
audience;
2. Using Knowledge of Form and Style: draft and revise their writing, using a variety of literary, informational, and graphic forms and
stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience;
3. Applying Knowledge of Conventions: use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language
conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively;
4. Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they
found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.
MEDIA STUDIES.OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
1. Understanding Media Texts: demonstrate an understanding of a variety of media texts;
2. Understanding Media Forms, Conventions, and Techniques: identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and
techniques associated with them are used to create meaning;
3. Creating Media Texts: create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and
techniques;
4. Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement,
and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts.
Overall Catholic Graduate Expectations:
This course will help progress the journey to greater self-awareness for students. The analysis of fiction and non-fiction will contribute to the
process of developing their characters and their sense of place in the world. Teachers will help guide the children on their journey of selfdiscovery through meaningful discussion and analysis of ideas and concepts. Grade nine academic English will aid students in their individual
journeys and help establish the foundation of knowledge necessary for progression into higher grades and for progression in their personal
growth as well.
Efforts will be made to meet the individual learning needs of students to promote student success
with respect to meeting the expectations of this course.
My signature below indicates that I have read the Course Handout, and I am in agreement with its contents.
Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature: _________________________
Date: _______________
Student’s Signature: ________________________________
Date: _______________
Resources:
Course Timeline:
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
The course will use a variety of resources which
will be distributed to students during the first
week of the course. The text and all other
resources assigned to each student are the
responsibility of the student.
Writing/Language Conventions
Short Stories
Play Study
Novel Study
Culminating Activity
Preparing for the OSSLT
Resources for this course include:
The Hunger Games or Looking for Alibrandi
Culminating Summative Tasks will be administered towards the
end of the course and will be weighted at 30% of the final
mark. These tasks are specifically itemized below.
All timelines as stated are approximate.
Taming of the Shrew
Crossroads
Poetry Anthology
Any damage incurred will result in payment for
replacement.
In the unfortunate circumstance that a resource is lost,
please ask your teacher about the replacement cost.
Evaluation Policies
1. Student marks will be determined by evaluating process & product according to 4 categories (see
below) & 4 levels of the Achievement Chart as found in the Ministry Policy document for
Mathematics.
Evaluation Structure::
Knowledge/Understanding
Application
Communication
Thinking/Inquiry
25%
25%
25%
25%
Term Evaluations = 70% of the final mark. Final Evaluation = 30% of the final mark.
Final Evaluations will include: (itemize; eg. final exam = 15% & CPT = 15%)
2. Feedback will also be provided for student learning skills. Working independently, teamwork,
organization, work habits/homework, and initiative are assessed apart from student achievement in
the four categories outlined above and will conform to the coding:
E – Excellent
G – Good
S – Satisfactory
N - Needs Improvement
3. Assignments submitted after the due date established by the teacher will receive a penalty in
accord with our Board Assessment & Evaluation Policy Document as outlined in the student agenda.
4. Should a student miss an evaluation due to a legitimate absence, in accord with our Board A&E
Policy Document, the student and teacher will make arrangements to address the missed
evaluation in a timely manner. In the cases of extended vacation or prolonged absence,
consultation with the appropriate administrator is required.
5. In the event that the student does not make up the missed evaluation(s), a zero may be assigned.
If it is determined that the evaluation(s) has/have been missed as a result of a skip/truancy or
has/have been plagiarized, a zero may be assigned.
6. For all other cases of absence and/or missed evaluations (including absence during the final
examination period), please refer to our Board A&E Policy as outlined in the student agenda.
May God bless your efforts this semester!