English Courses

Course Description:

Upon completing the course, students will adeptly craft narrative compositions, demonstrating the ability to develop characters, settings, and plots to convey a story effectively. They will proficiently engage in expository writing, showcasing the skill to present information, ideas, and explanations with clarity, organization, and supporting evidence. Additionally, students will master the art of argumentative writing, constructing persuasive essays by formulating strong claims, providing evidence, and employing logical reasoning to support their viewpoints. Students will proficiently apply grammar skills, including identifying parts of speech, constructing grammatically correct sentences, using punctuation effectively, and editing written passages for clarity. They will demonstrate mastery in various writing contexts, showcasing knowledge of sentence structure, language conventions, and accurate usage of grammar rules. Students will also be exposed to various genres of literature to gain empathy, perspective, reasoning skills, and understanding of the world around them.

Course Description:

Advanced English 7 focuses on the same skills as English 7, emphasizing skills that will prepare them for Advanced English 8. Research skills will be introduced and practiced in a variety of genres. Independent reading and responding to complex fiction and non-fiction texts will be emphasized. Students will be expected to participate in various types of analytical class discussions. 

Course Description:

English 8 exposes students to a comprehensive study of texts: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, short story, and informational. Students will experience the texts in the classroom and beyond the classroom through library collaboratives, projects, and cross-curricular activities often involving other disciplines of study. Grammar will be practiced year-long, and the target of this class is to equip students with the necessary skills to be successful in 9th-grade English.

Course Description:

Advanced English 8 is designed to prepare students for the advanced courses they may take later in high school. Advanced English 8 supports and strengthens students' foundational reading and writing skills by providing regular practice in close examination of texts and evidence-based writing and speaking.  This class will focus on analytical analysis of both fiction and non-fiction resources. Students can expect to read both in and outside of class, complete weekly homework assignments, plan to complete and present projects in class, experience cross-curricular activities and library collaboratives, and write an analysis of literature.

Course Description:

This course focuses on the skills of citing textual evidence to support claims; reading, comprehending, and summarizing both fiction and non-fiction texts; determining an author’s point of view, perspective, and/or purpose in both fiction and non-fiction texts; determining word meanings, including figurative and connotative meanings as well as analyzing the impact of specific word choices on meaning and/or tone; writing arguments to support claims; producing writing that has clear organization and style and is appropriate to the task; and developing and strengthening writing through planning, revising, editing, and rewriting. Students also engage in inquiry and research, communicating their findings in research papers and/or projects following MLA style of documentation and formatting.

Course Description:

Advanced English I covers the same skills as the English I class but with more focus on skills that will prepare students to take AP Language & Composition as a junior, AP Literature or Freshman Composition as a senior, and/or AP Seminar and AP Research at various times in high school. Students read, analyze, and discuss a variety of genres, including, but not limited to, poetry, plays, novels, short stories, memoirs, articles, and essays. Students are expected to support their interpretations of texts with logic and evidence from those texts. Extensive outside reading and research are required.  Writing focuses on argumentative essays, analysis essays, synthesis essays, and research essays. Advanced research skills will be introduced and practiced in a variety of genres. Additionally, students will be expected to read and respond to complex fiction and non-fiction texts. Students will be expected to participate fully in various forms of class discussion with focus on analytical thinking as part of their overall evaluation.

Course Description:

This course focuses on the skills of citing textual evidence to support claims; reading, comprehending, and summarizing both fiction and non-fiction texts; determining an author’s point of view, perspective, and/or purpose in both fiction and non-fiction texts; determining word meanings, including figurative and connotative meanings as well as analyzing the impact of specific word choices on meaning and/or tone; writing arguments to support claims; producing writing that has clear organization and style and is appropriate to the task; developing oral communication skills; and developing and strengthening writing through planning, revising, editing, and rewriting. Students also engage in inquiry and research, communicating their findings in research papers and/or projects following MLA style of documentation and formatting.

