Courses Descriptions

Language Arts Courses

Accelerated English I
2 semesters; 1 unit credit
The course builds on fundamental language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students practice both reading and writing as a process and implement a multitude of reading strategies as they work to become proficient in understanding and responding appropriately to a variety of texts. Students refine their reading comprehension skills through the study of literary genres (prose, poetry, and drama) and fiction and nonfiction and informational texts. Students will write for varied audiences and purposes and work to develop ideas, voice, diction, fluency, and organization in their writing while applying conventions of the English language. Also, students develop skills to enhance media literacy. The pace of `this course surpasses that of English I,

Accelerated English II
2 semesters; 1 unit credit
This course stresses the continuing development of oral language and composition skills. Included within the study are the identification of literary themes and forms, use of effective reading strategies, and development of speaking/listening skills. Students write for varied audiences and purposes and work to apply effective ideas, voice, word choice, fluency, organization, and conventions in their writing. Reading selections for this level include poetry, drama, fiction, literary nonfiction, and informational texts. This is a subject-area evaluated course. The pace of this course may surpass that of English II.

Composition I (Dual Credit)
Composition is the study of fundamental reading and writing concepts and skills. Reading comprehension, grammar, the writing process, citing sources, and writing effectively to communicate ideas are topics are covered.

Composition II (Dual Credit)
Composition II is an expository writing course requiring more advanced writing skills than Composition 1, yet reviewing and incorporating some of the same skills. This course teaches research skills by emphasizing the development of advanced analytical/critical reading skills, proficiency in investigative research, and the writing of persuasive prose including documented and researched argumentative essays. A major component of this course will be an emphasis on the research process and information literacy.

Creative Writing
2 semester; 1 unit credit
Creative Writing is designed for students to create original forms of descriptive writing, poetry, drama and fiction. Vocabulary development, creative writing techniques, and skills are explored. Students submit their work to local and national magazines. Computers and word processing are used for composition. Writings are presented orally and in written form.

 English I
2 semesters; 1 unit credit
In this course, students will investigate a wide range of literary genres as well as delve deeply into substantive, complex expository works of nonfiction and uncover critical clues for building analyses of texts. Students will provide objective summaries that incorporate both inferences drawn from the text and citations extracted directly from what they have read. Students will study the seminal foundational documents of the United States as well as grasp differing perspectives and points of view embedded in works of world literature.

English II
2 semesters; 1 unit credit
In this course, students will examine a diverse set of literary genres and pursue their investigation of substantive, complex expository works of nonfiction and analyze the meaning of both literary and nonfiction works. Students will compare and contrast how ideas, themes or concepts are presented in two different artistic mediums in which different details are emphasized. Students will analyze seminal foundational documents of the United States as well as grasp differing perspectives and points of view embedded in works of world literature.

English III
2 semesters; 1 unit credit
In this course, students will understand and analyze substantive, complex expository works of literary nonfiction as well as a diverse spectrum of stories, poems, plays, and novels. Students will perform a variety of complex reading tasks focused on recurrent themes in American literature and foundational works of American political philosophy. Students will become skilled at determining how multiple themes or ideas combine and intertwine to produce a complex narrative or explanation as well as evaluate the premises, arguments, and rhetoric present in seminal texts from American history.

English IV
2 semesters; 1 unit credit
In this course, students will analyze more substantive, complex expository works of literary nonfiction as well as a diverse spectrum of stories, poems, plays, and novels. Students will perform a variety of complex reading tasks focused on recurrent themes in American literature and foundational works of American political philosophy with more independence. Students will strengthen their skills in determining how multiple themes or ideas combine and intertwine to produce a complex narrative or explanation as well as evaluate the premises, arguments, and rhetoric present in seminal texts from American history.

SREB Literacy Ready
2 semesters; 1 unit credit
This Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) course is designed to build on knowledge gained in English I, English II, and English III, and is offered only to Seniors (12th graders). This course utilizes a disciplinary literacy approach that teaches students strategies for reading and understanding complex texts in different subject areas. Students learn to develop and defend ideas from textbooks and write about them in college-level formats for English, history and biology. The unit structure conforms to the framework of the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC), which addresses college- and career-readiness standards. This course is for students who have an ACT English sub score below 15 only.

Technical Writing
The art of written communication is vital to our student’s development in the technical era in which we live. In this course, students will enhance their language skills through a variety of reading, writing, and speaking activities. We will explore various types of writing and the conventions and styles of each. Students will study writer’s craft and practice applying these techniques to their own compositions. Students will also study and apply grammatical concepts and structures.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. 1. analyze and interpret complex texts
   2. apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writing in order to convey ideas and justify analysis of complex texts
   3. successfully navigate through the stages of the writing process in order to produce an effective and engaging piece of writing to meet the standard of college readiness
   4. effectively participate in discussions which broaden their understanding of complex ideas and texts
   5. demonstrate proficiency on the state assessment for English II (MAAP)
   6. develop in preparedness for proficiency on the Reading and English portions of the ACT
   7. acquire the study skills and work ethic needed to be successful in their future endeavors