York Region District School Board

MARKVILLE SECONDARY SCHOOL ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Academic English
ENG2D1-11 and 13
Course Code: ENG2D1-11 and 13 Credit Value: 1.0

Teacher: Mrs. Sharon Eizenga

sharon.eizenga@gapps.yrdsb.ca (preferred contact email from students)
sharon.eizenga@yrdsb.ca
905-940-8840 x304

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALE:

Welcome! This course emphasizes the development of literacy, communication, and critical and creative thinking skills
necessary for success in academic and daily life. Students will analyze challenging literary texts from various periods,
countries, and cultures, as well as a range of informational and graphic texts, and create oral, written, and media texts in
a variety of forms. An important focus will be on using language with precision and clarity and incorporating stylistic
devices appropriately and effectively. Prerequisite: ENG 1D (Grade 9 Academic English).

OVERALL CURRICULUM EXPECTATIONS:

The overall curriculum expectations are found in the Ministry of Education documents: Grade 9 and 10 English
Curriculum.

EVALUATION*:
Student overall grade will be earned based on the four areas of assessment, plus a summative evaluation as follows:

Knowledge: subject-specific content acquired and the comprehension of its meaning and 17.5%
significance
Thinking: The use of critical and creative thinking skills and/or processes 17.5%
Communication: The conveying of meaning through various forms 17.5%
Application: The use of knowledge and skills to make connections within and between various 17.5%
contexts
Course Summative Evaluation: Independent Study Unit 30%
Total 100%
* Subject to change depending on Ministry input
UNITS OF STUDY:
A number of assessment techniques, including assessments for, as, and of learning are used to assess student
achievement of the expectations in this course (assessments are subject to change). Students will have a variety of
opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

UNIT DESCRIPTION ASSESSMENTS FOR LEARNING ASSESSMENTS OF LEARNING*

1. Grammar and Literacy Understand & apply grammar In-Class Review, Diagnostic Two Grammar Quizzes (*6%)
structures and rules in a variety of Exercise, Weekly
formal writing contexts. Handouts/Worksheets on Google
Classroom, Homework Checks

2. Short Stories and Storytelling Apply active reading strategies Paragraph Writing Review, Short Formal Paragraph Writing(*9.4%)
(short stories, novel excerpts, Story Deconstruction/Answering
poetry, podcasts, and short films) Questions, Application of Critical Literary Terms Quiz and Sight
in order to recognize connections Reading, Annotation Strategies, Passage (*9.3%)
among elements of a story and Graphic Organizers
articulate themes. Paragraph
writing skills developed.

3. Novel Study: Student Choice Reading workshop and novel Independent digital notebook, Novel Portfolio (*10%)
portfolio. Deconstruct elements exemplar analysis, graphic
of a story. Personal reflections. organizers
Character development.
Identification of themes.

5. Shakespeare: Macbeth Active reading strategies, Class discussions, quotation Quest and Socratic Circle (*7.5%)
application of literary devices and analysis, exemplar analysis,
story elements. graphic organizers, dramatization, Creative Project (*10%)
creative writing

4. Literary Essay: Independent Focus on elements of a story by Exemplar analysis, teacher Final Essay (*12%)
Study Unit using active reading strategies in conferencing during outline and Process Work (*10%)
class. Work through various creation of thesis stage, peer and Annotation Task (*8%)
CULMINATING TASK stages to arrive at a formal, self editing.
literary essay.

6. Media Literacy Navigating the news: fake news. Listening exercises, note taking, Media Deconstruction Group Task
Writing news reports. Discover class discussion, film analysis, (*10%)
and deconstruct various media answering critical questions, Fake News Assignment (*7.5%)
forms (film, Ted Talks, and critical analysis, graphic
podcasts) and develop media organizers.
literacy strategies.
*Note: All values are close approximations
Some unit content taught simultaneously

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION:

The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning. This course is designed to ensure that students are
provided multiple opportunities to improve their learning and to demonstrate that they have achieved course
expectations. Diagnostic and formative assessment will be used to provide meaningful feedback about student progress
and achievement during the learning process. Summative evaluations will be used to determine and report the
percentage grade. All summative tasks are individually evaluated - no group marks.

