English

ENGLISH I - COLLEGE PREP (110 S)                                                                    5 Credits – Grade 9                     
Course Overview: The goal of English I is to introduce and familiarize students with major forms of literature: short stories, novels, plays, and poetry. This course was designed with the understanding that our population comes from a wide variety of educational settings, which inevitably prioritize different skills that fall under the umbrella of language arts. English I seeks to provide a foundation of reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary such that students have the tools necessary to succeed in future English classes as well as in high school in general. Emphasis is placed on literary analysis, no matter the text, and critical thinking inherent in such analysis. Students will establish a basic foundation in academic writing through the introduction and reinforcement of the five-paragraph essay. This course is designed not only to prepare students for future standard English courses but also to facilitate achievement in Honors and/or AP English courses if applicable.

HONORS ENGLISH I (110H)                                                                                    5 Credits – Grade 9
Course Overview: Honors English I is a course designed to help the already strong language arts student expand his engagement in meaningful literature across all genres (prose, drama, poetry) and hone his proficiency in general expository writing and literary analysis. A wide foundation in English grammar is provided, and vocabulary development is ongoing throughout the year. Through class discussion and opportunities for creativity, the student’s critical thinking skills and overall abilities in written and oral communication are strengthened. This class carries a 5% weight. 
 

ENGLISH II - COLLEGE PREP (120S)                                                                 5 Credits – Grade 10
Course Overview: English II has two major goals. The first is continuing to build on the foundation established in English I developing reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, research, and vocabulary skills in order for students to effectively communicate and understand the nuances of the English language. Additionally, students will learn how to effectively vet, collect, analyze, and synthesize research to prepare them for academic research in the 21st century. The second goal is to introduce American literature and contextualize it historically to students. Students will build off the writing foundation established in English I through reinforcement of the five-paragraph essay and, ultimately, introduction of more sophisticated ways in which to structure an essay. By the course’s end, students should have a clear and critical understanding of the American Dream, as well as a developing understanding of argumentative writing with the ability to employ proper grammar, style, and vocabulary. 

HONORS ENGLISH II (120H)                                                                                 5 Credits – Grade 10
Course Overview: Through a survey of authors from Christopher Columbus and the Iroquois to Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from 2007, this course allows students to understand how ideas and the written word have shaped or have been shaped by American history.  The class explores what it means to be American and what our literature tells the world about ourselves.  Students examine our nation’s vibrant and violent history, which has been characterized by the brave defense of democratic values and personal freedoms as well as ugly confrontations with the intense prejudices that exist within our citizens.  Along the way, students will hone their critical thinking, writing, vocabulary, and public speaking skills through the close reading and written analysis of American literature, essays, art, and film, as well as our intensive research paper process. By the course’s end, students should have a clear and contextual understanding of major artistic movements in American history, as well as an ability to write argumentatively with a focus on proper grammar, style, and vocabulary. This course carries a 5% weight. 

ENGLISH III - COLLEGE PREP (130S)                                                                5 Credits – Grade 11
Course Overview:  English III intends to prepare students for college achievement and career success.  The students will become better critical readers, writers, and thinkers through exposure to a diverse group of texts across all genres, centered around British literature.  The text variety and review of related historical contexts facilitate a deeper understanding of life experience enriched by in-class group presentations and projects, peer-review workshops, and lectures.  The various assignments associated with the research project affirm an appreciation of writing as a process, supporting an awareness of the best research and writing strategies. The reverse chronological structure of the class aims to scaffold the most challenging works of literature for students such that they can engage with it in a meaningful way, culminating in an independent research paper where they may synthesize the skills developed throughout the year.

HONORS ENGLISH III (130H)                                                                               5 Credits – Grade 11
Course Overview: This course allows students to investigate and analyze some of the most important literary works found in the English language.  The goal of this course is to allow the students the freedom to look closely at these texts and explore the texts further through in-depth discussion and writing assignments.  The students often come to find that they are able to identify commonalities across the board and recognize modern problems and themes in these earlier pieces.  In that way, the students at the honors level can see that this literature is still relevant to the world today and see the worth in studying this foundational literature.  Students should expect a greater quantity of abstract and analytical literary work. Finally, students will learn advanced writing techniques through literary analysis and research. This course carries a 5% weight. 

AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION (141A)                              5 Credits – Grade 11
Course Overview: Designed according to the guidelines of the AP English Course Description, students are expected to “read critically, think analytically, and communicate clearly both in writing and in speech.”  In other words, students will become skilled readers and writers in many genres and different modes of writing, and in addition, read complex texts with understanding and write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers (AP Central Website).
Traditional high school English classes, particularly in the lower grades, focus on reading important works of fiction, drama, and poetry from around the world. The AP Language and Composition course takes a different approach, introducing the world of non-fiction in many forms – essays, memoirs, biographies and autobiographies, letters, diaries, speeches, journalism, and more.  Because many students have not studied nonfiction, the texts we read offer a surprising range and even creativity. We will look closely at a wide range of short and long non-fiction writing, studying what the writers have to say and how they say it. The writing in this course will be primarily responses to readings, both analyzing it and modeling your own writing after it. 
Another objective of this course is to prepare for success on the AP English Language and Composition exam given in May. The course will teach you the expectations of the AP examiners and will give you many opportunities for practicing writing and reading in the exam format. 

Each student is required to take the AP English Language and Composition Exam to fulfill the course requirements. This course carries a 10% weight.
 

ENGLISH IV - COLLEGE PREP (140S)                                                  5 Credits – Grade 12

Course Overview: This course is designed to bridge the gap between high school and college in order to develop both practical skills as well as interpersonal skills in order to successfully negotiate a 21st-century world. Students will explore both academic styles of writing as well as non-academic writing styles and how to adjust their tone and voice based on purpose and audience. Additionally, they will hone grammar knowledge to allow for purposeful changes in voice and tone. Students will investigate the factors that led to the development of their own perspective and juxtapose it with that of writers and characters from other backgrounds, with the ultimate goal of developing a better understanding, appreciation, and empathy. Each unit will be inquiry-based, centered around essential questions designed to challenge students’ current worldview and develop critical thinking. Ultimately, this course will allow students to analytically consider their own identity with the goal of reaching a better understanding of not only themselves, but also facilitating a better understanding of voices other than their own.

ENGLISH IV HONORS (140H)                                                                               5 Credits – Grade 12
Course Overview: The purpose of English IV Honors is to use international literature to convey moral truths, in particular when it comes to one person’s relationship to the world around them and to him/herself. The goal is to use complex, difficult texts to foster discussion about what it means to be a conscientious person in the world and a thoughtful young man towards oneself. In short, to make the stories we read come to life on a personal level as these boys begin their transition out of adolescence and into manhood, hoping to make the class an amalgamation of their previous classes in ethics, English, and theology. This course carries a 5% weight. 

AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION (140A)                              5 Credits – Grade 12
Course Overview: The purpose of AP English Literature and Composition is twofold. First, the class is designed to meet the academic rigors of a college survey literature course and challenge high-performing students to think critically about complex texts. Second, the course is designed to prepare students for the AP Literature and Composition Exam in May with the ultimate intention that they may earn college credit for their efforts. Small class sizes ensure that the class is student-centered and discussion-based. Students recognize a multitude of meanings in their examination of texts and learn to develop their own analysis and interpretations. Students will learn to analyze both historical and contemporary poetry and prose. They will explore how an understanding of literature helps to contextualize their understanding of the world.

Each student is required to take the AP English Literature and Composition Exam to fulfill the course requirements. This course carries a 10% weight. 

STUDIES IN ALTERNATE NARRATIVES (144S)                                              5 Credits – Grades 11, 12
Course Overview: Studies in Alternative Narratives uses the medium of cinema 1.) To help students understand the art form of filmmaking, 2.) To supply students with another avenue to hone critical thinking skills, and 3.) To allow students to analyze culture/society at large.  Through a chronological look at cinema that covers the gamut from silent films to contemporary blockbusters, students will consider how films work both as pieces of art that create an emotional response in their audiences as well as formal texts, which are structured in specific ways to create such responses.

CREATIVE WRITING HONORS (141H)                                                              5 Credits – Grade 12
Course Overview: The objective of the creative writing elective is to promote a culture of creative thought. Students are encouraged to think outside the box and produce quality work. Students are also exposed to a wide variety of literature and film that allows them to see the world in perhaps bigger terms. Finally, the idea that art and writing are vital parts of society is a point that anchors the class. This course carries a 5% weight.

BASEBALL AS AMERICA IN FILM AND CULTURE (151S)                          2.5 Credits - Grade 10, 11, 12                                

Course Overview: Over the course of a semester, students will learn about the history of baseball through both popular culture and literature. While delving into research into texts, players, coaches, and ballparks, students will enrich their writing, reading, critical thinking, and research abilities through interactive and research-based projects. Topics covered will include the founding of the game/origin stories, integration of the game from the African-American and Latin-American perspectives, the history of ballparks, video games, and uniforms, and comparing/contrasting the scandals of Pete Rose, the Steroid Era, and the Black Sox Scandal through a melding of popular culture/the events on the field. Potential field trips include: Baseball Hall of Fame, Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum/Camden Yards, and the Yogi Berra Museum.