English Electives

JOURNALISM  

Grade: 9 -12

Credits: 2.5

Prerequisite: None  (This course is linked to Creative Writing.)

Features. Movie/Music Reviews. Sports. Editorials. Columns. Headlines. Captions. Layout. Elect a semester course in journalism and learn how to write for newspapers, magazines, radio and television. Conduct interviews, evaluate headlines, analyze political cartoons, and compare the same news story in a variety of print, radio, and television formats. Write, edit, and publish your work. Record your news writing on audio and video. Elect this course and share in a unique journalistic experience. Students who wish to seek a major in communications would benefit from this course. 

CREATIVE WRITING 

Grade: 9 -12

Credits: 2.5

Prerequisite: None  (This course is linked to Creative Writing.)

This semester course will focus on Creative Writing: fiction, poetry, playwriting with a focus on production of work for publication. This course will reinforce students’ ability to write creatively in all genres.  During the year, students will design a writing portfolio representing a variety of literary forms, increase their awareness of the publishing process, incorporate the conventions of the performing arts into original scripts, and investigate college programs and career paths related to the creative arts.

JOURNALISM 2 - Grades 10 - 12 

Grade: 10 -12

Credits: 2.5

Prerequisite: None  (This course is linked to Creative Writing 2)

This semester course will build on the work from Journalism 1. Students will continue to develop their skills for print and digital news media. Conducting interviews and researching, students will write, edit and publish work as well as analyze various modes of news media to learn about effective communication. Students who choose to continue in this course will extend this unique experience for a second year. This course will particularly benefit students who are interested in the field of communications and journalism. 

CREATIVE WRITING 2

Grade: 10 -12

Credits: 2.5

Prerequisite: None  (This course is linked to Journalism 2)

This semester course will continue the work that students began in Creative Writing 1, focusing on Creative Writing: fiction, poetry, playwriting. Students will be encouraged to delve deeper into a genre that they are interested in and continue to build their writing portfolios with hallmark representations of their work. Students who are passionate about writing will find this course a unique path to investigating college and career paths related to the creative and performing arts.

TRUE CRIME AND SUSPENSE IN MEDIA AND LITERATURE

Grade: 10 -12

Credits: 5

Prerequisite: None 

In this full-year course, students will investigate the dark side of human nature through analysis of documentaries, films, screenplays and novels.  As they study and conduct research in these genres, the students will engage in the creative processes, themselves, producing works of media, film, drama, fiction and nonfiction through project-based learning.

AP CAPSTONE- AP Seminar 

Grade: 10-12  

Credits: 5

Prerequisites: None

AP Capstone™ is a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. It cultivates curious, independent, and collaborative scholars and prepares them to make logical, evidence-based decisions. AP Capstone consists of two consecutive courses--AP Seminar and AP Research. AP Seminar encourages students to explore topics that matter to them (real-world issues), use inquiry, collaborate in group presentations, and develop research-driven essays.  By the end of the year, students will analyze multiple perspectives and ideas, and formulate arguments to craft well-written work. AP Research will offer a deeper, personalized learning exploration of AP Seminar. 

AP CAPSTONE- AP Research

Grade: 11-12  

Credits: 5

Prerequisites: AP Seminar  

AP Research continues the work of the AP Seminar course to complete the “AP Capstone TM, a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. Working with an expert advisor, students explore an academic topic, problem, or issue that students design, plan and conduct a year- long research-based investigation to address it. The course culminates with an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words and a presentation, with an oral defense; during which students will answer 3-4 questions from a panel of evaluators.