English/Language Arts Department

The English/Language Arts department’s belief system is grounded in the notion that learners make meaning through sharing, discussing, exchanging, and refining experience and language. We encourage students to embrace reading and writing as an integral and important aspect of their high school and postsecondary lives. Our goal is to provide instruction that is relevant and rigorous, causing learners to think deeply. We encourage students to develop their sophistication as readers, writers, and thinkers of the 21st Century.

The ELA Curriculum provides students with a rigorous academic experience. The curriculum units are carefully designed to ensure skill practice in reading, writing, researching, and listening and speaking in order to provide rigorous learning experiences aligned to the CT Core Standards. Each unit of study builds on the previous one to ensure that students have acquired the prerequisite skills to move onto the next level of learning. Students are required to take four years of English. The core English curriculum is a college preparatory program, with electives that accentuate aspects of fine arts, technology, mass communication, and the humanities. Courses in the ELA department include the following instructional strategies:

explicit instruction in close reading of various texts;
guided discussions that lead to high-level, academic analysis;
a wide range of research-based reading strategies that empower students and help them develop fluency;
scaffolded instruction and practice with complex text to move students toward learning independence.

Honors, AP, and College-Level Articulated Courses (UConn), which cover content to a greater depth and at a faster pace, will prepare students for admission requirements of colleges and universities.

Course Sequence

English Course Offerings

Grade 9

English 9
Humanities
Course Code: 011
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 9
Weight: General
Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, WCA, E, SS
English 9 is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Each unit closely examines essential questions about what qualities help us survive, how words inspire change, what true love is, and how we learn who we really are.. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

English 9 Honors
Humanities
Course Code: 010
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 9
Weight: Honors
Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, WCA
English 9 is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Each unit closely examines essential questions about what qualities help us survive, how words inspire change, what true love is, and how we learn who we really are.. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

English 9 ATOMS/SOAR
Humanities
Course Code: 010K
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 9
Weight: ACE/ATOMS/SOAR
Schools: K, W
English 9 is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Each unit closely examines essential questions about what qualities help us survive, how words inspire change, what true love is, and how we learn who we really are.. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

Grade 10

English 10
Humanities
Course Code: 021
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10
Weight: General
Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, WCA, E, SS
English 10 is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Each unit closely examines essential questions about the relationship between power and freedom, the allure of fear, the importance of belonging, and what motivates us to forgive. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

English 10 Honors
Humanities
Course Code: 020
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10
Weight: Honors
Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, WCA
English 10 is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Each unit closely examines essential questions about the relationship between power and freedom, the allure of fear, the importance of belonging, and what motivates us to forgive. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

English 10 ATOMS/SOAR
Humanities
Course Code: 020K
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10
Weight: ACE/ATOMS/SOAR
Schools: K, W
English 10 is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Each unit closely examines essential questions about the relationship between power and freedom, the allure of fear, the importance of belonging, and what motivates us to forgive. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

Grade 11

English 11: American Literature
Humanities
Course Code: 031
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 11
Weight: General
Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, WCA, E, SS
English 11 is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Each unit closely examines essential questions about what makes a nation; which matters more, individuality or community; and how words change the world and how we are shaped by the places we experience. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

English 11: American Literature Honors
Humanities
Course Code: 030
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 11
Weight: Honors
Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, WCA
English 11 is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Each unit closely examines essential questions about what makes a nation; which matters more, individuality or community; and how words change the world and how we are shaped by the places we experience. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

English 11: American Literature ATOMS/SOAR
Humanities
Course Code: 030K
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 11
Weight: ACE/ATOMS/SOAR
Schools: C, K, W
English 11 is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Each unit closely examines essential questions about what makes a nation; which matters more, individuality or community; and how words change the world and how we are shaped by the places we experience. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

Seminar in American Studies: UCONN ECE
Humanities
Course Code: 030U
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 11
Weight: AP/Post Secondary
Schools: K
Seminar in American Studies is a team taught, full year course that takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of American culture. The course rests on two main pillars, the study of United States History and American Literature. The course also integrates art, architecture, and music to help the student develop a total picture of the American Experience. The course offers a variety of teaching strategies and learning activities. Students in Seminar in American Studies are assigned a double class period. After successful completion of the course, the student will have fulfilled the United States History requirement and the English 11 requirement.

Language and Composition: Adv. Placement
Humanities
Course Code: 030A
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 11
Weight: AP/Post Secondary
Schools: K, W, WAMS, WCA
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition is intended for advanced college preparatory junior level students. It is primarily a course in both effective writing and critical reading designed to strengthen the students’ skills in analyzing the reasoning and expression for ideas in prose passages. AP English Language requires students to demonstrate skill in composition through the development of various rhetorical modes. Students are able to hone their own writing skills through attentive and continued analysis of a variety of prose texts. This course prepares students for further Advanced Placement study in English Literature and Composition (senior year) as well as for college courses.

