Grade 6-7 English Reading & Writing Class

Introduction to the Essentials of English: Reading, Writing, Speaking & Critical Thinking

英语核心能力：阅读、写作、表达与批判性思维

This course integrates literature, current events and research-based inquiry to strengthen students’ reading, writing, speaking and critical-thinking skills. Students will complete three major units, each culminating in a formal written, oral or creative project.

本课程通过文学阅读、时事探究与历史地理研究，综合培养学生的阅读理解、写作表达、公众演讲、资料研究及批判性思维能力。

Unit 1: Novel Study & Literary Essay Writing

单元一：小说研读与文学分析写作

Students will complete an in-depth study of a full-length novel. Through independent reading, close analysis and class discussion, they will examine character development, conflict, theme, setting, symbolism and the author’s stylistic choices.

Students will move beyond plot summary by developing original interpretations and supporting their ideas with relevant textual evidence. Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, paragraph development and essay organization will be taught within the writing process.

Key Skills

• Read and understand literary, informational and graphic texts
  
• Identify themes, text features and stylistic elements
  
• Make inferences and analyze authorial choices
  
• Develop a clear thesis and supporting arguments
  
• Select, integrate and explain textual evidence
  
• Organize effective paragraphs and essays
  
• Draft, revise, edit and proofread written work
  
• Reflect on strengths and areas for improvement
  

Culminating Task

Literary Analysis Essay｜文学分析论文

Students will write a structured literary essay based on the novel, using a clear thesis, relevant evidence and detailed analysis.

Unit 2: Current Events, News Writing & Presentation

单元二：时事探究、新闻写作与公众表达

Students will investigate significant current events and examine how news is selected, written and presented. Topics may relate to legal issues, historical developments, scientific discoveries, technology, society or the environment. A different focus will be selected each term.

Students will evaluate the reliability of sources, distinguish fact from opinion and consider how perspective, language and media choices influence an audience. They will then write an original news article and communicate their findings through a formal presentation and class debate.

Key Skills

• Identify credible and relevant information
  
• Distinguish fact, opinion, bias and misinformation
  
• Analyze purpose, audience and perspective
  
• Organize information using journalistic structure
  
• Write clear headlines, leads and supporting details
  
• Listen actively and respond appropriately
  
• Speak clearly for different purposes and audiences
  
• Present and defend ideas using evidence
  
• Participate respectfully in discussion and debate
  

Culminating Tasks

• Original News Report｜原创新闻报道
  
• Formal Presentation｜正式演讲
  
• Class Debate｜课堂辩论
  

Unit 3: Historical Inquiry & Geographical Research

单元三：历史探究与地理研究

Students will conduct a research project focused on a historical person, event or movement and its connection to a specific geographical location.

They will develop inquiry questions, gather information from print and digital sources, assess source credibility and organize findings into a coherent research paper. Students will learn how to paraphrase, embed quotations and use citations appropriately.

The unit will conclude with a creative project that asks students to transform their research into an original and engaging form.

Key Skills

• Develop focused and meaningful inquiry questions
  
• Gather information from varied and reliable sources
  
• Evaluate relevance, accuracy, perspective and bias
  
• Sort, classify and connect information
  
• Organize main ideas and supporting details
  
• Paraphrase, quote and cite sources appropriately
  
• Write a multi-paragraph research paper
  
• Revise for content, clarity, organization and tone
  
• Present research through written, oral and visual forms
  

Culminating Tasks

• Research Paper with Embedded Citations｜含规范引用的研究论文
  
• Creative Research Project｜创意研究成果
  

Possible formats include a documentary script, historical diary, museum exhibit, podcast, visual presentation or interactive timeline.

Curriculum Alignment｜课程标准

The course supports the four interconnected strands of the current Ontario Grade 8 Language Curriculum:

• Strand A: Literacy Connections and Applications
  读写能力的综合联系与实际应用
  
• Strand B: Foundations of Language
  口语表达、语法、词汇及语言基础
  
• Strand C: Comprehension—Understanding and Responding to Texts
  阅读理解、文本回应与批判性分析
  
• Strand D: Composition—Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts
  构思、写作、修改、编辑与成果表达