Language Arts Classes

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Comm Arts Resources

  • English I-(1 unit, Grade 9) English I emphasizes the continued development of reading, writing, and language skills. Students in this course will read a variety of literature and literary forms, understand basic grammatical structure of our language, and communicate their ideas clearly in oral and written form.
  • Accelerated Literacy I-(1 unit, Grade 9) Prerequisite: Students must qualify to be placed in the course for elective credit based upon specific criteria including academic performance at the middle level and specific reading and writing assessment results. Students who receive academic and literacy support through special programs will not be eligible for this course. This course is designed to assist students in adjusting to high school while providing strategies to engage in successful educational experiences. Students will focus on accelerating their development of literacy skills with an intense emphasis on increasing reading comprehension and writing proficiency, development of academic study skills, and enhancing social skills.
  • English I Pre-Advanced Placement-(1 unit, Grade 9, weighted) Prerequisite: Students must possess disciplined study habits, and the course will involve considerable outside class preparation. Students enrolled in this course will be assessed during the first three weeks of the school year to determine if the placement in this course is appropriate. Students enrolling in this course will be expected to participate in frequent formal and informal writing projects. This course is designed for students who plan to enroll in Advanced Placement English courses when they are upper classmen. English I Pre-AP emphasizes the continued development of reading, writing, and language skills. Students in this course will read a variety of literature and literary forms, understand basic grammatical structure of our language, and communicate their ideas clearly in oral and written form. Advanced Placement courses offer upper classmen the opportunity to pursue college level studies, which include a College Board three-hour exam scheduled at the conclusion of the course.
  • English II-(1 unit, Grade 10) Prerequisite: Successful completion of English I English II places emphasis upon the effective use of the English language in both oral and written communications. Students study world literature with a focus on the literary forms of drama and the novel. The basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening continue to receive primary emphasis.
  • English II Pre-Advanced Placement-(1 unit, Grade 10, weighted) Prerequisite: Students must possess disciplined study habits, and the course will involve considerable outside class preparation. Students enrolled in this course will be assessed during the first three weeks of the school year to determine if the placement in this course is appropriate. Students enrolling in this course will be expected to participate in frequent formal and informal writing projects. This course is designed for students who plan to enroll in AP English and/or English 110 and 214 as upperclassmen. The skills of reading, writing, and listening continue to receive primary emphasis. The rigorous survey course of literature incorporates the integrated study of vocabulary, grammar, analysis, and composition skills through the study of short stories, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and drama. Both modern and Shakespearean text will be included in the literature. Compositions focus on literary analysis using literary terms as well as narrative, expository, and persuasive styles. The research process will be addressed through the literature component of the course.
  • English III-(1 unit, Grade 11) Prerequisite: Successful completion of English II. English III is a survey course centered on American Literature, vocabulary development, composition, and current mass media. Students will continue to develop skills in writing, vocabulary, and critical thinking. Students will enhance their ability to recognize the use of various literary elements and to understand the importance of these elements and to understand the importance of these elements in the American literature selections they read. Further, students will develop an awareness of mass media and its influence and impact.
  • American Literature and Composition-(1 unit, Grade 11, weighted) Prerequisite: Successful completion of two units of Language Arts credit with a C average or above in English II. Students who have completed English III may not enroll in American Literature. This advanced English class is the first part of a four-semester college preparatory English program. The course includes expository writing, grammar, and usage, college preparatory vocabulary, and selected readings from representative American literature. In addition, the course requires homework and above-average reading and writing skills.
  • English IV-(1 unit, Grade 12) Prerequisite: Successful completion of English III or American Literature and Composition. A student must have completed the three year (3 credit) Language Arts requirement to enroll in this class. English IV is a full-year course that integrates all the components of Language Arts: writing, speaking, literature, and listening. Modern fiction and non-fiction will be studied. This course incorporates a career component with emphasis on effective applied communication. Resumes, work and college applications, interview techniques, current work, and school related topics will be studied.
  • Creative Writing-(1/2 unit, Grades 10-12) This course is designed for the student who likes to write or would like to learn to write. It will provide study in practical writing and experience in all areas of creative expression: poetry, short story, novel, play, and essay. Use of composition textbooks, class discussion, models and techniques of noted writers will be the basis of study. A student need not be a good writer to take this course: all one needs is the desire to learn. This elective course will not count toward completion of the Language Arts requirement.
  • Highlights of English Literature I-(1/2 unit, Grades 11-12, weighted) Prerequisite: Successful completion of two units of Language Arts credit with a C average in the most recently completed Language Arts course. Foundations of Art of English Literature will be a sampling of representative authors from the early ages fo our British-Anglo-Saxon heritage through the 17th Century. Authors emphasized will include the Beowulf poet, Chaucer, Malory, Shakespeare, Johnson, and Marlowe. Required composition will include incidental themes relating to the literature as well as one short research project (of the student's choice) dealing with an author or work from these ages. Work involves much class discussion and occasional oral reports dealing with subjects not covered in class. This elective course will not count towards completion of the Language Arts requirement.
  • Highlights of English Literature II-(1/2 unit, Grades 11-12, weighted) Prerequisite: Successful completion of two units of Language Arts with a C average in the most recently completed Language Arts course. Foundations of Art of English Literature will be a chronological sampling of representative authors from the early 18th century through the early 20th century. "Schools" of writers surveyed will include the Romantic and Victorian, plus many "greats" such as Browning, Dickens, Conrad, Kipling, Eliot, Yeats, Thomas, and Shaw. Types of literature will include poetry, essays, short stories, drama, and novels. Oral and written work will be stressed as well as independent reading and research. This elective course will not count toward completion of the Language Arts requirement.
  • Skills for L.E.P. Students-(1 unit, Grades 9-12) This class is offered for individuals with limited English proficiency. Language activities are individualized as students work to improve their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Placement is determined by referral.