Courses

English Course Offerings:

Freshman Level Courses

English 9

Students develop reading (nonfiction and fiction) speaking and listening, research, and language skills. Course content includes a focus on the human condition through the study of short stories, extended texts, a Shakespeare play, a classical text and a variety of media.

Freshman Level Course

English 9 Honors

This course is designed for students seeking further challenges who are willing and able to learn more sophisticated literature and to engage in more complex and extensive writing assignments. Students will learn how to critically read and analyze a text, synthesize multiple sources to draw conclusions and formulate arguments.

Freshman Level Course

Literacy Block 9

Literacy Block 9 is designed to build students' literacy skills and assist with course work in English 9. Students set and work towards individualized literacy goals, strengthen organization skills, and build independence and confidence in literacy.

Freshman Level Course

Sophomore Level Courses

English 10

Students develop reading (fiction and nonfiction) speaking and listening, research, and language skills. Students research, analyze, discuss and write about a variety of texts (fiction, non-fiction, and multi-media) in order to draw inferences about the messages found within the texts.

Sophomore Level Course

English 10 Honors

This course is for students who wish to challenge themselves and are willing and able to read more complex literature and undertake writing and research assignments independently. Course content works to develop students' skills in research, analysis, discussion and reading and writing about a variety of texts in order ,to draw inferences about messages in the world. Reading and writing instruction and assignments are designed to prepare students for the challenges of honors and AP courses in their junior and senior year.

Sophomore Level Course

Junior Level Courses

English 11

English 11 is an investigation of various genres of American literature including extended and short fiction and nonfiction texts through a variety of mediums. Students will read and consider the recurring themes of freedom, justice and morality, and will apply writing speaking and listening, and research skills to various forms of analysis and synthesis.

Junior Level Course

American Studies

American Studies is a co-taught two-period course that combines two required courses in US History and English 11/American Literature into one integrated course by taking a thematic approach to both subjects. Students study and analyze primary and secondary source readings and focus on the development of writing skills.

Junior Level Course

English 11 Honors

This course is designed for students who wish to challenge themselves and are willing and able to read complex fiction and non-fiction texts and undertake complex writing and research assignments. Course content will focus on American literature and prepare students to take either AP English Language and Composition or the AP English Literature and Composition course.

Junior Level Course

English 11 Honors Blended

This course is designed to be 50% face-to-face and 50% on your own online work. This class is for students who like to work at their own pace but can maintain their workload and deadlines on their own.

Junior Level Course

AP English Language and Composition

AP English Language and Composition is a college-level study of non-fiction texts written in a variety of eras, disciplines and rhetorical contexts. Students will read and analyze complex text with understanding, synthesize research materials, and write in both formal and informal contexts with authority to communicate effectively with mature readers.

Junior or Senior Level Course

AP English Language & Composition: Blended

This course features the same curriculum as traditional AP Lang, but is designed to be 50% face-to-face and 50% on-your-own, online work. Blended is a great choice for students who are seeking some freedom and flexibility regarding pacing, physical space, and choice of content.

Junior or Senior Level Course

Senior Level Courses

English 12: Fantasy and Science Fiction

Speculative fiction, both scientific and fantasy, explore society and human nature by holding up a mirror to reality. This class will do the same by asking students to read science and fantasy fiction, by studying the non-fiction history, mythology and science that fuels them, and by writing their own. It will ask students to develop their own opinions about society by analyzing class readings and writing some of their own science, fiction, and fantasy.

Senior Level Course

English 12: Leadership Studies

Leadership Studies will focus on the concept of application of leadership in society. The class will explore how leadership has evolved and investigate what it means to be a leader. Students will study qualities needed to develop effective leadership and ultimately determine their own preferred leadership style. The course will culminate in and Extended Learning project where students will determine a community issue, solicit a community mentor, and then research and plan a solution. Due to cap size limitation to meet the Service Learning component of this course, application is required.

Senior Level Course

Leadership Studies Application -->

Applications must be submitted by January 9, 2026 to john.biernacki@d303.org

Leadership Studies Application 2026-2027 (Autosaved).pdf

English 12: Multiple Perspectives--Film and Literature

This course allows students to see how their perception is created and ultimately bleeds into the literature they read and view. Throughout the course, students build understanding of the relationship between point of view and critical theory as they are asked to move beyond the text and look at the social impacts of both film and literature. They apply multiple critical perspectives to film, non-fiction, fiction and non-print texts and investigate influence on a text.

Senior Level Course

English 12: Creative Writing and Contemporary Literature

In this course students will compose several forms of creative writing (fiction, poetry, short film, lyrics, essays, drama, and multi-media forms that blend written and visual language). Students will also examine how creative literature written after 1970 fits into the contemporary landscape and how these texts compare to classic writers and time periods. Students' creative writing projects will reflect the contemporary themes that are important to them.

Senior Level Course

English 12: World Tour

World Tour will focus on literature --fiction and non-fiction--of all areas and ages of the world. Whiles studying a region's literature, students will experience the culture through a variety of local field trips and guest speakers. Students who are successful in World Tour either have an interest in learning about other cultures or other ways of thinking.

Senior Level Course

English 12 Honors: World Mythology

World Mythology will focus on the study of the beginnings of world culture and present a cross-cultural and historical survey of world myths. It will take students on a mythological journey beginning with Greek and Roman then Middle Eastern to Norse and Celtic then continuing with Asian and South Pacific then on to India and finishing with the Americas and African mythology. This course will enable students to recognize the relationship of mythology to other fields (e.g. philosophy, science, art, history) and find connections to our world today.

