Communication/Language Arts

COMMUNICATION/LANGUAGE ARTS

COMMUNICATION/LANGUAGE ARTS REQUIREMENTS

The Language Arts curriculum is designed to enhance grammar fundamentals; improve communication skills through speaking, writing and listening; demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of various forms of literature; and provide application and relevance to other subjects and the real world.  The necessary prerequisites must be followed.

REQUIRED COURSES

GRADE 9, 10

Communications 9

Language Arts 10

GRADE 11 or 12

Media Studies

Students in grades 11 and 12 are required to select a minimum of one writing and one literature course.  Some courses require permission from an English teacher, special education teacher or counselor.  See course descriptions for classes that have prerequisites. 

 ELECTIVES

* These are the courses that are recommended for college bound students. 

THESE COURSES ARE OFFERED AT CFHS

#1210 - COMMUNICATIONS 9

Full Year - 1 Credit

Grade 9

The purpose of this class is for each student to become an accomplished writer and speaker.  Students will learn and practice with spelling, grammar, and stylistic skills while writing paragraph and multi-paragraph compositions.  The main model of writing will be the five-paragraph essay.   For public speaking, students will learn to speak extemporaneously from an outline.  Each student will learn to handle various public speaking situations and develop critical listening skills.  The course is designed so that writing and speaking are viewed as variations of a single communication method. 

#1220 - LANGUAGE ARTS 10

Full Year   1 Credit

Grade 10                                                                                              

In the Language Arts 10 course, students continue to develop their writing skills and become familiar with a variety of literary genres including: short stories, novels and dramas selected from American authors.  Students refine research skills and complete a longer-length research paper.  Independent reading is a required part of the course.  Students may choose an alternative curriculum within the course to earn honors designation. 

#9317 - COLLEGE PREP WRITING

1/2 Credit

Grades 11 - 12                                                 

This course is a college preparatory class.  Students will write in all major genres—expository, persuasive, narrative, etc.  Grammar proficiency, practical writing and source crediting are also necessary parts of this class.  This class does not offer any opportunity for college credit. 

#1204 - CREATIVE COMPOSITION

1/2 Credit

Grades 11 - 12                                                               

Creative writing emphasizes the re-discovery of personal creativity and individual voice in a relaxed writing environment.  Students write and share their work in peer settings, learning how to discuss and critique their work and the work of peer writers.  The class reads numerous modern short fiction pieces, as well as a wide assortment of non-fiction and poetry, and also uses film and photography as a way to inspire writing.  Students will write a children’s book, short stories, and poetry.  Much of the success of the class rests on doing class writing exercises and projects, rather than quizzes and tests.  Daily effort and daily work will be stressed.

#1205 - DRAMA: LITERATURE AND PRESENTATION

1/2 Credit

Grades 11 -12                                                              

Drama gives students the opportunity to learn hands on about all aspects of theater.  Students will study dramatic literature, the history of theater, fundamentals of play production, and dramatic performance.  No previous acting experience is required but acting is a requirement of the class.  This course will take students all the way from analysis of a script to its performance on the stage.

#2111 – HONORS HUMANITIES:  MODERN WORLD

Full Year -1 Credit (1/2 Art and 1/2 Communications)

Grade 11-12

Over the centuries the existence of humankind on this earth has been recorded in many ways.  Writing, art, music and architecture can give us special insights into how people lived and thought.  Through such records we can gain a special awareness of our ancestors, and ourselves.  This course will not be restricted to western thought, but will provide a multicultural approach to our foundations as a society.  With this in mind, Humanities is being offered as an advanced level course, presented by two instructors, and intended for college bound or above average students (same course as offered in the Art department course listings).

Humanities:  Classical World will be offered in 2021-22 school year.  Instructor approval is required for this course.

#1207 – MEDIA STUDIES 

1/2 Credit

Grades 11-12                                                                                          

This required course, taken either junior or senior year, meets the state requirement for media literacy. The course’s goal is to become critical consumers of the media.  Students will look at and analyze a range of media messages through written and oral assignments.  We look at how media works, the effects media has on individuals and society, the history of certain media, the business of media including advertising, and journalism.  We look at a wide variety of media including TV, radio, movies, books, and the internet. 

#1208 - NOVELS

 1/2 Credit         

 Grades 11 -12

A variety of novels will be the reading requirements for this course.  This will include the independent reading of novels, periodic quizzing or testing (objective and essay), discussion groups and related projects.  The class will encompass an in-depth look at several literary devices, including theme, characterization, conflict, plot, point of view, author's purpose and techniques, etc.  One track of the course - regular novels - will allow a student to read and complete basic course requirements.  An honors track with advanced novels will include novels from a college-bound reading list, allowing a student to choose a more difficult curriculum and receive honors credit for the course.  Honors credit will be indicated on the report card/transcript.                       

#1209 - PRACTICAL ENGLISH

1/2 Credit

Grades 11 - 12                                                                         

This class is designed for students who need practical English skills for post high school employment and further training programs.   In this class there will be a review of basic English grammar and usage, punctuation, clear sentence and paragraph construction.  In addition, this class will deal with aspects of technical writing, as well as writing in everyday situations.                             