Course Description:

Advanced sophomore English class covers the same skills as the English II class but with more focus on skills that will prepare students to take AP Language & Composition as a junior, AP Literature or Freshman Composition as a senior, and/or AP Seminar and AP Research at various times in high school.  Students are expected to read (including independent, extracurricular reading), analyze, and discuss a variety of literary and nonfiction works. Students may also analyze “non-print” texts such as photographs, videos, or works of art. Writing instruction focuses on improving the flow, clarity, and sophistication of writing through careful planning, drafting, and revision. Language instruction focuses on continuing mastery of the conventions of standard English, and, in particular, recognizing and eliminating errors that impede the communicator’s message. Other skills in the course include argumentation, research skills, MLA formatting and documentation, rhetorical analysis, and oral communication. These courses provide students with a greater depth of content, a wider scope of material, intense writing practice, additional research techniques, and higher-level thinking skills to distinguish them from the on-level courses. A student considering taking an advanced course should have good organization skills and a good work ethic. to complex fiction and non-fiction texts. Students will be expected to participate fully in various forms of class discussion with focus on analytical thinking as part of their overall evaluation.

Course Description:

This course focuses on the skills of citing textual evidence to support claims; reading, comprehending, and summarizing both fiction and non-fiction texts; determining an author’s point of view, perspective, and/or purpose in both fiction and non-fiction texts; writing arguments to support claims; producing writing that has clear organization and style and is appropriate to the task; and developing and strengthening writing through planning, revising, editing, and rewriting. Literature study will focus on all genres with an emphasis on American literature. Students also write informative/explanatory texts including technical processes and use digital media in presentations. Students engage in inquiry and research, communicating their findings in research papers and/or projects following MLA style of documentation and formatting. This course also focuses on test-taking for the ACT.

Course Description:

By focusing primarily on nonfiction prose selections and rhetorical situations, including purpose, audience, and visual media, AP English Language and Composition students will develop as analytical thinkers, critical readers, and effective communicators in writing and speech. As prescribed in the College Board’s AP English Course Description, this course “provides students with opportunities to write about a variety of subjects from a variety of disciplines and to demonstrate an awareness of audience and purpose” and will “enable students to write effectively and confidently in their college courses across the curriculum and in their professional and personal lives.” The course curriculum is taken from the current College Board’s AP English Course Description and includes readings from nonfiction books, novels, essays, letters, speeches, and images from a variety of genres, authors, modes, and historical contexts. As they read, students will write frequently, using all modes for a variety of audiences, planning and revising often with frequent feedback from peers as well as the instructor. Reading and writing skills will culminate as students synthesize primary and secondary sources into compositions using Modern Language Association conventions. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam. Students must take both semesters and take the AP exam to receive weighted credit for grade point calculation.

Course Description:

This course focuses on the skills of citing textual evidence to support claims; reading, comprehending, and summarizing both fiction and non-fiction texts; determining an author’s point of view, perspective, and/or purpose in both fiction and non-fiction texts; writing arguments to support claims; producing writing that has clear organization and style and is appropriate to the task; and developing and strengthening writing through planning, revising, editing, and rewriting. Literature study will focus on all genres with an emphasis on American literature. Students also write informative/explanatory texts including technical processes and use digital media in presentations. Students engage in inquiry and research, communicating their findings in research papers and/or projects following MLA style of documentation and formatting. Additionally, students will study areas in technical reading and writing as well as mass media and communications.

Transitions to Composition I

Course Description:

Transitions to Comp I is a course that is designed to dramatically accelerate students’ literacy skills essential for college and career readiness in the first semester with a goal of improving students’ ACT reading and English scores enough to gain college credit in the spring. The goal of the course is to help students be prepared for the kind of reading and writing tasks that are common in college English classes. Students receive instruction in reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language, emphasizing literary and informational texts from diverse genres in print and digital formats. The course closely examines unique characteristics of literary and informational texts and emphasizes the specific strategies needed to comprehend them. These texts are used as models for student writing products, emphasizing both information and argumentation.  In the second semester, students will take English Composition I.

