Academic Literacy (1 Semester, .5 credit)
Prerequisite: teacher recommendation
Recommended Grade Level: 9th
Description: This is a semester course that will help to increase comprehension, fluency, and engagement in reading. Students will become confident and capable of analyzing a variety of texts and gain opportunities for improving writing organization, word choice, fluency, and conventions.
AP English Literature and Composition (2 Semesters, 1 credit)
Prerequisite: teacher recommendation
Recommended Grade Level: 11th or 12th
Description: This is a full year, comprehensive course designed to prepare students for post-secondary education and the AP Literature Examination. The course will concentrate on the study of challenging works of recognized literary merit. Students will be expected to be engaged in both the critical reading as well as in carefully written and verbal analyses of the subject matter. Writing assignments include information, argumentative, and critical analysis. Students should develop a sense of how style, subject, and audience are related. Students will carefully scrutinize the effective use of language and the organization of ideas. Students will be expected to complete the AP Exam in May, which may result in college credit and/or exemption from beginning level college courses. Some literature units will include, Classical Literature, Romanticism, Short Stories, 20th Century Literature, and Poetry.
Creative Writing (1 Semester, .5 credit)
Prerequisite: none
Recommended Grade Level: all grades
Description: This is a one semester course that will help improve a student’s style and development through writing. Students will write various types of stories, descriptions, poems, and narratives. In addition, students will receive the works of famous authors. The goal is to encourage students to write and think creatively. This is a writing intensive course; thus students should expect daily writing assignments with a writing requirement of at least one page.
Contemporary Literature (1 Semester; .5 credit)
Prerequisite: none
Recommended Grade Level: all grades
Description: Contemporary Literature concentrates on the short story, fiction, nonfiction, drama, poetry, and the novel since 1960. We will read works that encompass a variety of cultures, genders, races, and writing styles. This class stresses the importance of class discussion, written assignments, and vocabulary development. Contemporary Literature will also envelope the role that literature may play in our lives.
English 9 Honors: American Literature (2 Semesters, 1 credit)
Prerequisite: none
Recommended Grade Level: 9th
Description: This is a full year course designed for the more advanced English student, covering composition, literature, grammar, and vocabulary at the advanced level. Writing assignments stimulate critical thinking and foster self-expression. Students will be required to examine what works and what does not work in their writing. Literature study concentrates on comprehension, interpretation and appreciation as students move rapidly through a wide variety of distinguished literary pieces. Grammar study will review the eight parts of speech as well as move into an examination of the structure of sentences. A connection between grammar and writing will be made. Expectations for student performance are high, and the course of study is rigorous. Multiple assignments occur simultaneously. Time commitment is needed to successfully complete all course work. The following works are covered in the course: Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, Night, Poetry, and a variety of short stories.
English 9: American Literature (2 Semesters, 1 credit)
Prerequisite: none
Recommended Grade Level: 9th
Description: This is a full year course addressing a variety of genres, including personal narrative, drama, fiction, and non-fiction. Students will explore writing creative non-fiction, literary analysis, and informational and argumentative essays. Emphasis will be on the writing process, including pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing. This includes a review of literary elements, writer’s craft, grammar and vocabulary. Mentor texts include: Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, Night, and a variety of short stories.
English 10 Honors (2 Semesters, 1 credit)
Prerequisite: teacher recommendation, English 9
Recommended Grade Level: 10th
Description: This is a full year course where students will pursue a rigorous curriculum reading a variety texts. Students will discuss the texts analytically and formulate ideas in their writing. Readings will include a mixture of non-fiction, fiction, short stories, drama, and poetry. Students will be able to read rapidly and accurately and write with minimal difficulty. Literary works include: Othello, Oedipus, Odyssey short stories, and many others.
English 10 (2 Semesters, 1 credit)
Prerequisite: English 9
Recommended Grade Level: 10th
Description: This is a full year course where students will read and analyze a variety of literary works by a variety of authors, including the novel, short story, poetry, and drama. The composition portion of this class will present a sequential treatment of the writing process from prewriting to through revising. Instruction through the practical use of language, including vocabulary, grammar, and mechanics will be provided. Some of the literary works will be: Othello, Oedipus, Odyssey, Feed, short stories, poetry, and many others.
