English

Grade 9

Prerequisite: none

Credits:    1 unit

  Skills previously learned in grammar, reading, writing, spelling, and vocabulary are maintained and extended.  Composition ties in with the study of literature with the focus on writing of the paragraph, revising, proofreading and editing.  A brief, but formal, library paper may be assigned along with instructions in research and library skills.  Literature study includes all genres and stresses literary analysis and enhances reading skills.  Personalized reading and oral and written reports will continue.  Thinking, reasoning, and test-taking skills will be incorporated throughout the course.

English I Pre-AP*

Grade 9

Prerequisite: Superior standardized test scores and teacher recommendation.

Credits:  1 unit

  This class is an enriched and accelerated study in English language, literature, and composition beyond the general 9^th grade level.  There is summer reading and a summer project to be completed before the fall class begins.  This course engages students in the careful reading and analysis of prose and imaginative literature.  Through the close reading of selected texts, students will become aware of the ways writers use language to achieve their purposes.  In addition to writing about literature, the course will emphasize the expository, analytical, and argumentative writing that forms the basis of academic and professional communication as well as personal and reflective writing.  The objective of the course is to enable students to read complex texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers.  The course prepares students for Advanced Placement courses in Language Arts and Social Studies.  This course includes summer reading.

  English II

Grade 10

Prerequisite: passing grade in English I or Pre-AP English1

Credits:  1 unit  

Composition skills expand as students study classical and contemporary works of American authors.  Literary analysis is used to develop essays.  Personalized reading with oral and written reports is maintained, and instructional units on test-taking skills, reasoning and thinking skills are presented.

English II Pre-AP*

Grade 10

Prerequisite: Superior standardized test scores and teacher recommendation.

Credits:  1 unit

This class engages students in the careful reading and analysis of American literature, both prose and imaginative.  Through the close reading of selected texts, students will become aware of the ways writers use language to achieve their purposes.  In addition to writing about literature, the course will emphasize the expository, analytical, argumentative writing that forms the basis of academic and professional communication, as well as personal and reflective writing.  The objective of the course is to enable students to read complex texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers.  The course prepares students for Advanced Placement courses in Language Arts and Social Studies.  There are summer readings and summer projects to be completed before class begins in the fall.

English III

Grade 11

Prerequisite: a passing grade in English II or English II Pre-AP

Credit: 1 unit

Composition skills related to the study of British Literature are used to perfect the writing of essays and a modest but completely developed research paper.  The careful reading and study of Macbeth and several teacher-selected major British literary works is required. This course includes a study of the history of the English language that accompanies the study of literature.

English III

English Language and Composition AP*

Grade 11

Prerequisite: an A or B in previous English classes and teacher approval

Credit:  1 unit  

The English Language and Composition AP course engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and the rhetorical contexts of British Literature and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes.  Students will become aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing.  The course will emphasize the expository, analytical, and argumentative writing that forms the basis of academic and professional communication, as well as the personal and reflective writing that foster the development of writing facility in any context.  The student may earn college credit for successful scoring on the Advanced Placement Examination. There is summer reading and a summer project to be completed before fall classes begin.

English IV

Grade 12

Prerequisite: a passing grade in all previous English courses

Credit:  1 unit  

This course has two objectives: to maintain and continue the skills of effective oral and written communication and to enrich the student’s cultural background while increasing understanding of the world and its people through the study of world literature.  The reading and study of Hamlet and other selected world classics are required.  The student is expected to write grammatically and mechanically correct expository and critical papers, using the methodology of literary analysis.

English Literature and Composition AP*

Grade 12

Prerequisite: an A or B in previous English III. class and teacher approval

Credit:  1 unit

This course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature.  Through the close reading of selected texts, students will deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers.  As they read, students will consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone.  Writing will focus on the critical analysis of literature and will include expository, analytical and argumentative essays.  The student may earn college credit for successful scoring on the Advanced Placement Examination.  There is summer reading and a summer project to be completed before fall classes begin.

Bible as Literature

Grade 11, 12

Prerequisite: none

Credits:  ˝ unit

This course analyzes Biblical material as literature, emphasizes the literary qualities of the Bible in terms of theme, plot, character, setting, and style.  It is taught by lecture, reading texts, writing projects, drama, character, sketches, newspapers, speaking projects, television, field trips, guest speakers, and films.  Students will be evaluated by tests scores and written and oral assignments.

  Creative Writing*

Grade 11,12

Prerequisite: teacher recommendation

Credits:  ˝ unit

This course provides instruction in imaginative personal writing (prose and verse) to aid and encourage students who desire special work in this area.

Mythology

Grade 10,11,12

Prerequisite: teacher approval

˝ unit

  Mythology is a study of myths from various cultures with the main focus on Greek and Roman mythology.  Students will observe the similarities in mythologies of various cultures, make observations about the people who originated these myths, and develop good background in mythology to aid further reading in which allusions to mythology appear.

Poetry

Grade 10,11,12

Prerequisite: teacher approval

˝ unit

Poetry is an introduction to the fundamentals of poetic form and content.  Student will study “how to write a poem,” and work with sound devices, figurative language, denotation and connotation, imagery, tone, pattern, allusions, and idea.

Newspaper

Grade 10,11,12

Prerequisite: Instructor Approval

1 unit

Newspaper pursues the study of the mass media with emphasis on developing the journalistic style of writing through the daily practice of writing articles employing specific journalistic techniques.  Included are the processes of newspaper makeup, techniques of copyreading and proofreading, the art of writing headlines, photographic techniques, and modern graphics.  Students in this course assist with in producing the school newspaper.

Yearbook

9, 10, 11, 12

 Prerequisite: Instructor Approval

1 unit