Grade 12 College English (ENG 4C)

Mr. Rautiainen

Course Description:

This course emphasizes the consolidation of literacy, communication, and critical and creative thinking skills necessary for success in academic and daily life. Students will analyze a variety of informational and graphic texts, as well as literary texts, and create oral, written, and media texts in a variety of forms for practical and academic purposes. An important focus will be on using language with precision and clarity and developing greater control in writing. The course is intended to prepare students for college or the workplace.

Course Units:

Unit 1 - Drama

The focus is mostly on shorter pieces of drama. Students will analyze the form and structure of each text and comment on the text's meaning; they will also focus on character, speech patterns, and story structure. Students will have some choice with respect to assignments and various writing forms will be addressed.

Unit 2 - Shorter Pieces

Students will read a variety of texts including short stories, poetry, news articles, and electronic texts. They will practice a variety of forms of reflective writing and will prepare a research essay paper based on an element addressed in the unit.

Unit 3 - Novel Study

Students will be introduced to a novel. A series of assignments will be completed and will involve students in developing their understanding of a variety of themes. In addition, students will respond with letter writing in the persona of the main character, interviews to develop oral language skills, research into items, places, or organizations found in the novel, and an oral presentation.

Unit 4 - Media Studies

In this unit students will study, watch, and research documentary film. Then they will make a documentary and an advertising campaign. Students will be the fictitious producers of a documentary movie about a town or city and apply to receive the contract for the movie. The multiple parts include writing the response memo to win the contract, confirming a commitment on company letterhead, determining the target audience, planning the movie storyboard, casting the movie, shooting and editing the movie, and finally designing the multi-media advertising campaign to sell the movie. Students will be given instruction at each stage prior to preparing their products for assessment.

Mark Breakdown:

Term - 70% of Student Mark

K&U - 25	T & I - 25	Comm - 20	Application - 30

Course Culminating Activity (ISU) - 10-15%

Final Exam - 15-20%