A Course Selection Guide for Grade 10s: A Guide

HEMERA/THINKSTOCK

Grade 10 is an important year for students all across the district. It marks the end of an era of mandated core classes, and the beginning of an era of choice and freedom when it comes to course selection. Here at Eric Hamber, there are plenty of courses available for students to choose from as they branch off from their Grade 10 courses. That being said, it is important for students to choose the courses that tailor their passions, interests, and goals.

The course selection options for incoming grade 11 students, as per the Course Planning Booklet on the Hamber website, are outlined below:

Math

Starting in the mathematics department, there are a few choices for students going into Grade 11. For those who have taken Foundations of Math and Pre-Calculus 10, the next course to take would be Pre-Calculus 11. There is also the option of Pre-Calculus 11 Honours for those who have achieved a minimum of 86 per cent in Pre-Calc 10 or a 73 per cent in Pre-Calc 10 Honours. Honours courses however, are being phased out by the VSB after this year.

For those who took Workplace Math 10 this year, there is a Workplace Math 11 course that meets the Mathematics 11 graduation requirement.

Pre-Calculus 11

• Heavy in algebra, graphs, and trigonometry

• Catered towards students who may plan to enter a university program such as Science or Engineering

Pre-Calculus 11 Honours

• Greater emphasis on the use of graphing calculators

Workplace Math 11

• Covers personal finance, compound interest and credit, formula manipulation, rate of change, and probability

• Catered towards students entering a college or technical institute after graduating high school

English

The English department continues to offer a variety of courses for incoming Grade 11s. At the Grade 11 level, there are three options: Literary Studies, Composition, and Creative Writing.

Literary Studies 11

• Focused on the literary analysis of a variety of texts

• Encourages critical thinking about text features and literary elements

Composition 11

• Catered towards students who want to improve their writing skills

• Compose original texts for a range of purposes and audiences

• Learn about source citation and analysis of source credibility
  

Creative Writing 11

• Approaches the core competencies from a creative angle

• Inspires students to build on their confidence and skills through the process of writing and peer collaboration

• Catered to students who love literature and wish to respond to it in creative ways

Science

One of the biggest changes for students as they enter Grade 11 is the diversity of options for Science. Science courses in Grade 11 and 12 are no longer generalized and are now separated into branches.

Life Sciences 11

• Formerly known as Biology 11

• Covers a variety of topics such as evolution, single-celled organisms, and multicellular organisms

• No prerequisites besides Science 10

Anatomy and Physiology 12

• Formerly known as Biology 12

• Focuses on physiological processes, organ systems, and genetics

• Recommended (not required) prerequisites: Chemistry 11, Life Sciences 11

Earth Science 11

• Focuses on geological science, oceanographic science, and other earth-related science topics

• Provides students with an up-to-date, broad understanding of the earth and its environment

• No prerequisites other than Science 10
  

Chemistry 11

• Introductory chemistry course focussing on observing chemical behaviour patterns and molecular structure

• Prerequisites: Pre-Calculus 11 (may be taken concurrently)

Chemistry 11 Enriched

• Covers Chemistry 11 topics at a faster pace and in greater depth

• Covers about half the curriculum for the College Board’s AP Chemistry and prepares students to take AP Chemistry the next year

• AP Chemistry is equivalent to a first-year university course in general chemistry

Physics 11

• Introductory physics course that provides insight into the scope, nature, relevance, and limitations of physics through a variety of  topics

• Covers kinematics, dynamics, energy, DC circuits, and more

• Prerequisites: Pre-Calculus 10, Pre-Calculus 11 (may be taken concurrently)

AP Physics 1

• An algebra-based introductory university-level course in physics

• No prior work in physics is required

• Students must be strong in algebraic problem-solving

• Prepares students to take the AP Physics 1 exam offered by the US College Board

• More information about AP courses can be found on the US College Board website

• Successful AP Physics 1 students are prepared to take AP Physics C the following year

Science for Citizens 11

• For students who don’t wish to specialize in one particular branch of science

• Designed for students who do not wish to take science courses beyond the grade 11 level

• A lab and project-based course that covers a variety of topics including forensics, natural resources, health and nutrition, and scientific literacy