The UCDSB Student Reading & Writing Guide should be used by all students at SLSS. This guide will help you to format your assignments and essays, guide you in citing your sources, and provide examples of proper essay structure. Please refer to this guide regularly during your career at SLSS. You may find it beneficial to print and keep a copy for your records.
UCDSB VLC Reading & Writing Guide
Courses
Compulsory Courses
ENG1W Grade 9, English,De-Streamed
This course enables students to continue to develop and consolidate the foundational knowledge and skills that they need for reading, writing, and oral and visual communication. Throughout the course, students will continue to enhance their media literacy and critical literacy skills, and to develop and apply transferable skills, including digital literacy. Students will also make connections to their lived experiences and to society and increase their understanding of the importance of language and literacy across the curriculum.
Link to Curriculum
ENG1L1 Grade 9, English, Locally Developed
This course provides foundational literacy and communication skills to prepare students for success in their daily lives, in the workplace, and in the English Grade 11 Workplace Preparation course. The course is organized by strands that develop listening and talking skills, reading and viewing skills, and writing skills. In all strands, the focus is on developing foundational literacy skills and in using language clearly and accurately in a variety of authentic contexts. Students develop strategies and put into practice the processes involved in talking, listening, reading, viewing, writing, and thinking, and reflect regularly upon their growth in these areas.
ENG2DO Grade 10, English, Academic
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 academic 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 11 university or college preparation course.
Prerequisite: Grade 9, English, De-Stremed (ENG1W)
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ENG2PO Grade 10, English, Applied
This course is designed to extend the range of oral communication, reading, writing, and media literacy skills that students need for success in secondary school and daily life. Students will study and create a variety of informational, literary, and graphic texts. An important focus will be on the consolidation of strategies and processes that help students interpret texts and communicate clearly and effectively. This course is intended to prepare students for the compulsory Grade 11 college or workplace preparation course.
Prerequisite: Grade 9, English, De-Stremed (ENG1W)
Link to Curriculum
ENG2L1 Grade 10, English, Locally Developed
In this course, students focus on extending their literacy and communication skills to prepare for success in their daily lives, in the workplace, in the English Grade 11 Workplace Preparation course. The course is organized by strands that extend listening and talking skills, reading and viewing skills, and writing skills. In all strands, the focus is on refining foundational literacy skills and in using language clearly and accurately in a variety of authentic contexts. Students build on their strategies and engage in the processes involved in talking, listening, reading, viewing, writing, and thinking, and reflect regularly upon their growth in these areas.
Prerequisite: A Grade 9 English credit
NBE3CO Grade 11, English: Contemporary Aboriginal Voices, College
This course emphasizes the development of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills through the study of works in English by Aboriginal writers. Students will study the content, form, and style of informational texts and literary and media works, and will develop an appreciation of the wealth and complexity of Aboriginal writing. Students will also write reports, correspondence, and persuasive essays and analyse the relationship between media forms and audiences. An important focus will be on establishing appropriate voice and using business and technical language with precision and clarity.
Prerequisite: Grade 10 English, Academic or Applied
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NBE3EO Grade 11, English: Contemporary Aboriginal Voices, Workplace
This course emphasizes the development of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills through the study of works in English by Aboriginal writers. Students will study the content, form, and style of informational texts and literary and meda works, and will develop an appreciation of the wealth and complexity of Aboriginal writing. Students will also write explanations, letters, and reports and will investigate the connections between media forms and audiences. An important focus will be on using language clearly, accurately, and effectively in a variety of contexts.
Prerequisite: Grade 10 English, Academic or Applied
Link to Curriculum
ENG4UO Grade 12, English, University Preparation
This course emphasizes consolidation of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students will analyse a range of challenging texts from various time periods, countries, and cultures; write analytical and argumentative essays and a major paper for an independent literary research project; and apply key concepts to analyse media works. An important focus will be on understanding academic language and using it coherently and confidently in discussion and argument.
Prerequisite: English, Grade 11, University Preparation with a recommended mark of 65%
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ENG4CO Grade 12, English, College Preparation
This course emphasizes consolidation of literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students will analyse informational texts and literary works from various time periods, countries, and cultures; write research reports, summaries, and short analytical essays; complete an independent study project; and analyse the interactions among media forms, audiences, and media industry practices. An important focus will be on establishing appropriate style and using business and technical language effectively.
Prerequisite: English, Grade 11, College Preparation with a recommended mark of 65%
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Optional English Courses
ELDCO, English Literacy Development ELD Level 3, Open
This course builds on students’ growing literacy and language skills and extends their ability to communicate in English about familiar and school-related topics. Students will make brief oral presentations; improve their literacy skills through a variety of contextualized and supported reading and writing tasks; distinguish between fact and opinion in short written and oral texts; complete short guided-research projects; and engage in a variety of cooperative learning activities. The course will also enable students to strengthen and extend their study skills and personal-management strategies and to broaden their understanding of Canadian diversity and citizenship
Prerequisite: None
Link to Curriculum
ELDDO, English Literacy Development ELD Level 4, Open
This course extends students’ literacy skills and ability to apply learning strategies effectively, and teaches them how to use community resources to enhance lifelong learning. Students will communicate with increased accuracy and fluency for a variety of academic and everyday purposes; perform a variety of guided reading, writing, and viewing tasks; and use media and community resources to complete guided-research projects. This course further develops the critical thinking skills students will need to participate in Canadian society as informed citizens.
Prerequisite: None
Link to Curriculum
OLC4OO Grade 12, Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course, Open
This course is designed to help students acquire and demonstrate the cross-curricular literacy skills that are evaluated by the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Students who complete the course successfully will meet the provincial literacy requirement for graduation. Students will read a variety of informational, narrative, and graphic texts and will produce a variety of forms of writing, including summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces, and news reports. Students will also maintain and manage a portfolio containing a record of their reading experiences and samples of their writing.
Eligibility requirement: Students who have been eligible to write the OSSLT at least twice and who have been unsuccessful at least once are eligible to take the course. (Students who have already met the literacy requirement for graduation may be eligible to take the course under special circumstances, at the discretion of the principal.)
Link to Curriculum