APPENDIX A: PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Prescribed Learning Outcomes for English Language Arts 8 to 10 have been divided into the following sections:

Comprehend and Respond (Strategies and Skills)
Comprehend and Respond (Comprehension)
Comprehend and Respond (Engagement and Personal Response)
Comprehend and Respond (Critical Analysis)
Communicate Ideas and Information (Knowledge of Language)
Communicate Ideas and Information (Composing and Creating)
Communicate Ideas and Information (Improving Communications)
Communicate Ideas and Information (Presenting and Valuing)
Self and Society (Personal Awareness)
Self and Society (Working Together)
Self and Society (Building Community)

Comprehend and Respond (Strategies and Skills)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• describe and assess the strategies they use for reading, viewing, and listening for various purposes
• use various strategies to cope with difficult or dense communications
• use a variety of resources to obtain background information
• identify and interpret the effect of literary techniques and figures of speech including foreshadowing, metaphor, alliteration, simile, and onomatopoeia

It is expected that students will:

• describe and assess the strategies they use before, during, and after reading, viewing, and listening for various purposes
• describe what they already know about, and previous experiences they have had with, specific topics
• use a wide range of resources as aids to comprehension
• use efficient note-making and note-taking strategies
• evaluate the effectiveness of literary techniques including figurative language
• identify examples of the use of stock or stereotypical characters

It is expected that students will:

• describe and assess the strategies they use before, during, and after reading, viewing, and listening for various purposes
• consciously use strategies that help them sustain their concentration
• compose questions to guide their reading, listening, or viewing based on what they already know about a topic
• use efficient strategies for locating, recording, and organizing research information from a variety of sources
• locate and interpret examples of literary techniques, including symbolism
• describe how tone and mood affect the drama of a story, play, or film

Comprehend and Respond (Comprehension)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate an understanding of the main ideas, events, or themes of a variety of novels, stories, poetry, other print material, and electronic media
• locate and interpret details in stories, articles, novels, poetry, or non-print media to respond to a range of tasks
• organize details and information about material they have read, heard, or viewed using a variety of written or graphic forms
• interpret and report on information obtained from more than one source to inform others
• describe the purpose of specific works of communication and explain how their key features aid understanding
• explain the motivation of the characters in works of communication, providing evidence from the text of each work

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate an understanding of the main ideas, events, or themes of a variety of novels, stories, poetry, other print material, and electronic media
• organize details and information about material they have read, heard, or viewed using a variety of written or graphic forms
• interpret and report on information from selections they have read, heard, or viewed
• cite specific information from stories, articles, novels, poetry, or mass media to support their inferences and to respond to tasks related to the works
• interpret details and draw conclusions about the information presented in a variety of illustrations, maps, charts, graphs, and other graphic forms
• paraphrase and summarize information from a variety of print and non-print sources

It is expected that students will:

• interpret the main ideas, events, or themes of a variety of novels, stories, poetry, other print material, and electronic media
• make generalizations, supported by specific details and examples, about the key concepts, characters, and themes of written, oral, and visual works
• use a variety of written or graphic forms to organize ideas acquired from what they have read, heard, or viewed
• interpret and report on information from more than one source that they have read, heard, or viewed to develop and support positions on a variety of topics
• interpret details and draw conclusions about the information presented in a variety of illustrations, maps, charts, graphs, and other graphic forms

Comprehend and Respond (Engagement and Personal Response)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate a willingness to explore a variety of genres and media
• explain their preferences for various genres or specific authors
• identify and explain connections between new ideas and information and their previous beliefs, values, and experiences
• make connections among different texts and media by comparing features, including themes, issues, styles, and appeal
• describe and give examples to explain their personal criteria for assessing and responding to what they view, read, or hear

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate a willingness to explore a variety of genres and media
• identify and explain connections between what they read, hear, and view and their personal ideas and beliefs
• relate ideas and information in works of communication to universal themes
• compare the themes, purposes, and appeal of different communications
• use information that they have read, heard, or viewed to develop research questions or creative works or to complete response activities

