The Common Core State Standards break English language arts into four distinct areas: Reading, Writing, Speaking/Listening, and Language. Students advancing through the grades are expected to meet each year’s grade specific standards, retain or further develop skills and understandings mastered in preceding grades, and work steadily toward meeting the more general expectations described by the standards.
ENGLISH 9 OR HONORS ENGLISH 9 - REQUIRED
Grade level: 9
Year: 1.0 credit
Prerequisite: none
Description: Students will read and respond to a variety of texts including literary short fiction and nonfiction, contemporary and classic novels, and Shakespearean tragedy. Course content focuses on analysis of craft and genre, reading comprehension skills, and grammer & vocabulary study. Students will express their ideas and hone their writing skills by composing essays for varying purposes, specifically argument and synthesis of ideas. Additional projects such as group presentations and socratic seminars will focus on the speaking and listening skills necessary to be an effective communicator. Course content focuses on organization of thought, proper formatting, the complete writing process, and professional collaboration.
** As an honors course, a higher level of analysis is required of students. Heightened levels of discussion occur, and less time is devoted to in-class completion of assignments. It is assumed that students in this class will be on track for Advanced Placement classes. Teacher recommendations and student applications are required for initial placement. **
ENGLISH 10 OR HONORS ENGLISH 10 - REQUIRED
Grade level: 10
Year: 1 credit
Prerequisite: English 9
Description: English 10 is the second English course offered to students at Merrill High School. It is a year-long, one credit class. Students will continue their study of English through opportunities to read and write on a consistent basis, vocabulary study, and write in multiple styles. Students will also work with different forms of nonfiction and fiction texts. Our goal is to help students become better readers and writers.
** As an honors course, a higher level of analysis is required of students. Heightened levels of discussion occur, and less time is devoted to in-class completion of assignments. It is assumed that students in this class will be on track for Advanced Placement classes. Teacher recommendations and student applications are required for initial placement. **
ENGLISH 11
Grade level: 11
Year: 1 credit
Prerequisite: English 10
Description: Students will read and respond to a variety of texts including short stories, novels, Shakespearean and American dramas, texts related to the U.S. Constitution, and other narrative and informational texts. Students will also research and write persuasive essays related to contemporary issues, the Constitution, and literature related to the course.
ENGLISH 12
Grade level: 12
Semester: 0.5 credit
Prerequisite: English 11
Description: Students will read and respond to a variety of texts. Students will conduct research and write various essays, including college and scholarship essays. Students will also complete a senior portfolio containing such items as a job application, cover letter, resume, college and/or technical school applications, and career research.
SPEECH
Grade level: 11-12
Semester: 0.5 credit
Description: Whatever the intended major or profession, high school graduates will depend heavily on their speaking and listening skills to be successful in our 21st century. This course will give students the opportunity to take part in a variety of communication experiences. Speech will build on those opportunities by formalizing instruction on college and career communication skills that will be needed now and in the future. Through reading and guided discussion, students will identify communication strengths and weaknesses with the intent of continuing to improve overall communication skills. Students will also have the opportunity to put into practice their skills by developing, researching, writing, and presenting speeches to the class.
ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Grade level: 12
Semester: 0.5 credit
Description: Develops writing skills which include prewriting, drafting, revising and editing. A variety of writing assignments are designed to help the learner analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Also develops critical reading and thinking skills through the analysis of a variety of written documents.
Dual Credit
Oral/Interpersonal Communication
10-801-196
3 NTC Credits
ADVANCED PLACEMENT LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION
Grade level: 11-12
Year: 1 credit
Prerequisite: High achievement (A/B average) in both English 9 and 10; if taking as a senior, high achievement in English 11 or AP Literature (A/B average). Prior year teacher recommendation required.
