English

English I : 1100/2100 

1 credit 

Required 9th 

English I is a two-semester course devoted to developing a student’s reading, writing and speaking skills. The course will cover a broad range of thematic literature units, with diverse texts including short stories, drama, and novels. Students will improve upon their ability to construct complex sentences that are clear and concise, and write literary, argumentative, and research drafts. Students will participate in group and self-led discussions to become informed and well-spoken citizens of the future.  

English II : 1120/2120 

1 credit 

Required 10th 

English II, a two-semester course, builds on the skills mastered in English I: reading, writing, critical thinking, and communication. Throughout the year, we will explore both fiction and non-fiction texts in order to focus on the essential question, “How do others experience the world differently than I do?” English II covers a wide range of skills, focusing specifically on building analysis skills in the areas of character, theme, and author’s craft.

Journalism : 0103 

0.5 credit (Meets Writing Requirement) 

10th, 11th, 12th 

In this one-semester course, students will learn the fundamentals of journalism and how journalistic writing differs from academic or creative writing.  The course will guide students through the process of determining newsworthiness, gathering information and interviewing, composing articles (features, human-interest, editorials, news, and sports) using the inverted pyramid structure, creating layout, and copy editing with the AP Style Guide. 

Students will also learn about journalistic ethics and the rights and responsibilities that reporters have.  The course will culminate in a newspaper-style or online publication portfolio of students’ work, incorporating design elements and articles composed through the semester.

American Literature : 0109 

0.5 credit 

Required 11th or 12th 

This one-semester course is designed to expose students to American voices by reading a wide variety of authors’ texts from the 17th-21st centuries. Authors range from significant historical literary figures, like Martin Luther King, Jr., Mark Twain, and Emily Dickinson, to lesser-known writers. Students will connect the texts of this course to their own lives and will compare authors’ attitudes to explore the views of other American citizens throughout history. By responding to literature through writing, discussions, and visuals, students will work to understand American experiences. 

British Literature : 0120 

0.5 elective English credit 

10th, 11th, 12th 

This course includes a variety of works focusing on the development of British Literature from the AngloSaxon period through contemporary times. Students will study epic poetry, fiction, and drama from a historical and cultural context. Students will study entire pieces and excerpts from such works as Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays, Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, as well as a number of diverse contemporary British stories and poems. 

Film Studies : 0117 

0.5 elective English credit 

10th, 11th, 12th 

A one-semester course, Film Studies is designed to introduce students into the world of film analysis and film production. In this course we will learn elements of screenwriting, various film techniques, how to write analytically about film, and film production. Students will be expected to write, act, and critically view films.

English Language Studies : 0113 

0.5 elective English credit 

10th, 11th, 12th 

English Language Studies is a one-semester course on language. Language is what makes us human and the way groups or individuals use language is what makes us unique. The goal of this course is to explore our means of communication through studying different aspects of language such as its history, linguistic elements, and regional differences. Finally, noticing how language impacts our world is not only interesting, but essential to facilitating our class discussions. Therefore, writing language observations will be a key component of the course.

Nonfiction Studies : 0102 

0.5 credit (Meets Writing Requirement)

11,12th 

This semester-long course is a survey of the genre of nonfiction, with all of its many mediums and forms. Focus will be placed on documentary film, instructional/ technical writing, podcasts, and graphic memoirs. Assessments will focus primarily on how we can properly communicate specific messages to a particular audience in order to achieve a specified purpose. The goal of this course is to explore the genre of nonfiction in a way that feels fresh, interactive, and engaging.

Read 180 : 1103/2103 

1 elective English credit 

9th 

Teacher recommendation required 

Read 180 is a one year elective English class designed to help students become more effective readers.  Rotating between computer software, a class workbook, and independent reading, students will work to improve reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, and writing skills. 

College Preparatory Writing : 0108 

0.5 credit 

Meets Writing Requirement

11th, 12th 

This one-semester course will allow college-bound students to practice college-level writing strategies, such as grammar, research, writing, and revision processes and skills as they draft the types of academic writing required in colleges and universities. 

While the content of College Preparatory Writing mirrors that of the second semester of Introduction to College Reading and Writing Strategies, students cannot receive dual credit for this course. Students should take either this course OR Introduction to College Reading and Writing Strategies.

Creative Writing : 0107 

0.5 credit

Meets Writing Requirement

11th, 12th 

This one-semester course offers students the opportunity to express themselves through writing and to learn the skills, processes, and habits of successful, published writers.  Students will write and revise memoir pieces on personal subjects, fiction and non-fiction narratives, poems, and other genres, leading up to the creation of a final portfolio.

AP English Literature : 1110/2110 

1 credit

Meets Writing Requirement 

11th, 12th 

Advanced Placement English Literature focuses on reading, analyzing, and writing about literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from various periods. Students engage in close reading and analysis to deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. Students will also refine writing and speaking skills to express their ideas clearly. Students taking this course should plan on taking the AP English Literature and Composition test in the spring.