English
Course Description Key
Descriptions of the courses offered at San Marcos High School are outlined in the following pages. Students should take note of the grade levels at which the course may be taken, prerequisites, and the length of the course (semester or year-long).
Some of the abbreviations commonly used in this section are explained below.
A-G Designation UC/CSU admission requirements (identifies courses that meet the entrance requirements of that school)
AP Advanced Placement (designates classes to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exams, which may result in a student’s receiving college credit for a course, even though the course was completed in high school
ELD English Language Development (designates English classes for those learning English as a second language).
(P) College preparatory (designates classes accepted by colleges and universities for purposes of meeting their entrance requirements)
(H) Honors (designates honors classes designed to prepare students for Advanced Placement classes)
English 9 Options
ENGLISH 9 (P) - 31100
Grade level: 9
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
Literature, both fiction and nonfiction, classical and modern, is studied to illuminate and help students meet the Common Core State Standards. There is significant emphasis on research, close reading of text, argumentative writing, response to literature, and other skills that promote critical thinking. Varying forms of assessment, including essays, listening and speaking activities, performance tasks, and short-and long-term projects are used to guide instruction.
ENGLISH 9 (H) - 31200
Grade level: 9
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
This is a course that is differentiated in order to provide greater depth, complexity, novelty, and the accelerated pacing that will start students’ preparation for the Advanced Placement program. Literature, both fiction and nonfiction, classical and modern, is studied to illuminate themes and help students meet the Common Core State Standards. There is significant emphasis on literary analysis, research, close reading of text, argumentative writing, and other skills that promote critical thinking. Varying forms of assessment, including essays, listening and speaking activities, performance tasks, and short and long-term projects, are used to guide instruction. Students who take English 9 Honors should be prepared for a greater workload than a college prep class and be comfortable with large amounts of independent reading.
Grade level: 9
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: This course is the 1st sequence course of the ELA ESports pathway.
The esports industry holds unrealized potential for a 9th grade English Language Arts classroom; the stories told within games, the mythology of characters, literacy required to achieve mastery, and opportunities to integrate the intersections between technology, culture, and play all parallel English Language Arts skills and concepts.
Students will build a foundational understanding of esports, their history, and their evolution over time, through research in multiple genres and methodologies. They will use critical thinking skills and argumentative, analytical, narrative, expository, and descriptive pieces of writing on self-selected topics within each unit’s framework to apply their esports enthusiasm to their English study. Students will explore the meaningful and diverse ways to participate in the esports community beyond playing competitively themselves, and will connect the gaming experience to literature, both fiction and nonfiction. Challenging preconceptions of what qualifies as a text, the students will apply their understanding of literary concepts to analyze and critique how writers and game developers both make choices to convey meaning to their audiences. Becoming authors themselves, they will contribute their own characters and worlds to the genre of esports. This course also supports integrated STEM learning and principles with its emphasis on effective oral and written communication, argumentation, design thinking, systems thinking, and effective student engagement with educational technology as a means to collaborate, think critically, and communicate student thinking.
ENGLISH 9 ETHNIC STUDIES (P) - 31141
Grade level: 9
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
Students in this course will read and analyze a broad range of nonfiction and fiction selections, deepening their awareness of how language works in effectively communicating ideas. Through texts that range from essays, speeches, articles, and historical documents to novels, plays, poetry, and short stories, students analyze the use of elements of literature and nonfiction using the Ethnic-Studies framework and a literature lens. As they develop their writing skills and respond to claims, students learn to formulate arguments and use textual evidence to support their position. To improve their listening, speaking, and civic engagement skills students engage with a variety of media types through which they analyze and synthesize information, discuss material, create presentations, and share their work in a community setting. Students build their writing and speaking skills in journal responses, discussions, frequent free response exercises, and essays or presentations, learning to communicate clearly and credibly in narrative, argumentative and expository styles.
ENGLISH 9 IN THE CONTEXT OF MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (P) - 31140
Grade level: 9
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
UCCI Course-English 9 in the Context of Mental and Behavioral Health is a one year college and career preparatory English course for 9th graders that integrates English with the Mental and Behavioral Health Pathway. Through reading, writing, speaking, and listening students will explore mental and behavioral health disorders, teen challenges, disorder-related violence, and disparities in the mental health care system. Throughout the course students will conduct self-generated research related to each thematic unit, utilize the writing process to effectively communicate information and ideas using industry-specific language, analyze and justify personal perspectives regarding mental and behavioral health issues, and effectively use current media to inform and persuade multiple audiences for different purposes. By the end of the course students will have gained an awareness regarding issues in mental and behavioral health and developed into advocates for such issues.
