English Electives

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. 

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. 

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 COURSE DOES NOT MEET NCAA REQUIREMENTS

JOURNALISM  **Year-Long Course

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. 

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. 

THEATRE ARTS I

Students attracted to the world of theatre will experience the art of performing and producing theatre. Concentrations in acting techniques will include pantomime, improvisation, and character interpretation from reading and analyzing plays. The fundamentals of play production will enhance the student’s knowledge of scenery, lighting, costuming, and make-up. In addition, students will be acquainted with our theatrical heritage through the study of theater’s evolution.

THEATRE ARTS II: ACTING AND PRODUCTION

Students looking to dive deeper into performance and production of theatre are introduced to more complex skills and topics that apply both on-stage and off. More advanced acting techniques include sophisticated use of body and voice in the space, as well as the study of beats and tactics within scenes. Students will learn basic technical safety and skill proficiencies needed to produce a piece of theater. The course culminates in a fully realized, short production, where the entire class functions as a full theater company. 

THEATRE ARTS III: ADVANCED ACTING (DUAL CREDIT)

• Physical and vocal technique.
• Connectedness to each other and society.
• Specific acting choices - wants & tactics.