The Language Arts Department is committed to providing every student with the opportunity to learn effective communication skills through reading, writing, speaking, and language standards.
We believe that:
Students need to develop higher order thinking skills through Language Arts in order to function effectively in college, careers, and at leisure in a technological society.
Students need to communicate with others through oral and written language in the modern world. Students need to gain an appreciation of diverse cultures through literature.
Students need to be competent readers, writers, and speakers in order to effectively continue learning throughout their lives.
ENGLISH 9 (2 semesters)
Credit: 1
Grade Placement: 9
Prerequisite: None
Course Description: English 9 is a required comprehensive English course designed to aid students in reaching proficiency on Common Core Standards at the 9th grade level. Students will focus on MLA citations, explicit answers and making inferences (RL/RI1), analyzing use of different medium (RL7), exploring diverse cultural literature (RL/RI6), presenting information (SL4), writing objective summaries (RI/RL2), gathering information and writing informative essays (W2 and W4), analyzing complex characters and themes in literature (RL/RI2 and RL/RI3), and using 9th grade grammar skills (L1 and L2).
ENGLISH 10 (2 semesters)
Credit: 1
Grade Placement: 10
Prerequisite: English 9
Course Description: English 10 is a required comprehensive English course designed to aid students in reaching proficiency on Common Core Standards at the 10th grade level. Students will focus on MLA citations, explicit answers and making inferences (RL/RI1), using textual evidence to write an essay (W9), using research skills to gather and present information in support of a thesis statement (W6, W7, W8, and SL2), writing a cultural narrative (W3 and RL/RI6), connotation/denotation, patterns of word change, and figurative language (RL/RI 4, L4 and L5).
ENGLISH 11 (2 semesters)
Credits: 1
Grade Placement: 11
Prerequisites: English 9 & English 10
English 11 is a comprehensive English course designed to aid students in reaching proficiency on Common Core Standards at the 11th grade level. Students will focus on explicit answers and inferences using textual evidence (RL/RI 1), MLA citations (RL/RI 1), central ideas and themes (RL/RI 2), claims and evidence (RI 8), writing a clear and concise argumentative paper (W1, W4, W5), correct usage, grammar, punctuation, spelling (L1, L2, L3, L6), author's choices and text structure (RL/RI 3, RL/RI 5), meaning of words and phrases (RL/RI 4), collaborative conversations (SL 1), similar themes/topics in multiple texts (RL/RI9), and presenting and using digital media (SL 5). American literature along with some world literature will be used throughout the course.
HONORS ENGLISH I (2 semesters)
Credit: 1
Grade Placement: 11
Prerequisite: English 9 & 10 AND Teacher Approval
Course Description: Honors English 11 is a rigorous English course designed for the college bound student. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation for American and British/World Literature during the course. Students will write critical analysis papers and research papers using MLA citation methods, and students will gain critical reading comprehension skills necessary for all walks of life. Students will meet Common Core expectations by focusing on explicit answers and inferences using textual evidence (RL/RI 1), central ideas and themes (RL/RI 2), claims and evidence (RI 8), writing a clear and concise argumentative paper (W1, W4, W5), correct usage, grammar, punctuation, spelling (L1, L2, L3, L6), author's choices and text structure (RL/RI 3, RL/RI 5), meaning of words and phrases (RL/RI 4), collaborative conversations (SL 1), similar themes/topics in multiple texts (RL/RI9), and presenting using digital media (SL 5).
ENGLISH 12 (2 semesters)
Credit: 1
Grade Placement: 12
Prerequisite: English 9, 10, & 11/Honors 1
This class is a continuation of the junior year of English. Students will continue to develop writing skills, and write extended, focused, correctly documented research papers, using MLA and/or APA styles. In this class students will develop greater mastery of the writing process and develop research skills. Students will write regularly both in and out of class. Students will be introduced to the requirements of college writing and technical writing. Writing assignments will be expositive. Specific problems in mechanics will be reviewed and students will be required to organize, revise, and edit all writings. Students will become familiar with using style guides. Students will also develop critical reading skills. Emphasis will be on the Romantics, Victorian Age and Modern Age in British literature along with classic works of world literature. Students will actively participate in class discussion, prepare individual and group presentations, and write extensively.
ENG 105: English Composition 1 CE (1 semester)
Credit: 0.5 High School Credit/ 3 Credits of College Credit
Grade Placement: 12
Prerequisite: C in English 11 or Honors English I AND Teacher Approval
Composition I is a writing and reading course designed to prepare the student for the types of written communication and thought essential to the academic and working world. The general goals of Composition I are to have students gain more confidence in their writing abilities and improve their proficiency in critical reading and in writing non-fiction prose, with emphasis on narration, description and exposition. A documented essay assignment will guide students through evaluating and accessing resources, and citing sources using MLA documentation style. This course is a university-transfer course, preparing the student for more rigorous thought and argumentation in Composition II and in other academic subjects. This course will afford the student dual credit through the high school and college.
ENG 106 English Composition 2 CE(1 semester)
Credit: 0.5 High School Credit/ 3 Credits of College Credit
Grade Placement: 12
Prerequisite: C in ENG105: English Composition 1
Composition II is a writing and reading course designed to prepare the student for critical reading, thinking, and writing in terms of argumentation. The general goals of Composition II are to have students learn the ins and outs of argumentative writing and reasoning through critical reading. Students will write their own arguments following a specific format while avoiding manipulative language and fallacies. Students will engage in using APA and MLA documentation style. This course is a university-transfer course. This course will afford the student dual credit through the high school and college.
LIT 101 Introduction to Literature CE (1 semester)
Credit: 0.5 High School Credit/ 3 Credits of College Credit
Grade Placement: 12
Prerequisite: C ENG 105: Composition I
Introduction to Literature is designed as a literature appreciation course which offers an introduction to the major literary genres: the short story, poetry, drama, and the novel. Emphasis is on learning the basic elements of each genre and applying those elements as tools of literary interpretation through critical reading and writing. Styles of writing which will be learned include analysis, explication, compare/contrast and response.
Language Arts Electives
EXPRESSIVE WRITING (1 semester)
Credit: 0.5
Grade Placement: 10-12
Prerequisite: English 9
This semester-long course will focus on exposing students to different types of writing one may encounter in school along with the workplace. Units will include technical writing (i.e. emails, business letters, resumes, cover letters, memos, etc.), journalism (i.e. newspapers, newsletters, radio, etc.), creative writing (i.e. short stories, poems, plays, etc.), and internet writing (i.e. blogs, webpages, vlogs, etc.). Students will be allowed to strengthen their writing skills through the various units and see how different styles of writing can lead to possible careers after high school along with being prepared for the workplace.
INDEPENDENT READING (1 semester)
Credit: 0.5
Grade Placement: 10-12
Prerequisite: English 9
During this semester-long course, students will have the opportunity to read from a variety of genres. Students will be allowed to choose their own books to read from within specified genres such as non-fiction, mystery, graphic novels, horror/thriller, science fiction, and more. During each genre unit, students will discuss the books they have chosen with each other through literary circles. Students will learn about what elements make up a specific genre and how these different genres compare and contrast to each other along with how they may blur the lines into various genres. Students will strengthen their reading comprehension skills of knowledge and analysis through reading multiple books while also working on their communication skills through discussion. The skills gained will allow students to be successful in both post-secondary education along with the workplace.