​​Compulsory Courses

Grade 9 Academic English

Grade Nine Academic English focuses on developing student’s reading, writing and oral communication skills while encouraging them to reflect metacognitively all throughout on their strengths and needs. Students will read a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts ranging from short stories and novels to news articles and informational texts. Focus is placed on the use and impact of various text features and how they contribute to meaning so as the encourage students to start deconstructing texts and think analytically. An introduction to annotation is also a large part of the course as students develop active reading strategies all throughout the course by implementing before, during and after reading techniques. Students will also be writing a wide range of assignments such a persuasive paragraphs, an essay and creative writing. Additionally, students will be developing their oral communication skills over various interactions all throughout the course which will allow them to culminate with book club discussions tying together all the reading, writing and oral communication skills developed in the course.​

Grade 9 Applied English

Grade Nine Applied English focuses on developing the speaking, listening, reading, writing, and media literacy skills necessary for success at school and in life. In understanding texts, students will focus on strategies for comprehension and making connections to t​exts. As communicators, students focus on learning and using strategies for clarity, revision, and organization. A main focus of the course is on writing clearly, using appropriate structure and grammar for different purposes. As speakers, a main focus is on developing non-verbal presentation skills. Throughout the course, students will read and understand a variety of texts, and will work on developing their reading stamina through daily sustained reading time.

Grade 9 Essential English

Grade Nine Essential English focuses on developing the effective communication skills that we used everyday at school, at home, with friends, and in the workplace. The course starts with a focus on listening and talking. We work on identifying and using the characteristics of active listening in conversations, discussions, and listening to oral texts. Then, students work on developing their ability to have conversations in both large and small groups, and on using conversations to analyze ideas and solve problems. Throughout the course we spend time understanding different readings and media texts by learning and using strategies to find main ideas and make connections. Finally, students work on communicating their ideas through writing, with a focus on brainstorming, organizing, and editing. A main focus is on making sure that their writing is relevant to their purpose, and on providing and using feedback.

Grade 10 Academic English

Grade Ten Academic English focuses on rhetoric – the art of persuasive oral and written communication. Throughout the course, you will read and analyze a variety of texts including literary, graphic, and informational material. You will explore the literary elements of plot, symbolism, character, and dialogue, as well as text elements and features. The Media unit will introduce you to the world of journalism, help you detect bias in the news, recognize the difference between tabloids and broadsheets, as well as expand your media vocabulary. In addition, you will develop your writing skills by creating a variety of written texts for different purposes and audiences, such as a persuasive literary essay. You will also learn valuable oral communication strategies that will help you become an effective audience member and an eloquent presenter.

Grade 10 Applied English

Grade Ten Applied English is about developing and refining skills.  We start our semester off with developing oral communications skills in our podcast unit.  Students focus on listening strategies while following along with an internationally popular podcast.  Students are challenged to expand their vocabulary, make inferences, and evaluate details. In our writing unit, students work on writing a news report and a persuasive essay.  Both of these writing tasks are further reinforced in a unit on explicit reading strategies where students look at fiction, non-fiction, and infographic texts. In our graphic novel unit, students self-select a text from the library and work through a set of skills to explore how authors use elements like colour, symbols, graphic weight, gutters, and text to create meaning.  Students finish the term by developing and delivering oral presentations. Students work on nonverbal and verbal presentation techniques to enhance their message and presentation style. Throughout the course, students read several self-selected novels and track their reading in an effort to develop reading fluency and reading stamina.

Grade 10 Essential English

Grade Ten Essential English focuses on developing the effective communication skills that we used everyday at school, at home, with friends, and in the workplace. The course focusing on developing their active listening skills in conversations, discussions, and listening to oral texts. Students continue to enhance their use of reading strategies with increasingly difficult texts, with a focus on finding main ideas and making connections. Finally, students work on communicating their ideas through writing, with a focus on brainstorming, organizing, and editing. A main focus is on clarity in different forms of writing.

Grade 11 University English

Grade Eleven University Preparation English focuses on a critical analysis of the elements of tone. You will analyse and evaluate oral texts and through listening skills extend understanding of oral communication to inform your own verbal and nonverbal communication strategies. The Media unit will focus on the study of filming techniques, cinematography and genre. Writing skills will be refined as you purposefully and meaningfully use tone, diction, detail and syntax to reflect your audience and purpose for a variety of writing tasks, namely a comparative essay. You will continue to develop, apply and assess reading strategies to analyze and evaluate complex texts. The course will conclude with a social issue inquiry where you will access scholarly articles and documentaries to collaboratively explore a societal matter of your interest and choosing.​

​Grade 11 University English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Voices

The Ontario Ministry of Education has developed the course NBE3U1, English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Voices, as an alternative to the ENG3U course for achievement of the compulsory grade 11 English credit. Education is an important section of the calls to action identified in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report on rebuilding Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples. As of February 2022, Tommy Douglas Secondary School will be transitioning to NBE3U1 as its grade 11 English course in an effort to celebrate Indigenous contributions to literature and media across Canada. Like ENG3U1, NBE3U1 is intended to prepare students for the compulsory Grade 12 English university or college preparation course.

