ENGLISH
English 9
English 9 is an introductory
course that lays a foundation of skills that students will need throughout high
school. It is a literature-based
course with an emphasis on critical reading and composition skills. These skills include: literary analysis
and close reading, writing expository essays, creative writing, timed writing,
grammar and usage, vocabulary, discussion group skills, and dramatic
interpretation. Students are
exposed to a variety of classical and contemporary genres: novels, short
stories, plays, poetry and non-fiction.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English 9 Advanced
Advanced English 9 exposes students to a wide range of classic and
contemporary literature. Students read a variety of literary types,
including essays, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, plays, and novels.
Students write a variety of assignments relating to the literature,
concentrating on analysis and critical thinking. Students have many
opportunities to develop formal and informal speaking skills. Assignments
differ from regular English 9 coursework in quantity and depth of analysis, and
in the level of expectations. Students are expected to enter the course
with a high level of reading comprehension and writing skill. Material
will be covered quickly, requiring that students must be able to read and
comprehend independently and manage their time appropriately. Long-term
individual and group projects require that students set realistic short and
long-term priorities.
Prerequisite: qualifying
assessment
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English 9 SDAIE
This
class is designed for English Language Learners. The Specially Designed
Academic Instruction in English
course parallels the content core curriculum for English 9 and is aligned to
the California State Language Arts Standards. Students read and study the
core literature and learn to write structured paragraphs and essays while also
utilizing supplementary support materials to enhance comprehension and learning
in reading and writing. This course is offered on a rotating basis with
SDAIE English 10 so that students can refine their reading, writing, speaking,
and analysis in English.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English 10
English
10 is a college preparatory language arts course which expands and strengthens
the skills developed in English 9.
This world literature based course emphasizes critical reading,
composition and speaking skills.
Students will study short stories, poetry, drama, non-fiction and
novels. The course also includes
extensive writing instruction in a variety of forms, grammar instruction, root
word instruction, and vocabulary development.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English 10 Advanced
English
10, Advanced is a rigorous course due to the increased expectations
regarding volume of reading, maturity of insight, sophistication of language
use, and standards of evaluations. This course exposes students to world and
multicultural literature through discussion and critical analysis of various
genres, including non-fiction, myth, legend, epic, poetry, short story, and the
novel. Course work focuses on the development of analytical thinking skills,
with an emphasis placed on critical writing in response to literature. The
course also includes grammar instruction, root work instruction, and vocabulary
development with words taken from the literature as well as from lists designed
for SAT preparation.
Prerequisite: B- in prior
advance, honors or AP English course, or meet criteria on placement assessment.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English 10 SDAIE
This
class is designed for English Language Learners. The Specially Designed
Academic Instruction in English
course parallels the content core curriculum for English 10 and is aligned to
the California State Language Arts Standards. Students read and study the
core literature and learn to write structured paragraphs and essays while also
utilizing supplementary support materials to enhance comprehension and learning
in reading and writing. This course is offered on a rotating basis with
SDAIE English 9 so that students can refine their reading, writing, speaking,
and analysis in English.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English 11
English
11 is a college preparatory language arts course in which students will study
traditional and contemporary works drawn from American literature. Materials include novels, plays, short
stories, essays, poetry and non-fiction.
Student writing focuses on refining the thesis statement and developing
the skills necessary for multiple writing tasks as well as the examination of
rhetorical techniques in nonfiction writing. The course also includes grammar instruction and vocabulary
development.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English 11 Honors
Honors
English 11 is a chronological study of American Literature, history,
philosophy, and culture. Students will be challenged by the high level
reading, writing, and speaking that is required as they develop their ability
to analyze, think deeply, and express themselves clearly. Students are
expected to have mastered reading and writing skills presented in Advanced
English 10 prior to entering this course. Material will be covered quickly,
requiring that students must be able to read and comprehend independently, and
manage their time appropriately. Long-term individual and group projects
will require that students set realistic short and long-term priorities,
without overextending themselves.