Description: AP Language is intended for college-bound students who have a firm command of reading and writing skills and is designed to reflect a college-level freshmen composition course. Within this course that is reading and writing intensive, the curriculum emphasizes nonfiction prose analysis and three core writing forms: analysis, argumentation, and synthesis. Special attention is given to the study of logic and rhetoric in order to deepen students’ understanding of how language works. Course readings feature a wide variety of historical and contemporary non-fiction texts.
Students registering for the course will submit a writing sample to be evaluated by current AP writing teachers in the spring prior to taking the course. Writing samples will be graded using the AP College Board Competency Rubric; scores will determine course eligibility. Informational meetings about this class will be held when students register for classes in the spring and then again after the writing samples are assessed.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
Grade level: 11 or 12
Year: 1 credit
Prerequisite: High achievement (A/B average) in both English 9 and 10; if taking as a senior, high achievement in English 11 or AP Language (A/B average). Prior year teacher recommendation required.
Description: AP English has a rigorous curriculum, designed to reflect a freshman college English course. It demands alert reading of imaginative literature including short stories, novels, poetry, non-fiction, and plays. With the important component of discussion, students are called upon to interpret and defend their views logically and clearly. Also, they must be active and respectful listeners. Analysis is the main focus of writing for both impromptu and out of class essays and research papers.
Students registering for the course will submit a writing sample to be evaluated by current AP writing teachers in the spring prior to taking the course. Writing samples will be graded using the AP College Board Competency Rubric; scores will determine course eligibility. Informational meetings about this class will be held when students register for classes in the spring and then again after the writing samples are assessed.
ENGLISH 101
Grade level: 12
Prerequisite: UW Placement Test
Semester: 0.75 credit
Description: English 101 is a dual-enrollment composition course through UWMC focusing on academic writing, the writing process, and critical reading. Emphasis will be on essays that incorporate readings. Prerequisite: acceptable grade on the Wisconsin English Placement Test. English 101 is the introductory degree-credit writing course for most UW-System institutions. Composition 1 introduces students to college-level critical reading and sourced-based academic writing (primarily from course readings).
Topics Consistent Across Sections: Principles and features of academic writing; Essays in a variety of rhetorical genres (for example, summary, analysis, argument, evaluation, synthesis); The writing process from invention to editing to peer review, including appropriate use of technologies to facilitate and enhance writing (including word processing, online databases, online writing labs, for example); Informal writing; In-text citation and documentation procedures; Principles of rhetoric and composition; Using appropriate conventions of standard written English; Critical reading of (primarily nonfiction) writing that models a variety of rhetorically effective choices.
ENG 101
FRESHMAN ENGLISH
3 UWSP CREDITS
ENGLISH 202
Grade level: 12
Prerequisite: UW Placement Test
Semester: 0.75 credit
Description: English 202 is a dual-enrollment composition course through UW-Stevens Point at Wausau focusing on researched academic writing that presents information, ideas, and arguments. Emphasis will be on the writing process, critical thinking, and critical reading. Prerequisite: C or better in English 101 (Composition 1) English 202 is the core transfer-level composition course for the UW-System, and it fulfills the writing requirement for the UWC Associate Degree. Composition 2 emphasizes argumentation and scholarly, research-based writing. For most students, Composition 2 is a second semester class, and the learning outcomes for the course assume that students have already had a thorough introduction to academic reading and writing through English 101 and an advanced, writing-intensive high school curriculum.
Topics Consistent Across Sections: Principles and features of academic writing, including participation in academic dialogue; Essays in a variety of rhetorical genres (for example, rhetorical analysis, researched argument, evaluation essay, critical analysis, synthesis); The writing process from invention to editing to peer review, including appropriate use of technologies to facilitate and enhance writing and research; Documentation and citation procedures; Research process(es); Principles of rhetoric and composition; Critical reading of (primarily nonfiction) writing that models a variety of rhetorically effective choices; Conventions of standard written English, including the ability to make strategic decisions about grammar, usage, and mechanics that are appropriate and effective in achieving the writer's purpose.
ENG 202
SOPHOMORE ENGLISH
3 UWSP CREDITS