English

Regents: The focus is analyzing fiction and nonfiction texts through inferencing and textual evidence. There is also an emphasis on vocabulary acquisition. Literature is taught by genre: short story, poetry, drama, historical nonfiction, and novel. The Next Generation Learning Standards are targeted through all chosen activities and genres. This course provides a basic foundation preparing students for the Comprehensive English Regents Examination. This is a writing-intensive course. Vocabulary, usage, grammar, and mechanics are taught both independently and in conjunction with chosen literary genres. Literacy skills and habits are targeted and incorporated into the curriculum.

Honors: Students who successfully complete grade 8 Honors English will continue into Grade 9 Honors English. Students who are teacher recommended will also have the option of taking Honors English. Next Generation Learning Standards are targeted through all chosen activities and genres. The Honors program offers students the opportunity for enriched study. Writing is at an advanced level. Chosen texts require advanced levels of abstract thought processes and critical-thinking skills. Students will participate in all the benchmarks of Regents English such as genre selection, Effective Communicator, language instruction, literacy skills, and research project. Essentially, the Honors program addresses these benchmarks at a deeper level of understanding, analysis, and expression.

Regents: The focus is analyzing fiction and nonfiction texts through setting and characterization. There is also an emphasis on vocabulary acquisition. Literature is taught by genre: short stories, drama, poems, novels and non-fiction related to subject matter. Students may be required to read one novel of their choice per marking period. Vocabulary, usage, grammar, and mechanics are taught both independently and in conjunction with chosen literary genres. Literature journals may be used for student reactions to pieces of literature. All students participate in the VVS Communications Program. Literacy skills and habits are targeted and incorporated into the curriculum. All aspects of the course are intended to prepare students for success on the Comprehensive English Regents Examination and working toward college and career readiness.

Honors: This course offers students the opportunity for enriched study, advanced levels of abstract thought, discussion, and critical-thinking skills. Students in this course use the four major genres: poetry, short story, drama, and novel in the study of literature from different parts of the world. All students participate in the VVS Effective Communicator Program, both written and verbal. Students work with their English teacher and media center professionals to complete a research paper. Students develop the writing skills and vocabulary necessary for successful completion of the New York State Comprehensive English Regents, ACT, SAT, and AP Exams.

Regents: This course emphasizes the attainment of the Next Generation Standards in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Language along with advanced literacy skills. The course is a study of American literature in the historical context of the growth of the country. Students will be learning skills for college and career readiness. Students may be required to read one novel of their choice per marking period. Vocabulary, usage, grammar, and mechanics are taught both independently and in conjunction with chosen literary genres. All students participate in the VVS Communications Program. Literacy skills and habits are targeted and incorporated into the curriculum. All aspects of the course are intended to prepare students for success on the Comprehensive English Regents Exam and working toward college and career readiness.

Honors: This course offers an in-depth study of the Next Generation Learning Standards as applied to the skills necessary for college and career readiness. The curriculum is an in-depth study of the analysis of the influences of American literature and offers students the opportunity for enriched study in concert with preparation for successful completion of the ACT, SAT, and AP Exams.

This course blends traditional English literature with technical and applied communication. Students study all fiction and non-fiction genres including poetry, short story, and novels. The students also concentrate on written and verbal communications as it applies to a student's chosen career path. Students use the communications lab to prepare and perfect professional documents such as business letters, cover letters, and resumes. An integral part of this program is designed to help develop the skills, habits, and self-knowledge needed to succeed in the workplace. Students learn to identify their interests, aptitudes, and personal values and to understand the world of work and the requirements for success. Students develop concrete skills in job search and job readiness. All students participate in the VVS Effective Communications Program, both written and verbal. Independent novels are used to increase comprehension and reading proficiency. Students in an approved Career & Technical Education (CTE) program who choose to take this course as their fourth unit in English may also earn one unit of distributive credit in their CTE program.

This course is an option for seniors to obtain one full credit toward English Language Arts (Senior English). The course offers a wide variety of activities and opportunities for students to learn about themselves through self-analysis and self-reflection. The content is designed to motivate and help students understand the choices they have made in the past and use that knowledge to become better decision-makers in the future. The course is structured using the Next Generation Learning Standards through a variety of writing, reading, listening, and social interaction activities and assessments. Students will write for a variety of purposes including but not limited to reflection papers, a research paper, and a college essay. Students will read both fiction and non-fiction pieces of literature and analyze and interpret each. Ultimately, College Concepts in English helps students develop their personal strengths through an intensive training program offering opportunities for students to grow and make a smooth and successful transition into college and the world of work.

Course content will teach students to (1) write basic news stories with good leads, information enough for 40 lines that follow inverted pyramid, with two quotes that support the information; (2) write special news stories, features, sports, and editorials; (3) copyedit articles, create layouts, and take photographs; (4) initiate a cooperative relationship with the Oneida newspaper by writing sports or other articles for publication; (5) produce an engaging broadcast by learning skills such as researching, questioning, interviewing, filming, editing, etc; and (6) negotiate with local television to occasionally air a student broadcast feature. All aspects of the course are taught using New York State Next Generation Standards along with Advanced Literacies and intended to prepare students for success in college or other career pursuits after graduation.

A mandatory prerequisite for Journalism & Broadcasting 2 is a passing grade in Journalism & Broadcasting 1. Journalism & Broadcasting 2 is designed to provide advanced training for students in the techniques of editing and producing a school newspaper. Emphasis is placed on the carry-over and advancement of the basic skills introduced in Journalism and Broadcasting 1. At this level, students serve as editors and contribute to the production of the school’s newspaper. Students enrolled in Journalism and Broadcasting 2 also learn strategies for storytelling and script writing; skills in these areas will be used to create a daily broadcast of school announcements and news. The ability to create video-based projects will allow students to enter the world of visual media which is so prevalent in society today. Skills developed throughout the course will provide opportunities in sports broadcasting, sports marketing, and other community news broadcasting venues. Students will create a video portfolio containing projects produced throughout the year.

This course is designed specifically for students who have demonstrated excellent skills in English and the ability to work independently for a sustained period. The subject matter is an extensive study of world literature as well as pre-20th Century literature and of the elements of short story, drama, and poetry with development of writing skills necessary for the AP exam of the College Board. A pre-requisite for entrance in the AP class is required, which is in the form of a summer enrichment project. Successful completion of the exam may result in the awarding of college credit as determined by the college or university.

This elective achieves the objectives of students studying and exercising public speaking skills, with emphasis on the process of researching, planning, organizing, writing, and presenting speeches. It also includes students learning how to effectively evaluate their own speaking/ communication skills, as well as others’. Students learn practical public speaking skills to prepare them for college and career. Specific skills enhancement in the study of and preparation for the following types of speeches: Public Speaking Fundamentals, Famous Historical Speakers/Speeches, The Informative, Demonstrative, and the Persuasive Speeches, The Debate, The Interview, and The Spontaneous Speech, and including components of the Effective Communications Program, journaling, and observations of community public speaking events.

This course allows students the opportunity to become familiar with technology and media literacy; it is designed to use technology and various forms of media as a foundation from which to explore literacy skills and practices. The skills developed throughout this course are applicable in all content areas, enabling students to become better readers, writers, speakers, and listeners; qualities that will help contribute to their academic and personal growth in a diverse and ever-changing world. Students will be college and career ready based on the implementation of the Next Generation Standards including the Advanced Literacies.