ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

The English Department recognizes that each student learns through rational and logical thinking, and through the creative and intuitive process. Learning becomes meaningful and integrated when a balance of educational experiences is offered to students. We aim to balance verbal with visual, creative with logical, and intuitive with rational experiences. A concentrated and developmental sequence of writing skills for all levels of instruction is presented as a thorough preparation for college writing standards. The department offers a four-year emphasis on the study of grammar, vocabulary, speech, literature, and composition. These components are considered essential to a program which aims to develop student skills in using and appreciating language and its various expressions. In addition to the regular scope and sequence of our departmental curriculum, each student will be required to read at least one selection over the summer which will be evaluated in the first weeks of the new school year.

100 COMMUNICATION I

Grade: 9

Prerequisite: Placement Test Scores/Concurrent Placement in English 9 (112) 1 Credit

This course is designed for the freshman student whose entrance test scores indicate a need to develop better skills and strategies to master efficiently and effectively the daily challenges of high school studies. The course aims to build the reading skills of comprehension and reading rate, enrich vocabulary, and improve study skills by using a variety of methods and materials incorporated into the reading curriculum. It is the goal of this course to improve student performance in all content courses by focusing on the study skills needed for success across the curriculum. This course does not satisfy the English Department

graduation requirement.

112 ENGLISH 9

Grade: 9

Prerequisite: Placement Test Scores/Concurrent Placement in Communication I (100) 1 Credit

This course is designed to give Signum Fidei students continued and intensive practice in the skills of reading and composition. A focus on the improvement of annotation skills, grammar, paragraph writing and application of reading strategies.Literature study includes an introduction to a variety of literary forms as well as vocabulary development. This course is designed to complement the Communication I course in the Signum Fidei program.

114 ENGLISH 9

Grade: 9

Prerequisite: Placement Test Scores 1 Credit

Ninth grade English begins with a concentration on the writing process where students will apply the steps of this process to a variety of paragraph modes such as narrative, expository, informative and persuasive. A strong emphasis is placed on the study of grammar as the rules apply to the students’ writing. Literature is studied as it familiarizes the students with the elements and vocabulary of literary genres. Components of the literature program include the study of the short story, novel, drama, poetry, mythology, and non-fiction. Emphasis is applied to the art of active reading techniques. Vocabulary study is an integral part of the program.

116 HONORS ENGLISH 9

Grade: 9

Prerequisite: Placement Test Scores 1 Credit

Honors Freshman English curriculum begins with the application of the writing process to the course‘s literature components. The students will apply the steps of this writing process to a variety of paragraph modes such as narrative, expository, informative and persuasive. A solid foundation in composition techniques is essential to the development of student writers who can express analytical observations in language that are clear, cohesive, and stylistically original. Their discovery of literature will consist of a genre study where they will explore the vocabulary and techniques of the short story, novel, drama, essay, poetry, and mythology. The continuing study of grammar and vocabulary is presented as a partnership in their developing skills at discovering and expressing their own voice and style.

120 COMMUNICATION II

Grade: 10

Prerequisite: Reading Test Scores and Signum Fidei Director Recommendation 1 Credit

Communication II is designed for the sophomore student who has demonstrated further need for improvement in reading and study skills. The course emphasizes the development of language skills required for the language domains: reading, writing, listening and speaking success across the curriculum. The course aims to adequately prepare these students to move into the regular curriculum on the junior level. This course does not satisfy the English Department graduation requirement.

125 ENGLISH 10 LITERATUREAND COMPOSITION (Semester Course)

Grade: 10

This course continues the concentration on the reading/annotation and writing process as it was begun at the freshman level. Components of the literature program are the genres of plays, novels, short stories, poems and nonfiction articles, centered around realistic and historical fiction. Components of the composition program are designed to develop analytical writing skills, learn more effective ways to organize and support ideas effectively, and improve control of correct English through practice with grammatical constructions. Vocabulary study continues to be an integral part of the program.

½ Credit

127 ENGLISH 10 SPEECHAND DRAMA

Grade: 10

This course will concentrate on the theory and practice of verbal communication. Students will develop their public speaking skills by preparing and presenting a variety of speech activities aimed at improving effective communication. This course includes techniques of preparing and delivering speeches to inform, entertain, show, process, persuade, and motivate.

(Semester Course) ½ Credit

128 HONORS ENGLISH 10 LITERATUREAND COMPOSITION (Semester Course) ½ Credit

Grade: 10

Prerequisite: Approval of Department Chair

This course continues with the accelerated application of the writing process as it applies to the analysis of literature. The writing practice moves beyond the paragraph to the multi-paragraph essay formatted by an expository essay. Grammar study moves to more sophisticated constructions that provide the students with greater capability for self-expression. In their literature study, the focus remains on improving active reading skills intended to train students to become more discerning readers and critical thinkers. Representative literary genres are studied from American and world literature. Vocabulary development is emphasized to accommodate composition and reading needs.

129 HONORS ENGLISH 10 SPEECHAND DRAMA

Grade: 10

Prerequisite: Approval of Department Chair (Semester Course) ½ Credit

This course will concentrate on the theory and practice of verbal communication. Emphasis will be placed on the steps of preparing and performing speeches in a variety of speaking situations. This course includes techniques of preparing and delivering speeches to inform, entertain, show, persuade, and motivate.

