High School: Language Arts

In this course, students read and analyze both literary and informational texts, including autobiographies, personal memoirs, newspaper and magazine articles, and poetry. Students understand explicit and inferred meaning and identify support for them. They also learn how figurative language impacts the text. In addition, students learn about basics in grammar, usage, and punctuation. They also learn vocabulary words, and Greek and Latin affixes, and roots. In addition, they learn the elements of writing so that they can plan, write, revise, and edit their own personal memoir and literary analysis. Through the lessons provided in this course, they master techniques that will help them achieve a deeper appreciation of literary and informational texts.

Suggested grade level: 9
Prerequisites: None

In this course, students read and analyze both literary and informational texts. These texts take many different forms, including biographies, short stories, newspaper and magazine articles, poetry, and influential historical documents. The course’s reading selections demonstrate ways to understand explicit and inferred meaning through textual evidence; theme, central ideas, and details that support them; and structural elements and their influence on style, among other ideas and concepts. Throughout this course, you will read the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand. They will also examine informational texts to better understanding of historical moments throughout the history of the United States, including presidential speeches and a famous letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. during his imprisonment in a Birmingham jail at the height of the civil rights movement. As they read the selections in this course, students practice ways to recognize textual evidence, identify themes and central ideas, make inferences, and identify figurative and connotative language in a variety of texts. In addition, students review information on context clues and word nuances, and learn about spelling conventions, style manuals, phrases clauses, parallel structure, semicolons, and colons. Students also learn the definitions, parts of speech, and etymology of various vocabulary words you will see throughout the reading selections. In addition, they learn the elements of writing so that you can plan, write, revise, and edit informational essay and argument essays.

Suggested grade level: 9
Prerequisites: English 9A

In this course, students read and analyze both literary and informational texts, including autobiographies, personal memoirs, newspaper and magazine articles, and poetry. Students understand explicit and inferred meaning and identify support for them. They also learn how figurative language impacts the text. In addition, students learn about basics in grammar, usage, and punctuation. They also learn vocabulary words, and Greek and Latin affixes, and roots. In addition, they learn the elements of writing so that they can plan, write, revise, and edit their own personal memoir and literary analysis. Through the lessons provided in this course, they master techniques that will help them achieve a deeper appreciation of literary and informational texts.

Suggested grade level: 9
Prerequisites: None

In this course, students read and analyze both literary and informational texts. These texts take many different forms, including biographies, short stories, newspaper and magazine articles, poetry, and influential historical documents. The course’s reading selections demonstrate ways to understand explicit and inferred meaning through textual evidence; theme, central ideas, and details that support them; and structural elements and their influence on style, among other ideas and concepts. Throughout this course, you will read the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand. They will also examine informational texts to better understanding of historical moments throughout the history of the United States, including presidential speeches and a famous letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. during his imprisonment in a Birmingham jail at the height of the civil rights movement. As they read the selections in this course, students practice ways to recognize textual evidence, identify themes and central ideas, make inferences, and identify figurative and connotative language in a variety of texts. In addition, students review information on context clues and word nuances, and learn about spelling conventions, style manuals, phrases clauses, parallel structure, semicolons, and colons. Students also learn the definitions, parts of speech, and etymology of various vocabulary words you will see throughout the reading selections. In addition, they learn the elements of writing so that you can plan, write, revise, and edit informational essay and argument essays.

Suggested grade level: 9
Prerequisites: Honors English 9A

Intermediate Rhetoric and Composition is a course for 10th grade students who are at or near grade level in language arts skills. Emphasis is placed on grammar and usage, spelling, writing skills, punctuation, and literary nonfiction. Writing activities give students practice in researching, organizing, and developing descriptive, persuasive, narrative, and expository compositions. Intermediate Rhetoric and Composition continues to investigate the writing and discourse processes while supplementing them with the reading strategies necessary to comprehend and compose nonfiction texts. The course also examines persuasive arguments through rhetorical techniques that enable both self-expression and persuasion of others. The course asks the student to put forth effort to understand the different ways of acquiring and delivering information. Increasing knowledge of rhetoric and composition helps students become more effective at communication. By honing skills in the areas of reading and writing, students can maximize their contributions in both the academic and professional worlds.

