English Course Descriptions

English

English I

Grade:  9

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq:  None

The Grade 9 Thematic Units take students through literature and informational texts to gain an understanding of the importance of feeling empathy for others, of assuming the responsibilities of leadership, of pursuing dreams, and of feeling the power of love. Unit 1: Empathy examines how human compassion informs our understanding of humanity and the world. Unit 2: Leadership focuses on the idea of governing and asks the Essential Question: What are the responsibilities of power? Unit 3: Dreams and Aspirations examines what makes a dream worth pursuing. Unit 4: All for Love asks students to consider the unit’s central question–How are we affected by the power of love?–and provides a range of texts, including the most famous one about love–Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet–as well as current scientific texts that are attempting to find an answer to why we love. In 9th grade English, students begin to develop their skills of both written and oral analysis. This is a writing intensive course.

Advanced English I

Grade:  9

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq:  8th grade Honors Language Arts with a “B” or higher during both semesters and/or teacher recommendation

This advanced course is designed for students to have the highest level of English achievement. This course is a prerequisite for Advanced English II. Critical thinking, expression and understanding are expected from students in preparation for taking Advanced English I. Grade 9 Thematic Units take students through literature and informational texts to gain an understanding of the importance of feeling empathy for others, of assuming the responsibility of leadership, of pursuing dreams, and of feeling the power of love. Unit 1: Empathy examines how human compassion informs our understanding of humanity and the world. Unit 2: Leadership focuses on the idea of governing and asks the Essential Question: What are the responsibilities of power? Unit 3: Dreams and Aspirations examines what makes a dream worth pursuing. Unit 4: All for Love asks students to consider the units central question – How are we affected by the power of love? – and provides a range of texts, including the most famous one about love- Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet- as well as current scientific texts that are attempting to find an answer to why we love. This is a writing intensive course.

Journalism & Communications I

Grade: 9-12

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq:  “B” or higher in 8th grade English for freshmen; “B” or higher in English I  for sophomores; “B” or higher in English I and II for juniors and seniors; teacher recommendation; student attendance is also considered; "B" or higher in the first semester in order to continue to the second semester or teacher approval. 

The Journalism & Communications course will examine the application of written and oral communication skills through a variety of formal and informal experiences. Students will be introduced to components of journalism and emphasize effective interpersonal and team-building skills. In this course, students will analyze a variety of mass media and advertising, including print, digital, social media, radio, and television. Students will examine how interpersonal communication influences individuals and can be controlled by individuals. Students will further examine how journalism and other forms of communication have, over time, influenced and affected our daily lives. Students will synthesize a variety of multimedia skills to create products, integrating technological and language skills, which reflect their school and community. 

Journalism & Communications II

Grade: 10-12

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq:  Completion of Journalism & Communications I

The Journalism & Communications II course will continue to examine the application of written and oral communication skills through a variety of formal and informal experiences while taking on leadership roles. Students will mentor Journalism and Communications I students as they learn the skills necessary to plan, edit, and produce the school newspaper.  Students in this course will control all aspects of The Devil's Advocate (print and online) and any other class-produced content. In this course, students will utilize a variety of mass media and advertising, including print, digital, social media, podcasting, and television, to produce and promote original content, reflecting their school and community. Students will continue to examine how interpersonal communication influences individuals and can be controlled by individuals.

English II

Grade:  10

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq:  English I

In this course, students will review, reinforce, and augment the writing skills learned in English I. Grade 10 Thematic Units provide students with a wide spectrum of different pieces of literature. Students will study historical periods and world mythologies and read a variety of works including fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry. The course will cover four separate Thematic Units. Unit 1: Destiny. In this unit, students will explore a question that is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago: How much of what happens in our lives do we control? Unit 2: Taking a Stand. This unit explores the tension between the expectation that people should follow rules for the sake of order, and instances in which the “right” decision might be to challenge established rules. In other words, when is it appropriate to challenge rules? Unit 3: Technical Difficulties. Students will contemplate relevant questions that we all must ask ourselves as technology becomes more and more prevalent, expanding our power to manipulate the natural world. Essentially, students will question, what responsibility do we have for what we create? Unit 4: The Human Connection. In this unit, students are asked to ponder one very important question: How do our interactions define us? They will try to answer this question by reading several short stories, poems and novels. This is a writing intensive course.

