English Language Arts | West Vancouver Secondary School

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 8-12

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 8 & 9

English Language Arts incorporates reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and representing. Areas of study will include short stories, poetry, novels, non-fiction, drama, media, and writing. Students will continue to develop and work towards levels of greater sophistication in their language usage and their appreciation of literature, as well as an understanding of both paragraph and essay conventions.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 10

Note: English Language Arts 10 is offered as a pairing of Literary Studies 10 with Composition 10. A second, language-adapted pairing of Literary Studies 10 and Spoken Language 10 is offered for English language learners. Please see the English Language Learners page for more details.

LITERARY STUDIES 10

Literary Studies 10 is designed for students who are interested in the literature of a particular era, geographical area, or theme, or in the study of literature in general. The course allows students to delve more deeply into literature as they explore specific themes, periods, authors, or areas of the world through literary works in a variety of media. Giving students the choice of a range of literary topics allows them to follow their passion and at the same time

COMPOSITION 10

Composition 10 is designed to support students in their development of written communication through a critical process of questioning, exploring, and sampling. Within a supportive community of writers, students will work individually and collaboratively to explore and create coherent, purposeful compositions. Students will read and study compositions by other writers and consider a variety of styles as models for the development of their writing. The course builds students’ writing competencies by introducing them to varied structures, forms, and styles of compositions. Students have opportunities to individually and collaboratively study, create, and write original pieces, exploring audience and purpose. They also develop their craft through processes of drafting, reflecting, and revising.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 11

Note: English Language Arts 11 is now offered as a choice between Literary Studies 11, Composition 11, or Creative Writing 11. All three are 4-credit courses, and all three will rigorously prepare students for English Studies 12.

LITERARY STUDIES 11

Literary Studies 11 allows students to delve deeply into literature. Students can explore specific themes, periods, authors, or areas of the world through literary works (fiction and non-fiction) in a variety of media. Giving students the choice of a range of literary topics allows them to follow their passion and at the same time increase their literacy skills through close reading of appropriately challenging texts; expand their development as educated global citizens; develop, balance and broaden their understanding of themselves and the world; and further develop higher-level thinking and learning skills.

COMPOSITION 11

Composition 11 is designed to support students as they refine, clarify, and adjust their written communication through practice and revision. Students will read and study compositions by other writers and be exposed to a variety of styles as models for the development of their writing. The course provides opportunities for students to, with increasing independence, study, create, and write original and authentic pieces for a range of purposes and real-world audiences. They will expand their competencies through processes of drafting, reflecting, and revising to build a body of work that demonstrates expanding breadth, depth, and evidence of writing for a range of situations. They will develop confidence in their abilities as they consolidate their writing craft.

CREATIVE WRITING 11

Creative Writing 11 is designed for students who are interested in developing confidence and refining their writing skills through self-expression for various creative purposes. The course provides students with in-depth opportunities to explore personal and cultural identities, memories, and stories in a wide range of genres. Within a supportive community, students will collaborate and strengthen their skills through writing and design processes. Creative Writing 11 is grounded in the exploration and application of writing processes, inviting students to express themselves creatively as they reflect on, adjust, and extend their writing skills.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 12
Note: Either English Studies 12 or First Peoples 12 are required for graduation. Creative Writing 12 should be considered as an academic elective.

ENGLISH STUDIES 12

The required English Studies 12 course builds on and extends students’ previous learning experiences in ELA 10 and 11 courses. It is designed for all students and provides them with opportunities to refine their ability to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts and to achieve their personal and career goals; think critically and creatively about the uses of language; explore texts from a variety of sources, in multiple modes, and that reflect diverse worldviews; deepen their understanding of themselves and others in a changing world; gain insight into the diverse factors that shape identity; appreciate the importance of self-representation through text; contribute to Reconciliation by building greater understanding of the knowledge and perspectives of First Peoples; expand their understanding of what it means to be educated Canadian and global citizens.

CREATIVE WRITING 12

Creative Writing 12 is designed for students who are interested in creating a body of work reflective of a sophisticated breadth and depth of skill. The course provides students with opportunities to specialize and publish in real-world contexts. Students engage in the exploration of personal and cultural identities, memories, and stories, in a wide range of genres. Within a supportive community, students will collaborate and develop their skills through writing and design processes, celebrating successes. Students will refine their ability to write in complex, controlled styles with effectiveness and impact.

ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 10 – 12

Note: The following courses satisfy the BC Indigenous Education coursework requirement.

