English Department Course Catalog

English 1, 2 (1540, 1541)

College Preparatory Course (P). The course content focuses on teaching students skills and strategies for critical, independent reading and writing of complex expository and narrative texts. The course utilizes balanced literacy instructional approaches.

Instruction in each standards-based unit of study interrelates reading, writing, oral communication, and language study. Students are provided with multiple opportunities to articulate their own ideas as well as to question, interpret, and evaluate others' ideas.

English 1, 2 Cluster (1540C, 1541C) UC "b" requirement

College Preparatory Course (P). This course is for students reading and writing at or above grade level and B or better in previous advanced English course or "A" in last regular English course. This cluster class emphasizes qualitatively different curricular and instructional strategies. The course emphasizes the thematic study of literature in major genre areas: short story, nonfiction, drama, poetry and the novel.

English 1, 2 Seminar (1540S, 1541S)

Prerequisite: Identified seminar students only (as determined by district GATE tests and guidelines) may participate in the seminar program. College Preparatory Course (P). This English class explores masterpieces of world literature with an emphasis on the cultural implications of each within historical context. Students should also be prepared to independently read a variety of advanced level fiction and nonfiction. Learn through classroom discussion of reading and reading.

English 3, 4 (1570, 1571)

College Preparatory Course (P). The course content focuses on teaching students skills and strategies for critical, independent reading and writing of increasingly complex expository and narrative texts. Instruction in each standards-based unit of study interrelates reading, writing, oral communication, and language study. Students are provided with multiple opportunities to articulate their own ideas as well as to question, interpret, and evaluate others' ideas.

English 3,4 Advanced (1572, 1573)

College Preparatory Course (P). This course emphasizes the critical analysis of complex expository and narrative texts. Each standards-based unit of study interrelates reading, writing, oral communication, and language study. Students are provided with multiple opportunities to articulate their own ideas as well as to question, interpret, and evaluate others' ideas. While similar to English 3,4, instruction in this course supports in-depth and more independent research-based reading and writing as well as critical analyses of a range of challenging literary and informational texts. The course meets the requirements for the Diploma with Academic Distinction.

English 3, 4 Seminar (1570S, 1571S)

Prerequisite: Identified seminar students only (as determined by district GATE tests and guidelines) may participate in the seminar program. College Preparatory Course (P). The curriculum emphasizes the thematic study of literature in major genre areas: short story, non-fiction, drama, poetry, and the novel. The course also provides an opportunity to investigate the related worlds of history, art and music.

American Literature 1, 2 (1583, 1584)

College Preparatory Course (P). This course emphasizes skills and strategies for independent reading of, analyzing, and writing about works of American literature, with a focus on how that literature reflects social, political, and moral issues in the United States. Instruction in each standards-based unit of study interrelates reading, writing, oral communication, and language study.

English HL 1 IB 1, 2 (1735, 1736)

This two-semester course supports the International Baccalaureate diploma or certificate program. This course forms the first half of a two-year course in written and oral language and comparative literary analysis. In this first year of study, students focus on selected literary works by North and Latin American writers. Prepare students to take the IB Higher Level (HL) exam in English, and fulfills the Group 1 (Language A) requirement for the International Baccalaureate diploma.

Expository Reading & Writing 1, 2 (1698, 1699)

College preparatory course (P). The goal of this course is to prepare college-bound seniors for the literacy demands of higher education. Students develop advanced proficiencies in expository, analytical, and argumentative reading and writing.

English HL 2 IB 1, 2 (1741, 1742)

This two-semester course forms the second half of a two-year course in written and oral language and comparative literary analysis that prepares students to take the IB Higher Level (HL) exam in English. The focus of this second year of study is on selected works of world literature. This course, together with the English HL1 IB course, fulfills the Group 1 (Language A) requirement for the International Baccalaureate diploma.

ESL 9^th Block 1, 2; 3,4; 5,6

(1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625, 1626)

This course continues the development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English with increased focus on reading and writing. In this course, students begin to understand and use language and information in a wide range of situations. Control of basic grammar is evident but may be inconsistent. Reading and writing activities reflect and extend the level of oral English development of students, and the content extends their English language experiences.

ESL 10^th -12^th Block 1, 2; 3,4; 5,6 

(1631, 1632, 1633, 1634, 1635, 1636)

ESL 1-2 Literacy Block provides a balanced approach to English language development, using communication-based, content-based, and literature based activities. Instruction focuses on oral/aural activities to ensure comprehension of concepts and vocabulary. Students learn to understand conversation on a variety of everyday subjects and to ask for clarification when needed. Reading and writing activities are designed to help students develop literacy skills using language already practiced orally.

Journalism/Yearbook

Journalism 1, 2 (1960, 1961)

This course introduces the basic techniques and skills of journalistic writing, investigates the meaning of freedom of the press and the dependency of other freedoms upon an informed citizenry, and prepares the student for participation in school publications.

Journalism 3, 4 (1962, 1963)

This course is intended to sharpen the skills introduced in Journalism 1,2 and provide experience with a high degree of realism and application to college or career journalism. The class functions as a staff, producing the official school newspaper.

Journalism 5, 6 (1964, 1965)

Students electing this course supply the leadership and hold the key positions in the publication of the school newspaper: editor-in-chief, copy editor, advertising and business manager, managing editor, page editors, and columnists. As advanced journalism students, they are responsible for informing the newspaper policy, presenting a balanced image of the school, planning page composition, meeting with business people, editing, and meeting the full range of responsibilities in producing regularly scheduled publication.

Public Speaking 1, 2 (1415, 1416)

This course in oral communication interrelates reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students research, write, and deliver speeches for a variety of purposes, both informal and formal, to varied audiences. The course emphasizes the effective delivery of a variety of speeches including speeches to inform, persuade, entertain, and communicate.

Publications/Yearbook (8421, 8422)