Freshman English Course Descriptions and Curriculum Overview

English Department Course Descriptions

English I Course Description This is a STAAR EOC aligned course designed to assist freshmen in the transition from junior high to high school by concentrating on thinking, writing, and reading skills necessary for success in multiple academic areas. Reading, writing, and critical thinking skills will be reinforced through the examination of various materials, ranging from classics to contemporary literature to informative and technical sources. Students will read extensively in multiple genres from world literature: short stories, dramas, novels, and poetry. The course focuses on the study of literary forms and terms associated with selected texts so students can become aware of the impact these literary techniques have on critical reading and effective writing Students of English 1 will practice all forms of writing to persuade, report, describe, and narrate. Main titles include I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst, The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, and other various poems and nonfiction pieces. Workload and Work Ethic Expectations Required class readings will be completed during class time; however, outside reading may be required due to classroom time restraints and student attendance. Students will be required to read at least one independent reading book each term and complete an independent reading project for a major grade. Some class time will be given, reading independently outside of class will also be necessary. There will be daily and major grades over independent reading selections.

Pre-AP English I Course Description This class is designed as preparation for motivated academic students who are planning to take AP English classes during their junior and senior years of high school. Thematically organized around concepts of exploration, the course work emphasizes a wealth of reading material (novels, short stories, and essays) that span time periods and subject areas. Concurrently, students will pursue a critical evaluation of the literature through writing and oral activities as well as through compositions of various purposes and modes. Academic expectations include refining communication skills through discourse and writing. High school students are expected to plan, draft, and complete written compositions on a regular basis, with an emphasis on expository and analytical writing. The teaching of language and literature concepts targeted by the AP program will be emphasized. In addition, students will complete a challenging language study of etymology, grammar, analogies, and vocabulary development. English I Pre-AP students read outside of class with intense focus in the classroom in multiple genres from world literature, such as Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles, Animal Farm by George Orwell, choice novels, and an introduction to Shakespeare. Workload and Work Ethic Expectations: Advanced Classes receive premium (6) grade points, are rigorous, are two to three years above grade level, and prepare students for AP classes and post-high school education/work. Academic expectations include intellectual and emotional maturity, A or B in prior classes of the same subject, strong work ethic, excellent time management skills, and work outside of class.

English II Course Description Students will practice all forms of writing placing emphasis on persuasive forms of writing such as logical arguments, expressions of opinion, and personal forms of writing. This may include a response to literature, a reflective essay, or personal narrative. Students will read extensively in multiple genres from world literature including short stories, dramas, novels, and poetry. Students will learn literary forms and terms associated with selections. Major texts include Night by Elie Wiesel, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Workload and Work Ethic Expectations Students will be expected to be dedicated to the course work, master time management skills, and embrace the rigor that is necessary to help prepare for the EOC exam (STAAR TEST). A majority of the class reading will be done in class, but some outside reading will be required due to classroom time constraints and the student s attendance. There will be daily online assignments that make it necessary for a student to have access to a computer and the internet inside as well as outside of class. Word processing skills will also be helpful, as a majority of the final drafts of all essays written in class will need to be typed and submitted to Turnitin.com.

Pre-AP English II Course Description Pre-AP English II is a preparatory course for Advanced Placement Language and Composition and Advanced Placement Literature and Composition The student should enter with an advanced level reading ability because the main emphasis is placed on fast-paced analysis of English language and literature using a variety of multicultural, college-level texts (i.e. 1984 by George Orwell, Shakespeare s Macbeth, and The Things They Carried by Tim O Brien). The majority of assessments of these materials will be presented through multi-paragraph essays, timed writings, presentations, discussions, and projects. Workload and Work Ethic Expectations As this is a preparatory course for advanced studies in English, there is a higher level of expectation that students will be prepared to read advanced texts and write for academic audiences. Students should also be prepared for extensive reading, writing, and studying outside of class. Academic expectations include intellectual and emotional maturity, A or B in prior classes of the same subject, strong work ethic, excellent time management skills, and work outside of class.

English III Course Description: Students will read extensively in multiple genres from American literature along with some pieces of world literature. Major shared selections may include The Crucible, The Great Gatsby, and Their Eyes Were Watching God. Students will also utilize the reader s workshop with choice independent novels to improve student literacy and encourage students to make personal connections to literature. The writing process will be utilized through expository, creative, and persuasive writing in both daily and major assignments. In addition, students will practice the research process, both formally and informally. Workload and Work Ethic Expectations: Typical in-class workload will include daily assignments, journal writing, choice reading, and tests/major grades. Occasional homework assignments may also be given. Expected work ethic needs/expectations are per school guidelines.