It is expected that students will:

• identify and explain connections between what they read, hear, and view and their personal ideas and beliefs
• consistently consider more than one interpretation of the communications that they read, view, and listen to
• compare the features and relative merits of different communications, including those created by the same author, designer, or director
• demonstrate openness to divergent language, ideas, and opinions from a variety of cultural communities as expressed by mass media and in literature
• develop imaginative or creative responses to share their ideas

Comprehend and Respond (Critical Analysis)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• identify and discuss various persuasive and advertising strategies
• identify and discuss the advantages and limitations of a variety of media and explain their effects on people's behaviour
• analyse stereotypes and other distortions of reality in music videos, song lyrics, prime-time TV serials, and other aspects of popular culture
• identify bias and false reasoning in communications as these relate to their contexts

It is expected that students will:

• identify and investigate how different cultures and socio-economic groups are portrayed in the media
• describe and provide examples of the power of satire to influence beliefs
• locate and assess the effectiveness of a variety of persuasive techniques in relation to purpose, audience, and medium
• evaluate information for its suitability for an identified audience
• explain how mass media can influence social attitudes, self-perceptions, and lifestyles

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate their awareness of how the artful use of language can affect and influence others
• evaluate how both genders and various cultures and socio-economic groups are portrayed in mass media
• explain how the media can influence emotional responses
• analyse and assess the impact of specific techniques and designs used by the media

Communicate Ideas and Information (Knowledge of Language)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• consistently use accurate and precise terminology to talk about language
• use grammatically correct language when writing and speaking
• apply their knowledge of conventional spelling patterns, syllabification, root words, prefixes, and suffixes to monitor their work
• identify how the conventions of language have shifted over time and as a result of exposure to other cultures

It is expected that students will:

• use grammatically correct language when writing and speaking
• demonstrate a willingness to experiment with an increasing array of sophisticated figures of speech and genres, including satire, parody, and irony
• use an increasing repertoire of specialized terminology and subject-specific words with accuracy and precision

It is expected that students will:

• monitor their own and others' communications for correctness, recognizing the use of purposeful misspellings or mispronunciations for stylistic effect
• identify a variety of language errors and conventions that can strongly influence an audience, including the overuse of jargon and technical language, the use of double negatives, and the misuse of personal pronouns
• appraise communications forms critically, using accurate terminology and a knowledge of communications rules and conventions
• use a variety of technological functions and computer software to publish original work

Communicate Ideas and Information (Composing and Creating)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• formulate pertinent questions to help them develop works of communication on a wide variety of topics
• compose or create works of communication for specific audiences and purposes, including to entertain, persuade, or inform
• locate, access, and select relevant information from a variety of sources (including technological sources) for defined purposes
• identify gaps in information obtained
• organize and structure information in a variety of literary, expository, persuasive, and other forms
• identify the purposes and audiences for their communications
• acknowledge sources in their written work
• apply various strategies to generate and shape ideas

It is expected that students will:

• develop focussed inquiry questions related to concrete or personal topics for specific audiences and purposes
• locate, access, and select appropriate information from a variety of resources (including technological sources)
• analyse the audience and purpose of their writing to make decisions about content and format
• use a variety of planning tools and strategies to focus and organize communications for various purposes and audiences
• apply various strategies to generate and shape ideas

It is expected that students will:

• develop focussed inquiry questions related to increasingly complex topics
• demonstrate an awareness of the characteristics, needs, and preferences of specific audiences
• locate, access, and select appropriate information from a variety of resources and consider the quality, currency, and accuracy of each source
• organize their ideas, and adjust their style, form, and use of language to suit specific audiences and achieve specific purposes
• apply various strategies to generate and shape ideas

Communicate Ideas and Information (Improving Communications)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• appraise and make suggestions for the revision of their own and others' presentations using predetermined and student-developed criteria
• revise and edit their work to improve content, organization, and effect to best suit their audience and purpose
• adjust their form, style, and language for specific audiences and purposes
• practise, assess, and offer feedback on oral presentations - including informal speeches and debates - focussing on such features as the inclusion of appropriate introductions and conclusions, eye contact, and pacing

