The course is designed to encourage the habits of reading and helps readers in grades 7-12 to engage with texts that will challenge them while also developing their English skills. The course complements the Ontario curriculum, focusing upon reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary as well as argumentative strategies. It introduces basic frameworks of critical thinking that are necessary for high school success and university acceptance. The course outlines the basic parameters of writing critical essays. It also teaches the core techniques needed for academic writing: how to plan an essay writing project; how to properly write an argumentative essay; the essential techniques for proofreading and editing; and the ability to reflect on how they learn in order to identify how to improve for themselves. Collectively, the techniques taught in this course will give students the basic skills and learning frameworks to successfully compete academically.