English Language Arts Program

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM

  NJ Student Learning Standards for Language Arts

Students who are college and career ready in language arts demonstrate independence; build strong content knowledge; respond to the varying demands of audience, task, purpose, and discipline; comprehend as well as critique; value evidence; use technology and digital media strategically and capably; and come to understand other perspectives and cultures.

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Students enrolled in an English course will be required to complete summer reading. The reading assignment is due at the beginning of each subsequent school year and will be assessed as the first grade of the new school year. Upon return to school in September, each student will demonstrate his/her understanding of the summer reading work by means of a teacher-designed task. 

 PLEASE NOTE:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

Course Offerings

Academic Courses:                                      Grade Level                    Credits

English 9                                                                9                                    5.0

English 10                                                             10                                   5.0

English 11                                                             11                                   5.0

English 12                                                             12                                   5.0

English 12 Advanced (CAP)                               12                                   5.0

English as a Second Language (ESL)              9-12                                5.0

Honors/Advanced Placement (AP):          Grade Level                      Credits

English 9 Honors                                                   9                                     5.0

English 10 Honors                                                10                                   5.0

English 11 Honors                                                11                                   5.0

English 12 Honors/AP                                         12                                   5.0

Elective Courses:                                         Grade Level                      Credits

Journalism I                                                          9-12                                5.0

Journalism II                                                        10-12                               5.0

Journalism III                                                       11-12                               5.0

Creative Writing 1 - Poetry                                 10-12                               2.5

Creative Writing 2 – Fiction                               10-12                               2.5

Speech and Debate (CAP)                                  11-12                               2.5

Education & The Teaching Profession (CAP)  12 5.0


English 9 - Grade Level:  9 

Prerequisites: None

Duration:  200 minutes/week 

Credits:  5

This course continues the sequential development of the elements of the English language - reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Various genres of literature are presented and analyzed.  Skills, materials, and technology addressed in this course will prepare students for higher education and/or workplace training, as well as the NJ State Endorsed Assessment.


English 9 Honors - Grade Level:  9                                        

Weighted Course

Prerequisite:  See Course Prerequisite Section

Duration:  200 minutes/week                                          

Credits:  5

This course is designed to meet the needs of exceptionally able college-bound students who are identified by very specific district-wide criteria.  Students who are eligible for this course will be so informed by appropriate personnel.


English 10 - Grade Level:  10

Prerequisite:  English 9

Duration:  200 minutes/week                                                                      Credits:  5

This course continues the sequential development of the elements of the English language through the exploration of major literary works from around the world. Skills, materials, and technology addressed in this course will prepare students for higher education and/or workplace training, as well as the NJ State Endorsed Assessment.


English 10 Honors - Grade Level:  10 

Weighted Course

Prerequisite: See Course Prerequisite Section 

Duration:  200 minutes/week                                            

Credits:  5

This course is designed to meet the needs of exceptionally able college-bound students who are identified by very specific district-wide criteria.  Students who are eligible for this course will be so informed by appropriate personnel.


English 11 - Grade Level:  11

Prerequisite:  English 10

Duration:  200 minutes/week 

Credits:  5

This course continues the sequential development of the elements of the English language through the exploration of major American literary works from the pre-Colonial period up into the works of modern writers. Skills, materials, and technology addressed in this course will prepare students for higher education and/or workplace training, as well as the NJ State Endorsed Assessment, SAT/ACT, and ACCU-Placer Exams.


English 11 Honors - Grade Level: 11                                   

Weighted Course

Prerequisite:  See Course Prerequisite Section

Duration:  200 minutes/week                                           

Credits:  5

This course is designed to meet the needs of exceptionally able college-bound students who are identified by very specific district-wide criteria.  Students who are eligible for this course will be so informed by appropriate personnel.

 

English 12 - Grade Level:  12

Prerequisite: English 11

Duration:  200 minutes/week                                     

Credits: 5 

This Academic English 12 course of study provides an in-depth study of literature. Materials and skills covered in this course will prepare students for higher education and/or workplace training. Emphasis is also placed on SAT/ACT and the NJ State Endorsed Assessment preparation.

 

English 12: Advanced - Grade Level 12             (Cap)                                       

Prerequisite:  a.  English 11; b. Minimum Grade of 85 or higher in English 11

Duration:  200 minutes/week                               

Credits:  5 

This Academically Advanced English 12 class provides and in-depth study of literature and writing through various literary genres and rhetorical modes. Materials and skills covered in this course will prepare students for higher education and or workplace training as well as the SAT/ACT and NJ State Endorsed Assessment assessments. 


English 12 Honors/AP - Grade Level: 12 

Weighted Course

Prerequisite:  See Course Prerequisite Section

Duration:  200 minutes/week 

Credits:  5

This course is designed to meet the needs of exceptionally able students who are identified by very specific district-wide criteria.  Students who are eligible for this course will be so informed by appropriate personnel.  The course involves in-depth study of literature, primarily but not exclusively British literature, as preparation for college and for the AP exam. Students enrolled in this course will be required to sit for the AP exam at the end of the year.


