English Courses

Credit: 1
Grade: 9
Required Course
Prerequisite: None; Teacher recommendation suggested to ensure course readiness.
Fee: No

The Honors College Prep English 9 course includes the same curriculum as the College Prep English 9 course. The instruction of this curriculum may be delivered via an accelerated interdisciplinary approach or by a traditional departmentalized format. Each will incorporate various forms of enrichment depending on the strengths associated with each instructor and building.

Credit: 1
Grade: 10
Required Course
Prerequisite: None; Teacher recommendation suggested to ensure course readiness.
Fee: No

The Honors College Prep English 10 course includes the same curriculum as the College Prep English 10 course. The instruction of this curriculum may be delivered via an accelerated interdisciplinary approach or by a traditional departmentalized format. Each will incorporate various forms of enrichment depending on the strengths associated with each instructor and building. 

Credit: 1
Grade: 11 or 12 (replaces English 11 or English 12 requirement)
Elective Course
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 10; Teacher recommendation suggested to ensure course readiness.
Fee: Yes

This course is designed to match the rigor and depth of an introductory college-level English literature course.  Students will develop and use sophisticated reading skills to experience, interpret, and evaluate complex literary works from various genres. Students will develop a specialized college-level critical vocabulary for the analysis and evaluation of themes and stylistic and literary techniques found in complex texts.  These skills will then be evaluated through written analysis and discussion.  Writing situations will consist of both multi-draft essays and in-class writing prompts that mirror AP testing conditions.  Students may be expected to purchase novels during the school year. May be offered in a blended learning delivery model.

Credit: 1
Grade: 11 or 12 (replaces English 11 or 12 requirement)
Elective Course
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 10 or AP Seminar; Teacher recommendation suggested to ensure course readiness.
Fee: Yes

This course matches the rigor and depth of an introductory college-level composition course.  Students will develop sophisticated reading strategies to perform nuanced rhetorical and stylistic analysis of texts from a variety of genres, time periods, and cultures.  Most of the readings will consist of non-fiction prose, and students will analyze and evaluate rhetorical choices writers use to develop purpose and effect.  Students will write several expository, expressive, and persuasive essays, using a variety of rhetorical modes, and will take compositions through several drafts to develop ideas and writing style.  The course also focuses on informal writing and composing responses to prompts that mirror AP testing conditions.  Students will develop college-level proficiency in finding, evaluating, and synthesizing sources into informative and persuasive writing. The course entails a lot of reading and writing. There may be a required summer assignment that includes a writing component and the reading of several books that students will be expected to purchase.  Students may also be required to purchase other books during the school year.

Credit: 1
Grades: 10, 11, 12 (Replaces English 10, 11 or 12 requirement)
Elective Course
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 9; Teacher recommendation suggested to ensure course readiness.
Fee: Yes

The first course in the AP Capstone experience and an English core credit in OLSD, is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational, literary, and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments. AP Seminar is a pre-requisite for AP Research as per College Board. If students choose to continue on to AP Research, they have the opportunity to earn the AP Capstone Certificate or the AP Capstone Diploma distinction on their transcript.

Credit: 1
Grades: 11, 12
Elective Course
Prerequisite: AP Seminar Teacher recommendation suggested to ensure course readiness.
Fee: Yes

The second course in the AP Capstone experience and an English elective credit in OLSD, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000 – 5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense. AP Seminar is a pre-requisite for AP Research as per College Board. Note: This course does not fulfill a required English credit.

Credit: 1
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Elective Course
Prerequisite:  None
Fee: Yes

This course examines the principles and practices of journalism with emphasis on reporting and writing news, features, interviews, and editing for various mediums including broadcast, newspaper, magazine and yearbook layout and design, and photography.   Students will also examine current media trends, ethics, current events and the history of American Journalism and the changing role of the media. This course is a foundational journalism course and a pre-requisite for advanced journalism courses such as Newspaper Journalism, Advanced News Journalism, Yearbook Journalism and Broadcast and Video Production.

Credit: 1
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Elective Course
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Journalism; application required       
Fee: Yes

This co-curricular course focuses on publishing a newsletter, content for the Journalism website, or a page in a local newspaper distributed to parents and community members emphasizing layout, photography, copy writing, design, basic website development and public relations. Students will utilize skills from Introduction to Journalism course to compose copy, photos and layout in accepted journalistic standards. Students are expected to conduct interviews, take and select quality photographs and synthesize communication standards from previous journalism courses. 

Credit: 1
Grades: 11, 12
Elective Course
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Journalism; application required 
Fee: Yes

This co-curricular course focuses on the publication of the high school newsmagazine and news website with an emphasis on layout, photography, copy writing, advertising, design, business management and basic website development. Students will utilize skills from Introduction to Journalism course to compose copy, photos, and layout in accepted journalistic standards, along with sell the magazine and ads to maintain this high quality, student-run newsmagazine. Students are expected to conduct interviews, take and select quality photographs and synthesize communication standards from previous journalism courses.

Credit: 1
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Elective Course
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Journalism; application required 
Fee: Yes

This co-curricular course focuses on the publication of a high school yearbook, emphasizing layout and design, photography, copy writing, advertising sales and design, and business management. Students will utilize skills from Introduction to Journalism course to compose copy, photos, and layout in accepted journalistic standards, along with selling business ads for the yearbook.  Students are expected to conduct interviews, take and select quality photographs and synthesize communication standards from previous journalism courses.  This course will produce the school yearbook utilizing up-to-date design techniques and software in a timely manner.  

Credit: 1
Grades: 10, 11, 12
Elective Course
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Introduction to Journalism; application required 
Fee: Yes

Broadcast and Video Production provides students with a comprehensive practical knowledge of production, awareness of the impact of media and entertainment on the audience, and an understanding of the role of the artist in society. The program teaches students to thoughtfully consider not only how to look through a lens, but also why they should, through a unique emphasis in ethical decision-making in both content creation and business practices. Students in the film and media production concentration have access to digital cameras, lighting and sound equipment and will use advanced reporting techniques, story development process and tools needed to interview and write, report and edit video news stories that will air on the morning announcements, be entered into various contests and on the news website. Students will be on the air and should feel comfortable public speaking.