English/Language Arts

1  LA Credit        Grade 9
Course Overview:

Pre-AP Language Arts 9 focuses on reading, writing, and language skills that are relevant to students’ current work and essential for students' future high school and college coursework.  Texts take center stage, preparing students for close, critical reading and analytical writing. The course trains readers to observe small details in a text to arrive at a deeper understanding of the whole. It also trains writers to create complex sentences—building this foundational skill en route to sophisticated, longer-form analyses.  Students have multiple opportunities to prioritize and strengthen key literacy skills throughout their course of study.

1 LA Credit Grade 11
Course Overview:

Students will explore and develop skills with creative non-fiction texts.  Students will examine the relationship between writing and the real world, using the focus of our reading texts with real world connections from diverse perspectives.  It will offer students an opportunity to write in a variety of forms, developing the power of their personal voice.

1 LA Credit       Grade 11 or 12 
Course Overview:

An AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of classical literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style and themes as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. The course includes intensive study of representative works from various genres and periods, concentrating on works of recognized literary merit. Writing assignments focus on the critical analysis of literature and include expository, analytical, argumentative, and on-demand essays. Although critical analysis makes up the bulk of student writing, creative writing assignments will also be offered. The goal of both types of writing assignments is to increase students’ ability to explain clearly, cogently, even elegantly, what they understand about literary works and why they interpret them as they do. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on reaching stylistic maturity in writing. Summer homework is required.

1 LA Credit       Grade 11 or 12 
Course Overview:

An AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of classical literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style and themes as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. The course includes intensive study of representative works from various genres and periods, concentrating on works of recognized literary merit. Writing assignments focus on the critical analysis of literature and include expository, analytical, argumentative, and on-demand essays. Although critical analysis makes up the bulk of student writing, creative writing assignments will also be offered. The goal of both types of writing assignments is to increase students’ ability to explain clearly, cogently, even elegantly, what they understand about literary works and why they interpret them as they do. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on reaching stylistic maturity in writing. Summer homework is required.

Prerequisite: Recommended to have an A or B in prior English class.

1 LA Credit       Grade 12
Course Overview:

The focus of these classes is to provide students with college level skills as an alternative to the literary emphasis of AP Literature, but maintain the level of rigor that comes with college level material. Writing 121/122 presents reading and writing as a means of exploring, developing and communicating ideas. Students compose essays that support and develop a thesis and learn to develop critical reading and analytical skills. Students learn clear and effective communication with an emphasis on understanding the audience and the process of written reasoning through the development of information literacy skills. Emphasis is on improving higher-level comprehension skills and critical and analytical writing skills as they relate to college and life experience. Successful completion of this class will earn the student 8 transferable college credits.  Prerequisite: Recommend an A or B in previous Language Arts Class

0.5 ELECTIVE Credit     Grades 10, 11, 12
Course Overview:

The Creative Writing course is designed for students who enjoy writing as a form of art and personal expression. In this course, students will explore the elements of numerous literary genres (short fiction, poetry, drama, film) and the power of both print and multimedia formats. To develop original writing pieces, students will engage in writing workshops, literary element development lessons, writing/author studies, and peer reviews/conferences. To show evidence of writing development throughout the course, students will be required to engage in writing community activities that require sharing one’s work and in publishing one’s writing beyond the classroom setting.

1 CTE Credit             Grades 10, 11, 12
Course Overview:

This class will further develop students’ ability to create original news content, which will be broadcast to the entire student body.  In this class, students will develop advanced production, design, video editing, and script writing skills.  Using the latest technology, students will learn further camera operation, production and writing techniques to create new pieces that are both entertaining and informative, as well as continuing to develop familiarity with industry software.  This course will further prepare students for a possible career in Broadcast Journalism.

*Special Requirements:  Students must have successful completion of MultiMedia Journalism.