English

ENGLISH I 1 credit (Required)

Grade 9

0110-Honors  English I 

This full year course is designed for the highly motivated, creative, and exceptionally skilled student of English with teacher recommendation. Sentence structure, paragraph development, and compositions are elements of the course. In addition students are instructed in the major genres in literature and in literary terms. An emphasis on creative, critical, and abstract thinking skills occurs in both writing and literary interpretation. The primary texts include, The Hate U Give, The House on Mango Street, Night, The Light Pirate, and Romeo and Juliet. Supplemental short stories, poems, and nonfiction pieces are used to round out the units.  Grades are based on quizzes, writing assignments, individual and cooperative classroom work, projects, and exams. Homework is assigned on a daily basis; outside reading is required.

0112-College Prep English I

This full year course is designed for students planning to pursue post-secondary educational training of any kind, including four-year colleges. Students should have a solid understanding of basic skills of reading, writing, and vocabulary. Students review vocabulary skills and library resource usage. Students are introduced to the major genres and become familiar with basic literary terms through the study of various literary forms and writers. The primary texts include, The Hate U Give, The House on Mango Street, Night, The Light Pirate, and Romeo and Juliet. Supplemental short stories, poems, and nonfiction pieces are used to round out the units. Outside reading and projects will be required. Grades are based on quizzes, formal and informal writing assignments, individual and cooperative classroom work, projects, and exams. Homework is assigned on a daily basis; outside reading is required. 

0114-English I 

This full year course is designed for students who will benefit from a greater focus on basic skills in reading and writing, including reading comprehension, sentence structure, paragraph and essay development, and grammar and mechanics. Formal and informal writing occurs weekly. Students read and study works in fiction and nonfiction. Primary texts include, The Hate U Give, The House on Mango Street, Night, The Light Pirate and Romeo and Juliet. Supplemental short stories, poems, essays, and speeches are also covered.  Grades are based on quizzes, writing assignments, individual and cooperative classroom work, projects, and exams. Homework is assigned on a regular basis; outside reading is required.

ENGLISH II                         1 credit (Required) 

Grade 10 

Prerequisite: English I

0120-Honors English II 

This full year course is designed for the highly motivated, creative, and exceptionally skilled student of English with teacher recommendation and successful completion of English I. Critical thinking, critical writing, and the reading and interpretation of literature will be emphasized. The primary texts are The Catcher in the Rye, a dystopian novel, a short story unit, a biography, additional novels of choice and a Shakespearean play. Students will study the history of the English language and diction. Students will conduct an in depth research project and compose a synthesis essay.  Students will participate in a short story unit. Supplemental essays, poems, and nonfiction pieces are used to round out the units. All work is supplemented by vocabulary, grammar and composition, and presentations. A refugee research project and presentation is required. Grades are based on formative and summative assessments including: quizzes, writing assignments, individual and cooperative classroom work, projects, and exams. Homework is assigned on a regular basis; outside reading is required. 

0122-College Prep English II

This full year course is designed for students planning to pursue post-secondary educational training. Students should possess average or above verbal skills. Critical thinking, critical writing, and the reading and interpretation of literature will be emphasized. The primary texts are The Catcher in the Rye, a dystopian novel, a short story unit, a biography, additional novels of choice and a Shakespearean play. Students will study the history of the English language and diction. Students will conduct an in depth research project and compose a synthesis essay.  Students will participate in a short story unit. Supplemental essays, poems, and nonfiction pieces are used to round out the units. All work is supplemented by vocabulary, grammar and composition, and presentations. A refugee research project and presentation is required. Grades are based on formative and summative assessments including: quizzes, writing assignments, individual and cooperative classroom work, projects, and exams. Homework is assigned on a regular basis; outside reading is required. 

0124- English II

This full year course is designed for students who will benefit from a greater focus on basic skills in reading and writing. Formal and informal writing occurs weekly. Writing is addressed with emphasis on usage, sentence structure, paragraphing, proofreading, and editing. In addition reading skills are developed to improve understanding and proficiency. Students read and study works in fiction and nonfiction. The primary texts are The Catcher in the Rye, a dystopian novel, a short story unit, a biography, additional novels of choice and a Shakespearean play.  Readings are adapted in order to account for suitable ability levels. Supplemental short stories, poems, and nonfiction pieces are used to round out the units. All work is supplemented by vocabulary, grammar and composition, and presentations. A career research project and presentation is required. Grades are based on quizzes, writing assignments, individual and cooperative classroom work, projects, and exams. Homework is assigned on a regular basis; outside reading is required.

English III                                                                                                                                      1 credit (Required or AP Language) 

Grade 11

Prerequisite: English II 

0130-Honors English III 

This full year course is designed for the highly motivated, creative, and exceptionally skilled student of English with teacher recommendation and successful completion of English II. This course continues to fulfill the Maine Standards for English. English III centers around the central motif of Power & Privilege and the implications it may have for individuals, communities, and dreams.  Each unit examines the motif through a different work of American Literature, offering a different perspective on Power & Privilege. Units consist of a major work with smaller stories, poems, pieces of nonfiction, and other media used to continue the study. Novels read may include, The Great Gatsby, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Crucible, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Invention of Wings and Nickel Boys. Grades are based on quizzes, tests, homework and a variety of in-class activities.  In addition to the study of American literature, students will complete a formal, argumentative, research paper. Grades are based on quizzes, writing assignments, individual and cooperative classroom work, projects, and exams. Homework is assigned on a regular basis; outside reading is required. 