Grade 12

English 12
Humanities
Course Code: 041
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 12
Weight: General
Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, WCA, E, SS
The English curriculum is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

English 12 Honors
Humanities
Course Code: 040
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 12
Weight: Honors
Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, WCA
The English curriculum is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

English 12 ATOMS/SOAR
Humanities
Course Code: 040K
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 12
Weight: ACE/ATOMS/SOAR
Schools: C, K, W
The English curriculum is carefully designed to engage students in rigorous development of reading, writing, researching, listening, speaking and critical thinking. Assignments and discussions are designed to celebrate student individuality, promote empathy for others, and inspire active contributions to the well-being of our local, national, and global communities.

Seminar and Studio in Academic Writing and Multimodal Composition: UCONN ECE
Humanities
Course Code: 040U
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 12
Weight: AP/Post Secondary
Schools: C, WAMS
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 11, an ERW score of 550 or higher on the SATs (recommended). College composition through multiple forms of literacy, including rhetorical, digital, and information literacies necessary for twenty-first-century contexts. The development of creatively intellectual inquiries through sustained engagement with texts, ideas, and problems. Emphasis on transfer of writing and rhetorical skills to academic and daily life. Students design a digital portfolio that curates creations and skills-based micro-credentials they earn in coursework.

Literature and Composition: Adv. Placement
Humanities
Course Code: 040A
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 12
Weight: AP/Post Secondary
Schools: K, W, WAMS
The AP English Literature and Composition course is designed to engage students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students can deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. Writing assignments focus on the critical analysis of literature and include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays.

Elective Courses

Journalism 1
Humanities
Course Code: 057
Credits: 1.0
Grade: All Grades
Weight: General
Schools: C, K, W, E, SS
Journalism introduces students to the editorial field of news, features, sports, and commentary writing as well as the business field of advertising. Emphasis is given to the language particular to journalistic conventions of writing and to editing. Learning is by "doing:" students are provided with practical opportunities to explore various styles of journalistic communication (which include visual elements such as photography and illustrations), to produce articles and hard copy in these styles, and to experience diverse roles in the publishing process.

Journalism 2
Humanities
Course Code: 058
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10-12
Weight: General
Schools: C, K, W, E, SS
Journalism II extends the foundation of editorial writing skills and business savvy developed in Journalism I through additional emphasis on practical newspaper production and copy editing techniques. Students will continue honing their critical thinking skills through various hands-on-exercises in reading, writing, interviewing, editing, and advertising activities. This course leads students to develop a keen sense of observation as well as skills for effective communication through media production. Emphasis is placed on the reporter’s obligation for accuracy, reliability and a code of ethics. Through editorial conferences, students and teachers participate in the decision-making process resulting in the design and content of publications. Civic awareness and opportunities for community service participation are also explored.

Creative Writing
Humanities
Course Code: 067
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10-12
Weight: General
Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, E, SS, V
This course is designed to give students opportunities for creative self-expression in writing and to further their writing skills. Focus is on various types of creative writing from both poetry and prose and the development of a personal creative writing portfolio. Student writing samples may include short stories, poetry, dramatic speeches, declamations, dialogues, biographies, and autobiography.

Drama 1
Humanities
Course Code: 085
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10-12
Weight: General
Schools: C, K, W, SS
Students will gain an understanding of Artistic Perception, using the language and skills of theatre; Creative Expression, creating theatre to communicate meaning and intent; Aesthetic Valuing, analyzing theatre for meaning and intent as well as its ability to communicate effectively; and Connections, Relationships and Applications, developing lifelong skills such as creative problem-solving and planning for college and careers in the theatre, the arts, the communications and entertainment fields. This course is also offered in the Fine Arts Department.

Drama 2
Humanities
Course Code: 086
Credits: 1.0
Grade: 10-12
Weight: General
Schools: C, K, W
Prerequisite: Drama 1

This course continues to hone skills acquired in Drama 1, adding the art and technique of directing. Diction, projection, and elocution in speaking are practiced and studied. Playwriting becomes more complex, with emphasis on a deeper understanding of human nature through drama.

SAT Prep English
Humanities

Course Code: 073

Credits: 0.5

Weight: General

Schools: C, K, W, WAMS, WCA
This is a half-year course that reviews test-taking strategies and encourages both long-term and short-term preparation for the SAT and other standardized assessments. Tips on improving SAT vocabulary, reading comprehension, an English language are included. Practice sessions guide students to a better understanding of the questions that commonly appear on the SAT and related tests.

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