(1002)  (1003) 1 credit 

Full Year  📝 Sample Syllabus

Focus of Instruction: The focus for instruction includes an integrated approach to grammar, speaking, composition, and literature skills.

This course is for incoming grade nine students who have command of the basic skills in reading and writing. The course will build literacy proficiency by integrating literature, composition, listening skills, speaking skills, and grammar. A student’s placement will be determined by reading standardized test data, previous grades and performance, and teacher recommendation. 

Recommendation: To enroll in English 9 Honors, highly motivated students should have earned at least a grade of A- in Grade 8 English. 

(1011)  (1012) 1 credit 

Full Year  📝   Sample Syllabus

Focus of Instruction: The focus for instruction includes speech, composition, vocabulary development, and a combination of classic and contemporary literature.

This course will build upon the skills introduced and emphasized in English 9, increasing literacy proficiency by integrating literature, composition, listening skills, speaking skills, and grammar.  A student’s placement will be determined by reading standardized test data, previous grades and performance, and teacher recommendation.

Recommendation: To enroll in English 10 Honors, highly motivated students should have earned at least an A- in English 9, or a B in English 9 Honors.

(1035) 1 credit 

Full Year  📝 Sample Syllabus

Focus of Instruction: The focus for instruction includes American literature, both fiction and non-fiction, and composition.  Classic American Literature (AP English Language and Composition) is available for motivated juniors.

This course will use American literature as a vehicle to build upon skills introduced and emphasized in English 10.  Students examine American fiction, primary documents, non-fiction, and art through cultural, critical, and historical lenses.  A student’s placement will be determined by a school-wide reading assessment battery, standardized test data, previous grades and performance, and teacher recommendation.

(1037) 1 credit 

Full Year  📝  📚   Sample Syllabus

Focus of Instruction: The focus for instruction includes American literature, both fiction and non-fiction, and composition.  Classic American Literature (AP English Language and Composition) is available for motivated juniors.

This course introduces the highly motivated and intellectually curious juniors to the elements of argument, rhetoric and style.  The goal of this course is to strengthen students’ understanding and appreciation of the English language, while developing their reading, writing and thinking skills.  

Recommendation: To enroll in AP English 11, students should have earned at least an A- in English 10, or a B in English 10 Honors.

(1041) 1 credit 

Full Year  📝 Sample Syllabus

Focus of Instruction: The focus for instruction includes student choice based on interest: World Literature,and  English Literature & Composition, Comedy and Writing for Publication & Social Justice and Creative Writing. 

This course develops a critical understanding of literature as an art form and as the expression of diverse cultural voices.  Not intended as a historical survey, this course will study different literary genres, including writing by women, minority, British and non-Western authors and may include scholarly and critical essays on literature.  

(1042) 1 credit 

Full Year  📝   Sample Syllabus

Focus of Instruction: The focus for instruction includes student choice based on interest: World Literature,and  English Literature & Composition, Comedy and Writing for Publication & Social Justice and Creative Writing.

In lieu of the standard English 12 course, students may select this option for their senior year. This particular course will introduce students to the different theories of comedy, while also focusing on writing for publications.  Beginning with a look at classic comedy students will engage in a study of how comedy has evolved over time.  Students’ study will include exposure to various types of humor, including farce, satire, dark comedy, parody, slapstick and screwball humor.  Texts will range from essays by David Sedaris and Garrison Keillor to Catch-22, Waiting for Godot and Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime.  Students will also watch examples of comedy. In conjunction with this work, students will learn the fundamentals of print and online media. Additionally, students will also learn how to interview, write news, features, sports articles and blogs, while keeping in mind their respective audience. There will also be an emphasis on their own voices as writers in terms of clarity, precision and accuracy. 

(1043) 1 credit 

Full Year  📝 Sample Syllabus

Focus of Instruction: The focus for instruction includes student choice based on interest: World Literature,and  English Literature & Composition, Comedy and Writing for Publication & Social Justice and Creative Writing. 

In lieu of the standard English 12 course, students may select this option for their senior year. This particular course will help students develop a critical understanding of social justice literature and how it can be used to raise awareness of a particular issue or underrepresented community.  This course will study different literary genres, including writing by women, and minority authors, and may include scholarly and critical essays on literature.  As a forum for their voices to be heard, students will also have multiple opportunities to write creatively about these issues.  Fiction, poetry and essays will be used as a foundation for discussion/debates, and students will be given the platform to share their ideas via debates, peer critiques and journaling. 

(1045) 1 credit 

Full Year  📝  📚 Sample Syllabus

Focus of Instruction: The focus for instruction includes student choice based on interest: World Literature,and  English Literature & Composition, Comedy and Writing for Publication & Social Justice and Creative Writing. 

This course is designed for the highly motivated and intellectually curious student.  Learning materials are drawn from college and Advanced Placement reading lists.  This course will enhance students’ ability to function competitively in college with the reading and study demands they will experience.  Students entering this class should be mature and self-directed learners.  Reading units will be arranged thematically, and writing assignments will be of a critical and interpretive nature.  There will be a summer reading assignment that must be completed by the first day of school. 

Recommendation: To enroll in AP English Literature & Composition, students should have earned an A- in English 11 or a B in AP English Language & Composition or provide suitable evidence to the department chair that they have the necessary motivation and work ethic.

