English
ENGLISH 9
1010 1 credit
The purpose of the freshman English course is to expose students to the various aspects of the English curriculum. This will include concentrating on the following general topics: grammar, literature, writing, vocabulary, and library skills. One of the aims of this course is to introduce students to the various literary genres (poetry, drama, short story, novel, essay, etc.) by having them read a wide selection of literature representing the works of various and significant writers. The goal is to reinforce the basics learned by students in grammar school and to expand those skills so that students can become proficient at the high school level. These skills will not only help students in their study of English but will be taught with the aim of giving students the tools necessary to succeed in all academic areas.
ENGLISH 9 HONORS
1011 1 credit
This course is a more intensive treatment of the material in English 9. A greater number of literary works will be covered and analyzed in greater depth. A greater number of written assignments will also be required. In addition to the writing requirements outlined in English 9, students in the Honors program will begin the process of researching a topic with the aim of preparing a term paper on a given topic. Students will also engage in a number of creative writing assignments. Inclusion in this program is determined by the guidance department.
ENGLISH 9 BASIC
1012 1 credit
This is an intensive course in the basics of reading, writing, spelling and grammar. The purpose of this course is to provide the student who shows a weakness in these areas remediation so as to build a strong foundation which will help students for a lifetime of study and communication. The major areas of emphasis will again be in reading and writing. Fewer works may be covered than in English 9 so that students can gain a deeper understanding of the works that are covered. In the area of writing, students should develop a more complex writing style. Students will learn to write more complex sentences and to develop well-written paragraphs and essays. Ultimately the goal is to move students from the basic level to a level where he/she can achieve academic success. Inclusion in this program is determined by the guidance department.
ENGLISH 10
1020 1 credit
The purpose of the sophomore English curriculum is to take the skills learned in freshman year and focus them on a specific body of work, in this case, American literature. The major topics to be covered once again are grammar, literature, writing and vocabulary. In all aspects the student will be expected to show progress from the previous year, particularly in the areas of text analysis and writing. Students will come to a greater understanding of the elements of literature through their close study of American literature and writers. Student will also come to a greater understanding of the unique qualities inherent in American literature, how this literature was influenced by and helped to influence the history of the United States, and their place in American society.
ENGLISH 10 HONORS
1021 1 credit
This course is a more intensive treatment of the material in English 10. A greater number of literary works will be covered and analyzed in greater depth. A greater number of written assignments will also be required. In addition to the writing requirements outlined in English 10, students in the Honors program will be required to research a given topic and prepare a term paper complete with source references and a bibliography of works cited using the standard MLA format. Students will also engage in a number of creative writing assignments.
ENGLISH 10 BASIC
1022 1 credit
This course will continue to focus on the basics of reading, writing, spelling and grammar. The purpose of this course is to provide those students who continue to show a weakness in these areas the remediation necessary to achieve proficiency on the high school level. The major areas of emphasis will again be in reading and writing. Fewer works may be covered than in English 10 so that students can gain a deeper understanding of the works that are covered. In the area of writing, students should develop a more complex writing style,. Students will continue to develop well-written paragraphs and essays. The goal once again is to help these students progress from the Basic level to a level where he/she can achieve academic success.
ENGLISH ELECTIVES
Students in the junior and seniors years will have the opportunity to select electives from a list of courses offered each year. All students must register for at least one English elective per semester. In addition to the literature which will be covered in a given field of study, students will also continue their study and development of grammar and vocabulary in the context of the works read. In developing their writing skills, students will continue to keep reading journals and writing portfolios. In each course students should participate in a variety of writing exercises including creative writing assignments, free writing, and peer review. Students may be required to submit a research paper on a given topic in each course.
COLLEGE ENGLISH/AP ENGLISH
1041 - Seniors 1 credit
This course is open only to seniors. The purpose of the College English/Advanced Placement course is to allow advanced students the opportunity to gain college credit from a participating college and to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Exam given in May. This is a full year course in which students, upon successful completion of the course, could receive up to six (6) college credits. Students will follow a syllabus designed around the Advanced Placement course in English literature. In this course there will be a heavy concentration on reading and writing. Students will be assisted in learning to analyze that literature in depth and to write coherently on a given topic. Students will be required to keep a reading journal and a portfolio of all writing assignments throughout the course. An additional fee is required.
SPEECH
1047 - Juniors/Seniors .5 credit
The purpose of this course is primarily to help students learn the art of public speaking. Throughout the course a number of speech related topics will be discussed. However, students will be required to take an active part in this course in that they will be expected to compose and, more importantly, deliver speeches in front of their classmates. Students will focus on researching a given topic and presenting their ideas in a clear and understandable manner. The writing and research skills which will be developed in this course should also help students in learning to organize their thoughts and time in their other academic pursuits. Depending on the size of the class, students should expect to deliver approximately four to five presentations in the course of the semester.
SHAKESPEARE
1056 - Juniors/Seniors .5 credit
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the writings of William Shakespeare, considered by many to be the greatest writer in the English language. Students will begin with a discussion of the life of William Shakespeare and the theater of his day. Students will then engage in an intense focus on some of the major plays. Representative works will be read and discussed in all three areas of Shakespeare’s interest: Histories, Tragedies and Comedies. Major themes will be discussed along with a discussion of structure, form, and style. Students will also study the poetry of William Shakespeare, including his sonnet collection.
SHORT STORY
1057 - Juniors/Seniors .5 credit
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the short story genre. Students will read and analyze a number of works which will cover a variety of topics: Characterization; Setting; Plot; Conflict; Point of View; Theme; and Motivation/Tone/Method. These literary terms and many others associated with prose writing will be explored. Students will become aware of the elements which go into making up a short story. Students will also be made aware of how the short story genre differs from other literary genres such a poetry, drama, novels, essays, biographies, etc. Students will have to keep a reading journal and will be encouraged to enter into discussions centering on the various works. Students will also be encouraged to create short stories of their own. Reaction papers will follow the discussion of selected works and a term paper on a specified topic will be required.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE
1058 Juniors/Seniors .5 credit
The purpose of the African-American literature course is to expose students to the vast and dynamic tradition of writing by African-Americans. This course will introduce students to significant periods in African-American literature from the fugitive slave narratives of the 18th and 19th centuries through to the work of the Harlem realists and civil rights leaders of the 1940-60s. Students will study many genres of writing such as autobiographies, short-stories, poems and novels and will examine how the structure of these writings were influenced by the rich musical culture of this community. Aside from reading and discussions, students will also be required to submit their own creative work in the forms of autobiography, blues lyrics and short stories to complement their developing understanding of the political/social ideas, writers and works.
ART OF POETRY
1059 - Juniors/Seniors .5 credit
The purpose of the Poetry course is to introduce students to the art of reading and writing poems. Students will explore the structures of a large range of poems and contemporary music to observe how poets and lyricists make use of various literary and musical techniques such as word choice, imagery, figurative language, sound, rhythm and meter. Students will also learn about the history and structure of various genres of poetry such as the Shakespearean Sonnet, the Japanese Haiku and the ballad. Accompanying their readings and discussions, students will work at developing many of their own poems to gain a better understanding of what compels someone to write about her/his life experiences using the poetic form.
IRISH LITERATURE
1063 - Juniors/Seniors .5 credit
The purpose of the Irish Literature course is to expose students to the abundantly rich tradition that exists in Irish literature. In doing so students will also be exposed to the culture and history of Ireland, much of which is reflected in its literature. Students will study all forms of Irish literature beginning with the early Celtic myths and legends. Students will then study some of the great works of the Irish theater which emerged as a result of the efforts of William Butler Yeats and Lady Gregory and which led to the formation of the Abbey Theater, the national theater of Ireland. Next, students will read and discuss a number of short stories, the genre at which many Irish writers seem most proficient. There will also be a discussion of Irish poetry centering most prominently on William Butler Yeats and Seamus Heaney. Finally, students will read and discuss the works of the preeminent Irish writer, James Joyce.
FILM CRITICISM
1067 - Juniors/Seniors .5 credit
The importance and understanding of the written word through the interpretation of the film industry is the main idea behind this course. The class will also focus on film as it appears to be a valid way to show social injustices and social problems. Students will be involved in research of the particular time period of the release of films as it coincides with the particular social problem along with reading related text. Students will discover the ability to take the novel and bring it to the big screen. In this course, the student will read various texts and compare them to the director’s creative portrayal. Students will look at different genres, and through research and writing, learn to critique the text and compare the film. Students will be expected to write a daily log, and comparison papers. Project attached to this class will be the creation of the student’s own film and the creative process involved in film making.
LITERATURE AND WRITING
1039 - Juniors .5 credit
The major focus of this course will be to improve the student’s overall writing abilities. One aspect of this course is that student will review each of the four tasks required for the new English Regent Exam. Students will also focus on other forms of writing (i.e., free writing, journal entries, personal essays, reaction papers, term papers, etc.). These writing assignments will be conducted in conjunction with the student’s study of World Literature. Students will be expected to submit a research paper on a selected topic at the end of the course. This is q required course for all juniors.
ACTING
1069 .5 credit
In this course students will be studying various acting techniques as well as performing monologues, scenes, improvisations, and one-act plays. Students will learn how to organize a role, develop a character, move on stage and use their voice. In addition, film acting techniques will be explored with students creating and performing commercial copy in front of a camera. The business of acting will be discussed with special attention given to head shots, agents and auditions. Students will be expected to attend a performance of a play. Throughout the course students will be expected to keep a “life observation” journal. Two papers will be assigned with students having a choice of topics related to film theater, and theater history. A response paper will be assigned after attending a play production. In lieu of a final exam, students are expected to create a performance project as a result of what was learned throughout the semester.
ANALYZING CHILDREN’S LITERATURE/EFFECTIVE READING & WRITING STRATEGIES
1071 - Seniors .5 credit
This course focuses on selecting and evaluating literary material for children in the early childhood years from a developmental perspective. Literature that introduces children to themselves, their world and the worlds of other cultures is explored. Cooperative learning approaches such as hands on activities, share decision making, active participation and questioning techniques are demonstrated and experienced throughout the course. Both oral and written communication skills are stressed through various teaching strategies. Students learn to choose books according to grade level, developmental and emotional needs and reading interests. They will learn to read aloud as they develop a sense of themselves as poised and competent readers. Writing techniques are explored as students learn how to write children’s stories. Various artists will be studied as students learn to evaluate illustrations by artistic standards for children’s books. As a final project each student will write and illustrate a short story for children. The course will cover analyzing children’s literature and effective reading/writing strategies. Students will visit an elementary school to practice techniques learned in the course.
WOMEN IN LITERATURE AND FILM
1073 Juniors/Seniors .5 credit
This course will be a study of how women have been portrayed throughout the ages in both literature and film. Students will examine poetry, essays, short stories, novels and films written by women and about women. Selections will include Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath; Alice Walker’s The Color Purple ; the poetry of Sylvia Plath, Anne Bradstreet, Emily Dickinson, and Marge Piercy; Ibsen’s A Doll’s House; essays and feminist writings from such authors as Betty Friedan and Kate Millett. Students will react and respond to the material presented in this course through their own writings, projects, and class discussions.
JOURNALISM I
1078 .5 credit
This course will cover the history of the media, functions of the media, media criticism, and the code of ethics which journalists adhere to. The class will also engage in an intense study of both writing as scholastic journalists and designing scholastic publications. The class will prepare students to effectively participate on any school publication staff. The class is strongly recommended for staff members and is a requirement if a student desires a role as editor of a publication.
JOURNALISM II
1079 .5 credit
This course is designed for editors of school publications. In this class, students will have the opportunity to advance their leadership skills, effectively organize staff meetings, and explore creative ways to design the publication. The class will meet for a determinate number of class sessions during zero period. However, much of the work for the class will be done independently as the student services his/her publication.
UNDERSTANDING MASS COMMUNICATIONS
1081 . 5 credit
This class will focus on the study and analysis of the major communications media that influence our society today. The class will use critical thinking and writing skills to draw conclusions on how the effects of the various media in society shape the way the world views and forms opinions on critical issues. The class will make use of a textbook, various print media, and various visual media, as well as an in-depth analysis of the internet as a major communications medium.
THE PERSONAL ESSAY
1083 .5 credit
For more than four hundred years the personal essay has been one of the richest and most vibrant of all literary forms. The hallmark of the personal essay is its intimacy. The writer seems to be speaking directly into one’s ear, confiding everything from gossip to wisdom. In this class we will study the art of the personal essay both by reading selections by well known authors and by writing personal essays of our own. Students will learn to write personal essays and to critique the work of others, primarily through group discussions.