ENGLISH & THE HUMANITIES
HIGH SCHOOL
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 9
1 Year 1 Credit
Using the Springboard ELA curriculum, students will read a wide range of literary texts and compose explanatory, expository, argumentative, and persuasive as well as reflective writing, utilizing the writing process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Furthermore, this course will stress research-based skills and methodologies using both inquiry assignments and synthesis projects. ELA 9 students are also required to read THREE books (fiction and nonfiction) and complete the necessary research-based inquiry assignments designated by the teacher. Finally, students will utilize learning platforms like Zinc Reading and Revision Assistant to sharpen critical reading and writing skills respectively.
HONORS ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 9
1 Year 1 Credit
Using the Springboard ELA curriculum, students will read a wide range of literary texts and compose explanatory, expository, argumentative, and persuasive as well as reflective writing, utilizing the writing process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Furthermore, students will utilize learning platforms like Zinc Reading and Revision Assistant to sharpen critical reading and writing skills respectively. ELA 9 students are also required to read THREE books (fiction and nonfiction) and complete the necessary research-based inquiry assignments designated by the teacher. This Honors-level course incorporates Pre-AP modules and additional research-based papers and projects that demand independent inquiry and presentation.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 10
1 Year 1 Credit
Students will engage a wide variety of literary genres from around the world using the Springboard ELA curriculum. Students will compose explanatory, expository, argumentative, and persuasive as well as reflective writing, utilizing the writing process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Students will interact with real-life issues and topics using relevant texts across genres and disciplines. ELA 10 students are also required to read FOUR books (fiction and nonfiction) and complete the necessary research-based inquiry assignments designated by the teacher. Finally, students will utilize learning platforms like Zinc Reading and Revision Assistant to sharpen critical reading and writing skills respectively.
HONORS ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 10
1 Year 1 Credit
This Honors-level course incorporates Pre-AP modules and additional research-based papers and projects that demand independent inquiry and presentation. Students will engage a wide variety of literary genres from around the world using the Springboard ELA curriculum. Students will compose technical and report-based, argumentative, and persuasive writing, utilizing the writing process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. ELA 10 students are also required to read FOUR books (fiction and nonfiction) and complete the necessary research-based inquiry assignments designated by the teacher. Students in this course can expect intensive independent reading assignments and correlating assessments as well as two synthesis projects rooted in thematic issues of the course material.
AMERICAN LITERATURE (ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 11) a
1 Year 1 Credit
This course is designed to prepare students for the demands of college-preparatory English composition using the Springboard ELA curriculum. The readings for the class will analyze a plethora of nonfiction, journalistic, and literary selections with a focus on literary and rhetorical strategies, examining the works of a variety of authors and writers. Students will concentrate primarily on argumentative, and persuasive as well as reflective writing, utilizing the writing process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Students taking this course are also required to read FIVE books (fiction and nonfiction) and complete the necessary research-based inquiry assignments designated by the teacher. Finally, students will utilize learning platforms like Zinc Reading and Revision Assistant to sharpen critical reading and writing skills respectively.
HONORS AMERICAN LITERATURE (ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 11)
1 Year 1 Credit
This course is designed to prepare students for the demands of college-preparatory English composition using the Springboard ELA curriculum. The readings for the class will analyze a plethora of nonfiction, journalistic, and literary selections with a focus on literary and rhetorical strategies, examining the works of a variety of authors and writers. Students will concentrate primarily on argumentative, and persuasive as well as reflective writing, utilizing the writing process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Students taking this course are also required to read FIVE books (fiction and nonfiction) and complete the necessary research-based inquiry assignments designated by the teacher. Finally, students will utilize learning platforms like Zinc Reading and Revision Assistant to sharpen critical reading and writing skills respectively.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 12 a
1 Year 1 Credit
This course is designed to prepare students for the demands of college-level English composition. Students will analyze a plethora of nonfiction, journalistic, and literary selections with a focus on literary and rhetorical strategies, examining the works of both classic and modern authors using CollegeBoard’s SpringBoard curriculum. Students will concentrate primarily on argumentative, and persuasive as well as reflective writing, utilizing the writing process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Seniors will also utilize critical literary theories to critique selected works. This course culminates with a Senior paper research paper and presentation.
HONORS ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 12
1 Year 1 Credit
This honors-level course is designed to prepare students for the demands of college-level English composition. Students will analyze a plethora of nonfiction, journalistic, and literary selections with a focus on literary and rhetorical strategies, examining the works of both classic and modern authors using CollegeBoard’s SpringBoard curriculum as well as supplementary texts from a first-year college reader. Students will concentrate primarily on argumentative, expository, and reflective writing, utilizing the writing process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Seniors will also utilize critical literary theories to critique selected works, using these critical literary theories to compose EIGHT papers related to a broad selection of readings. Finally, this course culminates with a Senior paper research paper and presentation.
INTRTODUCTION TO JOURNALISM (SENIOR COURSE ONLY)
This course is designed to prepare students for the demands of college-level English composition. Students will analyze a plethora of nonfiction, journalistic, and literary selections with a focus on literary and rhetorical strategies, examining the works of both classic and modern authors using CollegeBoard’s SpringBoard curriculum. Students will concentrate primarily on argumentative, and persuasive as well as reflective writing, utilizing the writing process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Seniors will also utilize critical literary theories to critique selected works. This course culminates with a Senior paper research paper and presentation.
AP COURSES
AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
In AP English Language and Composition, students hone their reading, critical thinking, and oral skills in preparation for college-level studies. Students will read a variety of texts and will interpret and analyze those texts through writings that require craft, a strong foundational understanding of rhetorical strategies. This course culminates with the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring.
AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
Students in Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition will engage in careful reading and critical analysis of college-level texts. Students should deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure to their readers. As they read, students should 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 Students.
ELECTIVES
SHAKESPEARE'S TRAGEDIES
In this elective, students will read and study two of Shakespeare’s most celebrated tragedies: Hamlet and Macbeth. Students will identify stylistic and thematic patterns in Shakespeare’s writings and then consider how these literary patters related to our 21-st century world. This course is writing and reading intensive and demands requires initiative, organization, and a strong work ethic to succeed.
INTENSIVE VOCABULARY
This course will help students recognize new vocabulary words using Latin and Greek roots. The course requires intensive study and practice. A binder and at least 400 index cards are required. Students can expect to spend at least 30 minutes per class day reviewing vocabulary words. All vocabulary words are tiered by grade level and learning standards.
HUMANITIES I
Humanities I focuses on both classical and contemporary world literature (excluding British and United States authors). Students will examine various literary works and genres to discover how these writings help readers understand the cultural, historical, social, and political milieu of their native progenitors. Skills students will sharpen in this course are their textual analysis, critical thinking, and persuasive argument.
HUMANITIES II
Humanities II focuses on both classical and contemporary worlds of history, music, theatre, and visual art. Students will discover what these disciplines reveal about the human condition and how human beings create meaning out of their individual and collective experiences. Skills students will sharpen in this course are their textual analysis, critical thinking, and persuasive argument.