High School Block:

Canadian Literature 120

Canadian Literature 120 offers an immersive exploration of Canadian cultural identity and diversity through the lens of literature and various media forms. Learners will engage with a wide range of Canadian literary texts, visual arts, music, and performances, delving into their historical, cultural, and socio-political contexts. Through the development of critical thinking skills, cultural awareness, and creative expression, learners will deepen their understanding of the Canadian cultural mosaic, its rich heritage, and its significance in shaping national identity.

This course is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the Canadian cultural mosaic and its expressions in literature and media forms. Canada is a nation celebrated for its diversity, and through this course, learners will explore the myriad voices and perspectives that contribute to the Canadian identity. By examining Canadian literary works, visual arts, and music, learners will gain insights into the historical, cultural, and social contexts that shape these creative expressions.

Through the study of Canadian literature, learners will enhance their analytical thinking skills, as they critically analyze a wide variety of genres and text forms, identify themes, symbols, and literary techniques, and interpret their meanings within the broader cultural context. By examining the historical and cultural contexts of literary works, learners will develop a deep appreciation for the diversity of Canadian experiences and gain insight into the evolving Canadian identity.

The exploration of Canadian media forms, including visual arts, music, and performances, will foster learners’ creativity and encourage them to express their own interpretations and responses to the works. They will learn to appreciate the different artistic techniques employed in these forms and understand how they reflect and contribute to Canadian cultural identity. By engaging with various media forms, learners will also develop a broader understanding of cultural diversity in Canada and recognize the contributions of different cultural communities to the nation’s artistic heritage.

This course will also emphasize the development of effective communication skills, both verbal and written, as learners engage in collaborative discussions, present their interpretations, and express their ideas through creative projects. Through research and inquiry, learners will deepen their understanding of Canadian literature and media forms, exploring their cultural and historical significance and critically evaluating their relevance in contemporary contexts.

By the end of the course, learners will have a comprehensive understanding of the Canadian cultural mosaic and the role of literature and media forms in shaping and reflecting Canadian identity. They will have developed analytical thinking skills, cultural awareness, communication skills, creative expression, and research and inquiry abilities. The knowledge and skills acquired in this course will empower learners to engage with and appreciate the diverse cultural heritage of Canada, fostering a deeper sense of belonging and connection to the country’s cultural tapestry.

For Educators:

➔ PL Hub: English Language Arts

CONTEXTS AND CONCEPTS

Identity & Belonging                

  • Identity
  • Heritage
  • Assimilation                  
  • Belonging
  • Worldview
  • Connection
  • Character
Diversity                

  • Traditions
  • Languages
  • Cultural Artistic Practices                  
  • Ways of Knowing & Being
Power, Representation, Justice & Equity

  • Marginalization
  • Stereotypes
  • Bias
  • Inclusivity                    
  • Inequality
  • Oppression
  • Change
  • Influence
Aesthetics & Techniques

  • Literary Devices
  • Writing Process
  • Comprehension
  • Visual Composition
  • Musical Structures
  • Performance Techniques
  • Visual & Digital Arts                  
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GRADE 12

Strand: Analytical Thinking

Big Idea: Text Analysis & Criticality

Skill Descriptor: Critically and analytically evaluate the characteristics, language, forms, features, and genres of a range of Canadian texts with diverse voices and perspectives.

Achievement Indicators:

  • Explore genres and topics of interest through a wide range of Canadian texts providing rationale for choices
  • Identify themes, motifs, symbolism, and/or artistic techniques
  • Explore different stylistic techniques used in Canadian texts
  • Evaluate ways in which purpose, structure, and characteristics of texts contribute to understanding
  • Interpret relationships between ideas, within, across, and beyond texts, to draw conclusions or make comparisons with increasingly complex texts
  • When inferring or responding critically, support responses with specific and relevant details and textual evidence
  • Articulate how purpose, audience, language, topic, form, genre, content, and context are interconnected
  • Demonstrate respect when challenging bias in a variety of texts, suggesting alternate perspectives, and articulating shifts in personal viewpoints and ideas

Skill Descriptor: Demonstrate knowledge about the geographical, historical, social, and cultural contexts of texts.

