Grade: 7th
Length: Year
Meets Requirement For: 7th Grade English
Description: English 7 builds foundational skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will read a variety of literature and nonfiction texts, focusing on identifying themes, analyzing characters, and citing textual evidence. Writing instruction emphasizes paragraph structure, grammar and mechanics, and developing clear arguments and narratives. Students will also engage in vocabulary development, peer discussions, and presentations to strengthen communication skills and confidence.
Grade: 8th
Length: Full Year
Meets Requirement For: 8th Grade English
Description: English 8 expands on key literacy skills through the study of novels, short stories, poetry, and informational texts. Students will analyze how authors develop themes, structure arguments, and use literary devices. Writing instruction focuses on crafting well-organized essays, including argumentative, narrative, and explanatory pieces, with emphasis on grammar, revision, and research. Students will continue developing vocabulary and speaking skills through class discussions, presentations, and collaborative projects.
Prerequisite: 8th Grade English
Grade: 9th
Length: Full Year
Meets Requirement For: 9th Grade English
Description: Students will learn to use our high school media center and digital resources for a variety of reading experiences and research skills.The course will include vocabulary, a review of grammar, mechanics, and literary devices; a Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet, andtwo novels: Tuesdays with Morrie and To Kill a Mockingbird. Major projects in this class are short essays, a 2-4 page MLA style research paper, and a variety of small group projects.
Prerequisite: 9th Grade English
Grade: 10th
Length: Full Year
Meets Requirement For: 10th Grade English
Description: This course consists of literature, composition, grammar, and vocabulary. The literature studied in this course includes novels, a play, a nonfiction novel, poetry, and a play by Shakespeare. Students will have a chance to try their hand at the research process as well. Methods of assessment include quizzes, tests, essays, and projects.
Prerequisite: 10th Grade English
Grade: 11th
Length: Full Year
Meets Requirement For: 11th Grade English
Description: This course consists of American literature from the beginning of our country’s written composition to modern pieces of literature, composition, vocabulary, and poetry. The juniors will hone their research and writing skills while reading classic American novels such as The Scarlet Letter and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Prerequisite: 11th Grade English
Grade: 12th
Length: Full Year
Meets Requirement For: 12th Grade English
Description: In this required English course for seniors, the course consists of literature, composition, grammar, and vocabulary. Literature includes short stories, poetry, and novels such as The Lord of the Flies, The Hobbit, and a classic horror story. Methods of assessment include tests, writing assignments, projects, and oral presentations.
*Academic Writing and Global Literature can replace English 12 to meet the English graduation requirement.*
Prerequisite: 11th Grade English, SMSU College NOW admission requirements
Grade: 12th
Length: 1 semester
Meets Requirement For: 12th Grade English
Description: This course will enable students to determine a writing purpose, generate ideas to support a topic, determine an audience, develop a focus, and organize a written text. Several major research papers will be composed. Students will learn the conventions of citation and documentation through composition and research. The class will also enable students to learn how purpose and audience affect content, language, and form of written text.
*Academic Writing can replace semester 1 English 12 to meet the BHS English requirement.*
Prerequisite: 11th Grade English, SMSU College NOW admission requirements
Grade: 12th
Length: 1 semester
Meets Requirement For: 12th Grade English
Description: This course will deepen students’ understanding and appreciation of literature as an art form as well as to strengthen students’ ability to read short stories, poems, novels, and drama for meaning.
* College Literature can replace semester 2 English 12 to meet the BHS English requirement.*
Prerequisite: 11th Grade English
Grade: 12th
Length: 1 semester
Meets Requirement For: 12th Grade Speech
Description: This course is designed for the beginning speaker. Speech I provides opportunities to gain speech confidence, improve one’s speaking voice, attempt different methods of speech delivery (impromptu, outlined, memorized, and manuscript), interpret nonverbal communication, gain research skills necessary to prepare informative, personal introductions, Great Speeches, and persuasive speeches, as well as to become acquainted with some famous American speakers and their speeches.
*Introduction to Public Speaking (College Speech) can replace the Speech I BHS graduation requirement, although taking this course in preparation for College Speech is recommended.*
Prerequisite: 11th Grade English, MState Concurrent Enrollment Admission Requirements
Grade: 12th
Length: 1 semester
Meets Requirement For: 12th Grade Speech
Description: This is a skills course instructing the student on how to design and deliver an individual speech with notecards. The major differences between Speech I and this course are high expectations of a highly polished speech, limited script materials, four formal speeches, and video recordings of each performance sent to the MState faculty advisor for viewing.
*Introduction to Public Speaking can replace Speech I and meet the BHS speech requirement, although taking Speech I before College Speech is recommended.*
Prerequisite: Yearbook Advisor Permission
Grade: 9th-12th Grade
Length: Full Year
Meets Requirement For: Elective
Description: In this hands-on, creative course, students will plan, design, and produce the school’s annual yearbook. Students will gain experience in photography, graphic design, writing, editing, and layout as they work together to tell the story of the school year. Team collaboration, time management, and meeting deadlines are essential parts of this class. Students will also help promote and distribute the yearbook, and may have opportunities to cover school events and interview students and staff. This class is ideal for students who enjoy creativity, storytelling, and working behind the scenes to capture lasting memories.