Freshman English (9) (Full year)

This course is designed to provide students with the necessary skills for speaking and writing in standard English. There will also be various literary units worked in throughout the course to provide the demonstration of the skills learned. Literary units will include the short story, poetry, drama, and a novel. The grammar aspect will cover the eight parts of speech, usage, and punctuation. Composition will cover the development of complete sentences, sentence structure, paragraphs, and essays.

Sophomore English (10) (Full year)

This course integrates literature and composition aspects of language arts. Students survey short stories, poems, plays, novels, and non-fiction text. These selections help provide springboards for composition exercises, ranging from paragraphs to complete compositions. Writing segments emphasize organization and development of ideas as well as usage, mechanics, grammar, and spelling.

Junior English (11) (Full year)

This course will integrate both a survey and analysis of literature with the skills of advanced composition. With an emphasis on both seminal documents and literature life in the United States (American Literature), the course expects a grade level prior knowledge of basic grammar, punctuation and capitalization skills, complex sentence structures, and paragraph knowledge, as well as the understanding of figurative language, themes, and plot elements to approach literature and writing from a critical and analytical perspective. Students begin with analysis of texts, marking of texts, and 11 sentence paragraphs and progress to longer more detailed essays ranging from 2-7 pages in length. Students can expect short and long term research, short and long term writing projects, ACT preparatory level vocabulary and grammar, peer edits, and presentation development through the use of technology. Readings include nonfiction, seminal documents, poetry, short stories, novels, and plays ranging from 1650 to present day.

Senior English (12) (Full year)

This course is designed to integrate a survey of literature as well as related expository readings into senior-level composition. With an emphasis on literature and life in England, this course will review the type of formal English required in writing academic essays. This serves two purposes: preparation for college-level academic writing and/or preparation for culturally literate civic engagement. Over the academic year, students in this course will develop an understanding of how English literature has played a significant role in shaping American culture. Writing assignments will include frequent quick-writes in response to reading, a major research paper, reflections, and several essays. Reading assignments will include short stories, drama (including Shakespeare), poetry, novels, and informational selections.

English IV (12) (Full year)

This is a senior-level course designed to serve students who plan to serve in the military, enter the workforce directly, or enter a technical school. Coursework will include reading and writing tasks aimed at developing and refining communication skills that employers seek. These include vocabulary expansion, technical writing, citizenship writing, informational reading (various articles), and narrative reading (novels and short stories) that includes mentor characters. Second semester, students research a topic and create an executive summary to report results. In addition, students will practice speaking and listening, expanding from casual to professional register in class presentations as well as group dialogue.

College Writing I (11-12) (First semester only) 

(Prerequisite: Cumulative gpa of 3.0)

This dual-credit course is offered through Newman University at Clearwater High School for three hours of college credit and .5 credit of high school elective credit.  Students are enrolled in this class in addition to Senior English class.  This course focuses on college level composition, including several longer compositions, at least one of which is a research paper written in MLA style.  The cost for this class will be approximately $225. 

College Writing II (11-12) (Second semester only) 

(Prerequisite: College Writing I and cumulative gpa of 3.0)

This dual-credit course is offered through Newman University at Clearwater High School for three hours of college credit and .5 credit of high school elective credit.  Students are enrolled in this class in addition to their Senior English class.  The course will continue on from College Writing I with college level compositions, with at least one being a research paper written in MLA style.  If seniors take both College Writing I and II, this will satisfy the entire year of Freshman English Composition when they go to college.  The cost for the course will be approximately $225. 

Communications/Theatre

Forensics (9-12) (Second semester only)

Students enrolled will be able to use their speaking and acting skills to compete several Saturdays or weekday evenings, in addition to regional and state competition, during the semester as members of the school's speech and drama team. Each student will present at least five of the eleven state-approved events. Other areas of study will include types of speeches, structure and delivery of a speech. Students must qualify and compete at state festival or state championships or make an "A" in the class to letter, in addition to competing in the minimum number of tournaments. Students enrolling in Forensics must be available for Saturday competition and should check with the instructor before enrolling to discuss possible conflicts with other activities. A student must be academically eligible to compete according to KSHSAA guidelines. The class can be taken for speech credit or fine arts credit and may be repeated for more than one semester.

Speech (9-12) (One semester)

Students will gain experience and confidence in speaking. Areas covered will include introductions, interpersonal communication, group discussion, interviews, and informative and persuasive speeches.

Introduction to Theatre (9-12) (One semester)

Students in this class will gain experience in the basics of the theatre through activities, lessons, and research. Units of study will include acting methods and practice, theatrical styles, history of theatre, and theatre production elements (such as sets, props, costumes, etc). Students enrolled in this class will be encouraged to volunteer for one or more production crews for the all-school plays and musicals. This class meets a fine arts credit and can be repeated for credit with instructor approval. This class will be offered every other year, alternating with Advanced Acting. 

Advanced Acting   (10-12)   (One semester)  (Prerequisite: Intro to Theatre)

This class will focus on developing acting skills through research of different acting styles, in-class acting and movement activities, and character development.  Study of various forms of theatre will also be explored.  The student may also rehearse and produce a short play as part of the class.  This course will be offered every other year, alternating with Intro to Theatre.

College Speech (11-12) (Prerequisite: At least a 3.0 cumulative GPA)

This dual-credit course is offered through WSU Tech for three hours of college credit and .5 credit of high school elective credit. The course will cover fundamentals basic to all good private and public speaking experiences, elements in voice production and improvement, bodily movement, confidence, poise, and understanding of all types of public speeches. This class will meet the CHS requirement for 1/2 credit of Speech. 

Writing 

Creative Writing (10-12) (One semester) (Prerequisite: At least a “B” in English or instructor approval)

Students will learn the skills necessary to write effectively in a variety of such creative formats as fiction, personal essays, poetry, and drama. Students will write daily journal entries and compile an anthology of their own and others’ creative writing. This course cannot be repeated.