English Department

Janice Storti	Marsha Brolli	Valarie Ivy

English I or Honors English I, English II or Honors English II, English III or AP English III, and English IV or AP English IV are courses required for graduation.   Content of courses conforms to sets of required reading and writing units including American literature during the junior year, world literature for senior year, research papers, and graduation essays.

Success in English is generally linked to a student’s performance on homework assignments since classwork, and the resulting participation grade, is related to the student’s preparation for class.  Each teacher has his or her own method of assigning and evaluating homework, and the nature of homework assignments may vary from teacher to teacher, but generally speaking it is expected that prior to the next English class, students will have homework to complete.

Computer-assisted English instruction is provided to meet the diverse individual needs of students.  Word processing serves students by providing practice in keyboarding, revising, developing, and structuring compositions.  Internet and CD Rom applications are used for research.

Project-based learning is part of all English classes. Students develop, present, and evaluate projects throughout each course.

ENGLISH COURSES are offered at appropriate grade levels.  Ordinarily English courses cannot be repeated in the same year, but after-school make-up courses may be offered during the second semester on a tuition basis.

111 COMPETENCY WRITING
Graduation Requirement for classes of 2001 and 2002
No credit
Reasonable competence in reading, writing, speaking, and listening is expected of each student.  To determine competence in reading and writing, department competency tests are administered twice each year.  Because each student must pass the test to be eligible for graduation, students who are unable to pass the competency test by their senior year receive additional instruction, practice, and tests in order to attain needed skills.

116 HONORS ENGLISH I
Prerequisite: Strong performance in eighth grade Language Arts/Approval of instructor
1.0 credit

Honors English I is for the motivated student with a solid foundation in writing, critical thinking skills, and reading.  The authors read include Cisneros, Kingsolver, Shakespeare, Steinbeck, and Williams, plus an assortment of more challenging writers such as Charles Dickens and Ayn Rand.  Students take part in activities and projects that demonstrate a deep understanding of their readings through their writings.  Connections are made between the literature of the course and the history of the time periods surrounding the literature.  The out-of-class assignments in the Honors English I are extensive and a great
emphasis is placed on vocabulary.  There are summer readings and writings in preparation for the class.

In May, students will be eligible to take Advanced Placement examinations.  Depending on the level of performance, students may be eligible for advanced placement at the college level or college credit.  In order to prepare students for this goal, additional learning opportunities will be provided.
 
 

121 ENGLISH I
1.0 credit

English I focuses on improving reading, writing, and speaking skills that are necessary for success in and out of school.  The students learn how to support their opinions with examples from their lives and from literature.  They increase their working vocabulary and practice critical thinking skills such as logic, deduction, inference, etc.  They learn to recognize and utilize common literary techniques such as foreshadowing and symbolism.  Students read and discuss authors such as Williams,  Steinbeck,  Cisneros, Kingsolver, and  Shakespeare, in addition to poets and short story writers.  Various writing formats are used including note-taking, journals, formal essays, graphic organizers, reviews, poems, and creative writing. Students utilize the computer lab.  Students participate in assorted speeches, skits, and presentations, alone and in groups, including several classes with actors from Shakespeare & Company in conjunction with the reading of Romeo and Juliet when possible.  Homework includes reading, writing, preparing for presentations, and studying vocabulary.
 

117 HONORS ENGLISH II
Prerequisite: Strong performance in English I/Honors English I and instructor approval
1.0 credit

Honors English II offers a solid preparation to students who are preparing to take AP English in their junior and senior years.  Authors read include Knowles,  Lee, Shakespeare, Twain, Bronte and Dickens.  Students continue to make connections between the literature of the course and fine arts and history of the time periods and understand how literature is an integral part of a society.  The out-of-class assignments in Honors English II are more extensive than those in English II, and a greater emphasis is placed on vocabulary.  There is a strong emphasis on the structured essay.  There are summer readings and writings in preparation for the class.
 

122 ENGLISH II
1.0 credit

In English II students read to enjoy, understand, and analyze diverse literary forms.  Formal compositions, informal writings, and creative writing are often literature-based.  Literary vocabulary and roots, as well as general vocabulary, are studied.  Projects and speeches by individuals and groups are important developmental experiences, and individual development in reading, writing, speaking, and listening are stressed.  Writers included are Twain, Hersey, Lee, Steinbeck, and Shakespeare, as well as contemporary short story writers.  Homework is critical to success in English II.  Mini-projects are assigned with each unit, and at least one major project will be assigned.  Students will assist in the development of rubrics for their work.