Suggested grade level: 10
Prerequisites: English 9B

World Literature broadens students’ reading experience with exposure to literature from multiple eras and cultures. The course includes diverse reading selections such as epic poetry, folktales, ancient verses, Greek tragedy, short stories, and excerpts from novels. Students are instructed in techniques for evaluating authors’ use of language, determining meanings, making inferences, grasping central ideas, interpreting characters, and drawing conclusions to enable them to evaluate literary elements in these works. The course includes a concentrated study of classic Greek drama as students read Antigone by Sophocles. The course provides guided instruction in analyzing evidence, comprehending context clues, recognizing symbolism, and identifying figurative language. The course also covers language skills, such as using affixes to affect word meaning and understanding denotative and connotative meanings to enhance word choice. Writing activities challenge students’ reading comprehension and composition skills with short projects involving research and writing, as well as producing character analysis and personal narrative essays.

Suggested grade level: 10
Prerequisites: English 10A

Intermediate Rhetoric and Composition is a course for 10th grade students who are at or near grade level in language arts skills. Emphasis is placed on grammar and usage, spelling, writing skills, punctuation, and literary nonfiction. Writing activities give students practice in researching, organizing, and developing descriptive, persuasive, narrative, and expository compositions. Intermediate Rhetoric and Composition continues to investigate the writing and discourse processes while supplementing them with the reading strategies necessary to comprehend and compose nonfiction texts. The course also examines persuasive arguments through rhetorical techniques that enable both self-expression and persuasion of others. The course asks the student to put forth effort to understand the different ways of acquiring and delivering information. Increasing knowledge of rhetoric and composition helps students become more effective at communication. By honing skills in the areas of reading and writing, students can maximize their contributions in both the academic and professional worlds.

Suggested grade level: 10
Prerequisites: English 9B

World Literature broadens students’ reading experience with exposure to literature from multiple eras and cultures. The course includes diverse reading selections such as epic poetry, folktales, ancient verses, Greek tragedy, short stories, and excerpts from novels. Students are instructed in techniques for evaluating authors’ use of language, determining meanings, making inferences, grasping central ideas, interpreting characters, and drawing conclusions to enable them to evaluate literary elements in these works. The course includes a concentrated study of classic Greek drama as students read Antigone by Sophocles. The course provides guided instruction in analyzing evidence, comprehending context clues, recognizing symbolism, and identifying figurative language. The course also covers language skills, such as using affixes to affect word meaning and understanding denotative and connotative meanings to enhance word choice. Writing activities challenge students’ reading comprehension and composition skills with short projects involving research and writing, as well as producing character analysis and personal narrative essays.

Suggested grade level: 10
Prerequisites: Honors English 10A

A Survey of Informational Text presents students with nonfiction works in a number of genres. Students examine seminal American documents ranging from Thomas Paine’s Common Sense through Barack Obama’s second inaugural address. Students learn ways to evaluate use of language, determine meanings, make inferences, grasp central ideas, evaluate bias, and draw conclusions by examining these works. The course also builds on students’ abilities to speak and write formally, with an emphasis on persuading audiences. Students analyze persuasive arguments on subjects ranging from environmental conservation to legal decisions involving the First Amendment as they learn to identify elements of argument and to use rhetorical devices. Using other nonfiction works, the course guides students in recognizing the importance of analyzing evidence, recognizing symbolism, examining word choice, and identifying figurative language in nonfiction literature. The course also covers grammar and usage, punctuation, and correct spelling and meanings of vocabulary terms, and exposes students to several types of consumer documents.

Suggested grade level: 11
Prerequisites: English 10B

A survey course in American Literature. It involves the study of styles, techniques, philosophies, biographies, and ideas of major American writers as well as the historical events that influenced their works. The course emphasizes critical and analytical thinking, reading, and writing skills. In addition to the coursework of reading and interpreting literature from the textbook, students will read novels, short stories, and poems. American Literature examines the literary writings, discourse, and events that took place from the inception of the United States to the present day. This course involves students and pushes them to examine their own idea of culture and nationalism.

