Grade 12 Course Descriptions
Grade 12 University English
This course emphasizes the consolidation of the literacy, communication, and critical and
creative thinking skills necessary for success in academic and daily life. Students will
analyse a range of challenging literary texts from various periods, countries, and cultures;
interpret and evaluate informational and graphic texts; and create oral, written, and media
texts in a variety of forms. An important focus will be on using academic language coherently
and confidently, selecting the reading strategies best suited to particular texts and particular
purposes for reading, and developing greater control in writing. The course is intended
to prepare students for university, college, or the workplace.
Grade 12 College English
This course emphasizes the consolidation of literacy, communication, and critical and
creative thinking skills necessary for success in academic and daily life. Students will
analyse a variety of informational and graphic texts, as well as literary texts from various
countries and cultures, and create oral, written, and media texts in a variety of forms for
practical and academic purposes. An important focus will be on using language with
precision and clarity and developing greater control in writing. The course is intended
to prepare students for college or the workplace.
Grade 12 Workplace English
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.
Grade 12 Writer's Craft
This course emphasizes knowledge and skills related to the craft of writing. Students
will analyse models of effective writing; use a workshop approach to produce a range
of works; identify and use techniques required for specialized forms of writing; and
identify effective ways to improve the quality of their writing. They will also complete
a major paper as part of a creative or analytical independent study project and
investigate opportunities for publication and for writing careers.
Grade 12 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course
This course is designed to help students acquire and demonstrate the cross-curricular literacy
skills that are evaluated by the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Students who
complete the course successfully will meet the provincial literacy requirement for graduation.
Students will read a variety of informational, narrative, and graphic texts and will produce a
variety of forms of writing, including summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces, and
news reports. Students will also maintain and manage a portfolio containing a record of their
reading experiences and samples of their writing.
Eligibility requirement: Students who have been eligible to write the OSSLT at least twice
and who have been unsuccessful at least once are eligible to take the course. (Students who
have already met the literacy requirement for graduation may be eligible to take the course
under special circumstances, at the discretion of the principal.)
Grade 12 Film as Narrative
This course explores the role of film as a ‘literary’ genre with all the narrative power of the novel
or the play. Students will begin by investigating terminology unique to the analysis of film and
applying it via the simple film review. Later units will address the history of film, both in North
America and abroad; the various subcategories of film which emerged as the 20th century progressed
(e.g., noir, the Western, the epic, the documentary); studies focusing on specific directors; the written
genre (novels, short stories, etc.) compared to the same rendered in film; and a focused investigation
of Canadian cinema with particular attention to the world-wide renown of Quebec directors. Through
individual and collaborative inquiry, students will be able to apply skills in analyzing and communicating
information to film. In consequence, they will become more insightful in approaching written or oral
works in concurrent English courses, and in evaluating film as a narrative genre beyond the boundaries
of the classroom.
Grade 12 Studies in Literature
This course is for students with a special interest in literature and literary criticism. The course
may focus on themes, genres, time periods, or countries. Students will analyse a range of forms
and stylistic elements of literary texts and respond personally, critically, and creatively to them.
They will also assess critical interpretations, write analytical essays, and complete an independent
study project.
This course emphasizes the consolidation of the literacy, communication, and critical and
creative thinking skills necessary for success in academic and daily life. Students will
analyse a range of challenging literary texts from various periods, countries, and cultures;
interpret and evaluate informational and graphic texts; and create oral, written, and media
texts in a variety of forms. An important focus will be on using academic language coherently
and confidently, selecting the reading strategies best suited to particular texts and particular
purposes for reading, and developing greater control in writing. The course is intended
to prepare students for university, college, or the workplace.
Grade 12 College English
This course emphasizes the consolidation of literacy, communication, and critical and
creative thinking skills necessary for success in academic and daily life. Students will
analyse a variety of informational and graphic texts, as well as literary texts from various
countries and cultures, and create oral, written, and media texts in a variety of forms for
practical and academic purposes. An important focus will be on using language with
precision and clarity and developing greater control in writing. The course is intended
to prepare students for college or the workplace.
Grade 12 Workplace English
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.
Grade 12 Writer's Craft
This course emphasizes knowledge and skills related to the craft of writing. Students
will analyse models of effective writing; use a workshop approach to produce a range
of works; identify and use techniques required for specialized forms of writing; and
identify effective ways to improve the quality of their writing. They will also complete
a major paper as part of a creative or analytical independent study project and
investigate opportunities for publication and for writing careers.
Grade 12 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course
This course is designed to help students acquire and demonstrate the cross-curricular literacy
skills that are evaluated by the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Students who
complete the course successfully will meet the provincial literacy requirement for graduation.
Students will read a variety of informational, narrative, and graphic texts and will produce a
variety of forms of writing, including summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces, and
news reports. Students will also maintain and manage a portfolio containing a record of their
reading experiences and samples of their writing.
Eligibility requirement: Students who have been eligible to write the OSSLT at least twice
and who have been unsuccessful at least once are eligible to take the course. (Students who
have already met the literacy requirement for graduation may be eligible to take the course
under special circumstances, at the discretion of the principal.)
Grade 12 Film as Narrative
This course explores the role of film as a ‘literary’ genre with all the narrative power of the novel
or the play. Students will begin by investigating terminology unique to the analysis of film and
applying it via the simple film review. Later units will address the history of film, both in North
America and abroad; the various subcategories of film which emerged as the 20th century progressed
(e.g., noir, the Western, the epic, the documentary); studies focusing on specific directors; the written
genre (novels, short stories, etc.) compared to the same rendered in film; and a focused investigation
of Canadian cinema with particular attention to the world-wide renown of Quebec directors. Through
individual and collaborative inquiry, students will be able to apply skills in analyzing and communicating
information to film. In consequence, they will become more insightful in approaching written or oral
works in concurrent English courses, and in evaluating film as a narrative genre beyond the boundaries
of the classroom.
Grade 12 Studies in Literature
This course is for students with a special interest in literature and literary criticism. The course
may focus on themes, genres, time periods, or countries. Students will analyse a range of forms
and stylistic elements of literary texts and respond personally, critically, and creatively to them.
They will also assess critical interpretations, write analytical essays, and complete an independent
study project.