LANGUAGE ARTS
ALL FRESHMEN ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE AND PASS ENGLISH 9.
English 9 (Grade 9)
Semester Course (blocked) - 2 Credits
English 9 courses build upon the students’ prior knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, word usage, and mechanics of writing, and usually include the four aspects of language use: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Usually, the various genres of literature are introduced and defined, with writing exercises often linked to reading selections.
ALL SOPHOMORES ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE AND PASS ENGLISH 10. STUDENTS MUST PASS ENGLISH 9 BEFORE TAKING ENGLISH 10.
English 10 (Grade 10)
Semester Course (blocked) - 2 Credits
English 10 courses offer a balance focus of composition and public speaking. Students learn about the alternate aims and audiences of written compositions and public speaking by writing and speaking through persuasive, critical, and creative multi-paragraph thematic essays and speeches. In addition, students begin to learn the techniques of writing research papers.
IN THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE AND PASS AMERICAN LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION OR WORLD LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION AND ONE ADDITIONAL LITERATURE COURSE (AMERICAN LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION, WORLD LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION, LITERATURE TO FILM OR CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE OR COLLEGE PREP LITERATURE) AND ONE OTHER ENGLISH ELECTIVE.
American Literature and Composition (Grade 11)
Semester Course - 1 Credit
This course will survey all forms of United States literature. The selections to be read will include short stories, plays, essays, and poetry. Writing will be used in connection with these genres. Major novels will be read to understand what distinguishes these works as masterpieces.
World Literature and Composition (Grade 11)
Semester Course - 1 Credit
World Literature concentrates on English authors, with vital writers of other countries being spotlighted. Extensive writing practice will be used in discussing the works.
THE FOLLOWING COURSES ARE ELECTIVES AND WILL BE OFFERED WHEN THERE IS A DEMAND.
Composition I - ENGL: 117 (Grade 12)
Semester Course - 1 Credit
Designed to help students read and write effectively. Exploration of the relationship of audience to writer and material is a focus of this class. There is also an emphasis on developing concrete detail to support main ideas. Cost approximately $210, not including book. Can be used both for high school credit and three college credits.
Composition II - ENGL: 118 (Grade 12)
Semester Course - 1 Credit
Expository and persuasive writing developed through critical reading. The course explores structure, style, research, and documentation. Cost approximately $210, not including book. Can be used both for high school credit and three college credits.
Fundamentals of Speech - SPCH: 110 (Grade 12)
Semester Course - 1 Credit
Explores the fundamentals of speech-communication through the study and practice of interpersonal and small group communication and the composition and delivery of short speeches. Cost approximately $210, not including book. Can be used both for high school credit and three college credits.
Senior Composition (Grade 12)
Semester course - 1 Credit
This course is designed to develop basic writing strategies for effective prose writing. It will focus on college-bound writing skills as well as career-related communication skills. Students will improve their logical thought processes as they use concrete details to support their ideas. Students will gain further experience in expository, persuasive, and personal writings in addition to reading novels and short stories. Research and argumentation skills will be a focus as well as learning appropriate documentation of sources.
Creative Writing (Grades 11, 12)
Recommended for all students who want to develop
self-expression through fiction writing
Semester Course - 1 Credit
Creative Writing provides opportunities for the student wishing to write imaginative and literary works such as short stories, personal essays, plays, and poems. The selections written for this class tend to be a personal expression of the student's feelings and beliefs; the writing tends to stir the reader's feelings, to amuse and entertain him/her rather than to inform or explain.
Yearbook (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12)
Year Course - 2 Credits
Due to a limited number of spaces available, students wishing to be in yearbook may be required to fill out an application (available from the teacher) and yearbook students may be chosen from these applications.
If at all possible, students are encouraged to become a part of the yearbook class before their senior year. In that way, knowledge gained from one year can be used the next year to improve the quality of the yearbook.
This course is for yearbook staff members to plan and produce the ACE yearbook. Yearbook production includes writing copy, drafting the layout, working on a computer and being creative in the production of a quality product. Journalistically correct writing, layout, and composition are stressed. Students will also become involved with photography. The work for class will include time outside of the student's normal school hours. This course is worth two credits. It is repeatable but only two credits will be applied toward the English requirement for graduation. If it is repeated, elective credit is gained.
Introduction to Journalism (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12)
Semester Course - 1 Credit
With the increased popularity of Journalism/Channel 2, this class is offered as an introduction to the techniques used in the Advanced Journalism class. Students learn the basics of camera operation, editing, story composition, and broadcast presentation. The emphasis will be on writing style and technique and production values and organization. Introduction to journalism exposes students to the concepts of news worthiness and press responsibility. The class might be in charge of daily announcements, produce their own shorter version of Channel 2, write short articles for the student newspaper, or be available to help other students or teachers for presentations that require video taping/editing. Units will also cover the history or television, movies, and advertising.
Advanced Journalism (Grades 10, 11, 12)
Semester Course - 1 Credit
*Prerequisite: Introduction to Journalism
The focus of this course is to allow students the opportunity to explore broadcast journalism through the production of an in-school news program called Channel 2. Advanced students learn and practice more refined journalistic techniques, participate to a greater extent in the formation and/or management of the production team, and gain experience in critical evaluation of story content and the publication as a whole. Students learn to generate story ideas, interview and camera techniques, and editing. Every student will become involved in reporting, hosting, editing, and camera operation. The evaluation for the class is based on the quality of the broadcasts, meeting deadlines, and cooperation. Students should understand that time out of class is required to complete class assignments.
Literature to Film (Grades 11, 12)
Semester Course - 1 Credit
Literature to Film involves extensive reading of various genres. Students then view film/video presentation of such work and evaluate how a short story, play or novel is changed for the film. Discussion will be a focus of the class.
Contemporary Literature (Grades 11, 12)
Semester course - 1 Credit
This course is designed to look at modern literature/novels. Students will be expected to read popular novels and a variety of other literary forms from modern times. Authors to be read could range from John Grisham and Tom Clancy to Chris Crutcher, and earlier writers. Sign up and be ready to read.
College Prep Literature (Grades 11, 12)
Semester course – 1 credit
This course is designed to look at classic literature/novels. Students will be expected to read novels and a variety of other literary forms that many colleges consider prerequisites. It is highly recommended that students planning on attending a four-year college or university sign up for this course.
Arts & Communications Internship (Grade 12)
Semester Course - 2 Credits
Student internships are situations where juniors or seniors work for an employer for a specified period of time to learn about a particular industry or occupation to develop specific skills in this career interest area. Students’ workplace activities may include special projects, a sample of tasks from different jobs, or tasks from a single occupation. These may or may not include financial compensation. Through this first-hand experience, the student will be able to develop definite career planning for their senior year schedule or their graduation plans. The student will be on the workplace for at least two periods, either the first two or the last two periods of the school day. This is a semester course for which the student will receive two credits.