Transcript English Course Descriptions - Rochester Community Schools

English Course Descriptions
Choosing a Path for Success
REQUIRED FOR
GRADUATION
LA 9
This language arts course develops
reading, writing, listening, speaking
and viewing skills.
Reading material covers all genres novel, short story, poetry, drama and
non-fiction. Readings include: To Kill
a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies,
Romeo and Juliet and portions of the
Odyssey.
LA 9
Skills Developed: Literary Analysis,
Paragraph and Essay Writing, Basic
Knowledge of Grammar and
Mechanics, and Presentation Skills.
REQUIRED FOR
GRADUATION
LA 10
Year long course required for sophomores
Combines reading, writing, speaking skills
into a integrated study of language arts
Major pieces of reading include The
Crucible, Of Mice and Men, with poetry,
short stories, and nonfiction reading
Students will write several formal essays,
in-class writing, business letters, etc.
A research presentation on a topic of
students’ choosing is the end of the year
project
LA 10 Honors
Honors Language Arts 10 provides highly
motivated sophomore students with an in-depth
study of a wide variety of language skills. The
course objectives include the basic tenth grade
curriculum and:
1. provision for an in-depth analysis of American
literature through more demanding reading
assignments;
2. provision for advanced writing skills in both
topic and style;
3. development of logical, critical and creative
thinking skills as measured through reading,
speaking and
writing;
4. development of leadership skills;
5. required summer reading.
LA 10 Honors
On a more personal note, tenth grade Language
Arts will focus on American Literature. We will be
examining the American experience both through
the eyes of others writers and literature and our
own thoughts and writing as well. As our nation
has developed and grown through diversity, we
will concentrate on celebrating that diversity by
using pieces of writing that touch on the
American experience for all people. We all add
different perspectives based on who we are and
our backgrounds, and we will attempt to create a
place of individuality along with common
experiences in our curriculum.
LA 10 Honors Summer Reading
LA 10 Honors students read The
Scarlet Letter, Autobiography of
Frederick Douglass, and A House on
Mango Street over the summer and
complete a summer reading journal.
Students also have a nonfiction
reading requirement over the
summer as that is a point of
emphasis for the class.
Focuses for LA 10 Honors
More Nonfiction Reading
More Close Reading Passages
Huck Finn and Inherit the Wind are
added to the reading list.
More emphasis on rhetorical devices
and how they are used.
Focuses for LA 10 Honors
As we are trying to align the honor
curriculums, LA 10 Honors will build
on skills in LA 9 Honors and we will
continue to build skills that will help
them be successful in AP Language
and Literature.
Students for LA 10 Honors
Students should be motivated and
have high abilities in reading and
writing.
Students should have done well in LA
9 Honors
Students should have a
recommendation from their LA 9
teacher if not from honors section.
YEARLONG WRITING
COURSES
If you take these classes, you
do not have to chose another
English class.
Elements of Composition and
Literature
Year Long Class
11th Grade
Same curriculum, novels, lesson
objectives as Applications of
Composition and Literature~ just
spread out over a whole academic
year.
Elements of Composition and
Literature
Focus on:
– Argumentative writing, research paper,
literary analysis
– Read and explore different genres of
literature
Elements of Composition and
Literature
This class is for 11th grade students who
need a longer time to process and
complete the writing process. Students
who struggle with grammar concepts and
reading comprehension would also be a
great fit for this class. We will be breaking
down projects, papers and literature into a
step by step process, as well as beginning
the year with a in depth look into
grammatical elements of writing.
AP Language and Composition
Year-long class open to both 11th and
12th graders
Summer reading and writing
component required the summer
before taking the class
Focuses on nonfiction writing and
speaking, in-depth analysis of texts,
elements of argumentation, intensive
research paper and presentation, etc.
AP Language and Composition
Students should be prepared for
frequent AP practice tests, extensive
writing, and up to 1 hour of homework
per night or longer amounts of time
on larger projects
Students must be motivated,
independent learners to be successful
in this class
An agreement form must be
signed by both parents and
students
AP Literature and Composition
SEMESTER WRITING
CLASSES
If you take these classes, you
MUST choose another
semester literature elective to
make a full year of English.
