Senior

ENGLISH 12 (013/014) 

Grade 12: Level 2/Honors

(Semester) .75 credits

English 12 is a semester based class designed to assist seniors with their post high school plans as well as reinforce their critical thinking and reading and writing skills. 

The first unit is devoted to building on preparatory work from eleventh grade and finalizing college essay requirements for the CommonApp, or “mission statements” for those without immediate plans for higher education. The focus is on personal narrative, using the required admissions essay/statement as a chance to reflect on their experiences and their future.

Additional units use fiction and non-fiction texts, essays, poetry, etc.to touch on themes of personal philosophy, destiny, social commentary and decision making. Learning experiences include tracing the patterns and thematic similarities to make connections between their own life experiences and the world around them. 

Vocabulary is generated from the literature studied. Compositions assigned on a regular basis are both literature and non-literature based. A word-processed cultural and literary analytical essay in MLA format is the final product of each unit. The first unit culminates in the generation of a personal essay appropriate for future college admissions. Students will practice strategies to help them read critically and think analytically. 

Writing is integral to the process of learning, thinking and communicating. Students are encouraged to develop a positive attitude toward implementing study skills, enjoying literature, improving writing skills and expanding vocabulary. All major assignments must be word processed in MLA format. Students will exhibit correct standard English in oral and written communication and use MLA format in daily class work, research projects and preparing essays. All work will be assessed using common department and school-wide rubrics. 

Students continue learning and practicing the skills to meet the English Department’s Research and Grammar Skills benchmarks which correspond to the expectations set out in the Common Core State Standards. 

Instructional methods may include small and large group discussions, reader’s theater, writing partnerships and response groups, oral reports, audio-visual materials and lecture. Mechanics and grammar are taught from composition assignments and oral responses.

Honors Option: 

Honors English 12 is for highly motivated students who demonstrate the skills necessary to analyze, understand and exhibit an appreciation for literature and language. Their attitude and performance reflect a sense of responsibility and creativity in written and oral expression. Honors English 12 moves at a more accelerated pace than the level 2 course but it is not as demanding as Advanced Placement English.

AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION (015) 

Grade 12:  Advanced Placement

(Year) 1.50 credits

Advanced Placement English emphasizes the development of skills in critical reading of imaginative literature: poetry, drama, novels, short stories, and in writing about literature. The course is for students up for the challenge of college level work. Most classes are conducted in seminar format. 

The short-term goal is preparing students for success on the Advanced Placement English Examination in Literature and Composition, administered by the Educational Testing Service for The College Board in May. 

Important long term goals include providing students the opportunity to learn at a pace commensurate with their ability; to engage students with intellectually mature material; to refine reading and writing skills; and to encourage life-long habits of reading, writing and thinking.

Learning activities include complete and close reading of literary texts, evaluation and analysis of literary works, active class participation and group discussion. Writing is integral to the study of learning, thinking and communicating. Students will practice for the AP Exam with released AP: Literature and Composition exams from previous years. They will respond to and analyze multiple choice questions from these exams. Students are strongly advised to take the Advanced Placement Examination in May, and those who do so will be exempt from the course final examination.

WORLD CULTURE AND LITERATURE (072/073)

Grade 12:  Level 2 and Honors

(Semester) .75 credits

This course surveys three major types of creative expression in the Western world (art, music, and literature) during the Renaissance and its relationship to the 21st century. Specific styles and/or periods to be studied include the Renaissance, the Baroque age, the Enlightenment, the Romantic age and the Modern age. Influences on Western Art from Asia, Africa and South America will also be explored.

Designed for college bound students interested in the connections between creative expression and history, this course emphasizes the development of analysis as well as understanding works and styles of art, music and literature in relation to their cultural context. Students learn how art, music and literature reflect the prevailing values and customs of a given historical period as well as how they influence other aspects of society and culture. The Humanities also attempts to instill an appreciation for art, music and literature as a medium of self-expression that has helped shape history.

Learning and instructional methods include lecture, discussion, hands-on activities, reading, reporting, writing, listening and field trips to galleries and museums. Content is presented through primary text, videos, PowerPoint presentations, Internet access, film, CD’s, DVD’s, additional books, as well as virtual museum tours. While Humanities is an academic course with no studio component, it is especially recommended for students planning careers in the visual arts.

Honors Option: Regular classroom leadership, additional reading, presentation and homework assignments will be expected for students to earn honors credit.

WRITING FOR WORLD SKILLS (090)
Grade 12: Level 2
(Semester) .75 Credits

Do you ever wish you could write more clearly and concisely? Are you the type of person that is able to explain a process or send a message in a straightforward manner? Do you have an appreciation for learning and information? If these questions appeal to you, then Professional Writing might be for you. In the process of becoming a more professional writer, students will focus on such 21st century skills as systems thinking, critical analysis and problem solving, strategic development, and technical evaluation.

The purpose of professional writing is to enable readers to use technology, understand a process or concept, or to deliver a clear and succinct message. Simply put, professional writing is done for the purpose of educating, informing or directing. In professional writing the subject matter is more important than the writer's voice; technical writing style uses an objective, rather than a subjective tone.

The main characteristics of professional writing are: 1) Purpose, 2) Knowledge of topic, 3) Audience, 4) Criteria for evaluation, and 5) Statistical and graphic support. Often, the main purpose of professional writing is to accomplish a task within a group or organization (completing a project, persuading a customer, or delivering straight-forward information, etc.) Information is oftentimes supported by the use of statistical and graphic support that is frequently used to explain existing conditions, popular trends and to present alternative courses of action. This course will develop writing skills for cover letters, formal emails, articles and more.

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.

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.

ADVANCED FILM PRODUCTION (056)

Grades 10-12: Level 2

(Semester) .50 credits

Prerequisite: C or higher in Film Production

Advanced Film Production is designed for the student who has an interest in media beyond Film Production and may be interested in pursuing communications as a career. Editing processes and visual composition in narrative media will be studied. Nonfiction topics will include media ethics, media as a vehicle for social change, and the role of media in politics. Students will learn to express themselves creatively using the camera. Students will also learn to deconstruct media messages and examine how media shapes their society.  Written essays, scriptwriting, and term papers are an integral part of Advanced Media Production. 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.