AP Language and Composition (AP English 3) Course Description This course is equivalent to an introductory writing course in college. This course is a blend of the study of nonfiction and rhetoric with that of American literature. Students will study the important nonfiction pieces of American history and analyze them through a rhetorical lens, along with practicing writing rhetorical analysis, synthesis, and argument essays. Fair representation of issues and peoples may occasionally include controversial material. Since AP students have chosen a program that directly involves them in college-level work, participation in this course depends on a level of maturity consistent with the age of high school students who have engaged in thoughtful analyses of a variety of texts. The best response to controversial language or ideas in a text might well be a question about the larger meaning, purpose, or overall effect of the language or idea in context. AP students should have the maturity, skill, and will in order to seek the larger meaning of a text or issue through thoughtful research (College Board Course and Exam Description- AP English Language 86). Workload and Work Ethic Expectations Students will write timed essays in class which ask them to demonstrate their ability to think critically. Students are expected to sign up for the AP Exam. College credit for the course is achievable through exam only.

English IV Course Description English IV students read extensively in multiple genres from British literature and other world literature. Periods from British literature may include the Anglo Saxon period, medieval period, English renaissance, 17th and 18th century, and the romantic period. Students are expected to write in a variety of forms, including expository, business, persuasive essays, and a documented report. Students will learn literary forms and terms associated with selections. Main texts include Beowulf the epic, Anglo-Saxon poem, Shakespeare s Macbeth, and Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. Workload and Work Ethic Expectations A majority of the class reading will be done in class, but some outside reading will be required due to classroom time constraints and the student s attendance. Typical workload in and out of the classroom includes a couple of homework assignments per week and a test every other week. Expected work ethic needs/expectations are per school guidelines.

AP English Literature and Composition (AP English IV) Course Description This is a college level course focused on reading and analyzing imaginative literature from various periods, classic and contemporary. Students will explore a work s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism. Units are thematic. Students will read a class novel and then a thematically related choice novel. Students interested in this course should be highly proficient readers and writers capable of developing a thesis driven, analytical essay. Workload and Work Ethic Expectations Be prepared to read outside of class. Students will also be expected to study vocabulary. Students will write timed essays in class that argue an interpretation of prose excerpts, poems, novels, and plays. Students will have opportunities for peer review and revision. Students are expected to sign up for the AP Exam. College credit for the course is achievable through exam only.

English IV Dual Enrollment Course Description The first semester is an intensive study of and practice in writing process, from invention and researching to drafting, revising, and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis. The second semester is an intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual, and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis, and documentation of sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions. TSI, waiver, or exemption scores are required prior to selecting this course. Students taking the TSI for admissions must take all three sections of the exam. (More information available in the course selection handbook.) Tuition payment to the designated college and the purchase of college textbooks is required by the student, parent, or guardian. Workload and Work Ethic Expectations This course focuses extensively on writing skills. There are three major research papers per semester. Each semester counts for two different college credits. Students will earn high school credit while simultaneously earning college credit. This is a COLLEGE course. There are NO test corrections, and late work receives significant deductions. It is extremely difficult to pass the course with a zero for any assignment. There are very strict attendance and plagiarism policies. Violation of these policies can result in a zero for a major grade or being dropped from the course. In the current model, this course is taught by either a PHS teacher who is certified and concurrently employed by Alvin Community College OR an Alvin Community College professor. The class will meet each day with built in workdays and lecture time equivalent to that of an ACC on-campus course. To succeed in this course, students must be self-motivated, able to work independently, and able to meet deadlines. Students will be expected to do work outside of the classroom. Parents are not allowed to contact the ACC Professor regarding a student s grade in the ACC course unless a FERPA waiver form is filled out by the student and is on file with ACC.