English 11 Honors (2 Semesters, 1 credit)
Prerequisite: teacher recommendation, English 10 or English 10 Honors
Recommended Grade Level: 11th
Description: This is a full year course where students will learn to analyze and interpret samples of writing, exploring an author’s strategies and techniques; apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writing; create and sustain arguments based on readings and research; demonstrate understanding and mastery of the English language by employing appropriate conventions; and move efficiently through the writing process with careful attention to research, drafting, revising, editing, and review. Students will vigorously prepare for the SAT standardized assessment. Some literary works taught are: We the Living, Beowulf, The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Frankenstein, poetry, drama, and many others.
English 11 (2 Semesters, 1 credit)
Prerequisite: English 10 or English 10 Honors
Recommended Grade Level: 11th
Description: This is a full year course where students will learn to write effective essays while exploring literature. The emphasis will be on writing a variety of essays (narrative, informational, argumentative, and literary) as well as on critical reading and analysis of literary works. The focus is on the purpose of writing, organization, sentence structure, and word choice. Some grammar, punctuation, and mechanics will be reviewed as needed. Students will vigorously prepare for the SAT standardized assessment. Some literary works will include: Beowulf, Frankenstein, The Kitchen House, short stories and many others.
English 12 Honors (2 Semesters, 1 credit)
Prerequisite: English 11, English 11 Honors, Pre-AP English, or AP English Literature
Recommended Grade Level: 12th
Description: This is a full year course where students will be expected to engage in both critical reading and written and verbal analyses of the content. A variety of writing assignments will include, narrative, informational, argumentative, and critical analysis. There will be a careful scrutiny of the literature along with a very well-written essay on each. Some literary works include, The Great Gatsby, Macbeth, The Color of Water, They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky, A Million Little Pieces, The Narrative of Frederick Douglas, poetry, short stories and many others.
English 12 (2 Semesters, 1 credit)
Prerequisite: English 11, English 11 Honors, Pre-AP English, or AP English Literature
Recommended Grade Level: 12th
Description: This is a full year course preparing students for college. Students will read several genres and periods of literature. They will focus on a variety of essays, including argumentative and analytical. Students will focus on the prewriting process, including drafting, revising, editing, and review. Students will focus on employing appropriate conventions for a more dramatic product. Some literary works could include: Catcher in the Rye, The Great Gatsby, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Macbeth, The Joy Luck Club, poetry, and short stories.
Humanities in Literature (1 Semester; .5 credit)
Prerequisite: none
Recommended Grade Level: all grades
Description: Focuses on enhancing close and critical reading skills, critical thinking skills, as well as a deeper understanding of themes and language in various genres of literature. The course emphasizes college readiness, in alignment with the SAT standards.
Myths, Legends, and Folklore (1 Semester, .5 credit)
Prerequisite: none
Recommended Grade Level: all grades
Description: This is a semester course exploring various types of stories told by society throughout the ages. Discussions will focus on the unique features of each type of story and examining particular pieces. Students will develop strategies for building comprehension and writing skills, along with utilizing technology for the creation of projects.
Read 180 (1 Semester, .5 credit)
Prerequisite: teacher recommendation
Recommended Grade Level: 9th
Description: This is a semester course which is an individualized, research-based, reading intervention program used to increase a student’s reading level. It precisely targets areas that students need to improve, providing a multi-sensory approach. The goal of this program is to increase the students’ reading levels to their grade appropriate reading level.
Young Adult Literature (1 Semester, .5 credit)
Prerequisite: none
Recommended Grade Level: 10th to 12th
Description: This is a semester course focused on examining relevant issues teenagers face. This class builds on the students’ core English courses to help develop reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking skills. Students will engage in reader response criticism, close reading strategies, and discuss contemporary issues. Some literary works will include, A Child Called It, The Lost Boy, Tuesdays with Morrie, and many others.
Pre-SAT (1 Semester, .5 credit)
Prerequisite: none
Recommended Grade Level: 10th to 12th
Description: This course is based on preparing students for the PSAT and SAT standardized assessments and getting into college. The goal of this class is to provide strategies to help students while taking the PSAT and SAT.