Core Courses
Course #011 – English 9
Grade 9
College Prep
Credits: 5
In this course students study the literary genres of short story, novel, drama, poetry and nonfiction. Reading skills are emphasized. Journals, class participation, frequent writing, and projects as well as tests and quizzes are used to encourage both analytical and creative responses to literature. We further develop the writing process and research skills introduced in middle school, which emphasize graphic organizers, proper form, and a clear ratio of concrete details to commentary. Students will be required to write a formal research paper. Our aim is to give students a method for planning, writing, and evaluating essays using some simple guidelines. Vocabulary growth and grammar development are encouraged through the context of reading and writing in class as well as specific morphology work and mini-lessons.
Course #021 – World Literature 10
Grade 10
College Prep
Credits: 5
In this course students continue the study of the four literary genres with a focus on world literature and culture. Students will explore the foundational texts, poetry, short stories and longer novels from all over the world. Classic and contemporary authors such as Golding, Hosseini, Hesse, and Achebe will be discovered through close analysis, discussion and skill work. A variety of analytical essays will be taught, including but not limited to: literary analysis, synthesis and rhetorical analysis. Research skills will be taught with emphasis on evaluating sources, correct in-text citation, and MLA format. Vocabulary growth and grammar development are encouraged through the context of reading and writing in class as well as specific morphology work and minilessons.
Course #031 – American Literature
Grade 11-12
College Prep
Credits: 5
American Literature is a survey course of American literature with historical and cultural perspectives. Writing and thinking skills necessary for college are emphasized through frequent analytical essays, journal entries, collaborative writing, and oral presentations. Students will be required to write an inquiry based research paper. Grammar, usage, and mechanics are presented in conjunction with the writing process, and vocabulary study is developed from both vocabulary texts and class reading. Critical reading, writing, and independent thinking are the focus throughout this yearlong course.
Prerequisite: English 10
Course #039 – Exploring Life in Literature and Composition
Grades 11-12
College Prep
Credits: 5
This course has a heavy emphasis on close reading and composition. Critical and analytical reading, writing and thinking skills are developed through a thematic course of study focusing on ideas such as: home, family, identity, culture, love, art, tradition vs. progress, war, and peace. These ideas will be explored through analysis of classic and contemporary texts such as: Fences by August Wilson, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and many more. Students will write for a variety of purposes, lengths, and formalities. Grammar and vocabulary development will also be a focus, but the focus will be within the context of reading and writing and how to use grammar as a tool. Media and technology will be evaluated and used as primary tools in active and engaged learning. In addition students will develop an inquiry topic to explore that will culminate in a Capstone Project, which includes a research paper and presentation.
Prerequisite: English 10
Course #097 – Ethnic American Literature
Grades 11-12
College Prep
Credits: 5
A contemporary fiction course, Ethnic American Literature will focus on texts from American authors with a varied heritage. Authors such as Angelou, Tan, Walker, Alvarez, and Kincaid may be closely read and studied. The historical and cultural contexts of these authors and texts will be a focal point of lectures, discussion and analysis. The course will develop writing skills with frequent writing. Types of writing may include: analytical essays, arguments, researched essays. Formal presentations and discussions such as Socratic seminars will be used as well. Grammar and vocabulary will be studied within the context of reading and writing.
Prerequisite: English 10
Course # 041 – British Literature
Grades 11-12
Honors
Credits: 5
Incorporates a survey of British literature ranging from the 7th century to the 20th century. Students will read several texts that may include: Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Othello, Pride and Prejudice and Great Expectations. Students will also study the history the English language and how it has developed through time, in addition to regular vocabulary and morphology instruction. Historical and social contexts will also be taught and applied to the texts. The course emphasizes the development of analytical writing skills through frequent essays, which emphasize voice, organization, development and proper use of conventions. Students should be strong critical readers and writers upon entering the course.
Prerequisite: English 10 plus teacher approval
Course #040 – AP Language and Composition
Grades 11-12
Advanced Placement
Credits: 5
AP English Language and Composition is a course that analyzes the use of rhetoric and logical reasoning in a text. Students will primarily practice close reading and analyze non-fiction texts (such as: essays and speeches) for author's purpose and strategies. Through close reading students develop critical and analytical thinking skills that are then applied to formal and informal essays that vary in length and genre. The three main writing purposes that are covered in class are: argumentative, rhetorical analysis and synthesis. Graphics and visual images will be analyzed to show how such images both relate to written texts and serve as alternative forms of text themselves. The study of language itself also permeates the course through such discussions of diction and parallel structure. Finally, students are expected to complete additional summer reading and writing prior to the start of the course.
Prerequisite: English 10 plus teacher approval
Course #042 – AP English Literature and Composition
Grades 11- 12
Advanced Placement
Credits: 5
A.P. English Literature and Composition is a thematic based rigorous college-level course which incorporates the four genres into each unit. The reading is challenging; the writing is frequent and requires an independent mind. Therefore, students should be strong critical readers and writers upon entering the course. Students can expect to read several novels as well as plays, long poems, essays, and shorter works over the course of the year. Writing goals focus on developing accuracy, depth of thinking, and fluency through frequent assignments of short focus papers and longer analytical essays in response to literature. The seminar-like nature of the class demands that students take an active role in class each day through careful preparation and participation. The workload and expectations will be demanding for this yearlong course with average readings of about 150 pages per week (novels) and completion of about 20-25 formal essays.
Prerequisite: English 10 plus teacher approval (recommended as a senior)