Grade 11 - Acquiring Information

This organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will:

retrieve, research, and use relevant information from French-language resources to complete authentic tasks
summarize acquired information in oral, visual, and written forms

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

At this level, many students are able to retrieve specific information and apply their growing language abilities to adapting information for a purpose. Both the resources and the tasks should be at the age and interest level of the students and be relevant to their lives.

Using a variety of health and fitness articles, brochures, and web sites for reference, have students choose one area of their lifestyles they would like to improve. Each student creates a self-improvement plan and monitors progress for one month in a journal. Entries should be written daily and make direct reference to the plan each student has developed, noting steps taken or not taken. At the end of the month students present their plans to the class with a summary of the results. They could also present results in graph or visual form.
Have students read brochures and articles, or view videos and films, to learn about a variety of environmental issues. Students then organize an environmental awareness campaign for the school. This campaign could include posters,
PA announcements, leaflets, fundraising activities, and a web site.
Have students use a variety of French ads (magazines, newspapers, television, radio, Internet) to list and critique various persuasive advertising methods. In small groups, students choose three or four methods from the list and incorporate these into non-publicités (mock advertisements) using computer graphics, magazine cutouts, video, or audio (see Adbuster magazine).

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

By Grade 11, students are familiar with a wide range of classroom, library, and other community resources they can use to locate information. Assessment focusses on the extent to which students are able to draw on these resources to develop accurate and relevant information for a variety of assignments. The form and skills students use to apply and convey the information for particular purposes and audiences are increasingly important.

When assessing students' self-improvement plans, consider the extent to which they:
- develop a coherent plan based on research
- communicate information related to personal health and lifestyle
- document progress daily in a journal
- summarize results—what worked and what didn't work—giving reasons and conclusions
- include a self-assessment component
For group projects, such as the environmental awareness campaign, look for evidence that students:
- acquire accurate and relevant information
- communicate their information clearly
- suggest solutions to the problem
- suggest actions to be taken by the school
- present information or views in a way that appeals to their audience
- use a range of useful vocabulary, expressions, and language structures
- take risks to include complex information or unfamiliar language
When assessing the non-publicités (mock ads) note the extent to which students:
- clearly demonstrate an understanding of various persuasive techniques
- use a variety of Francophone ads
When students complete written research assignments, look for evidence that:
- information is clear, relevant, and accurate
- assignment includes details, reasons, and examples to support key points
- language is appropriate and understandable
- information is organized in a way that makes it easy to follow (e.g., transitions and tenses are used effectively)

RECOMMENDED LEARNING RESOURCES

Print Materials

Jeunesse mag: Au-delà des frontières
"Le magazine" Anthology Series
Rencontres
Stoddart Colour Visual Dictionary French-English

Multimedia

Des chansons québécoises sans frontières
En direct 1
Savoir faire: Voyages 1
Tous ensemble!

Video

Jeunes Francophones
Le café des rêves

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