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.