130 COLLEGE PREPARATORYWRITINGAND RESEARCH

Grade: 11

Prerequisite: Teacher and/or Signum Fidei Director Recommendation 1 Credit

The course places emphasis on developing writing skills, building from the short paragraph to longer essays. Review and reinforcement of basic grammar skills are emphasized in developing the students’ abilities to write in standard language. Strong emphasis will be placed on the enhancement of skills for standardized test-taking used for college entrance. This course provides support for junior students in their core courses. This course does not satisfy the English Department graduation requirement.

134 ENGLISH 11

Grade: 11

The literature base of this junior course is a chronological survey of American Literature from the colonial period through the twenty-first century. The composition skills honed at the freshman and sophomore levels continue to be emphasized as students begin to demonstrate their writing abilities in the analysis of their literature study. The culmination of expository writing is the instruction and guidance in writing a research paper. A review of grammar and reading skills is stressed in preparation for the ACT exam in the spring. Vocabulary development is regarded as an essential and ongoing process in preparation for national testing.

1 Credit

136 HONORS ENGLISH 11

Grade: 11

Prerequisite: Approval of Department Chair 1 Credit

For this honors-level junior course,American Literature and the composition process are taught at an accelerated pace. Students are expected to read and write with maturity and sophistication. Independent reading outside of class is expected so that frequent class discussions are rewarding and beneficial to the students. Astrong emphasis is given to reading classicAmerican literature. Additionally, grammar, vocabulary, and composition skills are reviewed and stressed as part of the daily process. Emphasis is given toACT preparation throughout the school year. The research paper is taught as a process that will encourage students to choose a literary topic and do an analytical paper based on their research.

138 ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH: LANGUAGEAND COMPOSITION

Grade: 11

Prerequisite: Approval of Department Chair 1 Credit

This course is a college-level rhetoric and composition course with focus on American Literature. Students will learn the writing process to develop evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays. Students will learn to evaluate, synthesize and cite sources that support their arguments. Throughout the course, students will develop a personal writing style. In addition, students will read and analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects in non-fiction work from many disciplines and historical periods. Students will be urged to participate in theAdvanced Placement testing program in the spring.

144 ENGLISH 12

Grade: 12

This final year of instruction in the composition process will see a focused preparation of the student for college writing. Each senior will write a research paper on a selected topic. This project brings together students’ critical thinking skills as well as their technical proficiency in writing. A further emphasis will be placed on polishing the conventions of grammar, mechanics, usage and vocabulary as they approach the college experience. Senior students will examine the works of representative British authors spanning the history of British literature from the beginnings to the present. They will read drama, short fiction, poetry, and novels by British authors in order to develop their own personal literary taste and to better understand critical standards of excellence.

1 Credit

146 HONORS ENGLISH 12

Grade: 12

Prerequisite: Approval of Department Chair 1 Credit

Honors Senior English will allow students who are ready for a positive challenge to prepare for college. The curriculum will include British and world literature, the traditional review of grammar, vocabulary development, and a literary research paper. While students will be using the literature anthology as a base for learning, at least one extra classic novel/play per quarter will be taught. Students are expected to be active learners and class participants. Additionally, students’ writing will be reinforced with a variety of essay assignments.

148 ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH: LITERATUREAND COMPOSITION

Grade: 12

Prerequisite: Approval of Department Chair 1 Credit

This college level course is the culmination of the honors program in English. It is designed to teach a significant body of Western literature so that students come to understand their literary heritage and to appreciate the artistry manifested in the creation of the literary genres. There is a demanding program of reading and composition assignments that require active reading with critical analysis skills. Further emphasis is placed on vocabulary development and the mastery of the mechanics of rhetoric. Throughout the year, students practice writing papers and responding to essay questions that are Advanced Placement quality. Further, they will conduct research on a literary topic and write a paper that becomes a foundation for their AP testing. Students are urged to participate in the Advanced Placement testing program in the spring.

150 CREATIVE WRITING

Grade: 11, 12

This course will provide a step-by-step sequence of activities, projects, and techniques that will fine tune students’ creative writing ability. Activities will challenge students to analyze word choice, develop a style, build a plot, create characters, and experiment with writing a variety of poetry forms. Projects include poetry, short stories, magazine articles, and one-act plays. This course does not satisfy the English

Department graduation requirement. (Semester Course) ½ Credit

160 ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING (Semester Course)

Grade: 12

Prerequisite: Creative Writing (150) and TeacherApproval ½ Credit

This course is designed for students who wish to take a second semester of creative writing. Students would be completing three or four major projects, such as, a nonfiction article suitable for submission to a magazine, a short story, and a one-act play. Students would also be allowed to choose one format to create a portfolio of smaller pieces. The course would run concurrently with the Creative Writing class. Students would be involved in some of the assignments of the first level of creative writing, but would be doing more independent writing and editing of their work. The major goal of the course is to encourage interested students to continue their writing and to submit their work for publication outside of school. This

course does not satisfy the English Department graduation requirement.

180 JOURNALISM

Grade: 11, 12

Anews-centric society creates a high demand for facts and opinions through a variety of mediums, with journalism as the foundation of this information.Along with receiving a concise history of journalism and learning about the evolution of the profession, students will gain the basics of researching, writing, editing, revising, publishing, using journalistic standards and ethics. Students will discuss current events daily, covering what is happening at the local, national, and global levels, while also discussing journalism-based news to discuss the issues that pertain to media and media professionals.Additionally, students will learn about “new media” with workshop-type settings for learning about radio, television, data, and photographic journalism while also researching how social media forums and apps, augmented reality, and cable news programs have changed the face of modern journalism.Aknowledge and enjoyment for writing is required, and a working knowledge of editing and publishing is welcomed. This course does not satisfy

the English Department graduation requirement. (Semester Course) ½ Credit