Ontario · Grade 10
English, Grade 10, Academic
- ENG2D
Ontario’s Grade 10 English course, from Oral Communication to Media Studies.
- Units
- 4
- Lessons
- 8
- Skills
- 63
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Ontario Ministry of Education
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, numbered by unit.
Unit 1 · 16 skills
Oral Communication
Listening to Understand
Setting a purpose and goals for listening
I can identify my purpose for listening to an academic text and set a clear goal.
Skill 1.1
Using active listening strategies
I can use active listening strategies during discussions.
Skill 1.2
Listening comprehension strategies for complex texts
I can use before, during, and after strategies to understand increasingly complex texts.
Skill 1.3
Identifying the important ideas in oral texts
I can identify the important information and ideas in increasingly complex texts.
Skill 1.4
Interpreting oral texts with evidence
I can interpret increasingly complex texts and support my interpretation with evidence.
Skill 1.5
Extending understanding by making connections
I can extend my understanding of increasingly complex texts by making connections.
Skill 1.6
Analyzing how oral texts communicate
I can analyze how increasingly complex texts communicate ideas and influence the listener.
Skill 1.7
Identifying perspectives and bias in oral texts
I can identify and analyze perspectives and bias in increasingly complex texts.
Skill 1.8
Evaluating presentation strategies
I can evaluate presentation strategies in increasingly complex texts and suggest better ones.
Skill 1.9
Communicating orally for a purpose and audience
I can communicate orally for a purpose using language suited to my audience.
Skill 1.10
Adapting interpersonal speaking strategies
I can adapt interpersonal speaking strategies to the situation and audience.
Skill 1.11
Communicating a clear, structured argument
I can present a clear, coherent argument with point-by-point development.
Skill 1.12
Word choice and stylistic devices in speaking
I can use precise words and stylistic devices to engage my audience when speaking.
Skill 1.13
Using vocal strategies effectively
I can use vocal strategies like tone, pace, pitch, and volume appropriately.
Skill 1.14
Using non-verbal cues
I can use non-verbal cues like expression, gesture, and eye contact appropriately.
Skill 1.15
Using audio-visual aids to support a presentation
I can use audio-visual aids to support and enhance a presentation.
Skill 1.16
The official wording · 16 outcomes
- 1.1
- identify the purpose of a variety of listening tasks and set goals for specific tasks
- 1.2
- select and use appropriate active listening strategies when participating in a variety of classroom interactions
- 1.3
- select and use appropriate listening compre- hension strategies before, during, and after listening to understand oral texts, including increasingly complex texts
- 1.4
- identify the important information and ideas in oral texts, including increasingly complex texts, in a variety of ways
- 1.5
- develop and explain interpretations of oral texts, including increasingly complex texts, using evidence from the text and the oral and visual cues used in it to support their interpre- tations
- 1.6
- extend understanding of oral texts, including increasingly complex texts, by making connec- tions between the ideas in them and personal knowledge, experience, and insights; other texts; and the world around them
- 1.7
- analyse oral texts, including increasingly com- plex texts, focusing on the ways in which they communicate information, ideas, issues, and themes and influence the listener’s/viewer’s response
- 1.8
- identify and analyse the perspectives and/or biases evident in oral texts, including increas- ingly complex texts, and comment on any questions they may raise about beliefs, values, identity, and power
- 1.9
- evaluate the effectiveness of a variety of pres- entation strategies used in oral texts, including increasingly complex texts, and suggest other strategies that could be used effectively
- 1.10
- communicate orally for a variety of purposes, using language appropriate for the intended audience
- 1.11
- demonstrate an understanding of a variety of interpersonal speaking strategies and adapt them to suit the purpose, situation, and audi- ence, exhibiting sensitivity to cultural differ- ences
- 1.12
- communicate in a clear, coherent manner, using a structure and style appropriate to the purpose, subject matter, and intended audi- ence
- 1.13
- use appropriate words, phrases, and terminol- ogy, and several different stylistic devices, to communicate their meaning and engage their intended audience
- 1.14
- identify a variety of vocal strategies, including tone, pace, pitch, and volume, and use them appropriately and with sensitivity to audience needs and cultural differences
- 1.15
- identify a variety of non-verbal cues, including facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact, and use them appropriately to help convey their meaning and with sensitivity to audience needs and cultural differences
- 1.16
- use a variety of audio-visual aids appropriate- ly to support and enhance oral presentations and to engage an audience
Key ideas
Listening with a purpose (to analyze, to synthesize, to critique) shapes how closely and for what you listen.