Senior Level Course

AP English Literature and Composition

AP English Literature and Composition is a college-level study of challenging American, English, and world literature in all genres. Students read and analyze fiction works from thematic, stylistic, historical and critical perspectives and are expected to write complex prose that communicates effectively with complex readers.

Senior Level Course

AP English Language and Composition

Junior or Senior Level Course

AP English Language & Composition: Blended

Junior or Senior Level Course

English 101/102 Honors and Dual Credit

This is a dual-credit course with Elgin Community College: English 101/102. The goal of ENG 101 is for students to become better readers, writers, and thinkers. Students will read a variety of essays that will serve as models for the expressive, expository, and persuasive essays of their own. Students will not only improve their grammar skills, but will also learn how to read closely, write clearly, and think critically. The course requires students to follow ECC's curriculum and requirements but on site here at East. By the end of the year, students will have earned honors level senior English credit as well as ECC credit that can be reported on a college transcript. We are excited to have this opportunity to expose our high-school students to college-level coursework, and we are happy to be partnered with ECC in this process!

Senior Level Course

College Preparatory English

College Preparatory English is a course that develops skills in reading, critical thinking, research and writing to support student success across all college majors and career pathways. Throughout this course, students will engage in the exploration of self, community, and advocacy. Students will select a topic of interest to research and present as a capstone project. In addition to the development of valuable insight, skills, and competencies, successful completion of the course with an overall grade of C or better guarantees student placement into college credit-bearing courses with a reading or writing prerequisite at any Illinois community college and select universities in Illinois.

Senior Level Course

Electives

CMS 101: FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH

Length/Credit: 1 Semester, .5 Credit

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

Prerequisite: Satisfaction of placement criteria: PSAT Test (Reading & Writing=480); OR SAT Test (Reading & Writing=480); OR ACT Test (English=19 and Reading=19)

College Credit Hours: 3 Credit Hours

Higher Education Institution: Elgin Community College

Course Fee: $50

Introductory public speaking course designed to develop research, delivery and organization skills. Particular attention is focused on finding, structuring and supporting ideas, as well as on increasing confidence and poise in a variety of speaking situations.

AP Seminar

AP Seminar is the foundational course for the two-year AP Capstone certificate from College Board. During AP Seminar, students will engage in conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics by considering and evaluating multiple points of view. They will develop their own perspectives on complex issues and topics through inquiry and investigation. Students will develop skills transferable to other academic disciplines, including analyzing sources and evidence, constructing an evidence-based argument, understanding context and perspective, communicating through writing and presentation, and working as part of a team.

AP Research

AP Research is the second half of the two-year AP Capstone certificate from College Board; in order to enter AP Research students must first complete AP Seminar. The focus of the course is for students to explore and engage in field research on a topic and question of their own choosing. The rigorous requirements ask students to discover a "gap" in any field or area of study and use a research method (quantitative, qualitative, or blended) to analyze and develop conclusions in regards to their identified gap and question. This years AP Research course has spent their first weeks understanding the process that they will embark on and have begun to develop potential questions in order to find the research gaps in that field. This course strives to provide authentic hands-on research opportunities that can continue and grow well beyond the boundaries of their high school experience.

Creative Writer's Workshop (Elective)

In this course, students will craft several independent creative writing projects. However, students choose their topics and genres (i.e. poetry, plays, comics, lyrics, stories, novelettes, memoirs). You will collaborate with classmates and the instructor to establish your genres, topics, rubrics, deadlines, personalized writing goals and to give/receive feedback. Class time will also focus on mini-writing lessons, warm-up exercises, and individual writing time.

You may repeat this course up to four times.

One Semester

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior Level Course

Debate (Elective)

Debate is designed to develop reasoning and communication skills that can be applied in all speaking situations but especially in situations of argumentation. Students study and develop argumentation skills, research skills, reasoning skills, and listening skills as they engage in extemporaneous speaking and policy debate.

One Semester

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior Level Course

Journalistic Writing (Elective)

Journalistic writing is an investigation of the rights, responsibilities, and information gathering process, writing techniques, and influence of the American media. Students will examine and write in a variety of professional formats including but not limited to newspaper articles, entertainment reviews, editorials, and broadcast reports.

One Semester

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior Level Course

Reading (Elective)

Reading is a course for students who wish to improve their reading skills, fluency, or understanding. Students work to improve their reading level by building vocabulary and comprehension skills and by developing a variety of strategies that can be applied to reading in all other high school courses and the ACT.

One Semester

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior Level Course

Theatre I

Students experience theatre from the point of audience, technician, and performer, including acting techniques to gain an appreciation for theatre arts.

Theatre II

Students will have a more developed understanding of acting choices through criticism of analysis and performance of comedic and dramatic text through the perspective of the actor as well as the director.

Actor's Workshop

Students will apply skills learned in Theatre I and Theatre II to more advanced theatrical texts and styles (classical to contemporary) leading to a final public performance. The study of texts varies each semester; therefore the student may take the course for repeated credit.

Stagecraft & Design I

Students will engage in the theatrical production process by studying aspects of the technical theatre such as set design/construction, lighting, sound, makeup/costume design, props, publicity and stage management.

Stagecraft & Design II

Student will design a story without the use of performers through the use of various advanced technical aspects learned in Stagecraft and Design I.

English Language Learners Courses

ELL 1

This is an introductory course for students who have little or no influence in English. Students will gain basic skills of understanding, reading, writing, and speaking.

ELL 2

This course builds on the English communication skills gained in ELL 1. Students will development more advanced skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in English.

ELL Resource

Provides students with tutorial assistance in order to be successful in their academic program.

ELL Literacy Block I, II

This course, which is taken concurrently with the corresponding ELL course is intended to support the students' advancing English literacy skills and assist with coursework with the corresponding ELL course.

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