The four levels of achievement that are used in rubric evaluation are as follows:
Level 1 – 50‐59% ‐ a passable level of achievement, below the provincial standard
Level 2 – 60‐69% ‐ a moderate level of achievement, approaching the provincial standard
Level 3 – 70‐79% ‐ a high level of achievement, meets the provincial standard
Level 4 – 80‐100% ‐ a very high level of achievement, well above the provincial standard
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
1. Students are expected to be respectful and 5. Attendance: If a student misses a class, it is
courteous at all times. Listen attentively when someone is imperative that they catch up on missed work. When
speaking. The atmosphere fostered in the classroom will possible, notify absences ahead of time if a student is
be one of respect, acceptance, and kindness in order to going to miss a class.
work towards a common goal – to learn!
6. Students will be expected to arrive on time for
2. Students are expected to participate and class, even virtually. Late arrivals disrupt the class and
contribute to class discussions in order to contribute student learning. A student is considered to be late if the
positively to the classroom community. bell has stopped ringing and they are not in class. After 3
unexplained lates or absences, a phone call will be made
3. It is the student’s responsibility to bring a laptop to parents or guardians. If you are late to online class,
to class every day that is charged and ready to use. Laptop please announce your arrival time in the chat for
and tablet computers are allowed during teacher-directed attendance purposes.
learning. Other activities, such as checking personal email,
playing games or browsing the Internet, are not 7. Students will come to class prepared. This
acceptable. includes homework and any other assigned work being
completed on time, as well as having the appropriate
4. Students will be expected to attend class daily. materials on hand, including a charged device.
Since learning occurs in sequence and on a daily basis,
frequent or prolonged absences will have a serious
negative effect on the final mark. Students are
responsible for all work missed in class.

PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism is presenting material that is not yours. Under no circumstances will any evidence of plagiarism be tolerated.
This is a serious academic offense. The consequences of plagiarism may include any of the following combinations: loss
of marks or a zero for the project or assignment, completing the assignment for a second time, and/or referral to
administration and contact with parents. All work must be submitted through Turnitin.com.

Some examples of plagiarism include:

● Copying the ideas or work of someone else and claiming credit for it
● Having someone else do your work or assignments
● Consulting websites and then using ideas in your own notes or in your own words without acknowledging your
source
● Submitting a peer’s work and claiming it as your own
The consequences of plagiarism may include any of the following combinations: loss of marks/zero for the project or
assignment, completing the assignment for a second time, and/or referral to administration and contact with parents.

TEACHER HELP:
If something is not making sense to you, let the teacher know as soon as possible. Do not ask to conference with the
teacher the day of a test or the day that an assignment is due.

MARK UPDATES:
Marks for this course will be updated on a regular basis through the Teach Assist website, which may be accessed using
the student’s username and password that they use to access our school computers.

Parents, please have your child share their username and password with you so that you can keep track of your child’s
mark in this course.
LEARNING SKILLS AND WORK HABITS:
Learning skills and work habits are assessed and reported on your report card. The learning skills and work habits are:

SKILLS AND HABITS SAMPLE BEHAVIOURS/DESCRIPTORS (abridged list from Growing Success, 2010)
➔ completes and submits class work, homework, and assignments according to
Responsibility agreed-upon timelines
➔ takes responsibility for and manages own behaviour
➔ devises and follows a plan and process for completing work and tasks
Organization
➔ establishes priorities and manages time to complete tasks and achieve goals
➔ uses class time appropriately to complete tasks
Independent Work
➔ follows instructions with minimal supervision
➔ responds positively to the ideas, opinions, values, and traditions of others
Collaboration ➔ shares information, resources, and expertise and promotes critical thinking to solve
problems and make decisions
➔ demonstrates the capacity for innovation and a willingness to take risks
Initiative
➔ demonstrates curiosity and interest in learning
➔ sets own individual goals and monitors progress towards achieving them
Self-regulation
➔ seeks clarification or assistance when needed

I look forward to an enjoyable semester of growing in knowledge, thinking, and collaboration.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns,

Sharon Eizenga
English Teacher
Parent Contact: sharon.eizenga@yrdsb.ca
Student Contact: sharon.eizenga@gapps.yrdsb.ca
 Markville Secondary School English Department
STUDENT AGREEMENT FORM
I understand that I have the responsibility to...
○ use my device in accordance with the YRDSB Technology Code of Conduct;
○ use my device for curriculum-related activities only;
○ refrain from taking any photos or videos in class, unless they are for curriculum-related activities. I will
not share any content from class on any social media site;
○ regularly backup my files, at least once a week, in 2 or more locations (email, memory sticks, external
hard drive);
○ come to class with my device charged and ready to use;
○ ensure that I have my device charger, in case of emergency;
○ keep my course files organized so I can immediately show the teacher my work, upon request;

FIRST NAME (of student): LAST NAME:

STUDENT SECTION:
❏ I have read the evaluation and class expectations above for Grade 10 Academic English.
❏ I have read the expectations for my use of technology and I will abide by them.
DATE: SIGNATURE:

PARENT OR GUARDIAN CONTACT LOG

Please provide a phone number that you prefer that I use to contact you.
Please include an e-mail address that you regularly check. E-mail updates will be sent at pertinent times.

Parent or Guardian #1 Parent or Guardian #2

Name

Contact Phone #

E-mail

❏ We have read and acknowledge the course content, evaluation, and expectations for this course,
Grade 9 Academic English (ENG1D1).
❏ We have been given access to Google Classroom and TeachAssist sites by our child.

PARENT or GUARDIAN #1 SIGNATURE

PARENT or STUDENT COMMENTS: please leave me a note if there is anything that I should know