Skip to main content
Content

Overview

 

Four credits of English/Language Arts are required to graduate. Students can choose how they meet this requirement. Students can take the integrated English I, II, III, and IV sequence or the individual semester courses. Students should plan to take courses  that , piecing together a language arts program that still covers all the recommended competencies in a comprehensive language arts program. Most colleges are looking for evidence that you have read a variety of literature. It is best to include American Literature and two other areas of literature with at least one being from outside the U.S. such as World Literature, British Literature, and Shakespeare. Review your intended college entrance requirements.

 

WritingLiteratureSpeaking & Listening
  • Elements of Grammar
  • Expository Composition
  • Art of Argument
  • Journalism
  • Creative Writing: Introduction to Fiction
  • World Literature
  • American Literature
  • British Literature
  • Cinema as Literature
  • Shakespeare
  • Survey of Poetry
  • Explorations in Myths & Legends
  • Responding to Literature
  • Introduction to Speech
  • Public Speaking

 

American Literature

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of American literature that reflect and enhance their studies of history and social science. They conduct in-depth analyses of recurrent patterns and themes, structural features, and narrative literary elements and devices.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
English I or Responding to Literature

Art of Argument

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students learn the art of persuasive writing, backed by careful research, and presented in an effective manner that is free of logical fallacies. They distinguish persuasive writing from other types of compositionsand learn how to apply persuasive writing and common textual features. They apply understanding of the effects of audience and purpose on persuasive writing. Students also evaluate persuasive writing and speaking for reputability, logic, and presentation.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
English I or Expository Composition

British Literature

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of British literature that reflect and enhance their studies of history and socialscience. They conduct in-depth analyses of recurrent patterns and themes, structural features, and narrative literary elements and devices. Students produce writing and projects in response to literature, including biographical/ autobiographical, creative, persuasive, literary analysis, technical, and research.

 

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
English I or Responding to Literature

Cinema as Literature

Block image
Honors

Film and television is an increasingly relevant way to experience storytelling and its lessons in modern culture.  Film and television communicate meaning differently than written text,  and their realm is a  world of rich visual language.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
English I or Responding to Literature

Creative Writing

Block image
Honors
NCAA

In this class students apply the writing process to creative fiction writing. Prepare to investigate, evaluate and demonstrate your understanding of key elements of fiction including plot, theme, character development, dialogue, setting, tone, sensory language, and author's purpose. Introduction to Fiction culminates with the development of a story outline that can later be transformed into a full-length story or novel.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
None

Elements of Grammar

Block image
Honors

Grammar is the system and structure of a language, the governing force. It provides the users of that language with collective rules, patterns, and guidelines through which they communicate with each other. Elements of Grammar will survey the important aspects of English language grammar. The course will begin by examining the smallest units of meaning and build to developing varied and complex sentences.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
None

English I

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Join us in English I for a series of journeys. In each unit of the course, we embark on a new journey. Through the study of literature, nonfiction, and life, we will explore the unknown, search for identity and equality, and seek achievement, opportunity, and understanding. You will read to analyze the way language is used to express human motivation and will research to examine the results of actions in the real world.

Duration
2 Semesters
Prerequisites
None

English II

Block image
Honors
NCAA

English II uses the hero’s journey to explore world literature from ancient to modern times.  Students will practice literary analysis and composition and learn about essential grammar and literary elements concepts. Finally, students will learn narrative & research writing concepts.

Duration
2 Semesters
Prerequisites
English I or Responding to Literature/Expository Literature/Elements of Grammar

English III

Block image
Honors
NCAA

“Extra, extra, read all about it!” It’s all right here in black and white, in the pages of The Virtual Times newspaper. Published at key periods in American history, The Virtual Times takes us right into the action. The writing is clear and concise. The stories and opinions give us perspective. The sports and entertainment sections give us the color and flavor of the times.

Duration
2 Semesters
Prerequisites
English II or World Literature

English IV

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Come explore the world of big ideas in English IV, where you are able to choose which path you will travel first as you explore highly engaging, thematic units. Each path will guide you through a series of literary pieces that allow you to analyze the political, social, economic, and cultural messages of its time as well as its relevance to the world you live in today. Each path revolves around a central theme.

