Category: ELA 9

ELA 9 Course Outline

1. Course Philosophy
The aim of the English Language Arts is to encourage an understanding and appreciation of the importance and artistry of literature in students. It will enable students to use language confidently and competently for a variety of purposes, with a variety of audiences and in a variety of situations for communication, personal satisfaction and learning.

In Mr. Sader’s classroom, the students are invited to look further and develop a more coherent understanding of what language means as a human event. Facility with language provides us with the ability to express ourselves and our thoughts and feelings in words, and to communicate, listen, and enter into dialogue and true relationships with others. Higher-level thinking skills of inquiring, reasoning, and reporting are recognized as distinctly human characteristics, bringing with them special responsibilities to use such talents for the good of the community. Students are invited to consider how the knowledge, skills and values studied within the language arts curriculum are integrated with other subject areas.

2. General Outcomes/Themes:
English Language Arts General Outcomes 9 (2000)

Through listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and representing the students will:

  1. explore thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences.
  2. comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print and other media texts
  3. manage ideas and information
  4. enhance the clarity and artistry of communication
  5. respect, support and collaborate with others.

Theme (Focus):
The Human Condition–In Search of Self

3. Assessment
Assessment in all classes will occur on a regular basis. Assessment strategies fit into two broad categories: Assessment FOR Learning(during), and Assessment OF learning(after).

Assessment FOR Learning occurs during instruction and looks like discussion, peer review, student meetings, sharing questions and answers, revision, rewriting, personal reflection. Example assessments during learning: “Start an Online Discussion,” “Hamlet IV,iv Discussion,” “Honour and Certainty,” “Pillars of Character,” “Group Novel Study,” “Story Study Guide.”

Assessment OF Learning occurs midway through or at the end or a unit of instruction and looks like high stakes tests, midterm and final exams, end of unit tests, portfolios. Example assessments after learning: “Applying for a Summer Job,” “Choices Essay,” “Portfolio 10,” “Hamlet: Final Response,” “ELA 30 Final Exam.”

Marks taken during assessments and evaluations will contribute toward the final grade. Each unit of study uses various types of evaluations such as exams, assignments, collaborations, presentations. The weighting of each mark contributes to the overall course grade. Late assignments will not be accepted after the end of unit due dates. Refer to the student handbook for appeals procedures.

Approximate Gradebook Assignment Distribution
Personal/Creative Coursework (40%) and Assessments (40%) – 80% (Cutoff dates TBA)

  • short stories, scripts, narratives, poems, book reviews, book talk, online/in person class discussion, any other personal/creative response to a text

Critical/Analytical

  • essays, letters/emails, speeches, debates, reports, character sketches, any other critical or analytical response to a text

Representing

  • posters, photo essay, images, videos, animations, tag clouds, podcasts, surveys, mobiles, dioramas, collages

Final Exam – Provincial Achievement Test –  20% (Part A: May TBA; Part B: June TBA)

  • Provincial Achievement Test: multiple choice reading comprehension (55 marks of 110), business email functional writing assignment(20/110), and an expository/essay or narrative writing assignment(35/110).

4. Course Work and Evaluation
Quarter 1 Marks collected from course beginning to 1st report card cut-off
Quarter 2 Marks collected from course beginning to semester break cut-off.
Quarter 3 Marks collected from course beginning to 3rd report card cut-off.
Quarter 4 Marks collected from course beginning to final exam.

 

5. Primary Resources
Novel, TBA
Short stories, poems and all other relevant literature to be studied in LA 9 will be chosen at the discretion of the instructor and/or faculty.

Students are encouraged to use the provided Chromebooks in class to access Google Chrome. Student use of any device must comply with the School’s Acceptable Use Policy, and the Personal Mobile Device policy

Completion of English Language Arts 9 requires the writing of 2 provincial achievement tests in May and June. 

Alberta Education Resources for Parents

“My Child’s Learning”: Learn More About English Language Arts