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P.A.S.S. Literacy: (2200; Special Ed—2100; Enrichment—2208) This course is a remedial, one-semester course designed to target reading skills tested on the eighth grade DSTP including determining main idea, author purpose, and organizational text patterns; identifying relevant details and using them to support ideas; distinguishing between fact and opinion; making inferences and drawing conclusions; employing reading strategies to increase comprehension. Placement in this course is related to results on the 8th grade DSTP reading test.
English 9 (2210; Special Ed–2110) is a skills-based course designed to aid students to develop, improve, and refine their reading, writing, listening, speaking, and information-gathering skills. Reading skills will include summarizing, paraphrasing, and making inferences/drawing conclusions. Students will read and respond to a multicultural sampling of literature, including short stories, novels, poetry, plays, essays, and biographies. Students will write narratives and exposition with instruction addressing topic development, organization, sentence structure, word choice, and mechanics. Research skills include formulating investigative questions, locating information and evaluating information for its relevancy.
Each student will compile a portfolio as part of the assessment process. The English Portfolio will provide evidence of growth from the beginning to the end of the course, quality of work completed, and completion of writing assessments. Unlike an on-demand assessment, the writing part of the portfolio empowers the student to make a positive impact on his/her grade through the use of revision. The reading part of the portfolio provides evidence of reading achievement throughout the course. Four assessments are included. Since the portfolio is a product of an ongoing process that lasts the duration of the course and involves continual revision, the portfolio grade constitutes 20% of the student's final grade.
English 10 (2220; Special Ed–2120) is a tightly woven course that focuses of developing analytic skills for reading, writing, speaking, viewing, and listening. Students will write a variety of informative and persuasive compositions, including causal analysis, comparison, and persuasion. Students will develop analytic skills by reading and responding to a variety of literary genre and informational text. Research skills include integrating information from multiple sources and documenting according to MLA standards.
Each student will compile a portfolio as part of the assessment process. The English Portfolio will provide evidence of growth from the beginning to the end of the course, quality of work completed, and completion of writing assessments. Unlike an on-demand assessment, the writing part of the portfolio empowers the student to make a positive impact on his/her grade through the use of revision. The reading part of the portfolio provides evidence of reading achievement throughout the course. Four assessments are included. Since the portfolio is a product of an ongoing process that lasts the duration of the course and involves continual revision, the portfolio grade constitutes 20% of the student's final grade.
English 11 (2230; Special Ed-2130) focuses on American literature and argumentative/ persuasive writing. Students will read a wide sampling of literary selections in order to understand the varied interrelationships of literature, society, and the individual. Writing instruction will focus on persuasion and argumentation with emphasis on logical thought, connotation/ denotation, inductive/deductive reasoning, and critical analysis. Students will continue to develop and refine skills in sentence structure, research, reading, listening, and speaking.
Each student will compile a portfolio as part of the assessment process. The English Portfolio will provide evidence of growth from the beginning to the end of the course, quality of work completed, and completion of writing assessments. Unlike an on-demand assessment, the writing part of the portfolio empowers the student to make a positive impact on his/her grade through the use of revision. The reading part of the portfolio provides evidence of reading achievement throughout the course. Since the portfolio is a product of an ongoing process that lasts the duration of the course and involves continual revision, the portfolio grade constitutes 20% of the student's final grade.
Contents of the eleventh grade portfolio will be multi-paragraph pieces and reading assessments including:
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Diagnostic writing assessment
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Diagnostic reading assessment
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Letter of complaint
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Problem/solution **
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Persuasion letter, essay, or brochure **
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Essay tracing a theme in American literature
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Self-assessment
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Final writing assessment
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Final reading assessment
**One of these papers must be a research-based paper with documentation.
English 12 (2240; Special Ed-2140) focuses on technical communications, world literature, and writing. In the technical communications component of the course, students will learn and practice the forms and strategies needed to communicate technical information with competence. Constructing forms, letters, memos, and reports, students will perform relevant tasks, both written and oral. Students will address language, vocabulary, usage, proper formats, and visuals as they arise from assignments or related reading activities. The major writing activity is the formal research project. The other components of the course focus on literature and responsive writing. Students will read and evaluate literary selections and films in terms of human motives, conflicts, and values. They will also step outside their world and recognize literature as a reflection of the era and locale during which it was written or produced.
