APPENDIX A: PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Prescribed Learning Outcomes for English Language Arts 11 and 12 have been divided into the following sections:

English 11
English 12
Technical and Professional Communications 12

English 11

It is expected that students will develop repertoires of skills and strategies to use as they anticipate, predict, and confirm meaning while reading, viewing, and listening.

It is expected that students will:

• consciously use and evaluate a wide variety of strategies before, during, and after reading, viewing, and listening to increase their comprehension and recall
• describe and apply appropriate strategies for locating and using information from a variety of print and non-print sources
• use efficient note-making and note-taking strategies
• explain the effects of a variety of literary devices and techniques, including figurative language, symbolism, parody, and irony

It is expected that students will demonstrate their understanding of written, oral, and visual communications.

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate an understanding of the main ideas, events, or themes of a variety of increasingly complex novels, dramas, stories, poetry, other print material, and electronic media
• organize details and information that they have read, heard, or viewed using a variety of written or graphic forms
• synthesize and report on information from more than one source that they have read, heard, or viewed to address a variety of topics and issues
• develop coherent and plausible interpretations of abstract, complex, or specialized materials
• interpret details and subtleties to clarify gaps or ambiguities in written, oral, or visual works
• interpret details in and draw conclusions from the information presented in a variety of graphic formats, including illustrations, maps, charts, and graphs

It is expected that students will identify connections between their own ideas, experiences, and knowledge and a variety of literary and mass media works created by classroom, local, British Columbian, Canadian, and international authors and developers from various cultural communities.

It is expected that students will:

• make connections between the ideas and information presented in literary and mass media works and their own experiences
• demonstrate a willingness to take a tentative stance, tolerate ambiguity, explore multiple perspectives, and consider more than one interpretation
• support their opinions or respond to questions and tasks about the works they have read or viewed
• make connections among the themes and ideas expressed in various materials
• display respect for the diverse languages and cultures of the communities represented in classroom, local, provincial, national, and international literary and mass media works

It is expected that students will draw reasoned conclusions from information found in various written, spoken, or visual communications and defend their conclusions rationally.

It is expected that students will:

• analyse the merits of print and electronic communications in relation to given criteria
• analyse communications to identify weak argumentation
• describe ethical issues associated with mass media and electronic communications, including privacy and freedom of information
• analyse the relationship between the medium and the message
• demonstrate an appreciation of how their experiences and their membership in communities influence their interpretations of what they read, view, and hear
• compare and analyse different presentations of the same ideas and issues

It is expected that students will apply their knowledge of the conventions of language and use appropriate vocabulary to talk about them.

It is expected that students will:

• use a variety of communications technologies, including telecommunications hardware and software
• use appropriate formats and documentation to present information from a variety of sources
• adjust their form, style, tone, and language to suit specific audiences and purposes
• use a variety of computer functions and software to create and edit their presentations
• incorporate electronic research sources into desktop-published work

It is expected that students will employ a variety of effective processes and strategies, including the use of electronic technology, to generate, gather, and organize information and ideas.

It is expected that students will:

• develop focussed inquiry questions with specific purposes and audiences in mind
• use a variety of planning strategies to generate and access ideas
• clarify and focus their topics to suit their purposes and audiences
• locate, access, and select appropriate information from a variety of resources
• synthesize information and ideas that are appropriate to their purpose, media, and audiences
• apply various strategies to generate and shape ideas

It is expected that students will enhance the precision, clarity, and artistry of their communications by using processes that professional authors and presenters use to appraise and improve their communications.

It is expected that students will:

• assess their own and others' work for sentence clarity, precision of language use, and variety and artistry of expression
• use appropriate criteria to critique and appraise their own and others' ideas, use of language, and presentation forms, taking into consideration the purposes of the communications
• manipulate the conventions of language for stylistic effect
• adapt their oral presentations and discussions to best suit audiences and styles
• demonstrate a willingness to accept and provide constructive criticism and feedback to improve the clarity, meaning, and style of their communications

It is expected that students will demonstrate their understanding of and abilities to use a variety of forms and styles of communication that are relevant to specific purposes and audiences.