Suggested grade level: 11
Perquisites: English 10A

Advanced Composition and Rhetoric is the first semester of the 12th grade English Language Arts course. This course covers the art and craft of rhetoric—persuasion and argument—using informational and nonliterary texts, with a special emphasis on the understanding of reasoning and logic. These texts include documents and speeches that have been integral to the development of legal and social policy in the United States.

The course builds in depth and complexity from beginning to end, starting with instruction on central ideas and word choice. In this course, students will learn the everyday tools of persuasion, including ethos, pathos, and logos. These serve as the foundation for understanding more complex topics, such as the elements of argument and the chain of legal reasoning used in court cases and historical documents.

Note: This course is also available for Dual Enrollment Credit; please speak to a Guidance Counselor

Suggested grade level: 12
Prerequisites: English 11B

Exploration of British Literature covers in-depth literary analysis—comprehension and evaluation—using a wide variety of narrative texts from British literature. Texts cover eras from the Middle Ages through modern times.

Students will acquire the necessary skills for gaining a deeper understanding of literature and literary analysis. The course builds in depth and complexity, starting with instruction on explicit and implicit meanings, use of figurative language and literary devices, and development of central ideas and themes. Students integrate ideas from multiple texts to compare and contrast the treatment of narrative and structural elements. These skills serve as the foundation for understanding the ways in which literature and language evolve, and appreciating authors and styles from many eras of British literature. The course includes two writing projects: a fictional narrative in the style of Gothic Romanticism and a literary analysis comparing or contrasting two texts from different eras of British literature. In these projects, students write in both short and extended forms. Emphasis is placed on the writing process, from note-taking and outline-making to revising and editing for content and style. Students take a final writing assessment as well as a Final Exam. In addition, students build their vocabulary and language skills with guided instruction and exercises, and engage with their classmates in discussions as part of each lesson.

Note: This course is also available for Dual Enrollment Credit; please speak to a Guidance Counselor

Suggested grade level: 12
Prerequisites: English 12A

Advanced Composition and Rhetoric is the first semester of the 12th grade English Language Arts course. This course covers the art and craft of rhetoric—persuasion and argument—using informational and nonliterary texts, with a special emphasis on the understanding of reasoning and logic. These texts include documents and speeches that have been integral to the development of legal and social policy in the United States.

The course builds in depth and complexity from beginning to end, starting with instruction on central ideas and word choice. In this course, students will learn the everyday tools of persuasion, including ethos, pathos, and logos. These serve as the foundation for understanding more complex topics, such as the elements of argument and the chain of legal reasoning used in court cases and historical documents.

Note: This course is also available for Dual Enrollment Credit; please speak to a Guidance Counselor

Suggested grade level: 12
Prerequisites: English 11B

Advanced Composition and Rhetoric is the first semester of the 12th grade English Language Arts course. This course covers the art and craft of rhetoric—persuasion and argument—using informational and nonliterary texts, with a special emphasis on the understanding of reasoning and logic. These texts include documents and speeches that have been integral to the development of legal and social policy in the United States.

The course builds in depth and complexity from beginning to end, starting with instruction on central ideas and word choice. In this course, students will learn the everyday tools of persuasion, including ethos, pathos, and logos. These serve as the foundation for understanding more complex topics, such as the elements of argument and the chain of legal reasoning used in court cases and historical documents.

Note: This course is also available for Dual Enrollment Credit; please speak to a Guidance Counselor

Suggested grade level: 12
Prerequisites: English 11B

Speaking in public and being an active listener are indispensable skills. They are important in both an individual’s personal and professional life. Paradoxically, as critical as both skills are to success in life, they are equally hard to master — speaking in public because of the apprehension it generates and being an active listener because of how hard it is to learn to do.

This course provides the student with the necessary background knowledge and practice in both public speaking and active listening. Additionally, it provides detail about the different types of speeches as well as the different media students have at their disposal when constructing speeches for different audiences.

Students will complete a variety of speech projects and discussion boards throughout the course, as well.

Suggested grade level: 9-12
Prerequisites: None
Requirements: Students must have web camera and microphone access