Communications 12 (Online and Print), version 02 (4 credits)

(Graduation Exam Required for Students in 2004 Graduation Program—exam worth 40% of final grade)

It is recommended that students complete:
• Communications 11 or English 11

The focus of Communications 12 is to help students become more proficient in communication skills typically used in school, the workplace, and everyday life. Students explore topics on media literacy, the writing process, workplace communications, and the appreciation of literature. Practical skills are emphasized to help students improve their reading and writing skills, design and present information, create professional workplace communications, navigate the Internet efficiently and effectively, and become more informed media and technology consumers.

Communications 12 is divided into four modules with a supplementary exam preparation package that contains two practice provincial exams. The course makes extensive use of the interactive media CD, Communicate, which houses a number of media assets including comprehensive, interactive grammar tutorials and quizzes. Assessments are varied and options are provided to meet the needs of all learning styles. Quizzes, projects, and formal assessments are among the different assessment formats included. A supplementary grammar workbook is also required for students taking the paper-based course.

Module 1: Navigating Information Overload

Section 1: Communication for a New World; The Information Age; Generations of Media Influence; Seeing the Me in Media
Section 2: Finding and Sorting Information Online; Evaluating Web Sites
Section 3: Advertising and Buying Everything; McWhat? Product Branding and Logos; Weasels in Wonderland—The Language of Advertising
Module 1 Test covers the work of Module 1.

Module 2: Strategies for High Impact Communication

Section 1: The Final Product; Producing Your Ideas; Processing Your Ideas; Polishing Your Ideas; Technical Communication; Introduction to the Writer’s Resource
Section 2: Communicating One on One; Paragraphs—Food for Thought; The Topic Sentence—The Bottom Slice; Supporting the Main Idea—Countertop Assembly or Where’s the Beef; Wrapping It Up
Section 3: Workplace Communications; Types of Writing and Communication—The Purpose of Communication; Composing the Composition
Section 4: Telling Tales; The Experience That Shape Us; Adding Sense; Telling Your Story
Module 2 Test covers the work of Module 2.

Module 3: Workplace Communication That Works

Section 1: Career Path Adventure; Identifying Career Opportunities; Approaching Employers; Identifying Employability Skills
Section 2: Refresh Your Resume; Tailor Your Cover Letter; Ace Your Interview; Thank the Employer
Section 3: Communication Products; Communicating with Superiors; Accessing Information
Module 3 Test covers the work of Module 3.

Module 4: New Ways to Appreciate Storytelling

Section 1: Stories Change Lives; The Power of Language; Figurative Language—The Engine of Poetry; Giving a Poem Form; Uncovering Meaning— Theme A dictionary, preferably The Canadian Senior Dictionary (Gage) is recommended.
Section 2: The Magic of Short Stories; Characters in Conflict; Setting: The Geography of a Story
Section 3: Behind the Themes It’s All about You
Module 4 Test covers the work of Module 4.

The textbooks for this course are:

Communicate CD
Between the Lines 12
Language Power, Book J
Communications 12 Exam Preparation Package