12th Grade Options
English 12 Classes
Which class should I take?
Read the descriptions, watch the videos and use the attached document to make the best decision for you about which class to take.
ENGLISH 12
English 12 is a senior-year high school research English class that draws on students’ interests to help prepare students for college and/or career readiness. This course will focus on complex informational texts that will help students discover and identify their importance within groups, communities, and the world. English 12 integrates reading, critical thinking and analysis, writing, and student and career-related skills in order to enhance students’ success in future college-level courses and career pathways. This course aligns with the Illinois Learning Standards as well as the Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness Act.
»LENGTH OF COURSE: Two sequential semesters» CREDIT: .5 credit English credit per semester» GRADE PLACEMENT: 12» PREREQUISITE: English 11, American Studies, or AP English Language and Composition»» LENGTH OF COURSE: Two sequential semesters»» CREDIT: .5 English credit per semester»» GRADE PLACEMENT: 11, 12»» PREREQUISITE: English 10 or English 10 Honors or department recommendation.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
This AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes as well as smaller-scale elements such as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. Students will complete writing assignments that will increase their ability to explain clearly, cogently, even elegantly, what they understand about literary works and why they interpret them as they do. The culminating experience will be the preparation of a formal research project.
This writing intensive course aligns with the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards.ADVANCED COMPOSITION I & II: DUAL CREDIT (HONORS)
The intent of this course sequence is to provide development and continued practice of students’ writing skills and research processes through the analysis of a variety of texts and the composition of written essays in a college English setting. Students will have the opportunity to make their analysis and writing skills college-ready in summary writing, research writing, exposition, argumentation, and rhetorical analysis. These are Dual Credit courses (Eng 101/102) with Joliet Junior College.
- LENGTH OF COURSE: Two sequential semesters
- CREDIT: .5 English credit per semester
- GRADE PLACEMENT: 12
- PREREQUISITE: Students who meet JJC prerequisites will be given prioritized enrollment.
NOTE: Students must meet JJC prerequisite of a 480 on the English portion of the PSAT or SAT.
Students must earn a “C” or better to continue from Advanced Composition I to Advanced Composition II.
AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE (DUAL CREDIT)
African American Literature is a chronological survey of writings by and about African Americans from the 1800s until the present day. Students will read a variety of novels, short stories, poems, plays and nonfiction works, and will examine texts within the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they were created. As they read, students will deepen their understanding of the literature through the study of themes and varied writing assignments.
This writing intensive course aligns with the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards.Note: Students must meet Eastern Illinois University's prerequisite of 3.0 weighted GPA to enroll in this class.
BRITISH LITERATURE
This course is a study of representative English authors designed to develop the student’s ability to understand and appreciate the major literary works of the following periods: Anglo-Saxon Age, Medieval England, Elizabethan Age, the 17th Century, the Romantic Era, the Victorian Age, and 20th Century British literature. Although the semester is organized in chronological order, the emphasis is less on literary history and more on the ideas the works reflect about life--in each author’s time and in ours. Students convey their understanding of the literature through varied writing assignments and class activities.
This writing intensive course aligns with the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards.CREATIVE WRITING (DUAL CREDIT)
This course is designed for students who have previously demonstrated a mastery of writing skills and who wish to pursue more depth in writing descriptions, short stories, poems, scripts, and one-act plays. Various works of literature will be read for the purpose of providing effective models for student writing. Students will be encouraged to submit their work to the school literary magazine and other publications. Development of writing style and skills will be emphasized.
This writing intensive course aligns with the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards.»» LENGTH OF COURSE: One semester»» CREDIT: .5 credit»» GRADE PLACEMENT: 11, 12
Note: Students must meet JJC's prerequisite of 3.0 weighted GPA to enroll in this class.
»» LENGTH OF COURSE: One semester»» CREDIT: .5 credit»» GRADE PLACEMENT: 11, 12
FILM STUDIES
This writing intensive course is designed for junior or senior students interested in developing, refining, and expressing critical and analytical skills using one of the most culturally influential art forms of our age--world cinema as the basis of study. In addition to learning about the history of film and exploring various film genres by screening and discussing films, students will be introduced to a variety of critical approaches useful for understanding and appreciating the medium as both industry and art form. In addition to screening films, students will write short essays and critical reviews, keep notes and journals on films and film terminology, and prepare a multimedia presentation or research project on a film-related topic. (Note: Some materials studied in this course may be mature in subject matter.) THIS CLASS DOES NOT MEET NCAA REQUIREMENTS
This writing intensive course aligns with the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards.LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE
This course is a thematic survey of writings by and about Latin Americans and South Americans throughout history. Students will read a variety of novels, short stories, poems, and nonfiction pieces, and they will examine texts within the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they were created. As they read, students will deepen their understanding of the literature through the study of themes and varied writing assignments.
This writing intensive course aligns with the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards.WORLD LITERATURE
This course spans the years from 1500 B.C. to the present day and focuses on novels, short stories, plays, and poetry of diverse authors. It highlights literary trends and works in selected time periods and areas including Africa, ancient Greece and Rome, early and modern Europe, the early Americas, Asia, and the Pacific region. Student knowledge is enhanced and demonstrated through reading, writing and multi-media assignments as well as class discussion.
This writing intensive course aligns with the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards.JOURNALISM
This course will focus on the publication of a newspaper. Students will study and practice the various phases involved in creating a newspaper. These phases will include gathering, writing, editing, designing graphics, taking photographs, and creating a layout. Students will study daily newspapers and will apply their knowledge by producing a student newspaper. Writing stories will be a major part of the course as students learn to write news stories, feature stories, sports stories, and editorials. The students will also learn how to edit copy, write headlines, and lay out a newspaper page.
This writing intensive course aligns with the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards.»» LENGTH OF COURSE: Two sequential semesters (students may enroll for more than one year)»» CREDIT: .5 credit per semester»» GRADE PLACEMENT: 10, 11, 12»» PREREQUISITE: Department recommendation