Advanced Composition

This course provides students an opportunity to improve their writing through an intensive study of complex grammatical structures and writing styles and to increase their test-taking skills through intensive word study, critical reading, and analytical thinking. Students concentrate on increasing their revision and editing skills in writing.

Creative Writing

This course provides students an opportunity for additional writing instruction beyond the standard English program. Experimentation with many forms of writing is encouraged, with an emphasis on poetry, short stories, plays, and all forms of descriptive writing. Students continue to expand and refine their ability to write through analyzing and evaluating their own writing and that of other students. Students may also participate in the layout, design, and overall production of a high school literary magazine. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.

Debate

The debate course is designed to improve student techniques in creative and critical thinking, research, speaking and argumentation, mock trials, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and Policy Debate. In addition, students improve their ability to take notes and to listen. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.

English 9

Students read a variety of literature, exploring the characteristics of different forms and relating life situations to literary themes. Language study includes spelling, vocabulary, and learning about language history and structure. Through varied and frequent writing assignments, students build on their understanding of writing as a process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and publishing. They also practice discussion skills, and they observe and practice oral presentations to develop poise and confidence.
(This is a Standards of Learning aligned course which is tested in 11th grade.)

English 9 Honors

Students study literature to develop an awareness of the relationship between life and literary experience. By writing frequently and for varied purposes and audiences, they build an understanding of their own and others' writing processes and develop the ability to analyze and evaluate writing. Language study includes tracing linguistic development, studying etymology, and expanding verbal fluency. Students analyze various forms of media to determine the impact of persuasive language. Through practice in small and large groups, as well as practice in oral presentations, they organize, communicate, and evaluate ideas logically and creatively.
(This is a Standards of Learning aligned course which is tested in 11th grade.)

English 10

Students read a variety of literature comparing and contrasting settings, characterizations, conflicts, point of view, and themes. Language study includes spelling, vocabulary, verbal analogies, and learning about language history and structure. Through varied and frequent writing assignments, students expand their understanding of writing as a process and develop their skill in revising according to purpose and audience. They practice adapting speaking and listening skills to the audience, topic, purpose, and situation.
(This is a Standards of Learning aligned course which is tested in 11th grade.)

English 10 Honors

Students analyze various literary forms to investigate structural elements and recognize their relationship to the whole work and its literary tradition. Through frequent personal writing and writing about literature, they expand their understanding of the writing process, the purposes for writing, and the author’s sense of audience. In language study, students increase vocabulary skills with an emphasis on analyzing and creating verbal analogies. Students learn to evaluate critically, to use persuasive language responsibly, and to present dramatic material effectively by examining and analyzing various forms of media. Continued interaction in small and large groups increases students’ proficiency in oral skills and in problem solving.
(This is a Standards of Learning aligned course which is tested in 11th grade.)

English 11

Students read a variety of literature, comparing themes of various works and analyzing expository materials for logical reasoning. Language study includes spelling, vocabulary, verbal analogies, and learning about language history and structure. Through varied and frequent writing assignments, students reinforce their understanding of purpose and audience and develop their skill in the use of voice and tone. Through a variety of interpersonal, group, dramatic, and public speaking activities, students refine their understanding of oral communication.
(This is a Standards of Learning aligned course which is tested in 11th grade.)

English 11AP

The purpose of this course is to prepare students who complete the course to take the Advanced Placement examination in English Language and Composition, for which college credit and/or placement is given if a qualifying score is achieved. Students study advanced composition and analysis of language at a level equivalent to that of a full-year introductory college course. In refining their awareness of language and the writer's craft, students write works of publishable quality. (Schools may offer this course, the Literature and Composition Advanced Placement English course, or both of these courses.) With principal's approval, this course will fulfill the English credit for the targeted grade level.
(All students are required to take the Advanced Placement English exam.)

English 12

Students read a variety of literature, analyzing characterization, point of view, and style of writing. Students also identify the characteristics of various forms of literature. Language study includes spelling, vocabulary, and learning about language history and structure. Through varied and frequent writing assignments, students refine their understanding of purpose, audience, and voice and develop criteria for evaluating writing. They participate in speaking and listening activities to build critical thinking--using inference, hypothesis, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation skills.