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate pride and satisfaction in using language to create and express ideas and personal viewpoints
• create a variety of communications using different tones and voices to evoke emotions, influence, persuade, and entertain
• create a variety of academic, technical, and personal communications, including multi-genre presentations, articles, formal reports, advertising and persuasive materials, résumés, and research papers

It is expected that students will use language to explore thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences to prepare for their roles in the world.

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate confidence in their abilities to communicate effectively in a variety of formal and informal contexts
• assess their language skills, interests, and attitudes in the light of personal and career plans
• set communication goals and develop and monitor action plans
• appraise the language requirements of specific careers or areas of postsecondary study
• demonstrate a commitment to increasing their proficiency in all aspects of communication

It is expected that students will use language to interact and collaborate with others to explore ideas and to accomplish goals.

It is expected that students will:

• evaluate and adjust their own roles to align with the group's purpose
• apply a variety of strategies including diplomacy and compromise to solve problems and achieve group goals
• use a variety of resources and technologies when working with others
• assess the value, limitations, and ethical issues associated with collaborative work
• develop and use criteria to evaluate group processes and their own roles in and contributions to group processes

It is expected that students will use language to help establish and maintain relationships within the school and community, to collaborate to get things done, and to value and support others.

It is expected that students will:

• interact purposefully, confidentially, and ethically in a variety of situations
• communicate to clarify their ideas, understanding, and opinions
• value and respect the diversity of language and culture in Canadian society
• demonstrate an openness to the divergent ideas and opinions expressed by classmates and others
• demonstrate an appreciation for the role of language in the organization and celebration of special events

English 12

It is expected that students will develop repertoires of skills and strategies to use as they anticipate, predict, and confirm meaning while reading, viewing, and listening.

It is expected that students will:

• use and evaluate a wide variety of strategies before, during, and after reading, viewing, and listening for different purposes
• describe and evaluate a variety of strategies for locating information in print and electronic resources, including mass media
• describe what they already know about and experiences they have had with specific topics
• use efficient strategies for recording, organizing, and storing information that they read, hear, or view
• describe and apply a variety of literary devices and techniques to create particular effects, including figurative language, symbolism, parody, and irony

It is expected that students will demonstrate their understanding of written, oral, and visual communications.

It is expected that students will:

• paraphrase the main ideas, events, or themes in a variety of sophisticated literary, technical, and informational communications
• develop coherent and plausible interpretations of sophisticated or abstract materials
• interpret and synthesize information from more than one source to develop and explain positions
• interpret ambiguities in written, oral, or visual works and support their interpretation with evidence from that work
• interpret details of, and draw conclusions from, information presented in a variety of specialized and complex print, graphic, and electronic formats

It is expected that students will identify connections between their own ideas, experiences, and knowledge and a variety of literary and mass media works created by classroom, local, British Columbian, Canadian, and international authors and developers from various cultural communities.

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate a willingness to reread selections and materials for various purposes
• make connections between their own values, beliefs, and cultures and those reflected in literature and mass media
• demonstrate a willingness to explore diverse perspectives to develop or modify viewpoints
• support a position, interpretation, or response by citing specific details, features, and information from what they have read, viewed, or heard
• analyse ways in which literature and mass media have dealt with issues involving personal identity and community and respond to these in terms of their own ideas, experiences, and communities
• demonstrate an appreciation of the power and beauty of language, past and present

It is expected that students will draw reasoned conclusions from information found in written, spoken, or visual communications and defend their conclusions rationally.

It is expected that students will:

• develop criteria for evaluating the accuracy and objectivity of the information found in a variety of print and electronic sources, including mass media
• analyse, compare, and critique different presentations of the same ideas, information, or issues
• explain and evaluate the effectiveness of persuasive strategies and techniques
• assess the accuracy and balance of news and information presented in print and other media
• describe potential sources of bias

It is expected that students will apply their knowledge of the conventions of language and use appropriate vocabulary to talk about them.

