English

“We must contemplate the import of ignoring the printed word. If you cannot read, you can do only what you are told.” Joseph P. Bean

Overview

This course focuses on developing the students’ reading, writing, listening, speaking, comprehension, grammar and critical thinking skills. The course is structured around several topics such as short stories, poetry, fairytales, immigreation and assimilation issues and understanding differences. It is assumed that students have acquired basic reasoning skills, and provides opportunity by way of discussions, essays and persuasive oral presentations for students to formulate and support personal opinions on social issues.

Aims

To hone the skills of argument and debate, both written and spoken
To use reasoning and persuasive skills to present opinions
To write essays, stories and poems to express feelings and thoughts
To plan time and work load to complete an extended assignment by the due date
To recognise different types of, and purposes for, writing
To use the God-given gifts of creativity and discernment

Topics Include

Craft of writing
Grammar and spelling
Media study
Language devices
Oral presentations – formal and informal
Poetry and short stories
“Romeo and Juliet” (Shakespeare)
Text response
Text form of a memoir

Time Allocation

9 periods per fortnight

Requirements

Booklist Items

Assessment

Spelling and Grammar
Skills Tests
Written Assignments
Oral Presentations
Class Participation
Examinations

“They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving them meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” Nehemiah 8:8