Applications of Composition
Writing isn't just writing! It's thinking,
reading, and writing to gain confidence
and ability in communication with a
variety of audiences.
Students will learn to master the writing
process, and will be writing and revising
papers constantly while extending and
refining their arguments, thinking, and
organizational skills.
Applications of Composition
Applications of Composition Includes:
The Argumentative
Essay
The Research Essay
The Literary Analysis
ACT Prep
And More
12th Grade Composition and
Literature
Rhetorical Analysis and Logic:
– Students will analyze the effectiveness
of an opinion/editorial text for method
of development, logical appeals, and
rhetorical style.
12th Grade Composition and
Literature
Close Reading (Shakespeare)
Literary Criticism (As I Lay Dying,
short stories)
Multimedia Research
– Students will develop a multimedia
presentation based on a theme
12th Grade Composition and
Literature
Satire: Mark Twain
Style and Voice (Throughout
semester)
– Students will create paragraphs,
journals, or blogs.
12th Grade Composition and
Language
Personal Reflection Writing (The
Glass Castle)
Rhetorical Analysis and Logic
– Students will analyze the effectiveness
of an opinion/editorial text for method
of development, logical appeals, and
rhetorical style
– Logical fallacy project or rhetorical
analysis essay
12th Grade Composition and
Language
Literary Criticism
– More modern than Composition and
Literature
Multimedia Research
Satire
– Hypertext analysis
– The Onion, Daily Show
SEMESTER LONG
LITERATURE ELECTIVES
The following classes can be
taken with the semester long
writing classes.
British Literature
Various types of readings at various
difficulty levels- short stories, poetry,
nonfiction, drama, novels of
students’ choosing
Requires individual and group
presentations, timed in-class and
some formal writing, class
discussions, group work
Shakespeare
In this college-bound elective,
students consider the
Shakespearean drama in
relation to the Elizabethan
age and its theater.
Shakespeare
Students study selections
from the author's comedies
and tragedies.
Shakespeare
The focus of this class will be
on enriching the experience
of reading Shakespeare
through classroom
discussions, lectures, and the
viewing of performances.
Shakespeare
Literature of the Strange
11th and 12th grade level elective for
students who have passed LA 9 and LA 10
Explores the characteristics of sciencefiction, fantasy, horror, suspense, and
mystery and examine the similarities and
differences among them.
Students will analyze short stories and
novels for author’s purpose and
understanding of how the literature fits in
the genre.
Reading intensive- homework can include
up to 30 pages of reading per night.
Literature of the Strange
Students do creative projects to
show understanding of the texts.
There is an emphasis on reading
strategies and how texts fit into a
genre.
This course is a literature based
course: Instruction is focused more
on reading than writing and few
formal essays are given
British Literature
Semester Elective for 11th and 12th
graders
Survey of English literature from 449
A.D/C.E. through modern literature,
organized by the progression of
literary eras
Connects the history of England to its
literature
20th Century Literature
This discussion based elective is for
juniors and seniors who like to read, write,
and talk about classical literature of the
last century. Sitting quietly in your seat
won’t do!
Students read at least six novels
including Siddhartha, The Great Gatsby,
The Chosen, and The Stranger.
20th Century Literature
Participation, journals, and
tests/projects are each worth onethird of the quarter grade, with a
final exam and presentation at
semester’s end. Creative expression
is strongly encouraged.
Mythology
Mythology is an English elective that
benefits many high school, college bound
students.
During the course of the semester we read
many myths ranging from contemporary
mythologies to classic mythologies.
We touch on Greek, Roman, Egyptian and
other ancient mythologies as well more
contemporary myths, such as,
Frankenstein, the Loch Ness monster,
ghosts, folk lore, and fairy tales.
Mythology
Students who succeed in this class
are ones who engage in class
discussions, and who keep up with
the reading, homework, papers, and
projects.
In addition to the steady and
frequent workload, students are
asked to study for tests and quizzes.