A listening goal turns passive hearing into active, targeted listening.
Active listening strategies — asking questions, acknowledging others, staying focused — keep you engaged and show respect.
In an academic discussion, building on others' ideas moves the analysis forward.
Comprehension strategies span three stages: predict before, take notes and question during, summarize after.
Watch out for
- Listening without any purpose, so nothing stands out.
- Setting a goal so broad it gives no focus.
- Planning your reply instead of listening to the speaker.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 14 skills
Reading and Literature Studies
Reading for Meaning
Reading diverse texts with a purpose
I can read academic and literary texts from diverse cultures with a clear purpose.
Skill 2.1
Using reading comprehension strategies
I can use before, during, and after strategies to understand increasingly complex texts.
Skill 2.2
Identifying important ideas and supporting details
I can identify the most important ideas and supporting details in increasingly complex texts.
Skill 2.3
Making and explaining inferences
I can make and explain inferences about increasingly complex texts using textual evidence.
Skill 2.4
Extending understanding by making connections
I can extend understanding of increasingly complex texts by making connections.
Skill 2.5
Analyzing how texts develop ideas and themes
I can analyze how a text's parts contribute to its ideas and themes.
Skill 2.6
Evaluating the effectiveness of texts with evidence
I can evaluate the effectiveness of increasingly complex texts using evidence from the text.
Skill 2.7
Identifying perspectives and bias in texts
I can identify and analyze perspectives and bias in increasingly complex texts.
Skill 2.8
Understanding Form and Style
Characteristics of text forms
I can identify characteristics of text forms and explain how they communicate meaning.
Skill 2.9
Text features and how they communicate
I can identify text features and explain how they help communicate meaning.
Skill 2.10
Elements of style and their effects
I can identify elements of style and explain how they enhance a text.
Skill 2.11
Understanding words automatically in context
I can understand most words automatically across reading contexts.
Skill 2.12
Decoding unfamiliar words
I can use decoding strategies to read and understand unfamiliar words.
Skill 2.13
Strategies to expand vocabulary
I can use strategies to expand my reading vocabulary.
Skill 2.14
The official wording · 14 outcomes
- 2.1
- read a variety of student- and teacher-selected texts from diverse cultures and historical peri- ods, identifying specific purposes for reading
- 2.2
- select and use appropriate reading comprehen- sion strategies before, during, and after reading to understand texts, including increasingly com- plex texts
- 2.3
- identify the most important ideas and sup- porting details in texts, including increasingly complex texts
- 2.4
- make and explain inferences about texts, including increasingly complex texts, support- ing their explanations with well-chosen stated and implied ideas from the texts
- 2.5
- extend understanding of texts, including increasingly complex texts, by making appro- priate connections between the ideas in them and personal knowledge, experience, and insights; other texts; and the world around them
- 2.6
- analyse texts in terms of the information, ideas, issues, or themes they explore, examin- ing how various aspects of the texts contribute to the presentation or development of these elements
- 2.7
- evaluate the effectiveness of texts, including increasingly complex texts, using evidence from the text to support their opinions
- 2.8
- identify and analyse the perspectives and/or biases evident in texts, including increasingly complex texts, and comment on any questions they may raise about beliefs, values, identity, and power
- 2.9
- identify a variety of characteristics of literary, informational, and graphic text forms and explain how they help communicate meaning
- 2.10
- identify a variety of text features and explain how they help communicate meaning
- 2.11
- identify a variety of elements of style in texts and explain how they help communicate meaning and enhance the effectiveness of the texts
- 2.12
- automatically understand most words in a variety of reading contexts
- 2.13
- use appropriate decoding strategies to read and understand unfamiliar words
- 2.14
- identify and use a variety of strategies to expand vocabulary
Key ideas
Reading with a specific purpose focuses attention and makes reading more efficient.
