St John Catholic High School
Department of English
Course of Study
Grade 12 Ontario Secondary Literacy Course
OLC 4O
Ms. Geddes
2013-2014
Course Description:
This course is designed to help students acquire and demonstrate the cross-curricular literacy skills that are evaluated by the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Students who complete the course successfully will meet the provincial literacy requirement for graduation. Students will read a variety of informational, narrative, and graphic texts and will produce a variety of forms of writing, including summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces and news reports. Students will also maintain and manage a literacy portfolio containing a record of their reading experiences and samples of their writing.
Rationale:
The OSSLC is an alternative way for students to demonstrate the provincial literacy skills required for graduation. Successful completion of the courser demonstrates that students have achieved the reading and writing skills required by the OSSLT. Just as important is the opportunity the course allows students to improve their reading and writing skills as a foundation for building and refining the literacy skills they require in their postsecondary destinations.
How This Course Supports the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations:
The English Grade 12 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course is based on the idea of guiding students to be successful readers and writers. In fact, it is built on the Catholic Expectation that a graduate be an “effective communicator who reads, understand, and uses written material effectively” (CGE2b). Throughout the course, learning is “integrated from various subject areas and experience,” encouraging students to “develop a holistic approach to life” (CGE3e).
Units or Strands of Study:
This course covers literacy skills in reading, writing and oral communication as well as metacognition. Some of the units we may study are: Personal Choices, Community Voices, Community Action, and Leading into the Future.
Students will have the opportunity to explore some self-selected texts. We will also study teacher-selected texts and will use Nelson’s Literacy Power OSSLC and Oxford’s Break Away: Reading and Writing for Success as our primary texts with appropriate supplemental materials.
Assessment and Evaluation of Student Achievement in the OSSLC:
Assessment of student work in OSSLC differs from assessment for other courses in a number of key ways.
Percentage Grade Range
Summary Description
80-100%
A skillful and effective performance in reading and writing. The student has significantly exceeded the level of literacy required for graduation, and earns a credit for the course.
65-79%
Performance that shows considerable skill in reading and writing. The student has exceeded the level of literacy required for graduation, and earns a credit for the course.
50-64%
Performance that shows moderate skill in reading and writing. The student has achieved the level of literacy required for graduation, and earns a credit.
0-49%
Performance that shows limited reading and writing skills. The student may be approaching the level of literacy required for graduation but cannot be deemed to have met eh requirement and does not earn a credit for the course.
· Students who receive 50 percent or higher in the course receive a credit in the course and also are deemed to have met the secondary school literacy requirement for graduation.
· Although this course is offered in Grade 12, and represents a credit awarded in Grade 12, the standard for a pass in the course is comparable to that established by the OSSLT, which represents achievement of Grade 9 literacy expectations.
· This course has an Achievement Chart that describes
Levels of achievement for the OSSLC are outlined below. It should be noted that the descriptions of achievement reflect the literacy standards set for the OSSLT. To meet the literacy standard required for graduation, students must demonstrate a moderate level of skill in reading and writing. Students who show limited skill in reading and writing will not pass the course. Note also that the percentage grade ranges in the chart are not aligned with the levels of achievement defined in other curriculum documents.
Weighting:
Course Work 70%
Culminating Work 30% (Portfolio Project, Learning Journal and Reading Log)
All students must complete a satisfactory final project in order to obtain this credit. The course work is based on varied summative assessment opportunities, focusing on knowledge and understanding, thinking and inquiry, communication, and application skills.
General Expectations Be punctual. Three (3) lates result in detentions beginning, as per the school’s late policy. All subsequent lates result in detention and will be dealt with by administration.
Keep up-to-date. If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to catch up on any work missed. Check the school website, ask a friend from class to get the assignment and any missed notes or speak to your teacher after class for assistance.
Be prepared. Come to class with all your necessary materials: pencils, erasers, pens, lined paper, 3-ring binder, and textbooks.
Be organized. Assignments must be handed in on time. Late assignments may result in Study Hall referrals, phone calls home and/or deducted grades.
Show respect to yourself, your peers, your teacher and our learning environment. This is easily achieved by using appropriate language, by dressing appropriately, by participating but not at inappropriate times, and by displaying learning-oriented behaviour.
-Listen when others talk
-Put up hand and ask to get up
-Follow instructions the FIRST time they are given
-If you are unsure- ASK!
-Participate- Put forth your best efforts