English 12 AP

The purpose of this course is to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement examination in English Literature and Composition, for which college credit and/or placement is given if a qualifying score is achieved. Students study composition and literary analysis at a level equivalent to that of a full-year introductory college course. Through in-depth studies of literary works, students sharpen their awareness of language and their understanding of the writer's craft. They establish critical standards for appreciating and evaluating literature. Completion of this course fulfills the English 12 course requirement. (Schools may offer this course, or the Language and Composition Advanced Placement English course, described in optional course offerings, or both of these courses.
(All students are required to take the Advanced Placement English exam.)

Developing Literacies

Developing Literacies provides direct remediation of content area reading skills necessary to understand the contents of math, science, social studies, and English. The course focuses on the reading skills necessary for successful completion of the SOL tests given in the four core areas.

Expanding Literacies

Expanding Literacies provides direct remediation of reading skills and English content necessary to pass the EOC English: Reading/Literature and Research and/or the EOC English: Writing SOL tests, which are given in eleventh grade. Verified credit on both tests is required in order to earn a Standard Diploma.

Journalism 1,2,3,4

Journalism 1 provides students with opportunities for learning the language of journalism and photojournalism, developing communication skills in writing different kinds of articles, understanding news and the process of publication, and becoming more critical readers and viewers of mass media. This course satisfies the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.

Journalism 2 provides students opportunities for learning and participating in layout, design, desktop publishing, and printing processes. Students develop a more sophisticated level of journalistic writing and participate in the operation and production of the high school newspaper. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.

Journalism 3 provides students advanced opportunities for learning editorial leadership, developing a personal sense of professionalism, understanding the role of the newspaper in society, and becoming productive members of the newspaper staff. Students learn business and circulation management. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.

Journalism 4 provides students opportunities for learning marketable publication skills; developing individual writing, layout, and design styles; and assuming the role of editorial leadership and responsibility for producing a high school newspaper that serves a pluralistic society. Students also take responsibility for business and circulation management. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.

Photojournalism 1,2,3

Photojournalism 1 provides students opportunities for learning and participating in the design, layout, and overall production of the high school yearbook; developing yearbook copywriting skills; and applying knowledge of photography. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.

Photojournalism 2 provides students opportunities for learning the role of editorial leadership, developing a personal sense of professionalism, refining copywriting skills, and becoming productive members of the high school yearbook staff. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.

Photojournalism 3 provides students with opportunities for learning marketable publications skills, developing individual style, and assuming editorial leadership roles and responsibilities for the high school yearbook. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.

Reasoning Skills

This course is designed to sharpen reasoning strategies in language and/or mathematics and to assist students in preparing for a variety of standardized testing situations--including preparation for the Scholastic Assessment Tests (SAT 1)--in which they will need to reason efficiently and correctly. This course will be taught in accordance with a standard county program of studies syllabus.

Transitional English 9

This course can be added to a school program only with the approval of the Office of High School Instruction and K-12 Curriculum Services. Transitional English 9 is intended to be taken concurrently with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). For ESOL students, Transitional English serves as a transition from ESOL to the mainstream English program. Students read a variety of literature, exploring the characteristics of different forms and relating life situations to literary themes. Language study includes spelling and vocabulary. Through varied and frequent writing assignments, students build on their understanding of writing as a process of prewriting, drafting, revising, and publishing. They practice oral communication skills in a variety of settings, including small groups, class discussions, and formal presentations.
(This is a Standards of Learning aligned course which is tested in 11th grade.)

Speech Communication

Speech Communication is designed to introduce students to the basics of speech communication. Students participate in a variety of speech activities which help them develop self-confidence and poise through preparation, performance, and evaluation. Students participate in interpersonal, group, and public speaking activities. This course satisfies the graduation requirements for a credit in fine and practical arts.

Film Study

This course involves the study of classic and award-winning films. Students critique both the artistic and technical merits of the films. They study the development of theme, plot, characterization, and setting in each production. They learn the vocabulary associated with filming and use this vocabulary when discussing or writing about films. This course will fulfill the graduation requirement for a credit in fine and practical arts.