Each text form (short story, sonnet, opinion piece, graphic text) has characteristic features that shape its meaning.
Reading widely across cultures and historical periods builds literary and analytical range.
Explaining a form means showing how its features do work, not just naming them.
Comprehension strategies (predicting, questioning, visualizing, note-making) work across the reading process.
Watch out for
- Reading everything the same way regardless of purpose.
- Naming a form's feature without explaining its effect.
- Reading only familiar kinds of texts.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 21 skills
Writing
Developing and Organizing Content
Identifying topic, purpose, and audience
I can identify the topic, purpose, and audience for a writing task.
Skill 3.1
Generating and focusing ideas
I can generate, explore, and focus ideas for writing.
Skill 3.2
Locating and selecting supporting information
I can locate and select information to support my writing ideas.
Skill 3.3
Organizing ideas with suitable patterns
I can sort and order main ideas and supporting details into a logical plan.
Skill 3.4
Checking that ideas are relevant, accurate, and complete
I can check that my gathered information is relevant, accurate, and complete.
Skill 3.5
Using Knowledge of Form and Style
Writing in a variety of forms for purposes and audiences
I can write in academic and literary forms for different purposes and audiences.
Skill 3.6
Establishing voice in writing
I can establish a distinctive voice, modifying language and tone skilfully to suit the writing.
Skill 3.7
Choosing vivid, precise words
I can choose descriptive, precise words to make my writing clear and vivid.
Skill 3.8
Varying sentences and making smooth transitions
I can vary my sentences skilfully and use smooth transitions to communicate clearly.
Skill 3.9
Recognizing beliefs and values in your writing
I can explain how my beliefs, values, and experiences show up in my writing.
Skill 3.10
Revising drafts to improve content and style
I can revise a draft to improve content, organization, clarity, and style.
Skill 3.11
Producing revised drafts to criteria
I can produce a revised draft of increasingly complex texts that meets set criteria.
Skill 3.12
Applying Knowledge of Conventions
Spelling correctly using rules and resources
I can use spelling rules and resources to correct spelling errors.
Skill 3.13
Building and refining word choice for writing
I can build vocabulary and refine my word choice for writing.
Skill 3.14
Punctuation for clauses and lists (semicolons)
I can use semicolons and commas to punctuate clauses and complex lists correctly.
Skill 3.15
Punctuation for titles (italics and quotation marks)
I can punctuate titles correctly using italics and quotation marks.
Skill 3.16
Grammar: writing correct sentence types
I can construct correct simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.
Skill 3.17
Grammar: agreement and verb tense
I can make subjects and verbs agree, pronouns agree with antecedents, and use correct tense.
Skill 3.18
Proofreading and correcting writing
I can proofread and correct my writing using agreed guidelines.
Skill 3.19
Using presentation features to publish
I can use presentation features to make my published work clear and appealing.
Skill 3.20
Producing published work to criteria
I can produce a finished, published piece that meets set criteria.
