Welcome to the English Department

Class Offerings:

English 9

English 9 is designed to help students improve their oral and written skills in communication. The basics, such as grammar, proper paragraphing, and an introduction to essay, will be covered. In addition, different genres of literature, namely the short story, drama, and novel will be studied.

English 10

English 10 is a year-long course designed to develop the written and oral communication skills needed to be successful in today’s world. Students will use critical thinking, analyzing, Students will complete journals, daily activities, essays, a research project, and public speaking in persuasive and informative forms. English 9 is the only prerequisite.

English 11

This course studies the evolving content of American Literature from its beginnings with the early Native American and Puritans to the social changes brought on in the latter 1900's. Emphasis will be placed on the social commentaries made by the author's themselves in relation to the topics covered in the students' U.S. History II course. The course is primarily analytical in nature with the student expected to read various poems, short stories, essays, and novels, discuss them in class, and develop critical essays based on that literature.

English 12

English 12 is a year-long course in which students will explore a few works of British Literature and American through reading, writing, collaboration, and public speaking. Students will also practice technical, business, and formal writing for the work force and technical colleges after high school. Students will complete journals, daily activities, group projects, essays, as well as a Senior Capstone research project and paper in the fourth quarter. English 9-11 are typical prerequisites.

College Preparatory English 12

College Preparatory English is a year-long course in which students adhere to collegiate standards of English literature and composition. We will be covering both American and British literature and the course will develop critical thinking, analyze skills; through reading, writing, journaling, group collaboration, Socratic seminars, daily assignments, projects and presentations, as well as an extensive research project at the end of the course. English 9-11 are typical prerequisites.

Advanced Placement (AP) English

Advanced Literature and Composition is a year-long course in which students will adhere to the collegiate standards of English. This course and the syllabus have been certified by the National College Board, which means this is an official AP course and we must adhere to the national standards set. The pace and rigor of this course is meant to mirror that of a first year college level English course, and should NOT be taken lightly. Students should be serious with their intention to take the AP Exam, while it is not required, it is encouraged. The AP English Lit and Comp test occurs in May, where students may take the test to earn college credit (although credit is not guaranteed). English 9-11 are typical prerequisites. To take these course students should be passionate about reading and writing, and willing to think critically, learn more about analyzing a variety of literature from all genres and time periods. Students will do so through reading, oral communication, research, journaling, essays, projects, Socratic seminars and group collaboration. We will be reading a number of texts at an accelerated speed and students are expected to read and study accordingly outside of class.

Mass Media and Creative Writing

This is a two-part course in which Mass Media is covered in the first semester, and Creative Writing is covered in the second semester. Students will study the communication process, various forms of mass media, and advanced public speaking. Students will be required to participate in individual and group speeches given in front of their peers. Creative Writing is designed to aid students in the writing process and open up their creative expression. They will write and workshop one another’s work (short stories, poems, etc.) in order to improve on their writing and editing skills. Students will learn poetic vocabulary and will create a final portfolio at the end of the school year, encompassing their best and favorite creative writing assignments. There are no prerequisites for these courses.

Acquiring English

English as a Second Language Open to: 9-12 (with recommendation from the English coordinator recommendation as a Second Language coordinator).
The Acquiring English class is offered to students who score at Level 1 or Level 2 in English proficiency. The purpose of this course is to provide some instruction in English and to give the non-English speaking students an opportunity to practice their oral language skills in a non-threatening environment. Language assessments will be given to students based on transcripts and English as a second language coordinator recommendations.