Grades 7/8 - Preparation for High School English Course

This is a 16 week course designed to give students in Grade 7 and 8 the fundamental skills required for success in the Grade 9 English Curriculum. The lessons are led by qualified teachers and classes are interactive. There is a maximum of 12 students in a class.

The course will incorporate units of study providing a foundation in each strand of the English curriculum which students will encounter in Grade 9 English. The course comprises of four units:

• Short Stories - Three short stories will be covered during this part of the course. Each story is designed to cover the elements of plot, theme and character.
• Novel Study - A short novel will be assigned at the beginning of the course which will be the focus of this unit. The analysis of the novel will cover the elements particular to a novel as distinct from a short story. This unit will culminate in an Independent Study Unit which includes written and oral components.
• Poetry - This part of the course will cover concepts of figurative language and analysis.
• Advanced Essay Writing - Building on skills taught in previous POW courses, this unit will teach skills specific to writing a Literary Essay of 500-600 words. The essay will be written on topics related to the novel studied in Unit 2

In addition, an Independent Study Unit (ISU) will be introduced at the beginning of the course. A choice of novels will be offered to students. Their ISU will include the following activities related to the novel students have chosen:

• Summary notes on plot, character and theme
• A poem to illustrate a theme found in their chosen novel
• An activity to involve the class which teaches students something about the novel.
• An oral presentation to the class to highlight their chosen novel