English 10 Options
ENGLISH 10 (P) - 32100
Grade level: 10
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
The course focuses on world studies. Students view essential elements of the world within themes such as revolutions, stereotypes, and power. Literature, both fiction and nonfiction, classical and modern, is studied to illuminate themes and help students meet the Common Core State Standards. There is significant emphasis on research, close reading of text, argumentative writing, response to literature, and other skills that promote critical thinking. Varying forms of assessment, including essays, listening and speaking activities, performance tasks, and short• and long-term projects are used to guide instruction. This class is closely connected to and shares many assessments with History 10 (P).
ENGLISH 10 (H) (P) - 32200
Grade level: 10
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
This is a course that is differentiated in order to provide greater depth, complexity, novelty, and the accelerated pacing that will continue students’ preparation for the Advanced Placement program. Literature, both fiction and nonfiction, classical and modern, is studied to illuminate themes and help students meet the Common Core State Standards. There is significant emphasis on literary analysis, research, close reading of text, and other skills that promote critical thinking. Varying forms of assessment, including essays, Socratic seminar, performance tasks, and short and long-term projects, are used to guide instruction. Students who take English 10 Honors should be prepared for a greater workload and be comfortable with large amounts of independent reading. It is highly recommended that students thinking of taking AP English Literature in 11th grade take this course.
Grade level: 10
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
Ever wondered to yourself while reading a book for class, why don’t we just watch the movie? Well in this class, you’ll do both. Novels and short stories are analyzed and compared/contrasted to the film version of the works to gain an understanding of the two mediums. Students will gain knowledge regarding the creation of literature to film and how it allows for multiple possibilities, whether it limits or broadens the work. We will also learn from films that do not have written work as their inspiration to gain an understanding of film techniques such as mood, film shots, music, and setting.
ENGLISH 10 ENTREPRENERUSHIP (P) - 32102
Grade level: 10
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
English 10 through Esports takes a dynamic turn, intertwining literature with esports and entrepreneurship. In this course we will be spotlighting the evolving entertainment landscape, specifically esports. Students will journey through engaging narratives like Neil Gaiman's "Norse Mythology" and a graphic adaptation of "Frankenstein," applying their insights to understand what drives a compelling mythology, character, and story. Students will be able to craft their own game ideas and create personalized business plans to get their projects off the ground. This course encourages the exploration of personal and fictional decisions, fostering critical thinking and creativity, as students craft comprehensive business plans, mirroring the challenges and triumphs of real-world entrepreneurs.
English 11 Options
ENGLISH 11 (P) - 33100
Grade level: 11
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
ENG 11 focuses on the United States, historical documents, and history from the beginning of the development of democratic traditions to the present day. Instruction is guided by essential themes and questions which focus students’ assignments, discussions, and projects. Critical events, literature, and art are placed in geographical and historical context as students gain greater awareness of the political and economic forces that affect their everyday lives. In addition to a focus on American Studies, writing tasks, projects and assignments align with and focus on Common Core State Standards and prepare students for the statewide assessment they will take in the spring semester. Students will take multiple Performance Tasks each semester to help prepare for this exam. Writing, reading, and critical thinking are integral and required components in both subject areas.
ENGLISH 11 THROUGH FILM (P)- 33102
Grade level: 11
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
Take your experience in the SMHS Filmmaking Academy to the next level by taking Filmmaking Academy: English 11. You will develop your argumentative skills through your connection between course reading and our analysis of award-winning films and documentaries. Students will continue to bolster their intellect regarding the creation of important written works and films as they examine the role media and storytelling play in our modern lives. Ultimately, this course will increase your knowledge of how writers, speakers, and filmmakers influence our everyday lives and will improve your analytical skills in both English and 21st-century media. This is a college prep level ELA course.
AP ENGLISH LITERATURE - 34200
Grade level: 10
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
The focus of this course is the individual in a diverse society. Students look at the interrelationship of individuals and society in the context of personal, social, cultural, democratic, national, and world themes. Literature, both fiction and non-fiction, traditional and modern, is used to help students meet the Common Core State Standards and prepare for post-secondary work. Essays, multiple-choice and short-answer tests, and projects are used as assessment tools which then guide instruction. This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement exams in English Literature. Instruction is differentiated in order to meet the depth, complexity, novelty, and pacing required by the State gifted standards and the Advanced Placement program.
AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE - 33200
Grade level: 12
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
AP ENG LANG (AP) focuses on the United States from the time of the colonies to the present. Students look at the developing elements of American society within the themes of national, global, and urban identity, a just society, international responsibility, and national accountability. Assessment is done via essays, multiple-choice and short answer tests, and short-and long-term projects. Students examine rigorous nonfiction and fiction texts to produce in-depth analysis; students also explore social issues to develop an informed argument -- both skills relate to essay questions they will encounter on the AP exam. This course prepares students for the Advanced Placement (AP) exams in English Language and Composition based on College Board requirements and Common Core State Standard. Instruction is differentiated to provide the depth, complexity, novelty, and pacing required by State gifted standards and the AP program. It is noteworthy that the exam includes various and numerous writing prompts; therefore, both courses place special emphasis on frequent and rigorous writing.
