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English
Course Descriptions
English 1 - year - 9
This course introduces students to the genres of poetry, drama, and prose. Students explore world literature and examine how literary works reflect cultural values. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. During the first three quarters, students compose and revise paragraphs that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. During the fourth quarter, students are introduced to the thesis statement and compose and revise short essays. Vocabulary skills are developed in preparation for standardized tests (such as the ACT and SAT), college, and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels.
Honors English 1 - year - 9
Prerequisite: Performance on the entrance exam.
This course is designed for students who have above average skills in reading and writing. It introduces students to the genres of poetry, drama, and prose. Students explore world literature and examine how literary works reflect cultural values. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. During the first two quarters, students compose and revise paragraphs that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. During the third and fourth quarters, students are introduced to the thesis statement and compose and revise short essays. Vocabulary skills are developed in preparation for standardized tests (such as the ACT and SAT), college, and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels.
English 2 - year - 10
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 1.
This course is a continuation of English 1. Students examine world literature and analyze how literary works reflect cultural values. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. During the first quarter, students review the construction of paragraphs by composing and revising ones that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. During the second quarter, students compose and revise four paragraph essays. During the third and fourth quarters, students compose and revise five paragraph essays. MLA citations and works cited page are introduced during the second semester. Vocabulary is developed in preparation for standardized tests (such as the ACT and SAT), college, and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels.
Honors English 2 - year - 10
Prerequisite: An "A" in English I and the recommendation of the teacher or an "A" or a "B" in Honors English 1 and the
recommendation of the teacher.
This course, designed for students who have above average skills in reading and writing, is a continuation of Honors English 1. Students examine world literature and analyze how literary works reflect cultural values. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. During the first quarter, students review the construction of paragraphs by composing and revising ones that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. During the second quarter, students compose and revise four paragraph essays. During the third and fourth quarters, students compose and revise five paragraph essays. MLA citations and works cited page are introduced during the second semester. Vocabulary skills are developed in preparation for standardized tests (such as the ACT and SAT), college, and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels.
English 3 - year - 11
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 2.
This course introduces students to the historical periods of American literature. Students examine poetry, drama, and prose and analyze how literary works reflect the characteristics of historical periods. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. During the first and second quarters, students compose and revise five paragraph essays that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. During the third quarter, students compose and revise six paragraph essays. During the fourth quarter, students are introduced to the composition of the research paper. Vocabulary skills are developed in preparation for standardized tests (such as the ACT and SAT), college, and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels.
Honors English 3 - year - 11
Prerequisite: An "A" in English 2 and the recommendation of the teacher or an "A" or a "B" in Honors English 2 and the
recommendation of the teacher.
This course offers accelerated learning for motivated students. It introduces students to the historical periods of American literature. Students examine poetry, drama, and prose and analyze how literary works reflect the characteristics of historical periods. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. During the first and second quarters, students compose and revise five paragraph essays that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. During the third quarter, students compose and revise six paragraph essays. During the fourth quarter, students are introduced to the composition of the research paper. Vocabulary skills are developed in preparation for standardized tests (such as the ACT and SAT), college, and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels.
AP English 3 – year – 11
Prerequisite: An “A” or “B” in Honors English 2 with a sufficient score on the placement exam and the recommendation of the
teacher.
This course analyzes the rhetorical techniques that authors of selected works from American literature use to construct meaning. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. Students compose and revise essays and papers that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. During the second semester, students are introduced to the composition of the research paper. Vocabulary skills, including knowledge of rhetorical terms, are developed in preparation for standardized tests (such as the ACT, SAT, and AP Exam), college, and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels. All students must sit for the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition offered in May.
English 4 – year – 12
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 3.
This course introduces students to the historical periods of British literature. Students examine poetry, drama, and prose and analyze how literary works reflect the characteristics of historical periods. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. Students compose and revise longer essays and papers that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. Vocabulary skills are developed in preparation for college and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels.
Honors English 4 – year – 12
Prerequisite: An “A” in English 3 and the recommendation of the teacher or an “A” or “B” in Honors English 3 and the
recommendation of the teacher.
This course explores the theme of the human search for meaning. Students analyze poetry, drama, and prose from world literature that reflect this theme. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. Students compose and revise longer essays and papers that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. Vocabulary skills are developed in preparation for college and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels.
AP English 4 – year - 12
Prerequisite: An “A” in Honors English 3 and the recommendation of the teacher or an “A” or a “B” in AP English 3 and the
recommendation of the teacher.
This course, divided into two thematic units, builds on the skills developed in AP English 3. During the first semester, students examine the construction of personal identity through analysis of colonial and postcolonial texts that are interrelated. During the second semester, students examine the conflict between self and selflessness. Selected poetry, drama, and prose from world literature are studied. Writing is stressed through the school-wide writing program. Students compose and revise longer essays and papers that focus on mechanics, organization, style, and content. Vocabulary skills are developed in preparation for college and life. Requirements include summer and outside reading of novels. All students must sit for the Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition offered in May.
Journalism 1, 2, or 3 - year – 10 - 11 - 12
Prerequisite: Permission of the journalism teacher.
This course is recommended for students who have a genuine interest in writing. Areas to be examined include: history, practices and standards, and legal and ethical issues. Students will write articles for and assist in editing the newspaper, published once a quarter. Students will sell advertisement space to subsidize the newspaper printing costs.
Reading - semester - 9
Prerequisite: Performance on the entrance exam.
This is a required course for some students. Students will strive to improve reading comprehension to prepare for high school curriculum and college entrance tests.
Reading for College - semester - 11 - 12
Prerequisite: Elective open to juniors and seniors.
This course provides practical reading experiences to assist in developing comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking, and writing skills consistent with current research in reading instruction and student learning. These experiences and skills are integrated into content subjects. The course is designed not only to improve students' vocabulary and reading comprehension, but also to make them better writers in preparation for college.
Yearbook Marketing and Design - year - 11 - 12
Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendations & Instructor's permission
Coursework involves the planning, layout, copywriting, photography and design for the completion of a 300+ page yearbook. The following is a list of the requirements necessary to complete the yearbook in a timely fashion:
planning, layout, photography, photo cropping, computer graphics, computer scanning, writing copy, editing, proofing, interviewing and reporting, and sales and marketing. Thirty extra-curricular lab hours of technical work are required.
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