ENG 4U

English, Grade 12 (University)

Master professional-grade communication and define your digital authority. Grade 12 English is the academic capstone of your high school career, designed to prepare you for the intellectual and communication standards of top-tier universities and modern workplaces. In this course, you will learn to partner with Generative AI tools effectively—treating them as sophisticated logical sounding boards rather than shortcuts—to stress-test your arguments, debate intellectual piracy, and build complex academic essays. You'll master advanced media literacy to identify high-level digital misinformation, investigate stories as a citizen journalist, parse dense academic literature, and assemble a professional communication portfolio that showcases your absolute mastery.

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BSID 665288 (Inspected by Ontario Ministry of Education)

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Reference Materials

Course Outline

Technical details about the course, including assignment weights and course policies.

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Reference guide for acceptable file formats and tools for completing coursework.

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AI & LLMS

How is Async Academy Different?

Familiarize yourself with the expectations of this capstone course. Understand how to integrate AI effectively as a partner in complex intellectual tasks.

Learning Goals:

Demonstrate understanding of oral and media texts and reflect on strategies used to interpret them
Create an effective media text for a specific audience using appropriate conventions and stylistic techniques
Reflect on personal strengths and areas for growth in oral communication and media production

Assessment as Learning

Expectations Covered:

MS1 MS2 MS3 MS4 OC1 OC2 OC3

AI & Piracy

Debate the complex ethics surrounding AI in professional and creative fields. Analyze case studies on intellectual property and algorithmic generation.

Learning Goals:

Demonstrate an understanding of media texts and how media conventions influence meaning
Create media texts for specific purposes and audiences using appropriate forms and techniques
Reflect on the effectiveness of research and media-creation strategies
Use speaking skills and strategies to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively

Assessment for Learning

Expectations Covered:

MS1 MS2 MS3 MS4 OC2 OC3 RLS1 RLS2 RLS3

AI in Schools

Examine how AI is reshaping academic integrity and scholarly research. Prepare for the evolving landscape of post-secondary expectations.

Learning Goals:

Generate, select, and organize ideas to write a personal essay that explains career goals, communication skills, and appropriate AI use
Use appropriate form, voice, and style to create a clear, engaging personal essay for an intended audience
Apply writing conventions and revision strategies to produce a polished final essay
Reflect on writing processes and strategies, including the use of AI and prompt engineering, to improve future writing

Assessment of Learning

Expectations Covered:

Hamlet

Hamlet

Here is an online version of the play. You are welcome to use this, or any other version, of the text.

Why Read Shakespeare?

Consider the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s work in modern society. Explore the universal themes that make his plays timeless.

Learning Goals:

Develop effective pre-reading strategies to understand challenging literary texts
Demonstrate understanding of Shakespearean texts, including meaning, characters, and structure
Communicate ideas clearly and effectively using short, audience-appropriate videos
Reflect on reading and communication strategies to improve future learning

Assessment as Learning

Expectations Covered:

OC2 RLS1 RLS2 RLS4

Reading the Play

Delve into the complex characters and dark ambitions of Hamlet. Analyze the language and structure of the tragedy.

Learning Goals:

Engage with new and difficult texts confidently using a variety of digital and cognitive tools
Analyze the nuances of Shakespearean form and structure to identify key plot points and character motivations

Assessment for Learning

Expectations Covered:

OC1 RLS1 RLS2 RLS3

Following a Theme

Trace a central motif throughout Hamlet to build a comprehensive literary analysis. Practice supporting your claims with textual evidence.

Learning Goals:

Identify and analyse the effectiveness of significant elements from printed and media texts
Present material verbally using a variety of strategies to engage and influence listeners

Assessment of Learning

Expectations Covered:

MS1 MS2 MS4 OC1 OC3

Journalism

Spectrum of Journalism

Analyze the evolving spectrum of news media, from hard journalism to opinion pieces. Evaluate how different platforms shape public perception.

Learning Goals:

Analyze how significant Canadian reporting has influenced law and society
Evaluate ethical breaches and biases in famous Canadian journalistic controversies
Explain how reading, listening, and writing skills intersect to create a professional media text
Identify personal production strategies and tools that lead to effective communication

Assessment as Learning

Expectations Covered:

MS1 MS1.3 MS3 MS4 OC1.8 OC1.9 OC2 W4

Fake News Detective

Develop advanced media literacy skills to identify sophisticated misinformation. Practice verifying sources and analyzing bias in complex digital narratives.

Learning Goals:

Evaluate the credibility of online sources using lateral reading and reverse image searches
Produce clear and coherent writing that explains complex digital concepts to a general audience
Apply proofreading and editing skills to ensure professional communication
Analyse how media techniques are used to create specific perspectives or biases

Assessment for Learning

Expectations Covered:

MS1 MS4 W1 W2 W3 W4

Citizen Journalism

Step into the role of a modern journalist by investigating local or global issues. Learn to balance subjective perspective with objective reporting.

Learning Goals:

Produce media texts for specific purposes and audiences using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques
Communicate in a clear, coherent manner using a structure and style appropriate to the subject matter
Use appropriate audio and visual aids to enhance oral presentations

Assessment of Learning

Expectations Covered:

MS1 MS2 MS3 OC2 W2

Academic Writing

Reading Academic Writing

Master the art of parsing dense, university-level scholarly papers. Learn to identify core arguments embedded in academic discourse.

Learning Goals:

Apply effective reading strategies to approach and understand difficult academic writing
Develop independent judgment about what makes academic writing effective

Assessment as Learning

Expectations Covered:

RLS1 RLS2 RLS3 RLS4 W1

Writing an Essay

Produce a university-calibre research essay demonstrating original thought and meticulous structure. Integrate complex sources to support a sophisticated thesis.

Learning Goals:

Develop a clear, supportable thesis based on textual evidence from the play
Structure an essay using an introduction, PEE body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Integrate and explain quotations effectively to support claims
Reflect on writing strategies to improve future essays

Assessment for Learning

Expectations Covered:

Portfolio

Assemble a professional-grade portfolio that highlights your mastery of communication. Reflect deeply on your intellectual journey throughout high school.

Learning Goals:

Produce polished, professional written and multimedia work
Assess work holistically to identify patterns, strengths, and areas for improvement

Assessment of Learning

Expectations Covered:

Biography

Read the Novel

Tackle a challenging literary text with independence and rigor. Document profound thematic insights and complex structural elements.

Learning Goals:

Make inferences and develop deeper understanding of a novel
Increase fluency with grade-appropriate and academic vocabulary
Connect elements of writing and plot development to their effectiveness in student writing tasks

Assessment for Learning

Expectations Covered:

RLS1 RLS2 RLS3 RLS4

Exam Task

Exam Task

The final assignment in the course where you can demonstrate the range of skills you have mastered.

Learning Goals:

Make inferences and develop deeper understanding of a novel
Increase fluency with grade-appropriate and academic vocabulary
Connect elements of writing and plot development to their effectiveness in student writing tasks

Assessment for Learning

Expectations Covered:

RLS1 RLS2 RLS3 RLS4