Skill 3.21
The official wording · 21 outcomes
- 3.1
- identify the topic, purpose, and audience for a variety of writing tasks
- 3.2
- generate, expand, explore, and focus ideas for potential writing tasks, using a variety of strategies and print, electronic, and other resources, as appropriate
- 3.3
- locate and select information to appropriately support ideas for writing, using a variety of strategies and print, electronic, and other resources, as appropriate
- 3.4
- identify, sort, and order main ideas and sup- porting details for writing tasks, using a variety of strategies and organizational patterns suited to the content and the purpose for writing
- 3.5
- determine whether the ideas and information gathered are relevant to the topic, accurate, and complete and appropriately meet the require- ments of the writing task
- 3.6
- write for different purposes and audiences using a variety of literary, graphic, and informational forms
- 3.7
- establish a distinctive voice in their writing, modifying language and tone skilfully to suit the form, audience, and purpose for writing
- 3.8
- use appropriate descriptive and evocative words, phrases, and expressions to make their writing clear, vivid, and interesting for their intended audience
- 3.9
- write complete sentences that communicate their meaning clearly and accurately, varying sentence type, structure, and length to suit different purposes and making smooth and logical transitions between ideas
- 3.10
- explain how their own beliefs, values, and experiences are revealed in their writing
- 3.11
- revise drafts to improve the content, organiza- tion, clarity, and style of their written work, using a variety of teacher-modelled strategies
- 3.12
- produce revised drafts of texts, including increas- ingly complex texts, written to meet criteria identified by the teacher, based on the curricu- lum expectations
- 3.13
- use knowledge of spelling rules and patterns, a variety of resources, and appropriate strate- gies to recognize and correct their own and others’ spelling errors
- 3.14
- build vocabulary for writing by confirming word meaning(s) and reviewing and refining word choice, using a variety of resources and strategies, as appropriate for the purpose
- 3.15
- use punctuation correctly and appropriately to communicate their intended meaning
- 3.16
- use punctuation correctly and appropriately to communicate their intended meaning
- 3.17
- use grammar conventions correctly and appropriately to communicate their intended meaning clearly and fluently
- 3.18
- use grammar conventions correctly and appropriately to communicate their intended meaning clearly and fluently
- 3.19
- proofread and correct their writing, using guidelines developed with the teacher and peers
- 3.20
- use a variety of presentation features, includ- ing print and script, fonts, graphics, and lay- out, to improve the clarity and coherence of their work and to heighten its appeal for their audience
- 3.21
- produce pieces of published work to meet criteria identified by the teacher, based on the curriculum expectations
Key ideas
Topic, purpose, and audience are settled first — they steer every later writing choice.
Each form (essay, review, narrative, biography, procedure) serves a purpose and an audience.
Spelling patterns and word origins explain many 'tricky' spellings.
An academic essay for a teacher and a narrative for peers demand different approaches.
Matching form to purpose and audience is the writer's first craft decision.
Watch out for
- Starting to write before settling purpose and audience.
- Writing every task in the same form.
- Trusting a spell-checker without understanding the rule.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 12 skills
Media Studies
Understanding Media Texts
How media texts suit purposes and audiences
I can explain how increasingly complex texts are created to suit particular purposes and audiences.
Skill 4.1
Interpreting overt and implied media messages
I can interpret increasingly complex texts, explaining their overt and implied messages.
Skill 4.2
Evaluating how effectively media texts communicate
I can evaluate how effectively increasingly complex texts communicate and whether they achieve their purpose.
Skill 4.3
Why media texts prompt different responses
I can explain why the same media text prompts different responses from different audiences.
Skill 4.4
Identifying perspectives and bias in media texts
I can identify perspectives and bias in increasingly complex texts and the questions they raise.
Skill 4.5
How production factors shape the media industry
I can explain how production, marketing, and distribution factors shape the media.
Skill 4.6
Media Forms, Conventions, and Creating Media Texts
Characteristics of media forms
I can identify characteristics of media forms and how they shape content and meaning.
Skill 4.7
Conventions and techniques in media forms
I can identify media conventions and techniques and explain how they influence the audience.
Skill 4.8
Planning a media text: topic, purpose, audience
I can describe the topic, purpose, and audience for a media text I plan to create.
Skill 4.9
Selecting an appropriate media form
I can select a media form suited to my topic, purpose, and audience and justify it.
