ENGLISH 9 (♦♦ or ♦♦♦)
Credit 1; Year; Grade 9
Description: This course focuses on establishing a foundational knowledge of language, literacy, and communication skills and is required for graduation. Units of study include: impromptu speaking, multicultural short stories, argumentative writing, research writing, poetry, grammar, novel study (Lord of the Flies), Shakespearean play study (Romeo and Juliet), and expository speaking.
ENGLISH 10 HONORS (♦♦♦)
Credit 1.0; Year; Grade 10
Prerequisite: English instructor’s signature
Summer Reading: The summer reading assignment will be posted on the school website.
Description: This course combines the objectives of the English 10 Speech class and the English 10 Language class into a full year course. Topics will be explored in greater depth than standard classes, will cover more material, and will focus on writing and speaking skills and knowledge expected of college bound students. English 10 Honors is part of the advanced English Honors program which culminates in the English 11 and 12 AP courses.
ENGLISH 10 LANGUAGE (♦♦ or ♦♦♦)
Credit 0.5; Semester; Grade 10
Description: This course focuses on writing, reading, analyzing literature and understanding the structure of the English language. Composition places special emphasis on expository, persuasive, and research writing. The major works of literature for the course include the play Julius Caesar by Shakespeare and the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.
ENGLISH 10 SPEECH & MEDIA (♦♦ or ♦♦♦)
Credit 0.5; Semester; Grade 10
Description: This course focuses on developing speaking, listening, and media literacy skills. While emphasizing public speaking, this course also covers interpersonal and group communication. Speeches include impromptu review, extemporaneous and original oratory.
COMPOSITION (♦♦ or ♦♦♦)
Credit 0.5; Semester; Grade 11
Description: This course emphasizes writing as a process and focuses on journal writing, expository writing, argumentative, persuasive and research writing. Objectives include demonstrating knowledge and competent performance in writing through organization, effective use of language, fluency, mechanical soundness, proper command of grammar and usage, avoiding plagiarism, and effective communication of ideas to audiences. Students also practice the type of writing required on the SAT and ACT writing assessments.
TECHNICAL COMPOSITION (♦♦ or ♦♦♦)
Credit 0.5; Semester; Grade 11
Description: This course is an asynchronous writing course that emphasizes writing as a process and focuses on expository writing, argumentative, persuasive and research writing. Students in this class will practice writing through applicable means incorporating content carrying over from their other classes. Individual conferences between student and instructor will be required biweekly. As this course will not follow a traditional class schedule, students must be self-motivated and able to effectively communicate and manage their time. Instruction will be provided via Google Classroom.
AP ENGLISH LANG AND COMP (♦♦♦)
Credit 1.0, Year; Grade 11
Prerequisite: English 10 Honors recommended and English instructor’s signature
Summer Reading: The summer reading assignment will be posted on the school website.
Description: This course follows the AP curriculum and prepares students for the AP Language and Composition exam in May. Students will focus on becoming skilled readers of non-fiction prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts, and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their writing and reading will analyze the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audiences, expectations, and subjects as well as the way conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing. Students also practice the type of writing required on the SAT and ACT writing assessments. (counts toward 1 of 2 required literature options to graduate)
AP ENGLISH LIT AND COMP (♦♦♦)
Credit 1.0; Year; Grade 12
Prerequisite: English 10 Honors, and AP Language and Composition (English 11) recommended AND English Instructor’s signature.
Summer Reading: The summer reading assignment will be posted on the school website
Description: This course follows the AP curriculum and prepares students for the AP Literature and Composition exam in May. The course builds an in-depth awareness of the ways in which language is used effectively in literature and in student writing. Literature study will emphasize critical reading and analysis of a wide variety of world literature of many time periods and genres. Stress in student writing will be on research writing and on in-class essay responses to literature as a means of demonstrating competence in interpretation of literature and literary Techniques. (counts toward 1 of 2 required literature options to graduate)