English as a Second Language (ESL) - Grade Level 9-12

Prerequisite:  Student with limited English ability

Duration:  200 minutes/week 

Credits: 5

English as a Second Language (ESL) at the high school level is a credit course for students whose first or native language is a language other than English. Activities are designed to develop the four English language skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing in academic content areas.  State-approved standardized assessment is administered prior to enrollment to determine eligibility for this program and ability level.


ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS

Electives

Journalism I -  Grade Level:  9-12 

Prerequisite:  None

Duration:  200 minutes/week 

Credits: 5

Journalism is an academic elective course designed for 9th-12th grade students interested in developing their writing skills for possible careers in journalism, public relations, advertising, and other communication fields.  Students will investigate news stories, conduct interviews, and write news articles for a real audience.  They will gain hands on experience, such as editing and producing bimonthly newspaper.


Journalism II -  Grade Level:  10-12 

Prerequisite:  Journalism 1

Duration:  200 minutes/week 

Credits: 5

Journalism II is an academic elective course intended for 10th-12th grade students who 

have been selected to be editors of the school newspaper which is web based.  They will gain hands-on experience, such as editing and design, producing a bi- monthly newspaper. Students will edit news articles; organize various school projects such as assemblies, school wide contests, pep rally segments, and the daily news show.  They will develop their writing and video production skills for possible careers in journalism, public relations, advertising and other communication fields.


Journalism III -  Grade Level:  11-12 

Prerequisite:  Journalism 1 & 2 and recommendation by Journalism Teacher

Duration:  200 minutes/week 

Credits: 5

Advanced Journalism is a class for 11th and 12th grade students who have completed journalism I and II and are interested in news broadcasting.  The students will produce and film the daily announcements for the entire school in the PMHS studio.  While producing the news, the students will learn and understand lighting and sound techniques as well as various aspects of a newscast.  Students will also explore electronic and social media applications for the publication of student and local news pertinent to the school and district.


Creative Writing – Poetry—Grade Level: 10-12 

Prerequisite:  English 9

Duration:  200 minutes/week (1 semester)                                  

Credits: 2.5

CW-Poetry concentrates on the craft of writing poetry.  Students will analyze techniques in  various  poetry  movements  and  genres  including  spoken  word.   Students will  be  in various poetry movements and genres including spoken word.  Students will be expected to evaluate their own and others’ works in a supportive atmosphere.  As well as aiming to write publishable poems, the workshop will equally value the ability to critique the poems of others.  Willingness to speak in front of peers is an important component to this course. 


Creative Writing – Fiction—Grade Level: 10-12 

Prerequisite:  English 9

Duration:  200 minutes/week (1 semester)                                       

Credits: 2.5

CW-Fiction offers students the opportunity to hone writing skills by studying the elements of short fiction.  Students will be expected to read and critique popular short fiction, eventually applying these skills to their own writing.  Writers will share works with peers, developing methods of evaluation.  Students entering this course should have advanced written communication skills. 


Speech and Debate - Grade Level: 11-12

Prerequisite:  None

Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester) 

Credits: 2.5

Speech and debate is an exciting DUAL CREDIT/CAP semester course which aims to develop students’ skills and confidence in the areas of public speaking and debate.  This course will examine logic and  logical  argumentation  as  well  as  the  fundamentals  of  effective  public  speaking: preparation, pace, tone, facial and vocal expressiveness, as well as anxiety management.  Students will learn to structure ideas and arguments in their speeches and debates in a sustained, persuasive, and sophisticated way and support them with precise and relevant examples.   Students are encouraged to take this course if they are planning a career in the legal field, management, business administration, or public relations. 


Education & The Teaching Profession - Grade Level: 12 only

Prerequisite:  None

Duration: 200 minutes/week 

Credits: 5 (CAP COURSE) 


This CAP/DUAL CREDIT, SENIOR LEVEL course is designed for students considering a career in teaching.  It guides students through various  elements of the profession, including its foundations in America from colonial times to the present,  education realities, challenges and rewards.  Particular emphasis is placed on  student diversity issues, family and societal influences, and the inter-connectedness of school, family and community. Students will explore and develop a personal vision and mission with regard to their own professional practice through collaborative learning projects, case studies, videos, online resources, and classroom discussion. Students will have an opportunity to explore various aspects of education to assist in career decision-making. All students will complete a minimum of 10 hours of teaching observations (parental permission for students to transport themselves to each observation will be required).


Banned Books - Grade Level 10-12

Prerequisite:  None

Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)

Credits: 2.5

This class is dedicated to representations in literature that often lead to texts being

banned or contested: We will answer questions like are there limits to what children or students can be exposed to in the classroom? Should all literary or cultural products be available for consumption? Should books be banned? Can we be offended by literature?


Women in Literature - Grade Level 10-12

Prerequisite:  None

Duration: 200 minutes/week (1 semester)

Credits: 2.5

A study of works by women writers in a variety of forms. The course provides a literary, historical, and sociological context for the study of women’s literature. It analyzes works of literature studied and written by women from the late 18th century through the 21st century. It will also examine various literary techniques that women writers use in constructing their texts, and demonstrate an understanding of these techniques.

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