English Courses and descriptions

Students must take and pass four credits in English to graduate from Meade County High School. 

English I  and English I Honors - Course Code:  230107  Course Description - In order to build critical reading skills that will prepare students for future academic assessments, including the KPREP, the End of Course Assessment for English II, and the ACT/SAT, students will study genres of literature including prose, poetry, drama, and a variety of non-fiction. Students will practice skills related to understanding use of the following in both literature and informational text: key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge. Students will analyze and create a variety of writing:  narrative, informative, argumentative, and response to literature. Students will focus on sentence structure, diction, and correctness to create effective and engaging writing. Students will also be introduced to MLA documentation and ethical research practices. The differences between honors and regular level work are the depth to which the material is covered, text complexity, and the expectations of performance.

English II and English II Honors - Course Code:  230110 - Course Description - Students will work throughout the school year to improve grammar skills, reading skills, and writing skills. Students will practice multiple grammar skills that entail punctuation, sentence structure, and usage in order to prepare them for ACT. The students will also study both fiction and nonfiction with the goal of improving comprehension, fluency, and analytical skills such as inferences, predictions, character analysis, and argument analysis. Students will practice these reading skills to prepare them for the End of Course exam which occurs in the spring of their sophomore year. In addition, sophomores will practice and improve writing skills such as writing a thesis, adding idea development, using transitions, and creating valid arguments. The differences between honors and regular level work are the reading selections chosen, depth to which the material is covered, and the expectation of performance. 

AP Prep English II Honors is a companion course to AP European History as well as a foundational course for AP Language and AP Literature. The literature and nonfiction chosen for this course will chronologically and thematically  follow the historical timeline covered in AP European History. Students will read nonfiction and practice rhetorical analysis with texts complex enough to meet the AP Language standards. Likewise, students will read poetry, short stories, and novels as a way to practice the analysis of character, setting, theme, narration, and structure expected of the AP Literature curriculum. Writing will be a vital aspect of this course as well; students will learn to write for a variety of purposes and audiences. Writing instruction will prepare students for the AP European History Exam and serve as a preparatory introduction for later AP English Exams. Writing instruction will teach students how to write thesis statements for a variety of writing prompts and to embed evidence and commentary into argumentative writing.  

English III and English III Honors - Course Code:  230113 - Course Description - The goal of English III is college readiness. The emphasis is on improving reading and English skills in preparation for the ACT and on-demand writing assessments. Much of the year will be spent on both English and reading content and test-taking strategies. Students will study American literature through chronological or thematic units. Juniors will be given multiple writing opportunities in each of the following categories: writing to learn, writing to demonstrate learning, writing for publication, and on-demand writing. A research paper in MLA style will be completed. The differences between honors and regular level work is the depth to which the material is covered and the expectation of performance. 

AP English III -Course Code:  230166 - Course Description -  The AP course in English Language and Composition engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of rhetorical contexts, and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their writing and their reading should make students aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way genre conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing. (The College Board) Students selected for placement in this class will be provided the opportunity to earn college credit on the end-of-the-year AP Exam. 

Dual Credit English III 

Dual Credit English III is a course in college freshmen composition that practices and develops the entire writing process with an emphasis on the different modes of writing such as cause/effect, compare/contrast, analysis, persuasive, etc…. The students will write, revise, and edit texts with the aim of communicating with various audiences.  Instruction is given in prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, researching, and documenting sources using MLA manuscript formatting to produce essays that express ideas in standard English.  This course prepares the student to read critically, think logically, engage with and respond to texts, address specific audiences, and contribute to meaningful discussion. This class also includes review of grammar, mechanics and usage.  Per Campbellsville University requirements, students must make a C or higher to earn college credit even though high school credit may be earned with a passing grade of D.  All state assessments are still required in this class: the ACT and the On-Demand writing exam.  Students may use one of their two dual credit scholarships to pay for this class.  If not, the course fee is $210.00 as of Fall 2020. Prerequisites: Students enrolled in Eng 111 should have a 3.0 GPA or higher.  ACT benchmark is not required for this class.  

English IV and English IV Honors: The senior year of study is a survey of various genres. We will also focus on the different kinds of writing and the skills necessary to improve. The goal for the twelfth grade student is to improve reading skills and grow to appreciate the different forms and modes of thinking in order to become college and/or career ready. Also, for those students who are not college ready, we will provide effective means of intervention. This course is a graduation requirement. The difference in honors and regular level work is the depth to which the material is covered and the expectation of performance.

 Advanced Placement English IV 

This course prepares the student for college writing and literature courses and the AP exam in May. This course, based on the curricular requirements delineated in the AP Course Description, will require students to engage in careful reading and critical analysis of works of literary merit and will consider both meaning and pleasure as well as structure, style, figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone.  Writing is also an integral part of the course; we will focus on numerous aspects of rhetorical theory including process, awareness of audience and purpose, effective diction, varied and controlled sentence structure, logical and coherent organization, specific and pertinent idea development, and the use of conventions to enhance meaning. Students will write whole compositions with attention to relationships between components (sections, paragraphs, sentences, and sentence parts) in order to develop writing skills and to practice the conventions of academic writing. Students will be expected to exhibit command of all phases of developing and writing researched literary argument, as well as the use of proper MLA citation. 

All students will sit for the AP exam; students who successfully pass this exam will earn an additional 3.0 hours of English Elective Credits.

 Dual Credit English IV 

ENG 101: Writing I focuses on academic writing. Provides instruction in drafting and revising essays that express ideas in Standard English, including reading critically, thinking logically, responding to texts, addressing specific audiences, researching and documenting sources. Includes review of grammar, mechanics and usage, Notes: (a) credit not available by special examination; (b) English 101 and 102 may not be taken concurrently; (c) AP credit in the English Language and Composition category for ENG 101 awarded as indicated by AP scoring chart in current KCTCS catalog. Prerequisite: Placement by KCTCS Assessment and Placement Policy. Lecture: 3 college credits offered through Campbellsville University.  *Students may use one of their two dual credit scholarships to cover the cost for this class, if available. If the scholarship is not applied, the cost is 1/3 of the current cost of tuition at Campbellsville University.

ENG 102: Writing II emphasizes argumentative writing. Provides further instruction in drafting and systematically revising essays that express ideas in Standard English. Includes continued instruction and practice in reading critically, thinking logically, responding to texts, addressing specific audiences, and researching and documenting credible academic sources. NOTE: Credit is not available by special examination. Prerequisite: ENG 101 or ENG 111. Lecture: 3 college credit hours offered through Campbellsville University. *Students may use one of their two dual credit scholarships to cover the cost for this class, if available. If the scholarship is not applied, the cost is 1/3 of the current cost of tuition at Campbellsville University.

COM 181: Basic Public Speaking applies the basic principles and techniques in research, organization, and delivery of speeches for informative and persuasive speaking purposes. Provides practical platform experience in developing speaking abilities to enable the student to communicate orally in clear, coherent language appropriate to the purpose, occasion, and audience. Prerequisite: Current KCTCS placement scores for college-level reading and writing OR Completion of dual credit English courses. 3 college credit hours offered through ECTC. *Students may use one of their two dual credit scholarships to cover the cost for this class, if available. If the scholarship is not applied, the cost is 1/3 of the current cost of tuition at Campbellsville University.