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Graduation Requirements for Language Arts:
Graduation Requirements for Language Arts:
12 credits are required from courses that meet requirements under
12 credits are required from courses that meet requirements under
LA 9, LA 10, LA 11, and LA 12
LA 9, LA 10, LA 11, and LA 12
Language Arts 9
Required: 9
Length of course: Three Trimesters
Fulfills graduation requirements for 9th grade language arts.
This course is required for all 9th grade students who are NOT taking Language Arts 9 Honors
The course focuses on the following: reading independently, using the writing process, developing the essay, reviewing study skill strategies, reinforcing six trait writing skills, improving interpretive reading skills in fiction, drama, and non-fiction, using research and technology, and developing oral communication skills.
Language Arts 9 Honors
Grade: 9
Length of course: Three Trimesters
Fulfills graduation requirement for 9th grade language arts.
A recommended preparatory course for the future AP courses in Language Arts. Skills taught are the same as LA 9 but at a higher level of mastery.
Language Arts 10
Required: 10
Length of course: Three Trimesters
Fulfills graduation requirement for 10th grade language arts.
This course is required for all 10th grade students who are NOT taking Language Arts 10 Honors
Language Arts 10 is a required course for all sophomores that prepares them for the types of reading, writing, and speaking they will encounter during their school career and beyond. LA 10 focuses on reading, comprehension, and analysis of different genres. Students will be exposed to a variety of informational texts and will explore fiction through the reading of novels, short stories, and other literature. Throughout this course, students will continue to develop their research, writing and presentation skills. Students completing this course will meet the Grade 10 MN State Standards.
Language Arts 10 Honors
Grade 10
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills graduation requirement for 10th grade language arts.
A recommended preparatory course for the future AP courses in Language Arts. Skills that are taught meet the LA Minnesota Academic Core Standards for grade 10 at a higher level of mastery than LA 10.
Language Arts 11
Required: 11
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills graduation requirement for 11th grade language arts.
This course is required for all 11th grade students who are NOT taking AP Language and Composition.
This required, yearlong course provides students with a final foundational language arts experience in literature, written composition, and communications. Students will read a variety of early and modern American literature, synthesize essays and research projects, and understand the nuanced forms of communication from intrapersonal to cultural communication.
AP Language and Composition
Elective: 11 (AP Level)
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills graduation requirement for 11th grade language arts
Replacement course for Language Arts 11.
Weighted grade
A year-long AP course in English Language and Composition engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of rhetorical contexts and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their writing and their reading should make students aware of the interactions among writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way genre conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing.
12th Grade Options
Yearlong
Video Game Literature, Communication and Composition
Elective: 12
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills graduation requirement for 12th grade language arts
Not NCAA Approved
This course is designed to benefit students by combining Video Game literacy with LA 12 literature, communication and writing standards. The goal is to engage student interests and learning styles through the development of stories told through video games that reflect pop culture. Students will be expected to demonstrate mastery in reading, writing, listening, speaking and media literacy skills by (1) analyzing and comparing stories from different video games, (2) analyzing genres in both fiction and non-fiction content of the game, (3) write grammatically correct creative and academic papers, and (4) prepare, deliver, and evaluate speeches.
AP Literature and Composition
Elective: 12 (AP Level)
Length of Course: Three trimesters
Fulfills graduation requirement for 12th grade language arts
Weighted grade.
Advanced Placement (AP) Literature and Composition is a challenging course designed for students seeking college level experience in English. Students will read both classic and contemporary literature, with a focus on developing analytical reading, writing, and discussion skills. Readings will be drawn from novels, plays, short stories, and poetry. Students enrolling in the course will read, write, and discuss extensively to build their repertoire of interpretive skills. Students taking the course will be required to read several literary works and write analytical reactions during the summer immediately preceding the start of the course.
Trimester Options
12th grade students are able to choose electives each trimester that correlate to an area in language arts. Choose one in literature for trimester 1; one in writing for trimester 2; and one in communications for trimester 3.
Trimester 1: LITERATURE COURSES
Choose one in literature for trimester 1
Humanities
Elective: 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills one literature language arts credit toward graduation.
In this course, students examine works of literature, philosophy, and the arts to probe human identity and explore life’s meanings within the various cultural areas and eras.
Popular Fiction
Elective 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Not NCAA Approved
Fulfills one literature language arts credit toward graduation.
This course will expose students to popular and high interest novels from various genres of literature and nonfiction texts to inspire life-long reading habits. Writing assignments will include reactions to readings, literary analysis, journals, and creative/informative projects.
Science Fiction
Elective: 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills one literature language arts credit toward graduation.
The literature in this course deals with the realm of possibility. Many science fiction writers begin with the question “What if…?” and provide us with a vision of the way things might be in the near or distant future. Students will read a minimum of 2 novels and additional short stories during this course. Vocabulary study, discussions, quizzes, and tests as well as written reactions to themes in the literature will be part of this course.
Short Story Literature
Elective 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Not NCAA Approved
Fulfills one literature language arts credit toward graduation.
This course provides students with the opportunity to read a wide selection of short stories. Students will demonstrate knowledge of plot, theme, character, point of view, setting, and irony. Additionally, students will develop their interpretation skills. Writing assignments will include reactions to readings and literary analysis
12th Grade Options
Trimester 2: WRITING COURSES
Choose one in writing for trimester 2
Creative Writing
Grade 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills one writing language arts credit toward graduation.
This course offers the opportunity of growing in such writing areas as short stories, poetry, memoirs, and journal writing. The study and application of literary devices will propel students into making their writing more effective. This course which requires daily writing, is designed for students who love to write and are looking to write creatively.
Professional Writing
Grade 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Not NCAA Approved
Fulfills one writing language arts credit toward graduation.
Students will practice writing skills that are of practical use in their lives outside of and beyond high school. Major areas of study and practice will include personal and professional writing such as: letters, resumes, reports, proposals, and other forms of correspondence, as well as responses to selected reading and informed opinion writing.
Visual Literacy
Grade 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Not NCAA Approved
Fulfills one writing language arts credit toward graduation.
This course develops analytical and creative writing skills through working with drama. Students will discuss the elements of visual media and the themes of classic and contemporary films. Students in this class will watch, analyze, and gain inspiration from visual modes of entertainment.
12th Grade Options
Trimester 3: COMMUNICATIONS COURSES
Choose one in communications for trimester 3
Debate/Argumentation
Grade 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills one communications language arts credit toward graduation.
The student will develop skills in logic, persuasion, vocabulary, research, composition, organization, delivery, and ethics in persuasion. Important national issues from a political and evaluative perspective will be examined. This course will aid in preparing for college. The class will require speeches, in-class debates, and work outside of school.
Mass Media
Grade 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Not NCAA Approved
Fulfills one communications language arts credit toward graduation.
This course examines the history of print and broadcast media in our world and its role in the delivery of information and entertainment. Through class discussions, presentations, and projects, students will analyze the cognitive, emotional, moral, and aesthetic impact of mass media on our society.
Speech
Grade 12
Length of Course: One trimester
Fulfills one communications language arts credit toward graduation.
This course is designed for students who are interested in honing their public speaking skills. From storytelling to informing, persuading and entertaining, the public speaking student in this course can expect to share and express ideas with heightened confidence and eloquence.
This is a valuable course for students interested in competitive public speaking, but speech team experience or interest is not required.
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