Grade level: 9-11
A-G Designation: G - College Prep Elective or B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
Note: This class can be used to meet one year of the English 11 SMUSD graduation requirement and A-G English requirement. There are some out-of-state and private universities that do not recognize this class as an English class.
AP Capstone is a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communications 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 comprises two AP courses – AP Seminar and AP Research – and is designed to complement and enhance the discipline-specific study in other AP courses. Participating schools can use the AP Capstone program to provide unique research opportunities for current AP students, or to expand access to AP by encouraging students to master the argument-based writing skills that the AP Capstone program develops.
English 12 Options
ENGLISH 12 ERWC (P) - 34100
Grade level: 12
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
The goal of the Expository Reading and Writing Course is to prepare college-bound seniors for the literacy demands of higher education. Through a sequence of fourteen rigorous instructional modules, students in this yearlong, rhetoric- based course develop advanced proficiency in expository, analytical, and argumentative reading and writing. The cornerstone of the course—the assignment template—presents a process for helping students read, comprehend, and respond to nonfiction and literary texts. Modules also provide instruction in research methods and documentation conventions. Students will be expected to increase their awareness of the rhetorical strategies employed by authors and to apply those strategies in their own writing. They will read closely to examine the relationship between an author’s argument or theme and his or her audience and purpose; to analyze the impact of structural and rhetorical strategies; and to examine the social, political, and philosophical assumptions that underlie the text. By the end of the course, students will be expected to use this process independently when reading unfamiliar texts and writing in response to them. Course texts include contemporary essays, newspaper and magazine articles, editorials, reports, biographies, memos, assorted public documents, and other nonfiction texts. The course materials also include modules on two full- length works (one novel and one work of nonfiction). Written assessments and holistic scoring guides conclude each unit.
AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE - 33200
Grade level: 12
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
AP ENG LANG (AP) focuses on the United States from the time of the colonies to the present. Students look at the developing elements of American society within the themes of national, global, and urban identity, a just society, international responsibility, and national accountability. Assessment is done via essays, multiple-choice and short answer tests, and short-and long-term projects. Students examine rigorous nonfiction and fiction texts to produce in-depth analysis; students also explore social issues to develop an informed argument -- both skills relate to essay questions they will encounter on the AP exam. This course prepares students for the Advanced Placement (AP) exams in English Language and Composition based on College Board requirements and Common Core State Standard. Instruction is differentiated to provide the depth, complexity, novelty, and pacing required by State gifted standards and the AP program. It is noteworthy that the exam includes various and numerous writing prompts; therefore, both courses place special emphasis on frequent and rigorous writing.
AP ENGLISH LITERATURE - 34200
Grade level: 12
A-G Designation: B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
The focus of this course is the individual in a diverse society. Students look at the interrelationship of individuals and society in the context of personal, social, cultural, democratic, national, and world themes. Literature, both fiction and non-fiction, traditional and modern, is used to help students meet the Common Core State Standards and prepare for post-secondary work. Essays, multiple-choice and short-answer tests, and projects are used as assessment tools which then guide instruction. This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement exams in English Literature. Instruction is differentiated in order to meet the depth, complexity, novelty, and pacing required by the State gifted standards and the Advanced Placement program.
ENGLISH 12 THROUGH FILM - 34141
Grade level: 12
A-G Designation: B - English Meets the UC A-G English requirement with a D or better
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
This course is aimed at enriching the experience of textual literary enquiry through the study of cinema. As an English 12 course, we will certainly be reading, discussing and analyzing literature and shorter works of non-fiction. This course also provides a general introduction to the study of film as artistic and literary medium and focuses on the key terms and concepts used to describe, interpret, critique and write about the film experience. All coursework is designed around film genres and/or styles, including comedy, Wester, world cinema, Film Noir, horror and musicals. Students will be expected to think critically about film an literature, actively participate in Socratic Seminars, engage in an array of writing assignments, procure assigned films to watch at home, and complete major, multi-faceted film projects.
Grade level: 9-12
A-G Designation: G - College Prep Elective or B - English
Recommended Previous Course of Study: None
Note: This class can be used to meet one year of the English 12 SMUSD graduation requirement and A-G English requirement. There are some out-of-state and private universities that do not recognize this class as an English class.
AP Capstone is a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communications 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 comprises two AP courses – AP Seminar and AP Research – and is designed to complement and enhance the discipline-specific study in other AP courses. Participating schools can use the AP Capstone program to provide unique research opportunities for current AP students, or to expand access to AP by encouraging students to master the argument-based writing skills that the AP Capstone program develops.