It is expected that students will:

• use a variety of communications technologies, including telecommunications hardware and software
• evaluate the conventions of language used in a variety of literary and non-literary forms
• adapt their use of language register and the sophistication of grammatical constructs for specific audiences and purposes

It is expected that students will employ a variety of effective processes and strategies, including the use of electronic technology, to generate, gather, and organize information and ideas.

It is expected that students will:

• independently develop questions about challenging or abstract issues to suit specific presentation forms, purposes, and audiences
• use a variety of planning tools, including outlines, webs, flow charts, and diagrams to communicate their plans to others
• describe and evaluate alternative approaches to presentations for specific audiences and purposes
• use a variety of resources to locate, access, evaluate, and select relevant information for specific presentations
• select, synthesize, organize, and document information that is appropriate for particular purposes, modes of presentation, and audiences
• apply various strategies to generate and shape ideas

It is expected that students will enhance the precision, clarity, and artistry of their communications by using processes that professional authors and presenters use to appraise and improve their communications.

It is expected that students will:

• assess their own and others' work for sentence clarity, precision of language, and variety and artistry of expression
• critique, defend, and appraise the effectiveness and organization of their own and others' work
• critique, defend, and appraise the effectiveness of their own and others' use of language and presentation forms relative to the specific purpose and audience
• demonstrate a willingness to accept and provide constructive criticism and feedback to revise and edit communications for clarity, meaning, and style
• monitor their own spelling, grammar, mechanics, and syntax using strategies and techniques including the use of electronic technology

It is expected that students will demonstrate their understanding of and abilities to use a variety of forms and styles of communication that are relevant to specific purposes and audiences.

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate pride and satisfaction in using language to create and express thoughts, ideas, and feelings in a variety of written, oral, visual, and electronic forms
• create presentations in forms that are appropriate to a variety of subjects, audiences, and purposes, including informing, persuading, and entertaining
• create a variety of academic, technical, and personal communications, including personal and formal essays, documented research reports, multimedia presentations, panels or debates, summaries, explanations, instructions, letters, and real and invented narratives

It is expected that students will use language to explore thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences to prepare for their roles in the world.

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate confidence in their abilities to communicate effectively in a variety of school, community, and work contexts
• assess their own communication skills, interests, and attitudes in the light of personal and career plans
• develop communication goals and monitor their action plans
• demonstrate their understanding of themselves as self-directed, curious, self-appraising, and open-minded learners

It is expected that students will use language to interact and collaborate with others to explore ideas and to accomplish goals.

It is expected that students will:

• evaluate and adjust their own roles to reflect the group's purpose
• apply a variety of strategies including formal decision-making techniques and consensus-building skills to solve problems and achieve group goals
• use a variety of resources and technologies when working with others
• assess the value, limitations, and ethical issues associated with collaborative work
• establish and use criteria to evaluate group process and their own roles and contributions to the group process

It is expected that students will use language to help establish and maintain relationships within the school and community, to collaborate to get things done, and to value and support others.

It is expected that students will:

• interact purposefully, confidently, and ethically in a variety of interpersonal and electronic school, community, and career-related contexts
• demonstrate respect for the ways in which individuals and communities use and respond to language
• demonstrate a willingness to present, seek out, and consider diverse, contrary, or innovative views
• assess personal, classroom, and community interactions
• demonstrate a willingness to contribute to language activities that celebrate school and community values, events, or accomplishments

Technical and Professional Communications 12

It is expected that students will:

• paraphrase spoken technical and professional communications
• read and summarize written technical and professional materials
• consistently apply reading strategies when reading technical and professional materials
• interpret technical and professional information conveyed in graphic and other non-verbal ways
• distinguish between implicit and explicit "messages" in technical and professional communications
• respond effectively to complex instructions

It is expected that students will:

• assess the reliability, currency, and objectivity of secondary source material
• identify and respond appropriately to manipulative language
• apply information from different sources in innovative ways
• evaluate the effectiveness of their own and other technical and professional presentations using criteria that include the following:
  • plain language (degree to which language is simple, concise, accessible, and free of ambiguity)
  • coherence and organization
  • consistency in the application of usage conventions
  • relevance to argument of supporting evidence and examples
  • appropriateness to intended purpose and audience
  • attention to detail