Prerequisite: : B- in
prior advance, honors or AP English course, or meet criteria on placement
assessment.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English 12
English
12 is a year-long course designed to prepare seniors for the rigor and depth of
college-level reading and writing requirements. English 12 course work
requires a synthesis of the skills taught through the first three years of the
high school English program, emphasizing increasingly sophisticated skills in
analysis, discussion, and writing. Students read expansively for
comprehension of content and to evaluate authorsÕ biases and purposes.
Students write for a variety of purposes in preparation for college, including
application essays, placement assessments, expository analysis of non-fiction,
and interpretive literary analysis. Students continue to build writing
skills through process draft writing, grammar review and vocabulary
development. The course provides extensive and challenging reading of many
literary genres, including non-fiction, poetry, fiction, and drama, ranging
from classical through contemporary literature. Classroom discussions
will tackle challenging themes, philosophical views, and contemporary issues.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English Literature AP
AP
English Literature is a rigorous, college level course focusing on the study of
significant literary works.
Students analyze literature, poetry, and essays in terms of concepts and
the role of these concepts in the development of the World. The reading list is extensive and
written work emphasizes a mature level of insight, the development of careful
and thorough analysis, and sophisticated language use. Participation in class discussion is
essential. This is an Advanced
Placement course that prepares students to take the AP Literature and
Composition exam in May.
Prerequisite:
: B- in prior advance, honors or AP English course, or meet criteria on
placement assessment.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
British Literature
This Senior survey course of British literature, studied
in a historical context, includes the reading and discussion of English authors
and novels. Literature-based creative and critical writing is
taught. The course work requires a
synthesis of the skills taught through the first three years of the high school
English program, emphasizing increasingly sophisticated skills in analysis,
discussion, and writing. The challenging content is designed to prepare students for college level
reading, thinking, literary analysis, and writing.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
Composition
Composition is a nonfiction-based Senior course
designed to prepare students for the rigors of college-level analytical writing
and critical reading. Instruction includes writing college admissions essays
and scholarship essays as well as college-level essay writing types. Students
review grammar and syntax as well as the use of varied sentence types. Critical
thinking skills, based on advanced logic and organization, are developed
through writing expository prose and literary analysis. The class emphasizes
process writing (through drafting, responding to feedback, and revising)
and response to short non-fiction pieces, film clips, documentaries, and news
articles.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
Novel
Seniors read
classic and contemporary novels and study the writing, stylistic, thematic, and
artistic elements of the novel as a form of literature. Close reading and
essay response to the literature are major components of this course. Course work requires a synthesis of the skills taught
through the first three years of the high school English program, emphasizing
increasingly sophisticated skills in analysis, discussion, and writing. Novels are often grouped into thematic units of study.
The course includes both whole class study and independent reading of novels.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
Shakespeare
11-12 grade students study the plays and poetry of Shakespeare,
and his influence on literature through time. Students respond to the
literature in discussion, essay writing, and group and individual projects. Close reading and analysis of the literature is designed to prepare students for college
level reading, thinking, literary analysis, and writing. Students
will be required to meet daily reading requirements, write, and participate
regularly in class. Course work requires a synthesis of the skills taught
through the first three years of the high school English program, emphasizing
increasingly sophisticated skills in analysis, discussion, and writing.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English ELD
This course is for students who have been identified as English
Learners based on the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) who
score at the Beginning or Early Intermediate level. It is designed to develop skills in listening, speaking,
reading, and writing for everyday and academic purposes. Instruction focuses on communicative
and academic skills based on the California ELD Standards.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.
English ELD Advanced
Meets C.S.U. and U.C. ÒbÓ requirement for one year
only. This class is for Advanced
English Language Learners. Students continue to refine skills in reading,
writing, speaking, listening, and grammar. Grammar instruction emphasizes the
Òediting processÓ for personal habitual error patterns each student makes in
the English language. Note-taking skills, vocabulary, and literary analysis are
emphasized. Students write analytical papers of between three and six
paragraphs in length, depending on personal skills level. Subject matter
includes the analysis and comprehension of poetry, short stories, novels, film,
art, and cultural awareness topics. Students write memoir and personal response
papers and a cultural studies project. The class is conducted in a ÒseminarÓ
style; hence class discussions and oral participation are emphasized. Field
trips occur throughout the year in order to help students develop cultural and
aesthetic awareness.
Meets UC/CSU ÒbÓ requirement.