Exploring Literature
ELECTIVES TO BE TAKEN
AFTER REQUIRED CLASSES
These electives are for
students who want to take
additional English credits.
Journalism 1
Designed for 9th-11th graders who
love to write
Students should be interested in
working on The Talon or yearbook
staff in the future
Students will learn how to write a
variety of articles (news, student life,
entertainment, opinion, columns,
sports, etc.)
Journalism 1
Students will interview, write drafts,
and take photos outside of class time
Students will learn how to use
Photoshop and InDesign to create
newspaper pages
Journalism 2
Students will produce eight issues of
a school newspaper each month,
plus a senior issue
Students will need to strictly follow a
deadline calendar and understand
that they will earn a zero if they miss
a deadline
Journalism 2
Students will conduct interviews,
write 2-3 stories, take photos, and
design pages for each monthly issue
Students may need to stay after
school for Layout Week (the week
before deadline)
Yearbook
Yearbook
Introduction to Film
Introduction to Films is a class that
helps students who wish to explore
their creative sides and who take a
genuine interest in contemporary
films, historical films, and screenplay
writing.
Introduction to Film
Students are asked to engage in
group and individual activities that
center around reviewing and
critiquing films, presenting a movie
project, taking quizzes and tests
centered around the history of films
and screenplay writing, writing inclass and take home essays, and
finally, creating their own 15-20 page
screenplays.
Introduction to Film
Students who do not have an
interest in films or screenplay writing
should not take this course.
This is an English elective designed
to help students appreciate and gain
more knowledge about films and
screenplay writing.
Introduction to Film
Often times, students take this
course based on their perception that
it will be easy and there will be little
work involved. This is false.
Students need to be aware that
papers and tests are the norm.
Poetry
This course gives students the
opportunity to explore the genre of
poetry through both reading and
writing in a way that is personally
meaningful.
Students are introduced to traditional
forms and contemporary innovations
in poetry with texts from around the
world.
Poetry
The structure of the course is a
workshop in which students develop
their own voice and authentic style
through individual, group and
electronic conferencing and revision
and self-directed reading of various
authors.
Creative Writing
Using an integrated approach, students
explore the elements of creative writing
through research, reading and analyzing
short stories and poems.
Students will write their own short stories,
memoirs, poetry, etc.
Students identify the characteristics of
various genres as models for their own
writing.
Creative Writing
Students periodically present their written
pieces to the class.
Students experiment with developing
voice throughout the semester.
Students practice editing their writing,
giving attention to correct conventions of
language.
Students critique their own and their
classmates’ creative pieces.
Oral Communication
This course will empower you with the
ability to effectively speak, listen, and
improve communication skills in many
different settings, and for many different
audiences and purposes.
There will be an emphasis on intrapersonal
(you) and interpersonal (person-toperson) communication for formal and
informal settings.
Oral Communication
LEARN TO:
Win Arguments
Speak with Confidence
Tell if someone is lying
Conquer America’s greatest fear
Elective Offerings in Theatre
Theatre I
Theatre II
Stagecraft
Theatre I
Introductory course
Focus on ACTING
Skills Covered: Physical Expression,
Concentration, Voice, Improvisation,
Character Development, Scene Study
Prerequisite: None
Recommended for: All
Theatre II
Advanced course in all aspects of
theatrical production
Ten hours of production work required
Skills covered: Auditioning, Acting,
Directing, Set Design, Lighting,
Costuming, Production
Prerequisite: Theatre I
Recommended for: SERIOUS Theatre
students/grades 11 & 12
Stagecraft
Intensive study of technical theatre
Training in all auditorium systems
Prerequisite: Theatre I
Recommended for: SERIOUS
Theatre students
Forensics
An Advanced Speaking Class
Focuses on 12 MIFA categories.
Among the 12 are:
*Dramatic Interpretation
*Humorous Interpretation
*Sales Speaking
*Informative Speaking
*Storytelling
*Impromptu Speaking
Forensics
Perfect for student who enjoys
performance based classes like
Theatre