LANGUAGE ARTS 9

Grade 9
1 unit

9th Grade Language Arts builds upon students prior knowledge of grammar, word usage, mechanics of writing, and vocabulary; the course includes the four aspects of language use: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Research is also an integral element of the course as students write a career-related I-Search (research) paper.




COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Prerequisites: Language Arts 9
Grade 10
1 unit

English/Language Arts II (10th grade) courses usually offer a balanced focus on composition and literature. Typically, students learn about the alternate aims and audiences of written compositions by writing persuasive, critical, and creative multi-paragraph thematic essays and compositions. The study of literature encompasses various genres as students improve their reading rate and comprehension and develop the skills to determine authors' intent and theme and to recognize the techniques employed by the author to achieve the goal.



ENGLISH 11

Prerequisites: Lang Arts 9 & Comm Skills 10
Grade 11
1 unit

Exploration of each genre's literary elements; determination of theme and intent; and vocabulary and semantics are often included as part of the course content. The major activity in this literature course is the oral analysis of literary works. This course continue to develop students' writing skills, emphasizing clear, logical writing patterns, word choice, and usage, as students write essays and begin to learn the techniques of writing research papers. Students continue to read works of literature, which often form the backbone of the writing assignments. Literary conventions and stylistic devices may receive greater emphasis than in previous courses. This course provides the student with the techniques needed for expressing his/her ideas in original poetry, short story, creative thinking, and drama forms. The course also allows students to experiment with verbal and nonverbal communication, interpersonal and interpersonal communication, and as well as traditional speech forms. Informative, demonstrative, persuasive, interpretive debate, impromptu, and radio-news speaking is all part of the formal speech construction. This course provides an opportunity for the student to feel at ease in the speaker's role.



INDIVIDUALIZED READING

Grades 11-12
.5 unit

Each student reads whatever books he/she chooses--fiction or nonfiction--and then demonstrates an understanding of these books through oral conferences and written forms.



ENGLISH 11 & 12

Prerequisites: Lang Arts 9 & Comm Skills 10
Grades 11-12
.5 unit

Senior English emphasizes vocabulary development, sentence structure, punctuation, and grammar. This course is a final review of these basic elements.



MEDIA NOW

Grades 11-12
.5 unit

Media Now course has been designed to acquaint students with the forms of mass media and to encourage them to carefully question and evaluate the information they receive from these various forms. Because all forms of media bombard us, students need to know how these form "work" and how to evaluate the messages, which they receive from them. Media now helps to fulfill these needs.



ADVANCED PUBLIC SPEAKING

Prerequisites: English 11
Grade 12
.5 unit

Public Speaking courses enable students, through practice, to develop communication skills for a variety of speaking situations (such as small and large group discussions, delivery of lectures or speeches in front of audiences, and so on). Course topics may include (but are not limited to) research and organization, writing for verbal delivery, stylistic choices, visual and presentation skills, analysis and critique, and development of self-confidence.



WORLD LITERATURE

Prerequisites: English 11
Grade 12
.5 unit

World Literature introduces students to the literature of world authors and teaches skills of critical reading and evaluation. The development of a greater appreciation and understanding of literature is an especially important part of this course. Emphasis placed on the oral and written analysis of short stories, plays, and poems by world authors, with particular emphasis on themes and the styles of these authors. Vocabulary study--using words from the students reading--is an integral part of this course.



INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

Prerequisites: English 11
Grade 12
.5 unit (3 credits HCC)

This course is designed to introduce students to the three genres of literature: short story, poetry, and drama. It will emphasize understanding both the possibilities and limitations of various types of literature, willingness to share interpretations, relate awareness of literary structure of his/her analysis of selected literary pieces, and different methods of critical analysis.



COMPOSITION I

Prerequisites: Appropriate COMPASS writing placement score or ACT score.
Grade 12
.5 unit (3 credits HCC)

Composition I develops students' writing skills by emphasizing fluency, organization, the use of supporting details, and an introduction to research techniques. Writing is approached as a recursive process that includes prewriting strategies drafting, and editing. The course helps students define a sense ofudience and purpose in their writing.



COMPOSITION II

Prerequisites: Composition I Grade 12
.5 unit (3 credits HCC)

Composition II students extend the writing principles learned in Composition I to ethical and effective argument and persuasion and to the longer, researched paper. This course teaches precise and responsible use of research tools and requires critical analysis of reading materials.

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