English, Grade 11 Workplace Preparation

This course emphasizes the development of literacy, communication, and critical and creative thinking skills necessary for success in the workplace and in daily life. Students will study the content, form, and style of a variety of contemporary informational, graphic, and literary texts; and create oral, written, and media texts in a variety of forms for practical purposes. An important focus will be on using language clearly and accurately in a variety of formal and informal contexts. The course is intended to prepare students for the compulsory Grade 12 workplace preparation course. (The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: English, 2007 (Revised))

English, Grade 12 Workplace Preparation

This course emphasizes the consolidation of literacy, communication, and critical and creative thinking skills necessary for success in the workplace and in daily life. Students will analyse informational, graphic, and literary texts and create oral, written, and media texts in a variety of forms for workplace-related and practical purposes. An important focus will be on using language accurately and organizing ideas and information coherently. The course is intended to prepare students for the workplace and active citizenship. (The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: English, 2007 (Revised))

Units and Texts

Our readings include the passages from The Road Ahead (3E) and Moving On (4E).  Various short stories and poems from around the world, as well as both media studies and non-fiction texts will be read. 

Course Breakdown

Before mid-term:

• Unit 1 Week 1 Student Choice Writing Task

• Unit 1 Week 2 Student Choice Writing Task

• Unit 2 Week 3 Student Choice Writing Task

• Unit 2 Week 4 Student Choice Writing Task

• Unit 3 Week 5 Student Choice Writing Task

• Unit 3 Week 6 Student Choice Writing Task

• Unit 4 Week 7 Student Choice Writing Task

• Unit 4 Week 8 Student Choice Writing Task

• Unit 5 Week 9 Student Choice Writing Task

After mid-term:

• Unit 5 Week 10 Student Choice Writing Task

• TBD

• CT - Writing Portfolio

• Exam day - Reflection (see CT)

Before mid-term + after mid-term = 65% of the final mark

CT (Culminating Task) 25% of final mark

Attendance 5% of final mark

Participation 5% of final mark

The final mark weighting values are from the DPCDSB 2026 assessment document.

Weights

Assignments are weighted using a scale of 1 - 5.  

1

• oral readings

• skits

• quizzes and tests

• informal presentations

• annotations or notes

2

• short form writing

3

• presentations

• essay outline

4

• long form writing

5

• second long form writing

Levels

Level 1 50–59%

1- 52% / 1 55% / 1+ 58%

Level 2 60–69%

2- 62% / 2 65% / 2+ 68%

Level 3 70–79%

3- 72% / 3 75% / 3+ 78%

Level 4 80–100%

4- 84% / 4 91% / 4+ 98%

ORAL COMMUNICATION

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Listening to Understand: listen in order to understand and respond appropriately in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes;

2. Speaking to Communicate: use speaking skills and strategies appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes;

3. Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as listeners and speakers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in oral communication situations.

READING AND LITERATURE STUDIES

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Reading for Meaning: read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of informational, graphic, and literary texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning;

2. Understanding Form and Style: recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate understanding of how they help communicate meaning;

3. Reading With Fluency: use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently;

4. Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as readers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading. 

WRITING

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Developing and Organizing Content: generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose and audience;

2. Using Knowledge of Form and Style: draft and revise their writing, using a variety of informational, graphic, and literary forms and stylistic elements appropriate for the purpose and audience;

3. Applying Knowledge of Conventions: use editing, proofreading, and publishing skills and strategies, and knowledge of language conventions, to correct errors, refine expression, and present their work effectively;

4. Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as writers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful at different stages in the writing process.

MEDIA STUDIES

OVERALL EXPECTATIONS

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Understanding Media Texts: demonstrate an understanding of a variety of media texts;

2. Understanding Media Forms, Conventions, and Techniques: identify some media forms and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning;

3. Creating Media Texts: create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques;

4. Reflecting on Skills and Strategies: reflect on and identify their strengths as media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in understanding and creating media texts. 

Assessment and Evaluation

Students will be assessed and evaluated using the standard province-wide achievement chart that identifies four categories of knowledge and skills in English.

Knowledge and Understanding: Subject-specific content acquired in the course (knowledge), and the comprehension of its meaning and significance (understanding).

Thinking: The use of critical and creative thinking skills and/or processes, specifically planning skills, processing skills, and critical/creative thinking processes.

Communication: The conveying of meaning through various forms.

Application: The use of knowledge and skills to make connections within and between various contexts. 

The breakdown for this course is as follows:

25% Knowledge and Understanding

25% Thinking 

25% Communication 

25% Application

65% Term Work + 25% CT (Culminating Task) + 5% Attendance  + 5% Participation.

These values are from the DPCDSB 2026 assessment document.

Evaluation Policy

Please see the student agenda for further details.

1. All major assignments must be handed in on the due dates given. There will be a penalty of 10% for late work. After three school days and parental contact, the assignment will be given a mark of zero.

2. If you are truant, the assessment will be given a mark of zero.

3. If a test is missed due to a legitimate reason, verification by parental / guardian contact must be given and arrangements will be made to either write the test, or complete an alternative assessment.  Your parent / guardian must contact the attendance office.

4. Original work is the only work that will be evaluated. Plagiarism of any kind will result in a mark of zero.

5. Some assessments will be handed in in class, others will be handed in to the Google Classroom.

Cellphones and other personal mobile devices in schools

Classes should begin with phones put away. [. . .]

Students Grade 7 and above may not use cellphones or other mobiles devices during class time without the explicit permission of their teacher.

They [students] can use their mobile device during learning time only when:

• a teacher says to use it as part of learning, for example, doing research or visiting a specific website

• it’s needed for a health or medical reason

• it supports special education needs

Taken from https://www.ontario.ca/page/cellphones-and-other-mobile-devices-schools