ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 10-1 COURSE OUTLINE

Program Overview

English Language Arts 10 (5 credits)

English Language Arts 10 is a core course for Alberta high school students. You will register in ELA 10, but will be contacted by their teacher to determine the most appropriate path the student should follow, either the ELA 10-1 or the ELA 10-2. Students will then be placed in the appropriate section. Essentially, both paths encourage students to develop "an understanding and appreciation of the significance and artistry of literature"¹ and to help the student "understand and appreciate language and to use it confidently for a variety of purposes and in a variety of situations for communication, personal satisfaction and learning."² The ELA 10-1 course is geared towards those students who plan to attend a post-secondary institution, The ELA 10-1 path is a prerequisite to ELA 20-1 and ELA 30-1. If students are NOT planning to attend a post-secondary institution, they may follow the ELA 10-2 path which leads to ELA 20-2 and ELA 30-2.

The materials meet the requirements of the Grade 10 academic series normally leading to university programs. Students study short stories, nonfiction, poetry, a Shakespearean play (Romeo and Juliet), a feature film, a modern play, and a novel. Students need access to a dictionary and a thesaurus. The English Language Arts 10-1 print lesson materials include a Course Information Bulletin and three Unit Books, each with three sections. Online lessons include instructions, quizzes and assignments delivered electronically via our secure site and email. There is a final exam.

1 From the Program of Studies for Senior High School English Language Arts, Interim 2000, Alberta Learning Curriculum Branch

2 From the Program of Studies for Senior High School English Language Arts, Interim 2000, Alberta Learning Curriculum Branch

Prerequisites

• Successful completion of "Orientation to Online Learning"
• At least 50% in Language Arts 9 ( 65% recommended for ELA 10-1).

Required Resources

• Gage Canadian Thesaurus
• Merriam-Webster's Tenth Collegiate Dictionary
• Textbooks - Provided
  • Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
  • Sightlines 10
  • Resourcelines 9/10
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
    OR Waiting for the Rain by Sheilia Gordon
  • Canadian Writer's Handbook

General Expectations

• Students must complete their course with in the time limits specified by their instructor.
• Instructors will provide completion dates for assignments, quizzes, and exams on the calendar within each course. Since these dates reflect the time needed to complete each section of the course, it is critical that meet all deadlines. Students are required to contact their instructor regarding any changes to these deadlines. Assignments that are not submitted by the deadline will be assessed a mark of 0 (zero).
• Students that fail to meet their course deadlines, even for a short period, may be required to meet with the administration to discuss their progress.
• Students must maintain regular contact with their instructor via the communication tools provided in their course. A minimum of two contacts per week is expected.
• Revelation Online is a "virtual" school. Students are expected to participate in chat and discussion sessions designated by the instructor. Chat sessions will be posted on the course calendar.
• Technical issues will occur and are not an excuse for late or missing assignments. Students are expected to manage their time so that minor delays due to technical problems do not result in missing deadlines. Students are expected to contact Technical Support if they experience technical problems.

Technical Skills and Equipment Requirements

• Students must have internet access. A high speed connection, either ADSL or cable, is necessary in some courses.
• Skill in using a web browser to navigate the web to locate educational resources and download files.
• File management skills necessary to create directories, save files, and retrieve files.
• Ability to use email to send messages and attachments.
• A Java enabled browser, either Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape Communicator 6.0 or higher.
• Word processor such as Microsoft Office or OpenOffice.

Face-to-Face Requirements

• Students are required to write two exams (mid-term and final) at the testing centre located at the Revelation Online Centre.
• Students may be required to attend appointments with the school councilor if their progress becomes a problem.

Evaluation

• 30% Unit Work (quizzes, assignments, online tests)
• 20% Midterm
• 50% Final