Prerequisite:  Approval of course instructor and/or communications teacher.

#1211 - READING WORKSHOP 

1/2 Credit

Grades 11 -12                                                  

The goal of this course is to improve students reading skill, comprehension, and vocabulary.  Students will learn and practice the skills needed to become better readers through a combination of individual and guided instruction.  Students will read a variety of fiction and non-fiction selections.  This course can be taken only once. 

Prerequisite:  Approval of course instructor and/or communications teacher.

#1201 - ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION      (AP Comp)  Taught by Mr. Fogarty

1 Credit

Grades 11 - 12                                     

This rigorous writing-centered course for college-bound juniors and seniors provides intensive preparation in expository, descriptive, narrative, and persuasive writing techniques.  Peer feedback and critiquing is an integral part of the course.  The reading list focuses on non-fiction essays and texts, drawing most significantly from 20th century writers.  The Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Test is an additional opportunity offered in this course. 

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Language Arts 10 and approval of advanced placement course instructor/communications teacher.

#1202 - ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION      (AP Lit)     Taught by Mrs. Winget

Full Year  1 Credit

Grades 11 -12                                      

AP English Literature and Composition will give students a learning experience equivalent to a typical undergrad introduction to literature class. Through close reading of literary texts, students will come to understand how writers use language to provide meaning and to answer the big questions in life. We will ask, "What is art?" and try to determine the qualities of great literature. Our literary analysis will look through the lenses of style and structure, literary theories, diction, figurative language, imagery, selection of detail, language and syntax. Students will also master literary terms. Writing well about literature is a key component of the class. The Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition Test is an additional opportunity offered in this course.

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Language Arts 10 and approval of advanced placement course instructor/communications teacher.

THESE COURSES ARE OFFERED THROUGH ITV.

#9201 AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSTION   (ITV full year course)

1 Credit                                                                                      Hybrid

Grades 11-12

Prerequisites: Students registering for AP English Language and Composition should have a B or better in their prior Language Arts course or a recommendation from a previous Language Arts teacher. In addition, required summer assignments must be completed by course start date.  In accordance with the AP College Board course description, this class will engage “students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts, and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes” (The College Board, AP English Course Description, May 2007, May 2008: 6). Students will read primarily non-fiction materials in this course and will be given the opportunity to discuss these works and their thoughts/opinions in an online environment as well as the classroom. In addition to non-fiction works, we will also analyze poetry, fiction, and visual materials to examine rhetorical choices and contextual relationships in print and in online sources. Students will also be given instruction in how to analyze rhetorical strategies in the online world and also collaborate with their peers in peer editing, projects, and discussions. This course will culminate in the AP English Language and Composition Exam; students will be given practice questions that will mirror the intensity of the exam. Be aware that this course is the equivalent of an introductory college composition course; it will be rigorous and challenging.

Admittance to the course is contingent on completing a summer reading/writing assignment prior to the beginning of the school year.  Students with an average grade in English coursework lower than a B should submit a letter of recommendation from a previous English teacher. It is recommended that students taking both AP English courses should take Language in 11th grade and Literature in 12th grade.

#9202 AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION    (ITV full year course)

1 Credit

Grades 11-12

This is a challenging, college level English course. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of semantic, structural, and rhetorical resources of the English language as they relate to the principles of effective writing.  This course is intended to challenge and promote: independent, logical and critical thinking; good study skills and academic achievement. Students will receive college-level instruction in studying a variety of literature representing a spectrum of genres including poetry, short story, drama, fiction and non-fiction. Studies will include British and American authors. Analysis of literature and academic writing in response to the various works and genres are emphasized.  Literary terms and devices are scrutinized in works. The course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement exam in the spring. A summer assignment must be completed and is due upon the first meeting date. It is recommended that students have an interest in reading academic works of literary merit.

#9315 WETC – SCIFI/FANTASY LITERATURE

½ Credit                                                       

Grades 11-12

This course will focus on the reading of science fiction and fantasy literature, small and large group discussions, tests, quizzes, and projects.  Students will learn the history of the genres, will study and compare specific major texts (novels and short stories), and will explore literary devices at work, such as themes, narrative structure, characterization, conflict, etc.   Past and current trends, and the role of technology and fantasy elements in everyday life as reflected in the texts, will also be discussed.

This course is designed for students who have been successful in their English writing courses and are looking for a useful application for their writing skills.  Students will study topics such as ethics in journalism, application of an angle as a focus for writing, newspaper article genre, photography and videography, and editing skills.  Though there will be occasional tests and quizzes on the required reading material, the focus on the course will be writing and editing.  The platform and outlet for student work will be a “Sandbox” online newspaper that each student will contribute to and that will be available for others to read.  Students will serve as category editors on a rotating basis and will both set and be subject to a series of deadlines.  Each student will have the opportunity to write for the following categories:  news, features, sports, opinion, arts and entertainment, and interactive media.  The course will meet on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.