EFP LITERARY STUDIES 10 + EFP WRITING 10

EFP Literary Studies 10 is designed for students who are interested in exploring First Peoples literature in a variety of contexts, genres, and media. This area of choice provides students with opportunities to explore personal and cultural identities, histories, stories, and connections to land/place. This course is grounded in the understanding of how texts are historically and culturally constructed. Students will work individually and collaboratively to broaden their understanding of themselves and the world.

EFP Writing 10 is designed for students who are interested in writing for a variety of purposes and contexts. This area of choice provides students with opportunities to become better writers through the exploration of personal and cultural identities, memories, stories, and connections to land/place. Within a supportive community, students will work individually and collaboratively to develop their writing skills and create coherent, purposeful, and engaging compositions. This course is grounded in the exploration and application of writing processes, inviting students to express themselves as they experiment with, reflect on, extend, and refine their writing.

EFP LITERARY STUDIES 10 PDP + EFP WRITING10 PDP

The Pre-IB Diploma Program (PDP) English 10 course is designed to introduce students to the International Baccalaureate track at WVSS. Through various First Peoples’ texts, students will begin their journey for post-secondary success and develop inter-cultural understanding and respect. IB’s mission is to empower students to create a better and more peaceful world, one that recognizes and celebrates the diversity and perspectives of Indigenous peoples in Canada. We will explore text forms and genres, common themes in First Peoples texts, reconciliation in Canada, purposes of First Peoples oral texts, and protocols related to ownership and use of First Peoples oral texts. In addition, students will learn and apply strategies for reading, writing, and metacognition.

EFP LITERARY STUDIES AND WRITING 11

EFP Literary Studies and Writing 11 is designed for students who are interested in studying First Peoples literature and using writing for self-expression and communication in a variety of contexts. Students delve deeply into First Peoples oral and written literature in a range of media to explore various themes, authors, and topics. This provides a foundation for them to think critically and creatively as they continue to explore, extend, and strengthen their own writing. Within a supportive community, students work individually and collaboratively to explore oral and written literature and create powerful, purposeful compositions.

Through the study of literature and the processes of experimenting with, reflecting on, extending, and refining their writing, students: • extend their capacity to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts • deepen their understanding of themselves and the world • expand their understanding of what it means to be educated Canadian and global citizens

ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 12

EFP 12 builds upon and extends students’ previous learning experiences in ELA and EFP 10 and 11 courses. The course is grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning. It is designed for all students, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, who are interested in delving deeply into First Peoples oral and written literature and visual texts in a range of media. The course focuses on the experiences, values, beliefs, and lived realities of First Peoples as evidenced in various forms of text, including oral story, poetry, song, performance, film, and prose. Note: As it satisfies the ELA 12 graduation requirements, EFP 12 is designed to reflect the same rigor and learning standards that are described above for English Studies 12.

IB ENGLISH 10-12

EFP LITERARY STUDIES 10 PDP + EFP WRITING10 PDP

All IB courses are two years. Students who complete the two year course and write the IB exams, scoring a 5 or better, may be awarded credit in English at university. Students may choose one of two options. The school may run one option or both, depending upon demand and timetabling considerations.

Through each course, students are able to develop the following:

a personal appreciation of language and literature
skills in literary criticism using a range of texts from different periods, styles and genres
an understanding of the formal, stylistic and aesthetic qualities of texts
strong powers of expression, both written and oral
an appreciation of cultural differences in perspective an understanding of how language challenges and sustains ways of thinking.

Language A: Literature HL/SL

This course offers an intensive study of literature over the two years.

Students study 13 works of literature at higher level and 10 works at standard level from a representative selection of genres, periods and places
Students develop the ability to engage in close, detailed analysis of literary works, building understanding of the techniques involved in literary criticism
The study of literary works in context is emphasized, and through the study of literature in translation the student is challenged to reflect on the role of cultural assumptions in interpretation

Students are assessed through a combination of formal examinations, written coursework and oral activities

Language A: Language and Literature HL/SL

This course offers an intensive study of non-literary and literary texts over the two years.

Students study 6 works of literature at higher level and 4 works at standard level from a representative selection of genres, periods and places
Students develop the techniques needed for the critical analysis of non-literary communication, becoming alert to interactions between text, audience and purpose
An understanding of how language, culture and context determine the construction of meaning is developed through the exploration of texts, some of which are studied in translation, from a variety of cultures, periods and genres
Students are assessed through a combination of formal examinations, written coursework and oral activities
Students also produce written tasks in a variety of genres, and perform two oral activities presenting their analysis of works read

Note: There is a course fee of $50 for English IB 11 and IB 12 SL. The fee covers the cost of a workbook.