Achievement Indicators:

  • Debate ways in which landscapes and ideologies (e.g., regional, territorial, political) influence theme and purpose in a work
  • Research background/history, social and cultural contexts to bring depth of understanding to a text

Skill Descriptor: Apply critical evaluation skills.

Achievement Indicators:

  • Consider the artistic merits of a wide variety of texts
  • Explore socio-political implications and cultural significance of a variety of texts
  • Justify the effectiveness of a variety of texts in conveying the intended message
  • Discuss how Canadian texts shape and reflect our understanding of Canadian identity

Strand: Cultural Awareness

Big Idea: Identity, Diversity & Worldview

Skill Descriptor: Reflect on the impact of text on personal worldview.

Achievement Indicators:

  • Explain how text can impact the viewer’s worldview
  • Reflect on how personal worldview may evolve with exposure to media
  • Demonstrate respect for the worldview of others

Skill Descriptor: Examine how Canadian texts work to reveal and produce values, identities, and positions.

Achievement Indicators:

  • Explain how authors of texts are influenced by their worldview and experiences
  • Analyze how authors’ worldviews influence their work
  • Draw conclusions and critique the impact of text on audience worldview

Skill Descriptor: Examine why BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and neurodiverse perspectives have been historically marginalized in Canadian texts

Achievement Indicators:

  • Explore power relations within Canadian contexts
  • Deconstruct representations of marginalized groups/individuals in Canadian texts
  • Explain how personal understandings of marginalized groups/individuals has been disrupted through media exploration
  • Investigate the impact of tokenism and stereotyping in modern day and historical Canadian texts

Strand: Interactions

Big Idea: Communication & Collaboration

Skill Descriptor: Use language of harmony and respect, self-monitoring and adjusting as appropriate.

Global Competencies: SASM, CL, CM, CTPS, SGC

Achievement Indicators:

  • Model inclusivity of language
  • Critically evaluate use of inclusive language in a variety of text

Skill Descriptor: Adjust interactions to reflect the situation, audience, and purpose.

Global Competencies: SASM, CL, CM, ICE

Achievement Indicators:

  • Use conversational conventions that honour the identities, needs, rights, and feelings of others
  • Engage in active listening by attending to the speaker and indicating understanding by asking questions, using gestures, or summarizing

Skill Descriptor: Critically reflect on the contributions of others to formulate and refine understanding.

Global Competencies: SASM, CL, CM, CTPS, SGC

Achievement Indicators:

  • Consider multiple ways of knowing and being when evaluating the ideas of others
  • Identify, respond to, and respectfully challenge perspectives and potential bias
  • Analyze how the delivery of a message can influence, control, and manipulate
  • Critically examine the use of language to identify ideas, values, and worldviews

Skill Descriptor: Assess personal growth and understanding through use of Canadian media.

Global Competencies: CL, CM, ICE

Achievement Indicators:

  • Make intentional selections of content to communicate facts, ideas, and opinions considering audience
  • Present content in a purposeful manner that engages the audience
  • Use a variety of mediums (writing, visual art, digital applications, performance, etc.) to communicate interpretations and responses

Strand: Creative Expression

Big Idea: Representations

Skill Descriptor: Create original works inspired by Canadian texts.

Achievement Indicators:

  • Express ideas, interpretations, and responses through various creative media (writing, visual arts, digital applications, music, performance, etc.)
  • Create increasingly complex texts independently and collaboratively for a range of audiences and purposes
  • Demonstrate the power and impact of choice in conveying meaning
  • Critically examine the role of intended meaning vs. interpretation
  • Develop and reflect voice and perspective through creative expression
  • Create an artist statement which reflects authenticity, originality of, and personal connection to, works created
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