English Language Arts

Studying English Language Arts (English) involves much more than learning how to read and write. The two aims of the high school English Language Arts program are to: 

• provide you with an understanding and appreciation of a broad range of texts and themes

• enable you to use language for many purposes 

English Language Arts focuses on six areas: listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and representing. 

At Dr. Anne Anderson, our goal in English Language Arts is for you to see aspects of yourself reflected in the various texts, themes and big ideas you encounter, both in and out of the classroom.  The rigorous critical thinking and communication skills you’ll encounter become pivotal to empowering your connection, empathy, and voice in order to navigate the increasing complexity in the social and political world.  At Dr. Anne Anderson, you’ll reflect on your academic strengths and the student you are now, but also reflect on the growth you hope to achieve and the student you wish to become. 

Our goal is not simply to read and respond to a variety of texts, but to create innovative structures that build a sense of self-efficacy, so you see yourself developing a set of skills that will be useful across disciplines and careers, no matter what your path. From games to facilitate deeper comprehension,  a variety of student-selected demonstrations of learning, using various spaces in our building to drive metaphorical thinking, and hexagonal thinking strategies, our goal is for you to see new ways of framing, reflecting, and empathizing with your story and the story of others.

As a brand-new school, we have as a priority to create a space that welcomes authentic conversations, built on a legacy from our namesake to facilitate and nurture openness, voice, and growth.  We also strive to challenge the definition of  “what is a text” and broaden the texts you navigate each day; we equip you with the skills to to authentically and intentionally respond to texts. 

Finally, English Language Arts teachers at Dr. Anne Anderson become learners alongside you, challenging our own processes and ideas and finding new ways to learn. While teachers internalize our responsibility to craft experiences that help you reveal yourself as well as the stories of others, we also feel that we aren’t experts on voices that aren’t our own.  As such, we facilitate the expression of those voices, and to support and guide you through new experiences, for all learners, both student and teachers alike.

All sequences focus on interpreting texts and refining your ability to show that you understand those texts.

• English 10-1, 20-1, and 30-1 places more emphasis on understanding complex texts, and students who take this course sequence will create and analyze a variety of increasingly sophisticated literary texts.

• English 10-1 AP, 20-1 AP, and 30-1 AP extends the content of the -1 sequence with additional learning in preparation for the Advanced Placement exam and recognition as an introductory university-level English course.

• English 10-2, 20-2, and 30-2 places a greater degree of emphasis on the creation of personal and persuasive responses and the study of popular nonfiction and feature films.

• English 10-ELL and 20-ELL combines two courses to provide specialized learning and increased instructional time for English Language Learners. At each grade level, students will earn 5-credits in English as a Second Language courses (Levels 1-5) and 5-credits in English 10-2 or 20-2.

• Literacy Foundations 10 and 20 combines two courses to provide additional literacy support. Students will earn 5 credits in Reading 15 and 5 credits in English 10-2. At the 20-level, the students take two courses: Reading 25 and English 20-2.

To earn an Alberta High School Diploma, students must complete either English 30-1, English 30-1 AP, or English 30-2.

At Dr. Anne Anderson High School, our approach to learning includes making connections to our courses outside of our classroom. In the department of English Language Arts, we continuously engage students in learning that transcends our day-to-day classroom work by including various community experiences within our students’ learning. 

As a DAAHS student enrolled in English Language Arts, you can anticipate authentic and career based experiences that challenge you to use your skills in a sophisticated way. Students at our school work with our graphic designer to elevate the impact of their projects. We collaborate with local artists, playwrights and poets for specialized feedback and support on student work. On our Agora Days, we view our learning through a lens of empathy and have created personalized texts on Indigenous voices, remembrance of fallen soldiers and the experiences of the BIPOC community. In future years, and as our guidelines permit, we will engage students in more community endeavors such as our Division poetry symposium, Freewill Shakespeare and opportunities to see the arts in action at local theatres. Through engaging in these meaningful community minded experiences, we know that our students see themselves and their future goals reflected in their studies. 

At Dr. Anne Anderson, we are focused on aligning your learning experiences with a plethora of potential future career pathways, as virtually every career requires, in some way, the skills rooted in the English Language Arts program. Students who complete English 30-2 are equipped with technical writing skills that are immediately applicable to careers in sciences, trades, and technologies. Students who complete English 30-1 are equipped with critical reading and writing skills that are typically required for entry into post secondary institutions such as the University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan. For students choosing pathways such as medicine, law, education or 

At Dr. Anne Anderson High School, students will be empowered with the skills to be success across a variety of future careers rooted in English Language Arts including: 

• Contemporary Medias (blogs, Youtube)

• Journalism 

• Screenwriting and Scriptwriting (script supervision) 

• Marketing and personal relationships with clients 

• Advertising 

• Service industry (being able to communicate, empathize, read and write)

• Teaching and Higher Education

• Researcher

• Law 

• Medical diploma programs 

• Emergency services 

• Many pathways will require proficiency in English for success in the field 

• Librarian

• Publisher/writer 

• Insurance underwriter

• Game design 

• Art/Museum curation