Advanced English II

Grade:  10

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq:  Advanced English I with a “B” or higher or teacher recommendation

This advanced course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and ideas presented in AP English courses. Grade 10 Thematic Units provide students with a wide spectrum of different pieces of literature. Students will study historical periods and world mythologies and read a variety of works including fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry. The course will cover four separate Thematic Units. Unit 1: Destiny. In this unit, students will explore a question that is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago: How much of what happens in our lives do we control? Unit 2: Taking a Stand. This unit explores the tension between the expectation that people should follow rules for the sake of order, and instances in which the “right” decision might be to challenge established rules. In other words, when is it appropriate to challenge rules? Unit 3: Technical Difficulties. Students will contemplate relevant questions that we all must ask ourselves as technology becomes more and more prevalent, expanding our power to manipulate the natural world. Essentially, students will question, what responsibility do we have for what we create? Unit 4: The Human Connection. In this unit, students are asked to ponder one very important question: How do our interactions define us? They will try to answer this question by reading several short stories, poems and novels. This is a writing intensive course. 

English III

Grade:  11

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq:  English II

In this course, students develop the skills in the context of a reading routine. The course begins by instructing to foundational best practices for reading—using annotation to record notes and ideas, drawing on context clues to predict the meanings of unknown words, and applying reading comprehension strategies to break down complex texts. The four major themes of study are “We the People,” “The Individual,” “Modern Times,” and “Seeking Romance.”  Conversations, both oral and written, explicitly instruct the behaviors that lead to a successful peer discussion and collaboration. Throughout this writing intensive course, students are introduced to the skills that will help them grow as readers and writers as they continue to practice throughout the year.

AP English III: Language and Composition

Grade: 11

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq: Advanced English II with a “B” or higher for first semester. Final admission pending a “B” or higher for second semester, teacher recommendation, as well as  attendance at a mandatory spring semester meeting.

The AP English Language and Composition course focuses on the development and revision of evidence-based analytical and argumentative writing, the rhetorical analysis of nonfiction texts, and the choices writers make as they compose and revise.  Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments.  Additionally, they read and analyze rhetorical elements and their effects in nonfiction texts - including images as forms of text -from a range of disciplines and historical periods.  The AP English Language and Composition course aligns to an introductory college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum. Students completing the course have the opportunity to take the AP Language and Composition exam, administered by the CollegeBoard in the spring, which could qualify them to receive college credit for the course. The exam is not mandatory, but is highly recommended.  All grades in AP courses are weighted in the 5.0 point weighted system. College equivalent work is expected from all students. Students are required to read and complete an assignment over the summer. Failure to comply may result in being dropped from this course. AP Courses cannot be dropped or leveled down after 1st semester without teacher recommendation.

Creative Writing

Grade: 11-12

1 Sem.  Credit: .5

Prereq:  Any level - English I, II, concurrent English III 

This English elective will introduce students to the process and techniques of Creative Writing.  Students will experiment with several types of writing, including fiction, non-fiction, plays, and poetry.  Class reading and peer editing will expose students to various writing styles and provide examples of the successes and strategies of other writers.  Class time will be spent discussing the writer’s craft, assigned readings, and student writings. This is a writing intensive course. 

Public Speaking

Grade:  11-12

1 Sem.  Credit: .5

Prereq: Any level - English I, II, concurrent English III

Public Speaking is a one-semester course emphasizing learning by doing.  The class deals with the processes of research, writing, and delivering various types of speeches to an audience.  Informational content, activities, and analysis precede speech delivery.  Students must actively participate in all class activities. 

Career Based Reading & Writing (CBRW)

Grade: 12

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq: Any level - English I, II, III

Course Description: Career Based Reading & Writing (CBRW) is a practical, skills-focused English course designed for high school seniors preparing to enter the workforce in trade and technical fields. This course emphasizes communication skills essential for success in various trades, including clear and effective written and verbal communication, technical reading comprehension, and professional documentation. Students will engage in hands-on learning experiences that mirror real-world situations, such as reading technical manuals, writing clear instructions, drafting reports, completing work orders, and interacting professionally with clients and colleagues. Through targeted projects and assignments, students will practice creating résumés, cover letters, emails, and professional presentations tailored to a variety of career fields. In addition to written communication,  Career Based Reading & Writing (CBRW) also helps students develop public speaking skills, conflict resolution techniques, and interpersonal communication strategies. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the language skills and confidence to effectively communicate in a range of work settings, from job sites to customer-facing roles. This course prepares students for immediate entry into the workforce or trades with the communication skills to succeed in their chosen field. 

