COURSE INFORMATION

DATE: February 2023

SCHOOL: Yeshiva High School of Ottawa
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mr. Nathan Lawrie
TEACHER: Mr. Nathan Lawrie
DEPARTMENT: General Studies, English and Humanities

The Ontario Curriculum: Grades 9 and 10 – English(2007,

CURRICULUM POLICY DOCUMENT
revised)
COURSE CODE ENL1W
COURSE TITLE English
Grade 9
GRADE & TYPE
PRE-REQUISITE N/A Destreamed
FULL YEAR /
SEMESTER
Semester CREDIT VALUE 1.0

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to extend the range of oral communication, reading, writing, and media literacy skills that
students need for success in their secondary school programs and in their daily lives. Students will analyse literary
texts from contemporary and historical periods, interpret and evaluate informational and graphic texts, and create
oral, written, and media texts in a variety of forms. An important focus will be on the selective use of strategies
that contribute to effective communication. This course is intended to prepare students for the compulsory Grade
10 university or college preparation course.

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS:
UNIT 1 — Poetry and Short Stories

Part 1: Students study a selection of poems from various poets such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Emily
Dickenson, and Robert Frost a focus on poetic techniques such as: repetition, word choice,
metaphors, similes, and sentence structure.
Part 2: Students study short story The Landlady, with a focus on foreshadowing, setting,
characterisation, theme, and genre.
Example Assignment: Comparison & Contrast exercise - students compare and contrast different
aspects of the Landlady and one of the studied poems using PEA paragraphs.

UNIT 2 — Novel and Media Study - To Kill a Mockingbird and Twelve Angry men

Part 1 - Students read To Kill a Mockingbird and study various aspects of the novel including
historical context, symbolism, structure, and setting.

Part 2 - Students watch the film Twelve Angry Men and study various aspects of the novel
including historical context, staging, lighting, dialogue, and performance.
Example Assignment 1: Students create an interactive panel which highlights aspects of either to
Kill a Mockingbird or Twelve Angry Men and the real world context they are related to, such as
the Civil Rights movement and the Great Depression.

Example Assignment 2: Students complete a mid term critical essay on either Twelve Angry Men
or To Kill a Mockingbird.

Note: Students cannot do the same text for both assignments.

UNIT 3 — Drama and Performance - An Inspector Calls

Part 1 -Students read / perform (in class) J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls.
Example Assignment 1 - Student’s create a ‘police’ chart - analyzing and evaluating the guilt of
each character before presenting an overall thesis on who is the most to blame.
Example Assignment 2 - Student’s complete an observation / conversation on key aspects of the
play, including stage direction, setting, and themes.

UNIT 4 — Persuasion in Advertising

Students study advertisement and consider how adverts (audio, film, and visual) are made
appealing to us through studying persuasive techniques, demography, culture, and presentation
skills.

Example Assignment: Students create a product that they must then advertise. They must create
a newspaper advertisement and a short t.v. advertisement that highlights their understanding of
persuasive techniques and communication skills.

UNIT 5 — Summative Assignment

Students complete a three part examination which incorporates all skills and learning from all
units of the overall course. Students will identify key literary and persuasive techniques from a
media source, revise and prepare critical essays on either the drama or short story texts, and
complete and observation and conversation on either the novel, poetry or media texts.

Example exam format:

Exam Part 1 - Student’s read an excerpt from an unseen media newspaper article and identify key
persuasive and literary techniques.
Exam Part 2 - Student’s choose from a series of essay questions and answer on either The Landlady
or An Inspector Calls.
Exam Part 3 - Students complete an observation / conversation based around to Kill a Mockingbird
, Twelve Angry Men or the poems from Unit 1.
STUDENT EVALUATION CRITERIA
FINAL REPORT CARD GRADE
TERM – 70% FINAL – 30%
CALCULATION
Knowledge/Understanding 25% Knowledge/Understanding 25%
Inquiry/Thinking 25% Inquiry/Thinking 25% TERM TOTAL + FINAL TOTAL
Communication 25% COMMUNICATION 25% = REPORT CARD MARK
Application 25% Application 25%

