english courses

English I

Academy Only

Year long - 1 credit

Grade 9 & Transfers

This year-long, 1-credit class uses a digital literacy curriculum called CommonLit 360.  Emphasis is placed on the

development of the skills necessary to read and comprehend a variety of literary works and informational text.  Students will also advance their knowledge of composition, reviewing and establishing grade-level grammatical conventions, and essay structure.  Additionally, students will be challenged to acquire and use sophisticated vocabulary.  Multiple compositions of varying lengths are required.

English I Honors

Academy Only

Year long - 1 credit

Grade 9 & Transfers

This year-long, 1-credit class uses both the CommonLit curriculum as well as supplemental texts and is recommended for those who are self-motivated and work above grade level.  Great emphasis is placed on critical thinking and analytical writing, and students are expected to work independently as well as collaboratively.  Those enrolled in this class are required to read and analyze a variety of literary works and informational texts and are challenged to reach their own conclusions, free from the influence of online guides and interpretations. They will be expected to demonstrate considerable control of grade-level grammatical conventions and to add to their vocabulary repertoire, as the course will seek to enhance and refine student writing. Multiple compositions of varying lengths are required and include argumentative, informational, narrative, and research-based papers. This course meets the state framework requirements to be designated an honors class and is eligible for the additional percentage and quality point weighting.

English II: Reading / English II  (2 terms-2 credits) 

English II fits the needs of either college-bound or technical-school bound students as well as those preparing to enter the workforce directly after graduation. In this course, students build upon the skills developed in English I. The digital CommonLit 360 curriculum is designed to aid students in their understanding of age-appropriate, complex informational and literary texts as well as enhance writing skills. Multiple essays will be required, including argumentative, informative, narrative, and research-based writing. Emphasis is placed on improving students’ ability to cite evidence to support their analytical claims in both reading and writing. Vocabulary and grammar will be further topics of study.  Students enrolled in this course must take the TNReady exam, which will count for a percentage of the final grade. 

Students who successfully complete the first semester of this two-semester class will receive an elective credit in English.  Students who successfully complete the second semester of this two-semester class will receive the required English credit for graduation.

English II Honors: Reading / English II Honors (2 terms-2 credits) 

This course is taught at an accelerated pace. In preparation for college and the TNReady

exam, students enrolled in this course are required to read and comprehend complex

literary and informational texts, as well as content presented in diverse formats, genres,

and media. Students will write multiple argumentative, expository, and analytical essays

to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately. Students

will also conduct a sustained research project based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. Students enrolled in honors English must also have the flexibility, concentration, and fluency to produce high-quality first-draft work under a tight deadline. A firm control over grammar and vocabulary and an ability to work both independently and collaboratively are necessary for success in this class.  Students enrolled in this course must take the TNReady exam, which will count for a percentage of the final grade.

Students who successfully complete the first semester of this two-semester class will receive an elective credit in English.  Students who successfully complete the second semester of this two-semester class will receive the required English credit for graduation. This course meets the state framework requirements to be designated an honors class and is eligible for the additional percentage and quality point weighting.

English III: Reading / English III (2 terms-2 credits) 

Students in English III are working on career-ready and college-bound reading and formal writing skills while focusing on American texts, both literary and informative, which include selections from multiple eras (pre-Colonial to Modern) and genres, including formative U.S. documents, classic American literary works, and historical speeches and letters. These works offer insight into the human condition and act as models for the students’ own writing. Research-based writing will be included in various formats, along with other types of multi-paragraph written responses, including argumentative, informative, and narrative. Emphasis will also be placed on the ACT English and Reading subtests (the ACT is a state requirement for graduation), basic grammar, and vocabulary development. 

Students who successfully complete the first semester of this two-semester class will receive an elective credit in English.  Students who successfully complete the second semester of this two-semester class will receive the required English credit for graduation.

English III Honors: Reading / English III (2 terms-2 credits) 

This fast-paced class is for the self-motivated student who intends to pursue a college degree after completing high school. With the end goal of college preparedness, students will focus on American texts, both literary and informative, while developing proficiency in reading comprehension and formal writing. Emphasis will also be placed on practicing for the ACT English and Reading subtests (the ACT is a state requirement for graduation). Texts will include selections from multiple eras (pre-Colonial to Modern) and genres, including formative U.S. documents, classic American literary works, and historical speeches and letters. 

Exceptional language skills are expected for this class, and students will be expected to tackle complex and lengthy texts independently. Students will evaluate arguments found in complex texts and develop strategies to develop their own arguments in well-constructed essays. Multiple essays will be required, including argumentative, narrative, informative, and research-based writing. 

Students who successfully complete the first semester of this two-semester class will receive an elective credit in English.  Students who successfully complete the second semester of this two-semester class will receive the required English credit for graduation.This course meets the state framework requirements to be designated an honors class and is eligible for the additional percentage and quality point weighting.

English IV (1 term-1 credit) 

In preparation for college and/or the workforce, students in English IV will focus on both British and informational texts.  Research-based writing will be included in various formats, along with other types of multi-paragraph written responses, including argumentative, informative, and narrative. Additionally, students will study vocabulary and grammar.  

