English Language Arts

In this course, skills previously learned in grammar, reading, writing, spelling, and vocabulary are maintained and extended. Composition reflects the study of literature with the focus on expository writing – paragraph development, revising, proofreading, and editing. A brief but formal, documented essay may be assigned along with instruction in research and library skills. Literature study includes all genres and stresses literary analysis. Thinking, reasoning, and test-taking skills will be incorporated throughout the course. This course meets the state requirements for one unit of grammar and composition. 

This course engages students in the careful reading and analysis of non-fiction and fiction literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students will become aware of the ways writers use language to achieve their purposes. In addition to writing about literature, the course will emphasize expository, analytical, argumentative, personal, and reflective writing. The objective of the course is to enable students to read complex texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers. 

In this course, the skills learned in English I are maintained and extended. Students expand literary analysis skills as they study classical and contemporary works of  world authors. Composition skills include development of narrative, expository, descriptive, and persuasive modes of writing. Students will study reasoning and thinking skills and practice test-taking skills. 

This course engages students in the careful reading and analysis of literature through the close reading of selected texts. Students will become aware of the ways writers use language to achieve their purposes. In addition to writing about literature, the course will emphasize expository, analytical, argumentative, personal, and reflective modes of writing. The objective of the course is to enable students to read complex texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers. 

In this course, students expand literary analysis skills learned in English I and II as they study classical and contemporary works of American authors. Composition skills include further development of narrative, expository, descriptive, and persuasive modes of writing, including a formal, documented essay. Students will study reasoning and thinking skills and practice test-taking skills. 

In this course, students expand literary analysis skills gained in previous language arts courses as they study classical and contemporary works of British authors. Composition skills include deeper development of narrative, expository, descriptive, and persuasive modes of writing including a formal, documented essay. Students will study reasoning and thinking skills and practice test-taking skills. 

This course engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Students will become aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way rhetoric contributes to effectiveness in writing. The course will emphasize analysis, argumentation, synthesis, personal, and reflective writing. The student may earn college credit for successful scoring on the Advanced Placement Examination. Students must take the Advanced Placement Language and Composition examination and pass both semesters of the course with a “C” or higher to receive weighted credit for the course. 

This course engages students in the careful reading and writing of critical analysis nonfiction and fiction literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students will understand how writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students will consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as stylistic devices such as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. The student may earn college credit for successful scoring on the Advanced Placement Examination. Students must take the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition examination and pass both semesters of the course with a “C” or higher to receive weighted credit for the course.