Each student will compile a portfolio as part of the assessment process. The portfolio will provide evidence of the writing pieces completed and their quality. Unlike an on-demand assessment, the portfolio empowers the student to make a positive impact on his/her grade through the use of revision. Since the portfolio is the product of an ongoing process that lasts the duration of the course and is subject to continual revision, the portfolio grade constitutes 20% of the students' final grade.
Contents of the twelfth grade portfolio will be technically formatted documents and multi-paragraph compositions including:
(At least one of the above documents must utilize a memo format; likewise, at least one must contain visuals.)
The student's self-assessment allows him/her to evaluate his/her own development as a literate communicator. The student will be given an opportunity at the end of the course to reflect on and evaluate his/her efforts, progress, and achievements during the high school English program.
ENGLISH HONORS COURSES
ENGLISH HONOR STUDENT PROFILE
The Honor Student Profile is based on a work/learning ethic rather than a grade-point average. The student who may belong in an ELA Honors course
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Shows a willingness to work independently on reading and writing tasks
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Takes intellectual risks
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Accepts responsibility for learning
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Wants an intellectual challenge
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Shows a willingness to multi-task, i.e. manage several assignments/tasks simultaneously
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Meets deadlines
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Works at an accelerated pace
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Is recognized as a competent, effective reader
Requirements:
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District Recommendation Form* completed by current ELA teacher (10th for Grade 11 Honors and 11th for Grade 12 Honors)
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A second District Recommendation Form* completed by a teacher of the student's choosing
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Forms may be picked up in the school Guidance Office or from the English Department Chair
*Recommendations need to be in the hands of the student's counselor prior to the scheduling process. It is the student's responsibility to ask for the recommendations to be emailed to their counselor; a teacher may initiate the Honors course selection conversation with a student.
Honors English 11 (2235) is a rigorous course that develops an understanding of the history, society, politics, and humanism of the United States as reflected in its literature. Students will write responsively to the literature, polishing their persuasive and argumentation skills with heightened emphasis on analytical and critical thinking. Students will continue to develop and refine skills in sentence structure, research, listening, speaking, and viewing. Successful completion of this course requires a work ethic that includes reading difficult text and extensive writing that is done both in class as part of a learning community and outside of class as an independent learner. Because of the increased level of content and time commitment expected for the course, it is weighted.
Each student will compile a portfolio as part of the assessment process. The English Portfolio will provide evidence of growth from the beginning to the end of the course, quality of work completed, and completion of writing assessments. Unlike an on-demand assessment, the writing part of the portfolio empowers the student to make a positive impact on his/her grade through the use of revision. The reading part of the portfolio provides evidence of reading achievement throughout the course. Since the portfolio is a product of an ongoing process that lasts the duration of the course and involves continual revision, the portfolio grade constitutes 20% of the student's final grade.
Contents of the eleventh grade portfolio will be multi-paragraph pieces and reading assessments including:
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Diagnostic writing assessment
-
Diagnostic reading assessment
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Letter of complaint
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Problem/solution **
-
Persuasion letter, essay, or brochure **
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Essay tracing a theme in American literature
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Self-assessment
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Final writing assessment
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Final reading assessment
**One of these papers must be a research-based paper with documentation
Honors English 12 (2245) is a rigorous course for seniors that focuses on technical and academic writing, world literature and its meaning to twenty-first century readers and thinkers, and independent research as a tool for learning. Learning is shared via oral presentations. The course requires a work ethic that includes extensive, difficult text for reading and writing that is done both in class as part of a learning community and outside of class as an independent learner. Because of the increased level of content and time commitment required for successful completion of this course, it is weighted.
Each student will compile a portfolio as part of the assessment process. The portfolio will provide evidence of the writing pieces completed and their quality. Unlike an on-demand assessment, the portfolio empowers the student to make a positive impact on his/her grade through the use of revision. Since the portfolio is the product of an ongoing process that lasts the duration of the course and is subject to continual revision, the portfolio grade constitutes 20% of the students' final grade.
ELECTIVE COURSE
(This course cannot be used to satisfy graduation credit requirements for English/Language Arts)
Analyze/Critique Great Film (2710) is a one-credit elective course designed to examine film through a study of the tools and techniques of filmmaking and its impact on individuals and society. Skills will be developed through critical viewing, discussion, writing, and application. Student learning will be assessed via written reviews and essays capstoned by the creation of a short film.
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