AP English Language and Composition (2 terms-2 credits)

The AP English Language and Composition course aligns to an introductory college-level

rhetoric and writing curriculum, which requires students to develop evidence-based

analytic and argumentative essays that proceed through several stages or drafts. Students

evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Throughout the course,

students develop a personal style by making appropriate grammatical choices. Additionally, students read and analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects in non-fiction texts,

including graphic images as forms of text, from many disciplines and historical periods.

Students must also complete summer assignments prior to beginning class in August.

Assessment Overview

Students who enroll in AP Language are expected to take the AP English Language and

Composition Exam, which employs multiple-choice questions and free-response prompts

to test students’ skills in rhetorical analysis and written argumentation. Earning a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP exam is the only way to earn college credit for this course. 

AP English Literature and Composition (2 terms-2 credits) 

The AP English Literature and Composition course focuses on reading, analyzing, and

writing about imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from various periods. The AP

English Literature and Composition course aligns to an introductory college-level literary

analysis course. The course engages students in the close reading and critical analysis of

imaginative literature (1600 - present) to deepen their understanding of the ways writers

use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. As they read, students consider a

work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, 

symbolism, and tone. Writing assignments include expository, analytical, and argumentative

essays that require students to analyze and interpret literary works. Both research and oral

presentations will be conducted. Students must also complete summer assignments prior

to beginning class in August.

Assessment Overview

Students who enroll in AP English IV are expected to take the AP English Literature and

Composition Exam, which employs multiple-choice questions and free-response prompts

to test students’ skills in literary analysis of passages from prose and poetry texts.

Dual Enrollment:  Maryville College 

English 110 Composition and Speech 1 (Fall Semester)  

1 term - 1 credit

Grade 12

English 120 Composition and Speech 2 (Spring Semester)

1 term - 1 credit

Grade 12

Maryville College welcomes qualified high school juniors and seniors to take college level courses on a space-available basis. Students are considered for admission as Dual Enrollment students if they have a minimum 3.0 grade point average OR a minimum ACT of 21 (SAT of 1060.) Students must reapply for each term they wish to enroll as a Dual Enrollment student at Maryville College. Even if a high school student meets all academic criteria to be admitted into the Dual Enrollment program, Maryville College will only place high school students in college classes if space is available. With limited space in many introductory level courses, priority is given to current full-time Maryville College students over Dual Enrollment applicants.

English 110 Composition and Speech 1 (Fall Semester) 

This course develops students' skills in communicating clearly through writing and speech, with attention to all stages of the composing process, including analysis of the rhetorical situation, invention and drafting, choices of evidence, peer conferencing, and revision.

Students complete a variety of essays and presentations, with emphasis on persuasion and basic research. 

Note:  Only English 110 is required for graduation.

English 120 Composition and Speech 2 (Spring Semester)

Prerequisite(s): English 110

This course hones students' skills in writing and speech, with particular emphasis on strategies and sources appropriate for academic and professional work. It also provides instruction in argumentation and library research that supports students' completion of an extended researched argument as well as multiple shorter writing assignments and presentations.

Note:  Only English 110 is required for graduation.

Dual Enrollment:  Pellissippi State Community College

English 1010:  English Composition I (Fall Semester)

Prerequisite(s): ACT Reading score of 19 and ACT English score of 18

Students enrolled in this course study and practice expository and persuasive writing. Topics include critical reading and writing essays, with emphasis on research, writing processes, and effective formatting.

■ Online availability: This course is offered online as well as in-person. Check the semester course list in myPellissippi for current availability. Online courses may require proctored exams and quizzes. Students are responsible for any fees charged by some proctoring services.

♦ This is a General Education course transferable within the Tennessee Board of Regents system.

★ This course is directly equivalent to a course at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Note:  Only English 1010 is required for graduation.

English 1020:  English Composition II (Spring Semester)

Prerequisite:  English 1010

Prerequisite(s): ACT Reading score of 19 and ACT English score of 18

Analytic writing based on the study of literature; study and practice of research writing.

ACT Prep-English

Grades 11 & 12

This course is designed to help students prepare for the Reading and Language sections of the ACT. Students will also be given test-taking strategies to improve their scores. The course is taught at a fast pace and attendance is necessary for success both in the class and

on the ACT.

Film Studies

1 term - 1 credit

Grades 10, 11, & 12

Film Studies is an introductory visual literacy course that focuses on: 1) the history and evolution of moviemaking; 2) the technical basics of film, including lighting, composition, sound, camera movement, etc.; and 3) cross-curricular connections to language arts, social studies, fine arts, and science. The curriculum is grounded in a set of instructional standards developed by The Film Foundation. Movies that are screened in class have almost all been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, and most have received at least one Academy Award for excellence in an area of production. Students have required reading, writing, quizzes, tests, and projects.

Information and Library Science

1 term - 1 credit

Grades 11 & 12

Information and Library Science is designed to teach students how to manage and retrieve information. Daily tasks include, but are not limited to, working at the circulation desk, working with media, organizing materials, designing and completing displays, and planning and implementing library activities. Each student is required to read two fiction books and complete two book talks for the semester.

Yearbook Publishing

1 term - 1 credit

Grades 10, 11, & 12

Prerequisite: English I (Grade of A or B), Teacher Recommendation, and Approval of Yearbook Sponsor.

This hands-on class is designed to teach students the components of yearbook production and journalism. Coursework will include the fundamentals of journalism, organization, graphic design, editing, publishing, layout, copy writing, marketing, publicity, and sales.

Because students will rely heavily on computers and software applications, basic computer skills are required.