Junior

COMMUNICATIONS

Grade 8 (051) 

(Quarter)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2 (039)

(Semester) .50 credits

The course's primary goal is to help each student become a more effective speaker and listener. Emphasis will be placed on face-to-face communication skills, the importance of eye contact and body language, and ethical communication practices. The principles of the course are based on the theory of the communication model. Units studied include communication theories, demonstration, argumentation and persuasion, and interview techniques. Written work such as outlines, note-cards, and graphic organizers will accompany units where appropriate. The student will learn to use audio visual components to complement their presentations. Instructional methods will include individual presentations, small and large group discussions, and lectures.

CREATIVE WRITING 

Grade 8 (052) 

(Quarter) 

Grades 9-12:  Level 2 (029)

(Semester) .50 credits

Creative Writing is a class designed for all levels of students who like to write and want to improve their writing skills. In Creative Writing, students will not only learn to be writers, but also will learn how to be readers, responders, and editors. They will learn what it means to be part of a writing community. A positive attitude toward growth as a writer is a prerequisite for this course. Instructional methods will focus on initially establishing a comfortable and nurturing writing environment, small group work, individual conferencing, and occasional large group direct instruction. Students will keep a journal in which they will write in response to guided prompts as well as individual choice topics. Students will accept the responsibility to generate ideas; select ideas for development; consider various methods and techniques of idea development; experiment with new techniques, styles, and genres; and finally, edit specific drafts for mechanical accuracy.  Students taking this course should be prepared to have their work published either in an online forum or in a print magazine for distribution.

GREEK MYTHOLOGY 

Grades 8 (050) 

(Quarter) 

Grades 9-12: Level 2 and Honors (049/099)

(Semester) .75 credits

Would you like to know why your sneakers are called Nike? This course is designed for students who have an interest in exploring the myths and legends that have shaped the modern world. It will be presumed upon course enrollment that students have basic proficiency in reading, writing and computer skills. Success in the course will be determined by students’ initiative both in and out of class. 

The chief focus of the course will be learning about and appreciating the role mythology plays in reflecting national, regional, and ethnic identities, as well as daily life. We will consider the role of mythology within the groups that perform and use it. Moreover, we will examine the influence of mythology systems on modern western culture. Although brief consideration will be given to the mythological systems of a number of cultures, myths and legends to be considered within the course will primarily include those of ancient Greece. Students should come to understand that these thought systems are both distinct from and interconnected with each other, and that they continue to command an important place in modern society as they replay themselves in modern form. Students will employ skills including reading, note-taking, essay writing, library research, individual presentations, group presentations and analytical thinking throughout the course.

LITERATURE AND FILM (033)

Grades 10-12:  Level 2

Semester (.50 credits)

In this class we watch and talk about movies. Why? Because while cinema has been around for little more than a century, it has established itself as an impactful form of literature capable of social change. This course introduces students to the art and enduring influence of a variety of films from throughout cinematic history. Students will study multiple genres, among them westerns, horror, science fiction, drama, and romance. With each film, students will study how devices commonly used to study written literature translate to the medium of film. Films will also be used to examine cultural issues both past and present, as well as how society’s attitudes towards certain social issues have changed over time.

POETRY (023)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2

(Semester) .50 credits

Poetry focuses upon different styles of poetry, the life and culture of particular poets, the development of student writing and the analysis of poems. Language and its meaning will be examined by the student as both reader and writer. The student will recognize and analyze how readers create meaning and how writers convey meaning. The study of language includes differentiation between connotative and denotative meaning, sound and meaning, imagery, figurative language, tone and patterns.

In this course, students function as members of a writing community that stimulates the generation of ideas and methods of poetic development. The student as poet is aware of the continuum and recursive process of writing as well as practicing its various stages of pre-writing, drafting and editing. The student as reader actively engages in the analysis of how meaning is constructed. Instructional methods include large and small group discussions and presentations, writing partnerships and response groups, audio-visual materials, lectures, guest speakers and, when possible, field trips to community poetry readings.

INTRO TO FILM PRODUCTION (054) 

Grades 8 

(Quarter)

FILM PRODUCTION (055)

Grades 9-12:  Level 2

(Semester) .50 credits

Film Production is the study of the ways in which cameras are used to create and convey meaning. Students will be exposed to the materials, processes, and artistic techniques involved in film, television and video. Students learn about the operation of a camera, lighting techniques, camera angles, depth of field, composition, storyboarding, sound capture and editing techniques. Students will practice their ability to express themselves abstractly with the camera and will learn to critically deconstruct various types of media. Teaching methods will include lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on work. Students electing this course should be interested in media and be willing to explore creatively. They also should be able to behave with maturity without immediate direct adult supervision.

BROADCASTING TECHNOLOGY (037)

Grades 9-12: Level 2

(Semester) .50 credits

Prerequisite: C or higher in Film Production and instructor approval

Broadcasting Technology is a hands-on video production course designed for the student who has a high interest in media beyond Film Production and an interest in public relations. The primary focus of this class will be to produce media to feature on online sites such as YouTube, on social media, and on Channel 22, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School's cable channel. Projects may include videotaping a concert, creating an advertisement for an upcoming theatrical production, interviewing a teacher or student, creating a podcast, generating promotional posts for social media, or taping a sporting event, among other activities. Productions will focus on using Channel 22 to bridge communication between the immediate school community and the larger community in the towns of Dennis and Yarmouth. Concepts from Film Production will be reviewed and expanded upon. Advanced editing techniques will be discussed. A heavy emphasis will be placed on time management and organizational skills. Students will be required to attend and videotape after school events. Students should be highly self-motivated and should be able to work well in collaboration with their peers, with staff, and with community members.

Honors Option: 

Honors Broadcasting is for highly motivated students who demonstrate the skills necessary for video production. Their attitude and performance reflect a sense of responsibility in producing media for broadcast.