0132-College Prep English III 

This full year course is designed for juniors who have successfully completed English II. This course continues to fulfill the Maine Standards for English. English III centers around the central motif of Power & Privilege and the implications it may have for individuals, communities, and dreams.  Each unit examines the motif through a different work of American Literature, offering a different perspective on Power & Privilege. Units consist of a major work with smaller stories, poems, pieces of nonfiction, and other media used to continue the study. Novels read may include, The Great Gatsby, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Crucible, Killers of the Flower Moon, Nickel Boys, and The Invention of Wings. Grades are based on quizzes, tests, homework and a variety of in-class activities.  In addition to the study of American Literature, students will complete a formal, argumentative, research paper. Grades are based on quizzes, writing assignments, individual and cooperative classroom work, projects, and exams. Homework is assigned on a regular basis; outside reading is required. 

0134-English III 

This full year course is designed for those students who will continue to benefit from a greater focus on the basic skills in the areas of language, composition, or reading. This course continues to fulfill the Maine Standards for English. English III centers around the central motif of Power & Privilege and the implications it may have for individuals, communities, and dreams.  Each unit examines the motif through a different work of American Literature, offering a different perspective on Power & Privilege. Units consist of a major work with smaller stories, poems, pieces of nonfiction, and other media used to continue the study. The reading skills are developed through considering selections from American Literature, including The Great Gatsby, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Killers of the Flower Moon, Nickel Boys and The Crucible. Oral, reading, writing, and vocabulary skills are developed. A major research project is required. Grades are based on quizzes, writing assignments, individual and cooperative classroom work, projects, and exams. Homework is assigned on a regular basis; outside reading is required. 

Advanced Placement English
Grades 11, 12 

Prerequisite: Open to highly motivated junior and senior students with teacher recommendation. After the successful completion of Honors English II, a student may take AP Language & Composition in place of Honors English 3. AP courses require high levels of student engagement, participation, and independence. In particular, the AP Lang course requires students to be dedicated readers and writers, committed to building upon their knowledge and skills.

Two AP English courses are offered: Language and Literature (see descriptions below). Each is equivalent to a college-level freshman English course and offers a demanding and challenging level of work. Near the conclusion of either course, students are required to take the AP exam; students are responsible for the exam fee. Successful completion, with a score of 3 or better on a 5-point scale, may earn advanced course placement, exemption from college freshman English requirements, and/or college credit. Approximately one hour of outside work for each class period may be anticipated. Summer preparation is required. 

0141-Advanced Placement English Language and Composition 1 credit

In its course description for AP Lang, the College Board identifies two primary goals: developing critical literacy and facilitating informed citizenship. Course content — including all texts, assignments, and assessments — works to ensure the achievement of these two goals. AP Lang engages students in becoming skilled readers and writers of analytical and argumentative texts. In their reading and writing, students will become better aware of a text’s rhetorical situation, including the interplay among writer, purpose, and audience. Units of study may include climate change, crime and punishment, disability, education, ethics and justice, gender, memoir, and social class and poverty. Substantive texts may include, The Reason I jump, A Small Place, In Cold Blood, Columbine, A Room of One’s Own, We Should All Be Feminists, Fast Food Nation, and Field Notes from a Catastrophe. Essays, both formal and informal, annotations, quizzes, research projects, and presentations will determine grades. **If  AP Language and Composition is taken Junior year for a student's English III credit, students are expected to then enroll in AP Literature and Composition for their required senior English course.**

0142-Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition           1 credit

The course content concentrates upon classic literature and analytical writing. The course fosters the habits of sensitive, analytical, and critical thinking about quality literature and the philosophic ideas and concepts implicit in it, as well as a command for communicating intelligently through interpretive writing. The course introduces and explores several major works of the canon, ranging chronologically from the medieval era to the modern day.  Substantive texts may include, Hamlet, Paradise Lost, Frankenstein, The Metamorphosis, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Mrs. Dalloway, and The Underground Railroad, among others. The course examines various forms of poetry alongside the longer dramatic and prose pieces.  Testing, independent research projects, in-class essays, reaction papers, and class contributions will determine grades.  

0143- YCCC English 101 College Composition*           1 credit (semester long)

Grade 12

Prerequisite: Open to highly motivated seniors with teacher recommendation 

This course will be offered to Marshwood High Students during the regular school day. This semester-long course emphasizes the development of writing, analytical reading, and critical thinking skills so that students are able to communicate ideas, formulate arguments, and locate and use credible sources. Students will draft, revise and edit short and long essays, including research papers. The course emphasizes use of the writing process, revisions, and analysis of published and peer writing samples through modeling. Vocabulary development is ongoing. Some non-fiction independent reading may be required. The primary text is Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond, 4th edition, by Lester Faigley; students are responsible for purchasing their own text. Students who successfully complete this course earn 1 Marshwood High School English credit and 3 York County Community College credits. 

