English Language Arts 20 NEW
English Language Arts 20 NEW
Teacher - Danielle Sasbrink-Harkema
Developed by Josh Lipka for Fall 2026
Course Description
This course is organized into two thematic units, each threading all five ELA 20 writing/reading modalities (Poetry, Descriptive, Narrative, Persuasive, Expository) around a central inquiry. Every text and assessment asks students to identify and apply logos, ethos, and pathos; giving you as a distance learner, a consistent analytical lens across this self-paced course.
ELA 20 Course Themes
The Search for Self | Equity and Ethics |
The discovery of self is a profound process. During this process, we develop our understanding of who we are, what it means to be human and what gives our lives purpose. We find meaning and fulfillment as we explore these ideas. Through powerful texts, we examine the human condition and the nature of the human mind and heart. Individually and collectively, we search for answers and strive to realize our hopes and dreams despite self-doubt and fear. In this unit, students consider who they are, how they relate to others, how identity develops throughout life and how they respond to joys, inspiration, doubts and fears. | Life presents us with many challenges, and doing the right thing is not always easy or obvious. We are empowered when our ideas are valued, our needs are heard and addressed, our goals are clarified and we take action to achieve them. As we exercise our rights and address equity, we must also reflect on our responsibilities to ourselves and others. In doing so, our ethics are sometimes questioned, and we must decide what is right, what is just and what is fair. Justice and equality have always been part of life, and we continue to dedicate ourselves to their pursuit. |
Outcomes
The ELA 20 2025 Preliminary outcomes you will be assessed on throughout the semester can be found on the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education’s website and will be often referred to and shown throughout the semester. Below are descriptions of the core categories that guide the curricular outcomes:
(Government of Saskatchewan 17)
Assessment and Evaluation
It is important to remember that evaluation is ongoing; everything you do in class will determine your final grade. This course uses a variety of teaching strategies and lessons have been designed with a focus on Outcomes Referenced Assessment. The assignments in the ELA 20 course carefully adhere to the Saskatchewan Provincial Curricular Outcomes. Your assessment will be based on the curricular outcomes you meet. This means that you can expect to become fluent in the curriculum throughout the semester, giving a lot more purpose to the work that you will be doing and the skills you will be building. Evaluation will be based on rubrics created with the GSCS High School Achievement Scale.
 |
GCSC Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy
As outlined in our GSCS Student Assessment Handbook and the Saskatchewan curriculum documents, students are expected to demonstrate their learning towards the curricular outcomes and teachers are expected to assess students on their knowledge of the curriculum outcomes.
- If a student is using AI to complete assignments, copying someone else's work, plagiarizing, or cheating on a test or quiz, we do not have proper evidence of their learning.
- Integrity is expected of all students in their work – class participation, examinations, quizzes assignments, research, etc.
- Part of the role of the teacher is to teach students about Academic Integrity and misconduct with intentionality.
What is academic integrity?
- Producing your own work unless specifically instructed otherwise. Check with your teacher if you are not sure.
- Use your own work to complete all academic tasks.
- Follow the rules for assignments, projects, exams etc. This includes due dates.
- Indicating the source when quoting or paraphrasing someone else’s work. Discuss with your teacher if you have questions.
- Discuss with your teacher if you are using the same material for assignments in two different courses.
What is academic misconduct?
Academic misconduct is the term used to describe cheating.
What is cheating?
- The use of notes, research, etc. prepared by another student or teacher without permission or if not approved by the teacher.
- Using work done in one course to fulfill requirements of another course, unless approved by teacher.
- Making up or fabricating sources
- Knowingly assisting another person in actions that amount to academic misconduct.
Academic Misconduct involving exams.
- Failure to observe any stated rules used in an exam
- Removing an exam (including creating a digital copy) from the room.
- Attempting to acquire prior knowledge of the contents of an exam to gain an advantage.
- Using any source not permitted by a teacher.
- Seeking assistance from others when writing a “take home exam or assignment” unless permitted by the teacher.
- Uncleared absences on exam days.
What is plagiarism?
- The presentation of the work or idea of another person or source in a way that gives others the impression that it is the work or idea of the presenter. Full explicit acknowledgement of the source material is required.
- This includes the use of Artificial Intelligence, for example, ChatGPT or any chat box generator.
Academic Misconduct Process – General Principles
When a teacher believes academic misconduct has occurred, the following guidelines are used:
- Sometimes misconduct is the result of carelessness, misunderstanding of the rules, or miscommunication. The teacher will discuss the situation with the student to provide clarity and resolve the issue.
- If deemed necessary, the teacher will consult with administration to determine an appropriate resolution. If it is determined that academic misconduct has willfully occurred, parents will be contacted, and the student will be required to work at the office outside of class time to complete an educational component on academic integrity and misconduct. The incident will be recorded.
In addition: - The student will still need to demonstrate their achievement of the outcome, so they will be required to rewrite the assignment or exam, or portions of the assignment or exam. An alternate assignment or exam may be used.
- If there is a history of academic misconduct, the grade may be reduced on the assignment or exam by a percentage appropriate to the degree of academic misconduct or the student may be given a zero.
- If there are additional incidents of academic dishonesty, the student may be removed from the class.
This document has been modified and adapted for high school use from the University of Saskatchewan’s Academic Integrity Policy.