The course explores the themes, forms, and stylistic elements of a variety of literary, informational, graphic, oral, cultural, and media text forms emerging from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures in Canada, and also examines the perspective and influence of texts that relate to those cultures. In order to fully understand contemporary text forms and their themes of identity, relationship and self-determination, sovereignty, or self governance, students will analyse the changing use of text forms by Indigenous authors/creators from various periods and cultures in expressing ideas related to these themes. Students will also create oral, written, and media texts to explore their own ideas and understanding, focusing on development of literacy, communicaiton, and critical and creative thinking necessary for success in academic and daily life.

​Grade 11 College English

Grade Eleven College focuses on developing the skills we need to be effective communicators in school, life, and the workplace. In this course, you will analyse a variety of text forms (informational, literary and graphic), learn presentation strategies for clarity and conversation, and develop your writing skills by becoming more familiar with the writing process. A big focus is on using grammar effectively in writing. Students will also explore different media forms (print, internet, movies, etc.) to understand how media affects our daily life.

Grade 11 College English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Voices

The Ontario Ministry of Education has developed the course NBE3C1, English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Voices, as an alternative to the ENG3C course for achievement of the compulsory grade 11 English credit. Education is an important section of the calls to action identified in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report on rebuilding Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples. As of February 2022, Tommy Douglas Secondary School will be transitioning to NBE3C1 as its grade 11 English course in an effort to celebrate Indigenous contributions to literature and media across Canada. Like ENG3C1, NBE3C1 is intended to prepare students for the compulsory Grade 12 English college preparation course.

This course explores the themes, forms, and stylistic elements of literary, informational, graphic, oral, cultural, and media text forms emerging from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures in Canada, and also looks at the perspectives and influences of texts that relate to those cultures. In order to understand contemporary text forms and their themes of identity, relationship, and self-determination, soveriegnty, or self governance, students will study the use of text forms by Indigenous authors/creators from other periods in expressing ideas related to these themes. Students will also create oral, written, and media tets to explore their own ideas and understanding, focusing on the development of literacy, communication, and critical and creative thinking skills necessary for success in academic and daily life. 

Grade 11 Workplace English

The Grade Eleven Workplace English course focuses on developing our skills as communicators. We will work on presenting our own ideas in orally, in writing, and using media. As critical thinkers, we will analyse different types of texts, including informational writing, graphic texts, stories, and media. A significant focus is on developing our clarity and comprehension in various contexts.

Grade 12 University English

The Grade Twelve University course is centered around analysis and evaluation.  Students begin by learning the basics of literary criticism including, formalism, feminism, historicism, marxism, psychological, and archetypal lenses.   In our poetry unit students learn a new annotation technique and deliver a seminar on a poet. In our writing unit students write a literary analysis essay, exploring a short story through a literary lens.  Following that students switch gears and write a creative piece, all while focusing and refining the writing process: brainstorming, outlining, editing, and revising techniques. In order to develop listening and speaking skills, students listen to and analyze several podcasts.  They comment on the speaking and organizational strategies podcasters use to create meaning and eventually students create their own podcast. In our media unit students deliver a presentation which analyzes a self-selected film through a literary lens. Throughout the course students in the ENG4U course read and annotate a minimum of three texts: a piece of fiction, non-fiction, and a book club novel.​

Grade 12 College English

Grade Twelve College English will help develop skills necessary for academic success and daily life.  You will explore the art of communication by recognizing verbal and nonverbal communication techniques as well as noteworthy presentation tools that consequently, help you to become better communicators.  In this course, you will analyse a variety of text forms (informational, literary and graphic) on topics of personal interest. Next, you will develop your writing skills by becoming more familiar with the writing process, as well as using effective grammar and sentence structure.  The final unit will have you diving into different media forms (print, internet, movies, etc.). In this unit, you will look at different media techniques and discuss representation as demonstrated in various media texts.

Grade 12 Workplace English

The Grade Twelve Workplace English course focuses on preparing us for life outside of the classroom. We will work on becoming better communicators by presenting our own ideas in orally, in writing, and using media. In the course we will analyse different types of texts, including informational writing, graphic texts, stories, and media. A significant focus is on developing our clarity and comprehension in various contexts so that we can be successful at home and in the workplace.

​Electives

​​​Grade 11 Open Media Studies