      *Concurrent Class: YCCC Concurrent Class

0159 - Writing for Your Future   .5 credit

Grade 12

This course is designed for students planning to enter the workforce, apply for an apprenticeship, or enroll at a community college or trade school after graduation. Students will develop the communication skills necessary for success. Instruction will focus primarily on professional writing (reports, instructions, emails), on the job search (resumes, cover letters), college research and writing, and effective speaking and listening skills. Students will use research and the writing process to examine and explore an essential question of choice and present their findings with a formal, professional, and polished project. This course is not approved as a core course for NCAA eligibility. 

0152- College Prep Media Journalism .5 credit 

Grades 10, 11, 12 

This course is an introduction to journalism both as a consumer of journalism through mass media and as a writer and publisher of journalistic content. As consumers of journalism the course studies the history of journalism and its role in a democratic society, looks at significant laws and court cases that impact journalism and focuses on the 10 Principles of Journalism and code of ethics adherent to being a journalist. Other topics include looking at influential journalists and areas of journalism including photojournalism, investigative journalism and conflict journalism. As writers and publishers, students create content as directed by the instructor. Past publications have included print mediums, a blog, weekly school news in’stall’ations and digital publications. Students must be able to work independently and have a good command of writing skills. Students may take this course multiple times, however, it can only count for a senior English credit once. 

0157-College Prep Creative Writing .5 credit 

Grades 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite: English I and II 

This course offers a semester-long study of the elements, devices, and principles of fiction writing. Class time will be dedicated to discussing published short stories and completing writing exercises. Students compose four short stories over the semester and workshop at least one of their stories in small groups. In the workshops, students praise and critique each other’s stories in an open, constructive, and supportive environment. The goal of the class is for students to create fulfilling portfolios and to confidently identify themselves as creative writers. If time permits, students study and compose poetry and creative nonfiction.

0162- College Prep Mythology .5 credit

Grades 11, 12 

Mythology is designed to give students a sense of pattern in life through a look at the myths of various nations, historical epochs, and cultures: including Greek and Norse mythology. The course is based on the premise that there "is nothing new under the sun". It considers the basic plots, themes, and character types that recur throughout the history of literature. Writing of both an expository and creative nature is required. Grades are based upon a combination of quiz, test, and composition scores. Content specific vocabulary study is an inclusive part of the course. Using elements from the myths studied, students complete a final written project and exhibition based on a created mythology at the close of the course, as well as a final exam. Primary texts are Man the Mythmaker and Hamilton’s Mythology, with additional selections from a number of supplementary novels, articles, and films. 

0163- College Prep Film Studies .5 credit

Grade 12 

Film Studies provides students an opportunity to acquire an understanding of and appreciation for film, both classic and contemporary. Instruction includes the historical development of film as an art form as well as its ongoing cultural context — students analyze film to explore the ways “the work” represents cultural and critical movements. Film is explored as a cultural product — the social, political and economic circumstances in which it is created to explore the ways cinema is a product of cultural moments. Also, film is explored critically — the ways in which “literary” ideas find their way into cinematic analysis (narrative, plot, character, mood); the critical side of film studies introduces new terms (and includes various theories of film criticism) for students to become more acute critical readers of film. The course will center on reading/writing/discussing films we watch. Writing assignments include informal and formal responses, which tap into various aspects of students’ interests, experiences, and understandings. Participation and a willingness to discuss the things we are viewing/reading are a must. 

0170-Introduction To Theater           .5 credit (English or Standards Based Fine Art) 

Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 

This theater course provides a thorough introduction to the world of theater — theater as an art form, as social commentary, as educational strategy. Students will explore and practice some of the various roles in theater: actor, director, stage manager, designer. Students will study scripts (from various centuries and cultures); they will participate in scene and monologue work, process dramas, and improvisation exercises. Additionally, students will reflect upon their learning experiences and their creative work. Successful completion of this course satisfies a 1⁄2 credit of fine arts OR English, not both. This course is not approved as a core course for NCAA eligibility. 

0171- Advanced Theater       .5  credit (English or Standards Based Fine Art) 

Grades 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite: Introduction to Theater, participation in at least 2 MHS productions, or teacher permission

This advanced theater course builds upon the fundamentals from introduction to theater. The first quarter is an acting workshop -- using Improv and scene work to focus on skills and techniques, as well as script and character analysis. In a supportive environment, students receive regular feedback and direction from the instructor. and they practice observation and collaboration to grow as performers. 

In the second quarter of the semester, students apply their knowledge and skills in the practice of playmaking, theater for young audiences, documentary theater, and/or theater & community. Group projects require students to work together in their exploration and discovery of the ways in which theater responds to and impacts the world outside its doors, as well as in the creation of work to do the very same. Successful completion of this course satisfies a 1⁄2 credit of fine arts or English, not both. This course is not approved as a core course for NCAA eligibility.