ASSESSMENT METHODS
OBSERVATIONS: CONVERSATIONS: PRODUCTS:
⚫ Informal presentations ⚫ Peer feedback / editing ⚫ Review quizzes
⚫ Reading skills ⚫ Group work records ⚫ Unit tests
⚫ Writing process steps (graphic ⚫ Conferences (student- teacher, ⚫ Projects
organizers, research notes, group) ⚫ Oral presentations
outlines, drafts, editing ⚫ Classroom contributions ⚫ Assignments
checklists) ⚫ Composition/ arrangements ⚫ Summative tasks
⚫ Listening and speaking skills ⚫ Response Journals ⚫ Final Examination (30%)
⚫ Self-assessment
⚫ Records of practice including
checklists, anecdotal notes
(homework, classroom
contributions, metacognition
charts, notetaking)

LEARNING SKILLS
Report Cards will include a letter grade for the following Learning Skills:
The student:
▪ accomplishes tasks independently
▪ accepts responsibility for accomplishing tasks
INDEPENDENT WORK
▪ follows instructions
▪ regularly completes assignments on time and with care
▪ uses time effectively
The student:
▪ works willingly and cooperatively with others
▪ listens attentively, without interrupting
COLLABORATION
▪ takes responsibility for his/her share of the work to be done
▪ helps to motivate others, encouraging them to participate
▪ shows respect for the ideas and opinions of others
The student:
▪ organizes work when faced with a number of tasks
ORGANIZATION ▪ devises and follows a coherent plan to complete a task
▪ demonstrates ability to organize and manage information
▪ follows an effective process for inquiry and research
The student:
▪ completes homework on time and with care
RESPONSIBILITY ▪ follows directions
▪ shows attention to detail
▪ perseveres with complex projects that require sustained effort
▪ applies effective study practices
The student:
▪ seeks out new opportunities for learning
▪ seeks necessary and additional information
INITIATIVE
▪ requires little prompting to complete a task,
▪ approaches new learning situations with confidence and a positive attitude
▪ seeks assistance when needed
The student:
▪ sets individual goals and monitors own progress
▪ seeks clarification or assistance when needed
SELF-REGULATION
▪ reflects and assesses critically own strengths, needs and interests
▪ perseveres and makes an effort when responding to challenges
NOTE: The above chart is a reformatting of the skills identified in the Ministry of Education’s Guide to the Provincial
Report Card, Grades 9 – 12 : Appendix C: pages 27 to 29 .

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Ontario Ministry of Education requires 110 hours of instruction for each course. As such, it is
ATTENDANCE
essential for the students to arrive punctually to each class.
Students arriving more than ten minutes late will be marked “Late” on their report card.
Students who are absent for an acceptable reason (see below) still have to make up the number of
hours missed under the supervision of a teacher or the principal according to their availability. It is
the student’s duty to determine and arrange this supervision, and YHSO does not guarantee
teacher’s or principal’s availability.

Students who are absent for non-acceptable reasons will forfeit their credit.

ACCEPTABLE REASONS FOR ABSENCE

• Medical reason (may require a physician’s note)
• Family trips or special occasions (up to four missed classes per course)

Regardless of reason for an absence, if a student misses more than 26 classroom hours they will
forfeit their credit.

Students are responsible to complete all their assignments and homework on time. Teachers will
ASSIGNMENTS
write all assignments, homework and tests on a classroom board, along with their due dates, but
students are accountable to complete these assessments punctually. Assignments handed in late
may result in a deduction of marks.
Teachers will post all assessments and assignments and their due dates on Google Classroom.
Students and their parents will have access to the Google Classroom for their courses.
Students may not act in any manner that disrupts the education of another, or distracts a teacher.
BEHAVIOUR
This includes:
• Excessive noise
• Physical disruptions
• Eating (unless granted individual permission)
• Use of technology not for schoolwork purposes
• Acts of disrespect such as name calling, abusive or offensive language or gestures
Failure to adhere to these rules will result in disciplinary action as described in the Student
Handbook and Course Calendar.
Academic integrity and honesty is expected from every student in Yeshiva High School of Ottawa.
PLAGIARISM We take all instances of suspected dishonesty, plagiarism, or any form of “cheating” very
seriously. A student who submits work that is, in whole or in part, plagiarized, will be subject to
academic penalties. Repeated infractions may result in the loss of a credit and further disciplinary
action. A student who assists another student in academic dishonesty may face academic
consequences, including revocation of a credit.