Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 9 Language Arts
This course focuses on analyzing diverse literary and informational texts to understand how authors shape identity and perspective. Students refine their communication skills through rigorous analytical writing, collaborative discussions, and creative expression.
The Power of Narrative: Crafting Identity
Students explore how authors use narrative techniques to build character and convey personal or cultural identity. The unit focuses on short stories and memoirs from diverse voices.
Analyzing how authors reveal character traits and internal struggles through dialogue, actions, and thoughts.
Examining the impact of point of view and the concept of the unreliable narrator in modern fiction.
Identifying and interpreting recurring symbols and motifs that represent cultural heritage within a text.
The Art of Argument: Persuasion and Rhetoric
Students deconstruct persuasive speeches and essays to understand rhetorical appeals and the ethics of communication.
Identifying and evaluating the use of logic, emotion, and credibility in non-fiction texts.
Detecting flaws in reasoning and identifying implicit bias in contemporary media and historical documents.
Learning the components of a strong academic argument, including claims, evidence, and counterarguments.
Poetic Visions: Sound, Rhythm, and Meaning
An exploration of poetry from various eras and styles, focusing on how form and sound contribute to meaning.
Analyzing how poets use metaphor, simile, and personification to create vivid sensory experiences.
Investigating how the physical structure and rhythm of a poem influence its interpretation.
Exploring the oral tradition of poetry and the impact of performance on audience reception.
Dramatic Works: Conflict on Stage
Students analyze dramatic literature, focusing on the interplay between dialogue, stage directions, and performance.
Examining the conventions of tragedy and the evolution of the tragic hero in drama.
Analyzing how playwrights communicate character motivation and tension through what is said and left unsaid.
Comparing original dramatic texts with their modern film or stage adaptations.
Informational Literacy in the Digital Age
Developing critical reading skills for navigating complex informational texts, digital media, and research reports.
Developing criteria for assessing the reliability and authority of various online and print sources.
Learning to integrate information from diverse sources to form a comprehensive understanding of a topic.
Mastering the process of conducting academic research and documenting sources accurately.
The Writer's Craft: Voice and Style
A culminating unit where students apply their knowledge of language conventions and style to produce a portfolio of original work.
Exploring how sentence structure and variety can enhance the flow and impact of writing.
Analyzing how word choice creates a specific tone and affects the reader's emotional response.
Engaging in the iterative process of drafting, receiving feedback, and refining written work.