Skill 4.10
Planning conventions and techniques for a media text
I can plan the conventions and techniques for my media text to communicate my meaning.
Skill 4.11
Producing media texts
I can produce a media text for a purpose and audience using appropriate forms and techniques.
Skill 4.12
The official wording · 12 outcomes
- 4.1
- explain how media texts, including increasing- ly complex texts, are created to suit particular purposes and audiences
- 4.2
- interpret media texts, including increasingly complex texts, identifying and explaining the overt and implied messages they convey
- 4.3
- evaluate how effectively information, ideas, issues, and opinions, are communicated in media texts, including increasingly complex texts, and decide whether the texts achieve their intended purpose
- 4.4
- explain why the same media text might prompt different responses from different audiences
- 4.5
- identify the perspectives and/or biases evident in media texts, including increasingly complex texts, and comment on any questions they may raise about beliefs, values, identity, and
- 4.6
- explain how a variety of production, marketing, and distribution factors influence the media industry
- 4.7
- identify general and specific characteristics of a variety of media forms and explain how they shape content and create meaning
- 4.8
- identify conventions and/or techniques used in a variety of media forms and explain how they convey meaning and influence their audi- ence
- 4.9
- describe the topic, purpose, and audience for media texts they plan to create
- 4.10
- select a media form to suit the topic, purpose, and audience for a media text they plan to create, and explain why it is an appropriate choice
- 4.11
- identify a variety of conventions and/or tech- niques appropriate to a media form they plan to use, and explain how these will help them communicate specific aspects of their intended meaning
- 4.12
- produce media texts for a variety of purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, con- ventions, and techniques
Key ideas
Media texts are built for specific audiences — content, images, and placement are all targeted choices.
Each media form (print, online, podcast, video) has characteristics that shape what content fits and how meaning is made.
Purpose (to inform, sell, entertain) drives every construction decision.
Explaining a form means showing how its features affect the content.
Media texts carry overt messages (stated directly) and implied messages (suggested by images, tone, setting).
Watch out for
- Treating a media text as neutral rather than targeted.
- Assuming all media forms handle content the same way.
- Ignoring the intended audience when explaining a media text.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
Which course?
Ontario has 2 English courses for Grade 10. Here they are side by side.
- English, Grade 10, AcademicThis courseENG2D4 units · 63 skillsNo provincial examWhat it coversOral Communication · Reading and Literature Studies · Writing · Media Studies
- English, Grade 10, AppliedENG2P4 units · 62 skillsNo provincial examWhat it coversOral Communication · Reading and Literature Studies · Writing · Media Studies
What a university, college or program asks for is theirs to say: check its admission page, and your school’s course guide.
The official curriculum
This page follows Ontario’s own curriculum for English, Grade 10, Academic.
Textbooks
The textbooks Ontario Ministry of Education lists for English, Grade 10, Academic:
- Nelson English 10
From the Trillium List, read October 27, 2026. ontario.ca
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches English, Grade 10, Academic one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.


Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep English, Grade 10, Academic organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
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Questions about English, Grade 10, Academic
What is English, Grade 10, Academic?
Ontario’s Grade 10 English course: 4 units and 63 skills, from Oral Communication to Media Studies.
What units are in English, Grade 10, Academic?
1. Oral Communication, 2. Reading and Literature Studies, 3. Writing and 4. Media Studies.
Is there a provincial exam for English, Grade 10, Academic?
No. Ontario gives no provincial exam for English, Grade 10, Academic.
What textbook does English, Grade 10, Academic use?
The textbooks Ontario Ministry of Education lists for English, Grade 10, Academic: Nelson English 10, Nelson Education Ltd.
What comes after English, Grade 10, Academic?
English, Grade 11, University Preparation and English, Grade 11, College Preparation.
Can MapleMind help with English, Grade 10, Academic?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of English, Grade 10, Academic, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.