Duration
2 Semesters
Prerequisites
English III or combination of American & World Literature

Exploring Myths & Legends

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students review the common mythologies of the world, as well as review more recent versions of these same stories. Exploring myths and legends throughout the world, students learn about the similarities that span time and culture in storytelling. At the end of the course, the students pull together their knowledge of the three areas mentioned above and use that to create their own myth or mythology.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
None

Expository Composition

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Provides essential skills for future English courses as well as for writing across the curriculum and in the workplace. Patterns of development include division/classification, compare/contrast, and persuasive, along with a selection of other types such as cause & effect, definition, and exemplification. Students learn the basics of expository composition, with a strong emphasis on using the writing process to create well-structured essays.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
None

Gothic Literature

Block image
Honors

From vampires to ghosts, these frightening stories have influenced fiction writers since the 18th century. This course will focus on the major themes found in Gothic literature and demonstrate how the core writing drivers produce, for the reader, a thrilling psychological environment. Terror versus horror, the influence of the supernatural, and descriptions of the difference between good and evil are just a few of the themes presented.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
English I & English II or Expository Composition/Responding to Literature/World Literature

Intensive Reading

Block image
Honors

Using easy-to-follow, step-by-step instruction, this course shows students how to approach and navigate complex texts. If you’re looking for extra opportunities to sharpen your reading skills and prepare for the state reading assessment, look no further!

Duration
2 Semesters
Prerequisites
None

Introduction to Journalism

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Journalism I provides students with the fundamental basics of journalism. Students begin by exploring the history of American journalism, examining different media such as print, radio, television, and internet journalism. Students learn how to write a news story, a feature story, and an editorial, with a focus on research, analyzing the reliability of sources, conducting interviews, writing leads, revising, and self-editing.

Duration
2 Semesters
Prerequisites
None

Introduction to Speech

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students are introduced to public speaking, build confidence, and utilize modern technology to create and present a variety of presentations for different purposes and audiences; these can include informative presentations, persuasive presentations, special occasion speeches, and others. Students view, analyze, and evaluate several examples of public speaking for technique and effectiveness, including nonverbal communication (body language) and the sound and flow of speaking.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
None

Lord of the Rings

Block image
Honors

Hobbits, Orcs, wizards, dashing knights, and powerful elves are all part of the magic created in J.R.R. Tolkien’s famously epic tale, The Lord of the Rings. For years, the vivid characters within this beloved story could exist only in the readers’ minds—until it was adapted into a movie that allowed fans to finally see, through the eyes of Hollywood magic and brilliant technology, the manifestation of these characters onscreen.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
English I & English II or Expository Composition/Responding to Literature/World Literature

Public Speaking I

Block image
Honors

Learn techniques from famous speakers throughout history while learning what it takes to make a great speech. Develop skills that will serve you well throughout your career and personal life. Bring your speeches to life by learning about body language, vocal, and other techniques. Learn about logic and reason while gaining the confidence to help create and deliver great presentations and speeches.

Duration
2 Semesters
Prerequisites
English I or Expository Composition

Responding to Literature

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students learn key literary terms and concepts, and how to compose essays and articles in response to pieces of literature. They learn about certain character archetypes found in mythology that permeate modern stories of today, characterization, and types of characters (flat, round, static, dynamic). Students identify and evaluate writing for imagery, figurative language, metaphors, similes, and personification.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
None

Shakespeare: The Comedies

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students investigate Shakespeare's history as a man, actor, poet and playwright. Then, they identify, analyze and discuss common elements of his comedies, including iambic pentameter, five act structure, supernatural occurrences, stock characters, and harmonious union. Additionally, students identify, analyze, and discuss common themes, such as the importance of love, the power of language, the difference between appearance and reality, and the power of dreams and illusions.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
English III or British Literature

Shakespeare: The Tragedies

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students review Shakespeare's history as a man, actor, poet and playwright. They identify, analyze and discuss the tragic hero archetype as addressed in Shakespeare's plays. Students compare and contrast the structural elements and themes present in the comedies and the tragedies and interact with Shakespeare's tragic texts by reading and discussing excerpts and summaries.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
English III or British Literature

Survey of Poetry

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students learn about types of poems, ranging from haiku to ballad, and the key concepts and devices of poetry, such as meter and rhyme scheme. They are exposed to a variety of poems and learn about several poets – both classic and contemporary. Students read and evaluate poems for the various concepts specific to poetry as well as more global literary elements (i.e. theme, imagery, irony). They also have the opportunity to create original works of poetry. 

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
None

World Literature

Block image
Honors
NCAA

Students read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of British literature that reflect and enhance their studies of history and social science. They conduct in-depth analyses of recurrent patterns and themes, structural features, and narrative literary elements and devices. Students produce writing and projects in response to literature, including expository, biographical/ autobiographical, creative, persuasive, and literary analysis.

Duration
1 Semester
Prerequisites
English I or Responding to Literature/Expository Composition. Students who have taken English II should not take World Literature.