OLC4O
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course
This Grade 12 open course is designed to help eligible students acquire and demonstrate the cross-curricular literacy skills evaluated by the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Students read informational, narrative and graphic texts; write summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces and news reports; and maintain a literacy portfolio that documents reading, writing and growth. Successful completion satisfies the provincial literacy requirement for graduation.
Grade
12
Credit
1.0
Delivery
Online
Prerequisite
Eligibility req.
About This Course
This Grade 12 open course is designed to help eligible students acquire and demonstrate the cross-curricular literacy skills evaluated by the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Students read informational, narrative and graphic texts; write summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces and news reports; and maintain a literacy portfolio that documents reading, writing and growth. Successful completion satisfies the provincial literacy requirement for graduation.
What You'll Learn
- Read and respond to informational, narrative and graphic texts using effective reading strategies.
- Recognize organizational structures, text features and purposes in a variety of practical and academic texts.
- Use strategies to understand unfamiliar and specialized vocabulary.
- Use the writing process to generate, organize, draft, revise, edit and polish work.
- Write summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces, news reports and personal reflections for defined audiences and purposes.
- Maintain a literacy portfolio, set goals and reflect on growth in reading and writing.
Skills You'll Develop
- Reading comprehension and response
- Practical and academic writing
- Summarizing and information organization
- Vocabulary strategies and text-feature analysis
- Portfolio management, self-assessment and literacy reflection
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Read and respond to a variety of informational, narrative and graphic texts.
- Explain how organization, features and reading strategies support comprehension.
- Use strategies to interpret unfamiliar and specialized words and expressions.
- Use the full writing process to produce polished texts.
- Write in required forms such as summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces and news reports.
- Explain the importance of literacy in school, work, home and community contexts.
- Assess personal growth in literacy through portfolio evidence and reflection.
Course Units
The following reflects the school’s planned organization of the course. Approximate time allocations may be adjusted while all curriculum expectations and required planned learning are maintained.
| Unit | Title / Major Learning Focus | Approx. Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Informational Texts | 20 hours |
| 2 | Writing Process | 20 hours |
| 3 | Narrative Texts | 20 hours |
| 4 | Summary Writing | 20 hours |
| 5 | Graphic Texts and News Reports | 28 hours |
| Final | Final Literacy Performance Evaluation | 2 hours |
Assessment
Assessment uses evidence gathered over time from student work, conversations and observations. The final grade for 2026–2027 is determined as follows:
| Component | Weight | How It Is Determined |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework throughout the course | 65% | Includes independent reading and writing demonstrations and literacy-portfolio evidence. |
| Appropriate final literacy performance evaluation | 25% | Independent reading, writing and literacy-reflection performance evaluation. A mandatory written final examination is not required for OLC4O. |
| Attendance and participation | 10% | Based on meaningful attendance and participation; excused absences do not negatively affect this component. |
Examples of Assessment Evidence
Course requirements include independent demonstrations with narrative, graphic and informational texts; evaluated writing such as summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces and news reports; a literacy portfolio; and an independent final literacy performance evaluation.
Pathways
Students connect literacy skills to postsecondary education, training, employment, community participation and independent living.
Reading and writing tasks may include job postings, résumés, covering letters, workplace instructions, applications and other authentic texts that support pathway planning and transferable communication skills.
Teacher Support
- Students learn through the school's secure online learning environment and receive ongoing support from qualified teachers.
- Teacher-supported conferencing, tutorials and scheduled live support are available as appropriate.
- Teachers provide direct and explicit instruction in reading strategies before, during and after reading.
- The writing process is modelled through idea generation, organization, drafting, revision, editing, proofreading and polished publication.
- Frequent teacher-student conferences, descriptive feedback, exemplars, checklists and success criteria support progress.
- Portfolio-based learning helps students track completed reading and writing, set literacy goals and reflect on growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the course code?
OLC4O — Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course, Grade 12, Open.
Who is eligible to take OLC4O?
There is no course prerequisite, but Ministry OSSLC eligibility requirements apply. Students who have been eligible to write the OSSLT at least twice and have been unsuccessful at least once are eligible; the principal may apply discretion in special circumstances.
How many credits is OLC4O?
The course is worth 1.0 Ontario secondary school credit.
Does successful completion meet the literacy graduation requirement?
Yes. Students who successfully complete OLC4O meet the provincial literacy requirement for graduation.
How is the final grade calculated?
65% coursework, 25% final literacy performance evaluation, and 10% attendance and participation.
Is there a mandatory written final exam?
No. The course outline specifies an appropriate final literacy performance evaluation rather than a mandatory written final examination.
What writing forms are required?
Students work with summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces, news reports and personal reflections, along with portfolio-based literacy evidence.
Ready to Take This Course?
$549 / Credit
- Provided by CSW — Canadian School of the World
- Ontario Ministry of Education registered
- Delivered fully online
Need Help Deciding?
Not sure if this is the right course? Book a free 30-minute meeting with a CSW advisor.
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