It is expected that students will:

• independently develop focussed inquiry questions relating to particular topics or issues, with reference to purpose and audience
• employ a variety of research tools and resources including:
  • Internet search engines, electronic bulletin boards, information sites, and on-line services
  • library cataloguing systems
  • experts
• independently compile, with reference to particular purposes, information and ideas from a wide variety of secondary sources, including:
  • print
  • film or video
  • computer-based and on-line

It is expected that students will:

• determine when original research may be needed and devise strategies to conduct it
• gather, analyse, organize, and make effective use of primary source information with reference to purpose and intended audience
• select and use systematic print and electronic methods to compile and store information and ideas

It is expected that students will:

• create effective technical and professional communications products including:
  • reports (proposals, original research reports, secondary research reports, problem-solving reports, investigative reports, laboratory reports, progress reports)
  • correspondence (applications, memos, letters, résumés)
  • instructions
  • summaries
  • descriptions
• employ visual representation (forms of expression other than writing or speaking) to create or enhance communication output

It is expected that students will:

• speak effectively, adjusting for audience, purpose, and situation, to:
  • inform
  • persuade
  • interact in formal and informal technical and professional situations
• proficiently employ a variety of technologies to facilitate and enhance speaking, including telecommunications hardware and software
• apply knowledge of cultural and social protocols to presentations

It is expected that students will:

• formulate the communication problem(s) or challenge(s) in given situations with reference to purpose and audience
• propose a variety of communication options for addressing communications problems or challenges
• identify, describe, and independently apply as appropriate a range of strategies for organizing information
• use planning tools in carrying out technical and professional communications projects

It is expected that students will:

• proficiently use a variety of technologies to facilitate and enhance writing, including:
  • computer software
  • telecommunications hardware and software
• proficiently use a variety of technologies to facilitate and enhance representation, including:
  • imaging equipment
  • computer software
  • multimedia technology
• use appropriate conventions accurately and consistently to document sources
• demonstrate a commitment to ethical use of information and language

It is expected that students will:

• use electronic technologies to revise, edit, and format communications
• consistently apply the common conventions of standard written English and monitor for correct:
  • spelling
  • punctuation
  • capitalization
  • diction (choice of vocabulary)
  • formal grammar
  • usage
• revise and edit communications to:
  • eliminate false ideas and unsupported claims
  • ensure logical and organized presentation of information
• correctly use the structural elements associated with particular standard formats for written technical and professional communications

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate an awareness of the power of language in technical and professional contexts
• demonstrate the importance of language and composition in furthering the critical thinking process (initiating, developing, and organizing thought)
• use appropriately and in context a variety of terms to refer to language use, processes, and products
• demonstrate an understanding of how technical and professional communication formats influence language choices and usage

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate an understanding of the interactive and integrated nature of communication processes and systems
• formulate a definition of technical and professional communications that takes account of the range of technical and professional literature
• demonstrate an awareness of the varying degrees of formality and precision required in technical and professional communications, depending on situation and context

It is expected that students will:

• identify the technical and professional communications needs of fields and industries related to their career interests
• explain the legal, practical, and ethical importance of source documentation
• identify and describe various technologies that can be employed to achieve given communicative purposes
• appraise various communications media in terms of their respective strengths and limitations in meeting particular technical and professional communications needs

It is expected that students will:

• explain the value and limitations of collaborative work
• collaborate and consult effectively with others in completing communications tasks through means that include:
  • interacting confidently
  • assuming responsibility for their roles in teams
  • respecting and promoting respect for the contributions of other team members
  • demonstrating a commitment to the teams and to project goals
  • effective listening and speaking
• apply the etiquette conventions appropriate to various technical and professional communicative situations
• demonstrate respect for the wide variety of cultural differences that can be reflected in technical and professional communications
• use language free of gender bias

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