English & AP English

There are two main course sequences in English as well as an Advanced Placement program. In each course sequence, you can expect to have thought-provoking discussions about a range of genres (including novels, films, short stories, poetry, plays, non-fiction and much more). Both sequences allow you to engage with the English language in meaningful ways and will open many doors down the road. It is important to talk to your counselors to make sure that your chosen course sequence is opening the doors you need it to.

English 10-1, 20-1 and 30-1 revolve around how you engage with texts and how you express yourself after you have. Students who take this course sequence will spend much of their time studying, creating and analyzing a variety of complex literary texts.

English 10-2, 20-2 and 30-2 allow you to improve your grammar and sentence-building skills through a variety of assignments in functional, creative and analytical writing. Similar to the -1 course sequence, students will engage with a wide range of texts but there will be less emphasis on literary analysis. Both course sequences meet diploma requirements and require that you write a diploma exam upon completion of the 30 level course. Not all post secondary institutions accept English 30-2 for entry, so make sure you’re familiar with entrance requirements for the institutions and programs you’re considering.

Knowledge & Employability

English 10-4, 20-4, 30-4 

The aim of English language arts is to enable each student to understand and appreciate language and to use it confidently and competently in a variety of situations for communication, personal satisfaction and learning purposes.  Knowledge and Employability English language arts focuses on developing the basic language competencies needed for everyday living at home, in the community and in the workplace highlighting six language arts: listening, speaking, reading writing, viewing and representing.

Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to

• Explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences.
• Comprehend literature and other texts in oral, print, visual and multimedia forms and respond personally, critically and creatively.
• Manage ideas and information
• Create oral, print, visual and multimedia texts and enhance the clarity and artistry of communication.
• Respect, support and collaborate with others.

For more detailed course information, including course mark prerequisites, please explore the Student Handbook

Advanced Placement

What is Advanced Placement?

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program run by the College Board, which offers students enrichment of University-level courses in high school. The College Board is the same organization that creates the SATs.

Why take Advanced Placement?

AP has four major benefits, including enrichment and academic recognition in over 60 countries and 600 post-secondary institutions. These courses are independent of one another, thus a student can take only 20-1AP or 30-1AP if they wish. Teacher recommendation will be required for all courses.

1. Students get to work in a challenging environment. The course progresses at a pace suitable for curious, independent and motivated students.
2. Advanced Standing for Admissions– When students score in the three to five range on their AP Exam, they may get a converted GPA for their exam, replacing their course mark, for admission purposes.  For example, the University of Alberta currently equates a score of five to 96 percent for admission purposes.  This allows students to have a more competitive average and apply for additional scholarships in many cases.
3. Post-secondary credit or Advanced Standing– Students may receive university credit or advanced standing if successful on their final AP exam. If students take both English 20AP (Language and Composition) and English 30AP (Literature and Composition), they can receive (up to or recognition for) six credits of English at their post-secondary institution.  Current transfer information for Alberta post-secondary institutions can be found here: http://alis.alberta.ca/ec/ep/aas/ta/ibap.html.
4. Financial Benefit – The College Board offers a number of scholarships for students who receive advanced standing. There is also a savings from tuition as students may receive credit for English 100 in high school. Therefore, the expensive university tuition is not required and your first year course-load may be lighter.

English 20-1 Advanced Placement: Language and Composition (5 credits)

Prerequisite: English 10-1 (75%+) and teacher recommendation
Additional fee: Approximately $50 for course materials Optional fee: $120 for Advanced Placement Exam

English 20-1 Advanced Placement will integrate the Alberta Learning Program of Studies with the Advanced Placement Language and Composition Curriculum.  Students will continue to refine their critical/analytical writing skills, as well as their rhetorical analysis, argument and synthesis skills.  Students have the option of writing the AP exam (additional cost) in May (please note: this exam will not contribute to the final score awarded by the school) or taking the course for challenge purposes.  There is an emphasis on non-fiction in this class. This is an Advanced Placement course and will be as rigorous as a university course.  Additional reading, writing and creation are to be expected.  Course materials must be read prior to the start of the course for students to be successful.

English 30-1 Advanced Placement: Literature and Composition (5 credits)
Prerequisite: English 20-1AP or 20-1 (75%+) and teacher recommendation
Additional fee: Approximately $50 for course materials Optional fee: $120 for Advanced Placement Exam

English 30-1 Advanced Placement will integrate the Alberta Learning Program of Studies with the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Curriculum.  The AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style and themes, as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone.  Students have the option of writing the AP exam (additional cost) in May (please note: this exam will not contribute to the final score awarded by the school) or taking the course for challenge purposes.  This is an Advanced Placement course and will be as rigorous as a university course.  Additional reading, writing and creation are to be expected.  Course materials must be read prior to the start of the course for students to be successful. This is also a diploma course where students will write a government exam worth 30% of their final mark.