Sophomore English

Academic English 10 is designed to foster critical and reflective thinking along with strong, cogent writing skills in order to produce literate, productive and inquisitive world citizens. Through both guided and independent readings of novels, short s

Academic English 10 focuses on developing critical analysis and thinking skills through interaction with literature, writing, technology and oral discourse. A wide variety of literary genres, including fiction, nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, poetry, and drama are presented for discussion, analysis and critique. Multicultural literature will be highlighted in order to provide students with a vehicle to study other cultures and draw meaningful relevancies from their cultures to the cultures of others. Strong focus is placed on text-dependent analysis, the ability to make inferences from a given piece of text, and the ability to identify literary and rhetorical elements in a text and explicate how such elements create meaning within a text. Through a study of advertising, communication and propaganda, students will become discerning consumers of information and will be able to recognize both bias and invalid sources of information. Argumentative discourse and writing will be taught, and students will be able to develop logical, well-researched arguments and present such arguments with a strong, powerful voice in both oral discourse and in writing. Ongoing vocabulary study will allow students to further present themselves with confidence and authority.

Introduction to Theater English

This class is for anyone who has an interest in what goes into acting and directing. Previous experience is not necessary. Introduction to Theatre focuses on team work and analysis of self and human communication through written and spoken words. Theater is often called a grand equalizer as the needs to accomplish its final goals come from sharing the varied talents of its players. It stretches the academic to become more vocally expressive. It allows the academically challenged students successes in having an arena where their talents beyond academia are needed. This class has included students participating in AP classes, vocational technical school and special needs classes.

Theatrical Design

This course uses construction, design, and problem solving skills to support the school in both theatrical sets and artistic displays. Since there is a focus on building sets and props to support the theatre, students are recommended to have taken Woods 1 and have prior experience with construction tools and safety. It is also helpful if students have a general knowledge of carpentry mathematics and the desire to work in a team to construct the sets and scenery for high school productions and projects.