English

8th Grade ELA (English Language Arts)

Students will engage in reading a great deal of material in a variety of genres. Some reading selections will be made by the students themselves because effective readers recognize what appeals to them and are able to choose accordingly. Students will also read for a variety of purposes including analysis, research, formulating opinions, and for pleasure. Specific strategies based on the purpose and/or genre of a work will be taught. Vocabulary growth will be based on both individual reading and whole class selections. Students will also write in a variety of genres and for diverse purposes and audiences. Grammar will be studied within the context of printed material – for the sake of correctness and/or more graceful and powerful text. Students will be doing both editing their own writing and also doing peer editing to improve the effectiveness of their written word. The fundamentals of grammar and usage will be reviewed and practiced, including sentence and paragraph formation. 

English I

Students receive instruction in the following areas: traditional grammar, paragraph development, vocabulary, study skills, researching information resources, and critical reading of drama, short stories, essays, poetry, and novels. Students are expected to apply the fundamentals of mechanics and usage to composition assignments. Students will engage in reading a great deal of material in a variety of genres, but mainly focused upon World Literature, to include British Literature. Some reading selections will be made by the students themselves because effective readers recognize what appeals to them and are able to choose accordingly. Students will also read for a variety of purposes including analysis, research, formulating opinions, and for pleasure.

English I H

This course includes all of the elements of English I, but at a more rigorous level. Students will delve more deeply and purposefully into literature.

English II

Students receive instruction in the following areas: grammar, composition, library skills, vocabulary, study skills, research, creative writing, and literature. Students are expected to apply the fundamentals of mechanics and usage to composition assignments, which focus primarily on expository and persuasive essays. Students will engage in reading a great deal of material in a variety of genres, but mainly focused upon World Literature, to include British Literature. Some reading selections will be made by the students themselves because effective readers recognize what appeals to them and are able to choose accordingly. Students will also read for a variety of purposes including analysis, research, formulating opinions, and for pleasure. Prerequisite: English I or English I H.

English II H

This course includes all of the elements of English II, but at a more rigorous level. Students will delve more deeply and purposefully into literature. Prerequisite: English I or English I H.

English III

Students receive instruction in the following areas: chronological review of American literature, research paper, speaking, listening, note taking, outlining, analyzing oral and written material, study skills and library usage for research. Prerequisite: English II or English II H. 

AP English III H - English Language and Composition

This course will engage 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, enabling students to read complex texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers. The intensive concentration on language use will enhance ability to use grammatical conventions both appropriately and with sophistication and to develop stylistic maturity. The depth and breadth of reading and writing is beyond that of high school honors courses. Upon successful completion and standardized test, the student may earn college credit. Prerequisite: English II or English II H.

English IV

Students continue to receive instruction in the following areas: continued review of American literature, research paper, speaking, listening, note taking, outlining, analyzing oral and written material, study skills and library usage for research. Prerequisite: English III or AP English III.