Advanced SAT Prep Course Description 5.0 Weighted GPA, waiver eligible, no homework, free SAT preparation. College Readiness College Readiness Lessons each Monday. Receive in-class guidance through the college application process. Aimed to help students find what career paths and colleges fit their interests, strengths and needs. Aimed at juniors, but beneficial for everyone. Reading and Writing Skill development in critical reading and essay writing. Focus on testing strategies (i.e. Time Management) Skills practices aimed at juniors and advanced sophomores. Math Focuses on practicing SAT tested math skills from Introductory Algebra through PreCal and Statistical Analysis. Students typically work without calculators to practice for the new No Calculator section of the SAT. SAT Prep students should be enrolled in at least Algebra 2. Sophomores should be in PAP Alg. 2 or higher.

Creative Writing Course Description One semester course for Juniors and Seniors The study of creative and imaginative writing allows students to earn one-half credit while developing versatility as a writer. Creative and Imaginative Writing, a rigorous composition course, asks high school students to demonstrate their skill in such forms of writing as essays, short stories, poetry, comic books, and drama. All students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the recursive nature of the writing process, effectively applying the conventions of usage and the mechanics of written English. The student's evaluation of his/her own writing as well as the writing of others ensures that students completing this course are able to analyze and discuss published and unpublished pieces of writing, develop and apply criteria for effective writing, and set their own goals as writers.

Humanities Course Description One semester course for Juniors and Seniors The Humanities are academic disciplines which study the human condition and promote a sense of humanity. Students will study literature, theater, film, art, music, architecture philosophy, and religion by critically thinking about moral values, myths, and aesthetics within historical frameworks. This course is designed to reawaken the sense of wonder and curiosity about the meaning of life. It shows how the various arts and sciences intersect, influence and are influenced by cultural and historical circumstances.

AP Capstone Program Overview Course Description AP Capstone is a diploma program that equips students with the skills that are increasingly valued by colleges including: Independent research collaborative teamwork communication skills It is designed to complement & enhance studies in other AP courses. AP Capstone is made up of two courses: AP Seminar students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives to develop credible & evidence-based arguments. AP Research students build the skills & discipline needed for independent research in order to produce & defend a scholarly academic thesis.

AP Capstone - Seminar Course Goal equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy & precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments. It engages students in cross-curricular conversations as they: practice reading & analyzing texts, speeches & works of art synthesize information from multiple sources develop their own perspectives in written papers design & deliver presentations (individually & as part of a team) Workload and Work Ethic Expectations There is minimal homework (if you use class time effectively). There are no content tests, so you will not be spending time studying. Students should be motivated, open to differing viewpoints, and willing to work hard. Seminar AP Test Score Task 1 (report & team presentation) Task 2 (argument & individual presentation) Exam (2 hours) **There is no level-down option for this class!

AP Capstone Research* (*AP Seminar is a prerequisite for AP Research.) Course Description Builds on the skills developed in AP Seminar: Students deeply explore an academic topic / problem / issue of individual interest. Then, they design, plan, & implement a year-long research-based investigation. Students learn about research methods , employing ethical research practices, and synthesizing information. The course culminates in an academic paper & presentation with an oral defense of their research processes, method, and findings. Workload and Work Ethic Expectations Have a strong, independent work ethic and be self-motivated Have the ability to think critically about and analyze complex texts Be able to meet firm deadlines **There is no level-down option for this class!

Advanced-level Considerations Students enrolling in advanced-level courses should consider: Motivation Are you willing to do the work and put forth your best effort? Are you an independent learner? Time Management & Organization Will you complete assignments as they are assigned? Will you make academics a priority? Positive Attitude Will you persevere when faced with challenges? Strong Work Ethic Are you committed to success? Are you committed to good attendance, punctuality, and showing respect? Are you prepared to study outside of class?

Level-down Schedule Changes Leveling down is when a student moves from an advanced level course to a regular course of the same subject. Advanced Placement (AP), Pearland Advanced Program (PAP), and Honors (H) students may petition to move from an advanced class to a regular level class of the same content area during the 6th week of the semester. (The Request to Change Course Level form is available in the appendix of the Course Selection Handbook and must be submitted to your counselor by the required timeline listed on the form.) Student must have attended tutorials and cannot have zeros in Skyward, and a committee will meet to review submissions. Students who remain in the AP, PAP, or Honors course must wait until the end of the semester to request a transfer to the regular level course. No additional grade points are added when students drop to a lower-level course. Students will receive a minimum grade of 60 in the lower-level course for work completed in the advanced course. Prior to registering for classes, students should check the Course Grade Averaging document in the appendix of the Course Selection Handbook.