It is expected that students will:

• appraise their own and others' work to determine the appropriateness of resource choices, language use, and organizational and communication forms
• use language that is appropriate to their purpose and audience within the framework of specific guidelines
• adjust form, style, and use of language to suit audiences and purposes
• monitor their own work for correctness of spelling and punctuation

It is expected that students will:

• use established criteria to appraise their own and others' work to determine the appropriateness of the resources used and to offer relevant, constructive suggestions in an appropriate manner
• defend their choices of organizational and communication forms, and formulate ways to improve their own and others' work
• revise and edit their communications to improve content, organization, and effect to suit specific audiences and purposes
• apply specific criteria to assess and revise communications

Communicate Ideas and Information (Presenting and Valuing)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate pride and satisfaction in using language to create and express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings
• demonstrate a willingness to experiment with language and enjoy the ways in which language is used in popular culture
• create a variety of academic, technical, and personal communications, including poems, stories, personal essays, oral and written reports, group presentations, and informal dramatizations

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 forms
• create a variety of communications designed to persuade, inform, and entertain classroom and other audiences
• create a variety of personal, literary, technical, and academic communications, including poems, stories, and personal essays; oral and visual presentations; written explanations, summaries, and arguments; letters; and bibliographies

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate pride and satisfaction in using language to formulate and express personal positions
• create communications for an increasing range of audiences and purposes including pleasure and entertainment
• create a variety of academic, technical, and personal communications, including debates, research and technical reports, oral and multimedia presentations, poetry, and personal essays

Self and Society (Personal Awareness)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate confidence in using language in a variety of formal and informal contexts, both inside and outside the classroom
• identify personal strengths and goals related to using language and use this information to set new goals
• explain how new information, language experiences, and technology have shaped their ideas, knowledge, and beliefs

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate confidence in using language in a variety of formal and informal contexts, both inside and outside the classroom
• compose and monitor their personal communication goals
• analyse their understanding and beliefs to draw conclusions and identify gaps or contradictions in their thinking

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate confidence in using language in a variety of formal and informal contexts, both inside and outside the classroom
• assess their own communications skills to set and monitor personal and career goals
• describe the language and communications requirements of specific careers or areas of postsecondary study
• demonstrate commitment to increasing their proficiency in all aspects of communications
• explain the influence of others' ideas and contributions to the development of their personal thoughts and feelings

Self and Society (Working Together)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• use various strategies to prompt and support others
• use various strategies to resolve conflicts, solve problems, and build consensus
• evaluate group processes and their own contributions to them by using established criteria

It is expected that students will:

• use language to prompt and support others
• use a variety of ways to express their opinions effectively
• use a variety of strategies to solve problems, resolve conflicts, and build consensus
• evaluate and modify their own roles in group interactions in a variety of contexts

It is expected that students will:

• demonstrate their commitment to collective goals
• show a willingness to consider and elaborate on others' ideas or viewpoints
• make effective use of strategies for resolving conflicts, solving problems, and building consensus
• establish and use criteria to evaluate group processes, their own contributions to them, and the results of their work

Self and Society (Building Community)

Grade 8

It is expected that students will:

• interact purposefully, confidently, and respectfully in a variety of situations
• use language to demonstrate that they respect and value diversity
• use language to contribute to school celebrations of special events and accomplishments

It is expected that students will:

• interact purposefully, confidently, and appropriately in a variety of situations
• analyse the influence of language and cultural diversity on themselves and their communities
• use language to participate appropriately in celebrations of special events and accomplishments

It is expected that students will:

• interact purposefully, confidently, and respectfully in a variety of situations
• demonstrate respect for cultural differences
• demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of language to group and community membership
• acknowledge and paraphrase views that differ from their own and reassess their own viewpoints
• use language appropriate to specific audiences and purposes to celebrate special events and accomplishments

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