English Language Arts (ELA)
COLLEGE-PREPARATORY/ WORK-READY PROGRAM
9th Grade: English I
10th Grade: English II
11th Grade: English III
12th Grade: English IV
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ACADEMIC PROGRAM
9th Grade: Honors English I
10th Grade: Honors English II
11th Grade: AP English Language and Composition
12th Grade: AP English Literature and Composition
10113S1/10113S2
English I
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 9
English I helps students to evaluate, interpret, and respond to a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts from varying cultures and genres. Students write for a variety of purposes and audiences with a strong controlling thesis and development of ideas while using correct grammar and mechanics. In addition to reading and writing, students expand their skills in listening, speaking, research, and multimodal literacies.
10213S1/10213S2
Honors English I
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 9
Honors English I focuses on students demonstrating and improving their critical thinking skills by writing a number of expository, descriptive, persuasive, and interpretive essays about characters, theme, point of view, as well as producing a longer, research-based essay on a selected literary work. Oral and written language skills, such as standard usage, accurate vocabulary, and correct mechanics, are necessary for success in this course. With an emphasis on the genres (novels, poetry, drama, nonfiction), students read and write about the works of major American, English, and world authors.
10123S1/10123S2
English II
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: English I
Grade Level(s): 10
English II focuses on evaluating, interpreting, and responding to a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts specific to World Literature. Students will write for a variety of purposes and audiences in well-developed essays using correct grammar and mechanics. Additionally, students expand their skills in listening, speaking, research, and multimodal literacies.
10223S1/10223S2
Honors English II
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: English I
Grade Level(s): 10
Honors English II continues the study of important works of American, English, and World Literature. Literary works and writing tasks will increase in difficulty, length, and number; writing assignments include not only all four essay modes, but also creative pieces, such as short stories, dialogues, and poetry. At least two research-based essays, on longer works of literature, are required.
10133S1/10133S2
English III
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: English I and II
Grade Level(s): 11
English III focuses on refining writing skills in well-developed essays using correct grammar and mechanics while still developing their skills in listening, speaking, research, and multimodal literacies. Emphasis is placed on American Literature in a study of works by major American writers, their time periods, and the nation's changing philosophical beliefs.
10243S1/10243S2
AP English Language and Composition
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: English I and II
Grade Level(s): 11
AP English Language and Composition is a rhetoric and writing course which requires students to develop evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays. Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Grammar is incorporated into the editing phase of the writing process and selected concepts are reviewed and/or extended. Written work includes a variety of essay types. Through this course, students become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts as well as skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes.
10143S1/10143S2
English IV
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: English I, II, and III
Grade Level(s): 12
English IV centers around reading, discussing, and writing about the literary works of major British authors. Students write a culminating research paper to demonstrate all of the skills learned in previous English courses as well as to develop an argument with evidence. Students continue practicing listening, speaking, research, and multimodal literacies.
10253S1/10253S2
AP English Literature and Composition
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: English I, II, and III
Grade Level(s): 12
AP English Literature and Composition engages students in the close reading and critical analysis of literature and develops their ability to write about it effectively from varied perspectives and under differing conditions. Students consider a work's structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone as they read. Writing assignments include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays that require students to analyze and interpret literary works.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ELECTIVES
10470S1/10470S2
Advanced Writing
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: English I, II, and III
Grade Level(s): 12
Advanced Writing is an introduction to college-level essay-writing and focuses on student utilization of higher-level thinking and writing skills to produce a variety of essays, such as comparison/contrast, classification, definition, argument, and persuasion. Further emphasis is placed on diction, individual style, and techniques in revising. Students engage in real-world, practical writing activities which include gathering, reviewing, and synthesizing information, followed by communicating results in both written and oral form.
10490S1/10490S2
Creative Writing
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: English I and II
Grade Level(s): 11, 12
Creative writing helps students refine their writing skills through the critiquing and revising of both their own work and that of peers while offering opportunities for students to compose short stories, plays, poetry, and autobiographical essays.
10363S1/10363S2
Journalism
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Journalism explores various journalistic styles and media. Students study journalism terminology in addition to the formats and content of newspapers and magazines. Beginning skills in news writing are emphasized as students write a number of news stories and features.
10461S1/10461S2
Advanced Reading I
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: Teacher Approval
Grade Level(s): 11, 12
Advanced Reading I places an emphasis on more advanced reading strategies and the reading of more complex works of fiction and nonfiction.
10462S1/10462S2
Advanced Reading II
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: Teacher Approval
Grade Level(s): 11, 12
Advanced Reading II is more individualized and includes advanced reading techniques, refinement of English usage and mechanics, and practice in reading more complex works of fiction and nonfiction.
10303S1/10303S2
Debate I
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Debate I is an introductory course that covers a variety of styles of public speaking and formal debate. Students will become familiar with styles of argumentative discourse through instruction, research, and practice that introduces students to the fundamentals of argumentation and debate. Students begin to develop skills in extemporaneous speaking and oratory.
10313S1/10313S2
Debate II
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: Debate I
Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12
Debate II develops and refines skills in argumentation and debate. Students begin to develop skills in extemporaneous speaking and oratory.
10323S1/10323S2
Debate III
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: Debate I and II
Grade Level(s): 11, 12
Debate III develops and refines skills in theoretical and practical processes in communication, counterpoint, logic, analysis of issues, argumentation, case construction, audience analysis, and attitude change.
10333S1/10333S2
Debate IV
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: Debate I, II, and III
Grade Level(s): 12
Debate IV develops and refines the skills and knowledge required to engage in competitions. This course builds on the skills acquired in Debate I, Debate II, and Debate III.
10443S1/10443S2
Humanities
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Humanities investigates the literature, art, philosophy, religion, music, and architecture of Western civilization from Ancient Greece to modern times from Homer and Sophocles to Camus and Sartre. A multi-media approach using films, filmstrips, and musical recordings help students understand relationships between historical events, philosophies, and art forms. Developing an appreciation for art, music, literature, and philosophy as universal expressions of the human condition is emphasized.
10533S1/10533S2
Newspaper
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Newspaper focuses on students writing a newspaper for school/community and website distribution. Students learn to interpret world, national, and local school-related issues and engage in discussions and debates concerning themselves. Students develop skills in leadership, interviewing, copywriting, desktop publication, layout /design, advertising, and marketing sales.
10423S1/10423S2
Yearbook
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: Journalism and/or Teacher Approval
Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12
Yearbook focuses on the principles of magazine design, copywriting, and layout. In order for students to select a theme and produce a yearbook containing photos of students and events. Students learn skills of meeting deadlines, handling orders and sales, and maintaining a working relationship with a publisher.
10483S1/10483S2
Film Study
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Film Study analyzes theoretical approaches to film making and explores the boundaries of what constitutes a “good” film. Students are introduced to the history, social and cultural impact, and aesthetic nature of film in the United States and internationally as it has developed throughout the twentieth and twenty-first century. Emphasizing how films produce meaning for viewers, this course examines the ways that editing, mise-en-scene, sound, color, shot composition, and camera movement, along with such elements as performance, directorial style, and genre, shape our experience of movies.
10153S1/10153S2
English Enhancement
Semester(s): 2
Prerequisite: None
Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
English Enhancement focuses on reading and writing while still working on listening and speaking. This course is for students to refine their literacy skills with extra time to support the English curriculum. An emphasis is placed on fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary.