Language Arts
Grading Scale for English I, II, III, IV
A- 90 – 100
B- 80 – 89
C- 70 – 79
D- 65 – 69
F-64 and below
Rationale for Honors English I (9th Grade Only)
1. At the beginning of the Freshman Success Academy, teachers in the academy expressed opposition to the intentional or unintentional creation of a specific “Honors” team. For many reasons, we wanted there to be outstanding students on all of the teams. We were working to alter an environment that had prevented many students from being successful, and having positive peer role models in every classroom was essential to our vision of the new academy. While there are no other Honors ninth grade classes, we felt that it was necessary to allow students in English classes the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the material covered in the class.
2. There is a great deal of research that shows the many positive effects of detracking—that is, creating heterogeneous student groups rather that homogeneous student groups. There is no question that struggling students benefit from having positive peer role models in class. A frequent criticism of detracking is that it holds back high-achieving students. However, research has shown that such students do not benefit from homogeneous grouping, but rather from being in a more challenging class.
3. We felt strongly that the English I class could, with positive peer role models present, be more challenging, and so meet the needs of all students, regardless of their abilities. One way in which this achieved is by making writing a daily part of classroom activity. Honors students can and do easily take a writing prompt and answer it in great depth. Constant work sheets and videos can indeed hold a higher-level student back, but in our literature-rich and writing-intensive classroom, honors students are truly challenged. Our model for Honors inclusion within the English I classroom is based on the successful model of college classes that enroll both undergraduate and graduate students, while having some additional requirements that the graduate must meet. We were careful to develop meaningful and challenging Honors assignments that, while requiring planning ahead on the part of the student, would not be overwhelming in terms of time required to complete.
4. Our proposal for Honors inclusion within the English I classroom was discussed and approved by both the English department and the USD475 Board of Education.
5. Rather than have a classroom of 25 Honors students, where only a few students would have opportunities to be classroom leaders, our model allows every Honors English student the opportunity to be a classroom leader.
English I
One Year
Grade: 9
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: None
This course will provide students with reading and writing skills necessary to advance to the next level of English. English I focuses on literary selections from a broad range of sources including Romeo and Juliet, The Odyssey, Maus, and young adult novels by authors such as Chris Crutcher and Walter Dean Myers. Daily compositions, essay responses, and two research assignments are included in this course. Homework consists of occasional reading assignments and out-of-class writing.
Honors English I
One Year
Grade: 9
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: At least a “B” grade in previous level of English and a contract signed (at time of enrollment) by both student and parent/ guardian.
This class is available to those who want the opportunity to achieve a weighted GPA that is over 4.0. Honors English I will include additional reading, writing, and enrichment that will provide deeper and more extensive study than English I. Proficiency in basic skills is required. Out-of-class reading from the ALA Best Books for Young Adults list and writing assignment are frequent. Materials will include short stories, poetry, plays, and nonfiction which could include: Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, House of the Scorpion, Speak, fiction and other works. Writing assignments include two research projects/papers. Class may include meeting outside of regular class time (i.e. before school and/or during seminar) that students must attend. The Honors class will include but not be limited to: completing a reading list in preparation for Honors English II and compiling an end of the year presentation.
Grading Scale for Honors English I, II, III, IV
A- 93 – 100
B- 85 – 92
C- 77 – 84
D- 69 – 76
F- 68 and below
English II
One Year
Grade: 10
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English I
This course provides students with language arts skills necessary for college, post-secondary endeavors, and employment. English II provides an overview of literary elements and genres which may include: Julius Caesar, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Pearl, Animal Farm, and authors which may include Steinbeck, Capote, Flinn, and Hesse. Compositions, essay responses, and research assignments are included in the course. Daily homework may consist of reading assignments, out-of-class writing, and reviews.
Honors English II
One Year
Grade: 10
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: At least a “B” grade in English I or Honors English I
Units/works available for year’s work: nonfiction, short stories, poetry, test taking skills, analogies, Julius Caesar, The Pearl, Animal Farm, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Separate Peace, Ethan Frome, In Cold Blood, The Children’s Story, Our Town, Twelve Angry Men. Expectations for Honors English II are higher and broader than those for English II. All Daily discussions, written work, compositions, and tests require higher-level thinking skills, mature responses, and extensive preparation outside of class. Tests will be primarily essay in nature. Extensive research and creative projects are assigned with most units. All reading assignments and most writing will be done outside of class.
English III
One Year
Grade: 11
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English II
This course will provide students with the language arts skills necessary for college, post-secondary training, and employment. English III concentrates on American Literature with emphasis on the Native Americans, Puritans, Hawthorne, and Mark Twain. Most of the authors are studied through the use of short story selections rather than novels. Compositions, essay response, and research assignments are incorporated into the course with an emphasis on persuasive writing strategies and skills. Four essays to be assessed using the Six-Trait Model.
Students who score in the “Academic Warning” level on KRA will be placed in the Literacy Lab.
AP English Language and Composition
2 semesters
Grade: 11
Credit: 1
Pre-requisite: A or B in English II or instructor’s permission
Students in this introductory college-level course read and thoroughly analyze challenging prose selections, deepening their awareness of writing techniques and language. Through close reading and frequent writing about that reading, students strengthen their abilities to work with language and text with purpose and strategy, becoming more aware of both author’s purpose and audience needs. They synthesize information from readings in their own compositions and cite sources according to Modern Language Association standards.
Course readings feature expository, analytical, personal, and argumentative texts from a variety of authors and historical contexts. Students examine and work with essays, letters, speech, images, and imaginative literature.
As this is a college-level course, performance expectations are appropriately high, and the workload is challenging. It often involves long-term reading and writing assignments to be done outside of class, so time management skills are essential.
English IV
One Year
Grade: 12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English III
This course provides students with language arts skills necessary for college, post-secondary training, and employment. English IV concentrates on British Literature. The course surveys major literary periods and their work: Anglo-Saxon/Beowulf, Middle Ages/Chaucer, Renaissance/Shakespeare, the Romantics, Modern and Post-Modern Era. Compositions, essay responses, and research assignments are included in the course. One major focus is persuasion, involving a resume and cover letter first semester and a research project second semester. In addition, four common cause-effect essays are administered throughout the year and assessed on the Six-Trait Model.
Honors English IV
One Year
Grade: 12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: At least a “B” grade in English III or Honors English II
Honors English IV will provide deeper and more extensive study of literature and composition than regular English IV class. Proficiency in reading and writing is necessary. Students will analyze selected reading form English Literature: Anglo-Saxon/Beowulf, Middle Ages/Chaucer, Renaissance/Shakespeare, the Romantics, Modern and Post-Modern Era. Most study of literature will results in an analytical essay and or essay test. In addition to textbook assignments, additional reading such as Fahrenheit 451 and Lords of the Flies will be assigned. Composition, essay responses, and a minimum of two research projects are assigned, one of which is a position paper. A few videos will be part of enrichment, but they are a very small element of Honors English IV study. The instructor expects students choosing Honors English IV to demonstrate self-motivation and to possess appreciation for literature and composition.
Advanced Placement English: Literature and Composition
One Year
Grade: 12
Credit: 1
Prerequisite: Honors English III or Instructor will make recommendation for 2nd semester placement if student has not maintained a C or better.
This course provides an opportunity for the senior to earn credit in high school and to simultaneously satisfy the freshmen English requirement for most colleges. As a condition of enrollment in the AP course all students must take the AP exam administered at the end of the course. Extensive reading, writing, and textual analysis will be required; material and instruction will be at the college level. Students may purchase some of their own texts so the books may be used for notes and kept.
Creative Writing
One semester
Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit: 1/2
Prerequisite: Previous English grade of “C” or better
The course is for students who enjoy writing and have an interest in developing their writing skills through various forms of creative writing. Though the emphasis of this course is writing, some reading is required. Students will write creative pieces that will include multiple poems and short stories. Other assignments may include writing for children, writing for the stage/ screen, and creative nonfiction. Students will be required to write original creative pieces, participate in class discussion, share their writing in a workshop format, and present a final portfolio.
Ethnic & World Literature
One semester
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit: 1/2
Prerequisite: None
Course covers poetry, fiction and drama from around the world. Both classic and contemporary literature from around the globe (Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa). This course is designed to for students who like to read. Understanding selections, analyzing literary techniques, and writing about literature will be emphasized. An appreciation of diverse views and an expansion of the students’ horizons are the end results of this class.
Women in Media and Literature
One semester
Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit: 1/2
Prerequisite: None
Open to all students, this course focuses on more than just great woman who broke the barriers of gender roles. It also provides insight involving women outside the stereotypical view. Studies will include gender equity, a variety of feminist ideas, and images of women in popular culture. This course will examine these issues through literature (both fiction and nonfiction), film, music, magazines, and current events.
Literacy Lab I
One semester
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit: 1/2
Prerequisite: Teacher/Counselor Recommendation & Test Scores
This course is designed for students who read below their grade level. It is designed to help these students improve their vocabulary and comprehension. Students who score below grade level on the Gates-McGinitie, Holt, KRA, PLAN, SRI, and/or STAR may be placed in the class. Students will be required to read at home and in class. In class they will be involved in independent and monitored reading, whole and small group instruction of reading strategies, and individualized computer instruction in fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling. Literacy Lab I focuses on main ideas and details, sequence, story elements, and summarization.
Literacy Lab II
One semester
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit: 1/2
Prerequisite: Literacy Lab I and Teacher/Counselor Recommendation & Test Scores
This is a follow-up for students who have had the first four chapters of the rBook in Literacy Lab I. It is designed to help those students improve their vocabulary and comprehension. Students who score below grade level on the Gates-McGinitie, Holt, KRA, PLAN, SRI and/or STAR may be placed in the class. Students will be required to read at home and in class. In class they will be involved in independent and monitored reading, whole and small group instruction of reading strategies, and individualized computer instruction in fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling. Literacy Lab II focuses on problem-solution; story elements; cause and effect; comparison and contrast; and inferences.
Technical Writing
One semester
Grades: 11, 12
Credit: 1/2
Prerequisite: None
The objective if the Technical Writing course is to provide students with the opportunity to work both independent and collectively on projects requiring the following skills:
*Writing and documenting information
*Feasibility studies
*Instruction manuals
*Problem solving activates
*Inductive and deductive reasoning skills
*Problem reports
*Job descriptions
*Diagrams
*Charts/ graphs. explication
*Grant proposals
War Literature
One semester
Grade: 10, 11, 12
Credit: 1/2
Prerequisite: None
This course will focus on poetry, fiction and nonfiction that are reflections and products of war as experiences by both the soldiers and civilians. This course is designed for students who like to read and are interested in social issues pertaining to the military and war. Students will also respond to literature through writing, analyzing, creating group projects, engaging in class discussions, etc. as a means of expanding their understanding of the selection.
Mythology
Semester
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit: 1/2
Prerequisites: None
Mythology is a semester course designed to make students aware of mythology. The study of mythology and its ancient explanations for the mysteries of the universe will enrich students by giving them insight into their own culture and the universal concept of human experience. We will study what the myth say about the culture which produced it, how it compares to other cultures and times, and how it has influenced succeeding generations. The knowledge gained will enable the student to understand better many allusions to mythology made in every kind of literature.