English IV

Grade: 12

2 Sem. Credit: 1      

Prereq: Any level - English I, II, III

The Grade 12 Thematic Units take students through classic texts of British Literature, spanning from the Anglo-Saxon Period to the Modern Age. Paired with the British classics are canonical pieces of American Literature. These pairings demonstrate the influence of British literary movements, writing styles, and philosophical ideas on American authors and will help students make connections between British and American literature, history, and culture. Unit 1, Epic Heroes, travels back to the Anglo-Saxon period and examines the relationship between legend and history in the making of a national identity. Unit 2, The Human Condition, takes readers to the English Renaissance and traces ideas of humanism as reflected in literature of the time period. Unit 3, An Exchange of Ideas, includes texts about Puritanism and the Enlightenment, a European intellectual movement that influenced the founders of our country and contributed to the establishment of the American form of government. Unit 4, Emotional Currents, provides a survey of texts representing Romanticism, the Victorian Age, and the Modern Age, examining how ideas from those texts have shaped culture and continue to have an impact today. This is a writing intensive course. 

AP English IV: Literature and Composition

Grade: 12

2 Sem. Credit: 1

Prereq:  A minimum of a “B” or higher in English I, English II, Advanced English II, and AP English III semester grades, teacher recommendation, as well as attendance at a mandatory spring semester meeting. 

Students participate in a college level English class which emphasizes writing and literature, with a focus on a critical study of literary classics. A “seminar” concept is stressed, as a class discussion of contemporary issues as they relate to literature is a major portion of daily work. Other independent novels are also assigned during the academic school year. All students will maintain a portfolio of writing assignments. The instructor will review, reinforce, and augment writing skills learned in English I, II and III. Students completing the course have the opportunity to take the AP English Literature and Composition exam, administered by the CollegeBoard in the spring, which could qualify them to receive college credit for the course. The exam is not mandatory, but is highly recommended.  All grades in AP courses are weighted in the 5.0 point weighted system. College equivalent work is expected from all students. Students are required to read three novels independently over the summer and must successfully complete an examination to demonstrate an understanding and mastery of the concepts discussed in the novels. Passage of the exam will determine a student’s continuation in the course. AP Courses cannot be dropped or leveled down after 1st semester without teacher recommendation.

English as a Second Language I (ESL)

Grade:  9-12

2 Sem.  Credit: 1

Prereq:  Teacher recommendation

English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are designed for the acquisition and rapid mastery of the English language, focusing on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. ESL courses usually begin with extensive listening and speaking practice, building on auditory and oral skills,

and then move on to reading and writing. These courses provide an explanation of basic structures of the English language, enabling students to progress from an elementary understanding of English words and verb tenses to a more comprehensive grasp of various formal and informal styles. This will be available to students classified as ESL and other ESL students by teacher recommendation. This course counts as an English elective credit.

English as a Second Language II (ESL)

Grade:  10-12

2 Sem.  Credit: 1

Prereq:  Teacher recommendation

English as a Second Language II (ESL) is designed for the continued acquisition and rapid mastery of the English language, focusing on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. ESL courses usually begin with extensive listening and speaking practice, building on auditory and oral skills,

and then move on to reading and writing. These courses provide an explanation of basic structures of the English language, enabling students to progress from an elementary understanding of English words and verb tenses to a more comprehensive grasp of various formal and informal styles. This will be available to students classified as ESL and other ESL students by teacher recommendation. This course counts as an English elective credit.

English Language Development I (ELD)

Grade:  9-12

2 Sem.  Credit: 1

Prereq:  Teacher recommendation

English Language Development is an English class for the Newcomer student. The class focuses on the attainment of the four domains: reading, writing, speaking and listening. This class can replace the regular English classes for those students that are not ready to tackle the High School English curriculum. Through the use of multiple sources and texts, the students will be provided a foundation for curriculum, instruction and assessment in the English language. This course counts as an English credit. 

English Language Development II (ELD)

Grade:  10-12

2 Sem.  Credit: 1

Prereq:  Teacher recommendation

English Language Development II is an English class for the Newcomer student to continue with their English skills. The class focuses on the attainment of the four domains: reading, writing, speaking and listening. This class can replace the regular English classes for those students that are not ready to tackle the High School English curriculum. Through the use of multiple sources and texts, the students will be provided a foundation for curriculum, instruction and assessment in the English language. This course counts as an English credit.