Belize High School


Core Curriculum English

English Standards of Learning

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), “states that literate persons must possess a wide range of abilities and competencies.”  Therefore, the six expectations identified in NCTE position statement for 21st Century literacy has been infused in the content standards outlined in this section. The 12 standards are also linked to the content standards described in the Ministry of Education Lower Secondary School Curriculum and the objectives identified in English 1 and 2 of the CSEC syllabi. To ascertain that students of the Belize High School excel in the Critical Reading and Writing section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the expected performances are also integrated in the knowledge, skills and dispositions. Worth noting is that the code L is used to represent the English Standards of Learning in this document.

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Area 1: Oral Communication

L 1:     Use a variety of oral communication skills and provide accurate evidence to give             informative and persuasive oral presentations
L 2:     Use grammatically correct language in preparation and presentation of ideas and             thoughts
L 3:      Analyze and evaluate informative and persuasive presentations
L 4:      Evaluate and critique content from multiple sources

Knowledge

1.         Interpret how reading, writing, and discussions are used to generate ideas and plan             presentations
2.         Understand how to support and defend their ideas
3.         Interpret rhetorical devices and techniques
4.         Identify speech appropriate for audience, topic, and situation

Skills

1.         Select evidence to support position

Attitude and Disposition

  1.          Appreciate and apply different forms of writing

Area 2: Reading Analysis

L 5:      Read, comprehend, and critique literary works
L 6:     Identify and explain similarities and differences of techniques and literary forms of             different cultures and eras
L 7:     Explain local, regional and universal themes prevalent in the literature of different             cultures
L 8:      Examine and apply literary selection from several critical perspectives

Knowledge

1.         Identify that reading is fundamental to being a literate person in today’s society
2.         Proofread and prepare final product for intended audience and purpose
3.         Compare and contrast product information of various forms
4.         Apply information read by completing simulated or actual tasks effectively
5.         Explain differences in narrative and expository text
6.        Locate specific information in informational sources by using strategies such as             skimming, summarizing, and highlighting
7.         Understand the techniques that poets use to evoke emotions

Skills

1.         Use various reading strategies to read and interpret a variety of information
2.         Apply reading strategies to locate specific information in print materials
3.         Interpret and paraphrase the meanings of selected poems

Attitudes and Disposition

1.         Appreciate various literary forms
2.         Demonstrate effective oral reading skills
3.         Value and use oral and written skills

Area 3: Writing

L 9:      Assess analytical writing by examining and understanding how individual parts of the             text relate to the whole, including the purpose and structure of the writing
L10:     Use grammatically correct language to present ideas clearly through word choice             and vivid description
L11:     Write information that illustrates understanding of composing, written expression,             and usage/mechanics
L12:      Critically analyze and make connections between literature and other disciplines

Knowledge

1.        Demonstrate knowledge of grammar through the application of rules for parts of a             sentence and text.

Skills

1.         Organize information in a logical sequential order
2.         Revise written information for clarity of content and presentation
3.         Present ideas effectively using word choice and vivid description
4.         Apply various sentence structures to depict use of visual and sensory language
5.         Write summaries, informational, and technical texts

Attitude and Disposition
1.         Value the importance of effective writing and oral communication skills