(1049) 0.5 credit 

Semester  📚 Sample Syllabus

Writing to Inform and Explain is an elective course that is offered in conjunction with the University of Rhode Island. The course focuses upon writing emphasizing the sharing of information and the varieties and strategies of expository writing for differing audiences and situations. Successful completion of this course will earn students credit for URI's Writing 104. Students and their families are financially responsible to obtain the 3 credits from URI.

(1053) 0.5 credit 

Semester  🎨     Sample Syllabus

Theatre Arts I is a survey course examining all the elements of theatre: physical movement, text selection and analysis, the collaborative process of a production staff, stage pictures, acting theory and technique, and, of course, performances via monologues and scene studies.  Students selecting this class must be willing to participate fully on a daily basis and do the necessary preparation outside of class.  Participation in and completion of all components is necessary for success in this course. May be taken to satisfy Fine Arts graduation requirements.

(1054) 0.5 credit 

Semester  🎨 Sample Syllabus

Theatre Arts II is open to students who have successfully completed Theatre Arts I and wish to study the subject in depth and with more focus.  Units include the study of movement through a series of focused exercises, script development and analysis, the study of the elements of comedy, an examination of acting theory, and several performances, and possibly even directing projects.  The final exam consists of several memorized and contrasting monologues, one of which must be written by the student, presented in a single memorized performance.  Students selecting this class must be willing to participate fully on a daily basis and do the necessary preparation outside of class.  Participation in and completion of all components is necessary for success in this course.  May be taken to satisfy Fine Arts graduation requirements.

(1056) 0.5 credit 

Semester      Sample Syllabus

Film Studies 1 offers students an introductory course on the fundamentals of film through an exploration of eighteen to twenty films arranged by a unifying theme. While viewing a variety of thematically linked films, students will focus on film fundamentals such as camera angles, soundtrack, mise-en-scene, lighting, casting, and acting. A consistent focus on cinematic techniques and directorial choices will give students many opportunities to develop their ability to view, think, write, and speak about film. Students will also acquire a working knowledge of famous and contemporary directors and films, as well as classic performances of both the 20th and 21st century. This course serves as a prerequisite for Film Studies II (EEP).

Recommendation: Preference given to 11th and 12th graders.

(1057) 0.5 credit 

Semester Sample Syllabus

Science Fiction Film and Literature will provide students with multiple opportunities to study a popular genre using film, literature and informational text. From the works of Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, Isaac Asimov and even Stephen King to high profile films such as Jurassic Park, Alien, E.T. and The Hunger Games, students will trace the science fiction genre from the 1950s through the 21st century. Throughout the units of study, students will also examine larger concepts of alien invasion, machine and cyborg intelligence, futures for gender, and the implications when one tampers with science.  In order to demonstrate their knowledge, students will apply critical thinking and visual literacy skills as they discuss and write about their discoveries.

Recommendation: Preference given to 11th and 12th graders.

(1058) 0.5 credit 

Semester  📚     Sample Syllabus

This course is designed to give students who have already taken the prerequisite, Film Studies I, an opportunity to deepen their understanding of film analysis.  Through a continued exploration of film, students will further explore cinematic techniques and directorial choices(camera angles, soundtrack, mise en scene, lighting, casting, and acting). Students will be expected to articulate their critical evaluation of film both in major writing assignments and in small and whole class discussion groups.

Prerequisite: Film Studies I

(1052) 0.5 credit 

Semester

Students will examine various forms of writing throughout genres such as flash fiction, fairy tales, dystopian/science fiction, poetry, horror, mystery and more to develop their own writing styles and voice in accordance with those genre studies. Students will also be introduced to various forms of writing such as various forms of poetry, free form/verse, memoir, narrative, short story fiction and visual close reading. At the culmination of this course, students will have 8 or more pieces of writing to display in a student portfolio.

(1065) 0.5 credit 

Semester     Sample Syllabus

Hip Hop is an umbrella term for art, music, dance, literature, identity, style, and politics. We will begin to understand the art, culture, and politics of Hip Hop by looking at the movements and politics that inspired the birth of Hip Hop as a form of art and music. We will consider the art and aesthetics of Hip Hop and the musical styles that made Hip Hop music possible. Students will create a piece of art or music inspired by Hip Hop. The ways in which Hip Hop speaks to youth and speaks about oppression, violence, identity, culture, and power will also be considered. We will then explore Hip Hop as a form of cultural politics and activism toward social justice. ‘Knowledge of self and community’ is a Hip Hop element that will be explored in a variety of writing modes including argumentative essays explored through music reviews, raps, poetry, and narratives. Writing pieces will be taken through the writing process through argumentative and informational writing. Regular in depth reading will analyze lyrics and informational texts to develop critical thinking skills on themes prevalent in Hip Hop including gender, race, and social justice.

(1050, 1051) 0.5 credit 

Semester

This course will provide students with an in-depth exploration of the principles, practices, and skills involved in journalistic writing and reporting. It will serve as an introduction to the field of journalism, offering a comprehensive overview of news media, ethical standards, and the role of journalism in society. Students will learn journalistic skills including researching, interviewing, writing, editing, and presenting news stories across various media platforms. Emphasis will be placed on understanding journalistic ethics, critical thinking, and the responsibilities of a journalist in informing the public. 

(1060) 0.5 credit 

Semester

This course is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and confidence to communicate effectively in various public settings. The course will focus on the development of oral communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and self-confidence through the art of public speaking. Emphasis will be played on both the preparation and delivery of speeches, and allowing students to explore different types of speeches. Types of speeches to be investigated include informative, persuasive, demonstrative, and impromptu speeches.