Threads of Time: Grade 11 University English
January 17, 2024
How are the past, present, and future interconnected? This is the essential question addressed in our newly refurbished ENG3U course and the question that will guide your inquiry as you survey the past, explore the present state of affairs, take a look into the future, and, finally, accept the challenge of the future. We can’t wait for you to engage with the brilliant texts we’ve compiled as you learn to write with power!
In the first unit of the course, Surveying the Past, you will be introduced to the inquiry project, an independent project that will be completed step by step as you move through the course. The inquiry project begins with the act of asking and developing effective questions to guide inquiry. The exploration continues in this unit with The Quest, an “escape room” type lesson that challenges you to carefully follow instructions and demonstrate a variety of skills as you work your way into an Egyptian tomb. You’ll also encounter lessons on poetry and short stories, recalling the knowledge developed in previous grades and analysing texts relating to the past in some way. Assignments in this unit will have you complete poetry and short story analysis, as well as write your own creative text.
As you move on to the present in unit 2, The Present State of Affairs, you will reflect on the influence of technology and media on today’s world, as well as the connections to the past and the future. You'll consider the impact of media (and social media) on your world and strengthen your presentation skills. Unit 2 also focuses on the second stage of the inquiry project as you learn about research skills and methods of verifying information. Exploring audience, purpose, and bias, you will end the unit by creating a variety of media texts for a variety of purposes and audiences.
The third unit, Looking into the Future, considers the future presented in Station Eleven, a novel that explores a new global future following the collapse of civilization. Reflecting on the nature of civilization, the novel also considers the importance of art, the influence of memory, and the need to be remembered. Unit 3 begins the third stage of the inquiry process in which you will explain your inquiry, sharing your research and how it addresses the inquiry question you developed in unit 1. Assignments in this unit focus on the formal essay. Working step by step through the essay writing process, you will develop your thesis, write an outline and draft, and revise to create a polished, formal essay. Then, you will reimagine your essay to transform it into video format to convey the same ideas through visual and audio conventions.
Finally, the course’s last unit, The Challenge, acknowledges that facing challenges helps us to change and grow, to develop the future we want and the type of person we want to be. This unit will challenge you to read difficult texts, use specific tools to create powerful writing, and to revise past writing. The final stage of the inquiry project allows you to bring your creativity, curiosity, and passions to your work. Assessments in this unit will have you complete an annotated reading list, develop an oral essay, and apply your powerful writing skills to craft a valedictory address.
The connections between the past, present, and future are seemingly endless. ENG3U explores these threads of time. As you work through the course, you will draw on your past experiences and knowledge to complete the challenges you face in the present and the future!
Check out the ENG3U course outline page to discover how you can get started today!