AP Literature & Composition

Course Description:

In this course, students will focus on developing critical reading skills and a distinct, sophisticated writing style necessary for success on the College Board AP exam given in May of each year. Students will learn how to read closely, to annotate text, to analyze literature from a variety of genres including poetry, short fiction, plays, novels, and essays, and to evaluate a piece of literature using various types of literary criticism. In addition to literary analysis and evaluation, students will learn effective communication skills through sharing their insights and analysis in oral discussions and written discourse. While students will write in a variety of modes, the emphasis in writing is on literary analysis and evaluation, and students are encouraged to improve their writing style through using a more sophisticated syntax and diction. Additionally, students will learn to analyze a piece of literature and write about it under a specified time constraint. Finally, students will review and follow the research process to produce a literary research paper following MLA style documentation and formatting. Students must complete both semesters and take the AP exam to receive weighted credit for grade point calculation.

Course Description:

This course is designed to help students learn effective communication skills in both oral and written forms. Students will learn to select and limit a topic, generate prewriting, organize an outline, develop a thesis, write summaries, and write coherent, unified essays using various rhetorical strategies. Students will write for a variety of purposes with an emphasis on personal, expository, and persuasive discourse and will be given the opportunity to improve their writing through revision and rewriting. Likewise, students will develop critical thinking skills by reading assigned essays and reacting to these essays in both written discourse and oral discussions. Reading selections will be primarily nonfiction. Students also will engage in research necessary for certain types of short research papers.

Course Description:

In this course students will continue to perfect writing skills learned in English Comp. I, with an emphasis on writing about literature. Students will have the opportunity to revise and rewrite selected essays in an effort to improve their writing for content and style. In addition, students will read closely by annotating text, responding to reading, and analyzing selected works of literature such as short fiction, poetry, plays and novels. Students will continue to develop critical thinking skills as they analyze and evaluate literary works and will share insights and analysis through oral discussion and written discourse. Finally, students will research literary criticism on a novel of their choice and draft a short literary research paper using MLA style of documentation and formatting.

Oral Communications

Course Description:

Effective spoken communication skills necessary for life and employment situations including introductions, explanations, demonstrations, and discussions are practiced.  Credit for this course may be earned through English I classes.

Course Description:

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of creative writing through exploration of narrative, poetry, and personal expression. Students will develop their voices as writers while practicing brainstorming, drafting, revising, and sharing their work. Emphasis is placed on creativity, collaboration, and building confidence through structured writing activities and peer feedback. 

Course Description:

Public speaking course designed to introduce the student to the communicative act and provide experience in composing and delivering types of speeches.

*National Park College Concurrent Credit Class: 

Students completing this course with a final grade of “C” or better will be able to earn three credit hours through NPC.

Journalism I

Course Description:

Although it encompasses many areas, a study of journalism focuses primarily on writing.  Because it is an advanced writing class, students should have strong foundational skills and a B or better in previous English classes.  This course is not a creative writing class but instead focuses on expository writing.  Students will learn how to write news, features, sports stories, and editorials and how to edit a story for newspaper style, clarity, and accuracy.   Students will learn the fundamentals of design and apply them to newspaper and advertising layout.  The course also focuses on ethics, photography, advertising, and media law.  As students learn journalistic style and become comfortable with it, they will begin writing stories for the student newspaper, The Voice.  Students in Journalism also are considered members of The Voice staff.

Course Description:

Yearbook is a non-credited, year-long course.  Students will spend the entire year developing a yearbook for Lakeside Junior High or Lakeside High School. Tasks include taking photos, writing copy, and designing and laying out the publication.  Participants in the yearbook class could be expected to attend after school events.

Course Description:

World Lit I serves as a survey of master works of literature of the world from the ancient period through the Renaissance.  World Lit II focuses on reading and discussion of master works of world literature from the seventeenth century to modern times.  

Course Description:

World Lit I serves as a survey of master works of literature of the world from the ancient period through the Renaissance.  World Lit II focuses on reading and discussion of master works of world literature from the seventeenth century to modern times.  

AP Seminar

Course Description:

AP Seminar, the first course in the AP Capstone experience, is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational, literary, and philosophical texts and listening to and viewing speeches and personal accounts. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments.

Course Description:

AP Research, the second course in the AP Capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a year-long investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their process, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. This course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.