English Language Arts A10
Course Outline 2014-2015
Mrs. Billett
Email:
______
The Study of Language is Important Because:
Understanding of the power of language improves your ability to uncover and explore meaning and communicate with others. Language is “a defining feature of culture and an unmistakable mark of personal identity, which is essential for forming relationships, communicating imagination, reflecting thoughts and actions”, and contributing to society and the world.
The Course:
The Challenges of Life – Explaining the word through Foundational Stories
· How do foundational stories make sense of our past, present and future?
· How does fate and destiny play a role in our lives as we meet various challenges?
· How do challenges benefit society and you as an individual?
· How do challenges provide opportunity for individuals to exchange ideas and rise to various challenges?
· What can be done to ensure that challenges lead us to examine our existence and reflect on what influences us, and in turn the world?
·
The Mysteries of Life – The Joys of Mind, Body and Spirit
· How do mysteries, extraordinary or common, engage our mind, body and spirit?
· How does memory shape us and the destiny of our lives?
· In what ways is memory significant to who we will become?
· How do we explain various mysteries? Ie: natural, traditional, scientific, aesthetic, religious, mystical.
· In what ways do we seek answers from nature, environment, science, faith and other traditions on our quest for answers into worlds within, worlds unknown and worlds remembered?
The Goals:
The course requires you to demonstrate skills in 3 main areas:
· Comprehend and Respond
· Create and Compose
· Assess and Reflect
· We will use various essays, short stories, poems, novels, full-length non-fiction, plays, film and other non-print resources to explore these in more detail.
Assessment:
· Each unit will provide you with the opportunity to complete tasks related to the goals of ELA. Every time you complete a task, you will be given targets for how to improve the work. At the end of a unit, your current grade will be calculated as follows:
o Comprehend and Respond – 45%
o Create and Compose – 45%
o Assess and Reflect – 10
· If you fail to hand in an assignment on time, without making prior arrangements (well before the day it is due), you will be required to attend student support at noon. Chronic behavior problems (effort, attitude, attendance etc.) will be dealt with individually.
I look forward to an exciting semester with you! If you or your parent(s)/guardian(s) have questions or concerns about ELA A10, please don’t hesitate to ask.