120 ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH III
Prerequisite: Strong performance in 10th grade English/Approval of instructor
Grade 11 only
1.0 credit

Advanced Placement English III (Language) is offered in place of the traditional English III.  Students will read from the works of Shakespeare, Hawthorne, Poe, Crane, James, Wharton, Fitzgerald, Cather, Miller, Hersey, and others.  Essays will be used to teach and review skills necessary for students to take the Advanced Placement exam including rhetorical strategies and the use of contrast, repetition, pacing, diction, and imagery.  Vocabulary work is extensive.  Summer readings are required.

In May, students will be eligible to take Advanced Placement examinations. Depending the level of performance, students may be eligible for advanced placement at the college level or college credit.  In order to prepare students for this goal, additional learning opportunities will be provided.
 

123 ENGLISH III
1.0 credit
Readings in the third-year English course are short stories, dramas, novels, and non-fiction accounts written by major American male and female authors.  (An exception to the American focus is a study of Hamlet).  The research paper is introduced as the major writing project.  Other writings include paragraphs, essays, journals, and creative writing.  Grammar assignments for English III emphasize control of the language. Vocabulary includes SAT preparation and a study of the roots of our language.  Students are required to use the computer lab for major writing assignments.  Readings usually include major American writers such as Poe, Melville, Hawthorne, Crane, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and others.  Homework is an integral part of class work.  Project work and exhibitions are required parts of the course.
 

118 ADVANCED PLACEMENT  ENGLISH IV
Prerequisite: Strong performance in English III/or AP English III/Approval of instructor
Grade 12 only
1.0 credit

Advanced Placement English IV (Literature) is offered in place of English IV.  Students will further develop their critical and analytical skills to discuss and use the devices of writing such as characterization, language, style, tone, and author’s point of view.  An in-depth study of an author of the student’s choice-- e.g. Yeats, Housman, Shakespeare, Donne, Robinson, Cather, Morrison, Achube, Gordimer--will continue through the course, culminating in the presentation of a class lecture.  Homework must be done in a timely and thorough manner.  Summer reading is required.  Students are prepared for and are strongly encouraged to take the AP Literature exam. (cont. next page)
 

124 ENGLISH IV
1.0 credit

English IV emphasizes mastery of the written and spoken language, reading units, cooperative projects, and individualized writing skills.  A variety of literature from authors such as Salinger, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Wordsworth, Hemingway, Orwell, Steinbeck, and Conrad will form the core of readings.  Major writings will include a 2000-word research paper and a 1500-word graduation essay.  Written and oral work include the critical essay, persuasive argument, business letters, the resume, and creative writing.  Reading, speaking, note-taking, vocabulary, and evaluative processes will be taught.  SAT preparation and test-taking principles are included.  Homework is required.  Projects will be developed, presented, and assessed.
 

139 FICTION WRITING
Grades 10, 11, and 12
1.0 credit

This course will involve many facets of fiction writing including character development, character motivation, the importance of setting and tone, the development of dialogue, the infusion of suspense, and the elements of surprise.

The course will involve readings by authors such as Hemingway, Porter,  Walker,  Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Bierce, Oates, Cheever, and Updike.

Writings and rewritings will be shared and critiqued.  Science fiction, romance, mystery,  drama, action and adventure, and horror are included.  Students will develop a portfolio which will be a major component in assessment.

148  MODERN LITERATURE
Grades 11 and 12
1.0 credit

The class will read books chosen primarily from works written since 1950.  Selections will be multi-cultural, representing modern authors from South and Central America, Asia and Africa, African-Americans, and women.  Poetry and short stories which reinforce the books’ messages, critical studies, and use of the Internet will be included.  Possible authors are Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood, Athol Fugard, Nadine Gordimer, N. Scott Momaday, and others.

In May, students will be eligible to take Advanced Placement examinations.  Depending on the level of performance, students may be eligible for advanced placement at the college level or college credit.  In order to prepare students for this goal, additional learning opportunities will be provided.