English Language Arts

College Admission Requirements set by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB):

4 credits including 3 credits of college preparatory composition or literature. One credit may be satisfied by courses in drama as literature, public speaking, debate, journalistic writing, business English, English as a Second Language, or Learning Support English. Passing the state mandated high school assessment in Reading is equivalent to earning the first 2 CADR credits of high school English.

All Language Arts courses, except Advanced, use the text Elements of Literature (EOL). All courses will include reading and writing strategies and conventions, literary elements and formal and informal assessments.

Advanced English Summer Reading Requirements:

All advanced English classes require summer reading. See your English teacher for the summer reading packet in May.

Students who wish to participate in advanced English classes should understand that these courses demand considerable work outside the classroom. Successful students have discipline and are willing to spend more time than the standard high school course demands. Course participation is not limited by grade point average, but a teacher conference is recommended for correct placement. Characteristics of a successful student in our college preparatory courses include:

• the ability to use academic English,
• the ability to think critically,
• curiosity about intellectual matters,
• a willingness to deal with “grown up” subject matter or to look at topics or subjects in a new way,
• willingness to devote the time necessary to assignments,
• willingness to accept writing evaluations and work to improve academic writing to meet course expectations, as well as the desire to be challenged.

Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines are to be followed on all written work.